The best Jamaica resorts set the standard for the Caribbean travel experience; since the dawn of the jet-set age, Jamaica has been a haven for rarefied, elegant, character-filled hospitality, and that’s even more true today.
Few islands boast as diverse and fascinating a hotel product as Jamaica, from its all-inclusive stays to its classic beach resorts to its hidden-away boutique hotels — and everything in between.
While Jamaica continues to evolve as a destination, what hasn’t changed is its enviable, remarkable and unique take on the Caribbean vacation experience.
Here are our favorite Jamaica resorts for your 2020 trip to the island.
Half Moon The Grande Dame of Jamaica resorts, Half Moon is about as iconic a hotel as there is in the Caribbean, a luxurious, opulent hotel where the service is bold and brilliant and the ambience is serene. But Half Moon will have a particularly interesting 2020 with the debut of its new standalone resort, the 57-room Eclipse at Half Moon, a Half Moon for the 21st century — and it’s as exciting a hotel as has come to Jamaica in years. And while that resort makes its debut in March, the original resort (whose guests have included the Queen) is just about the pinnacle of lovely.
Round Hill Jamaica’s greatest boutique resort is as beautiful as it is charming, with rooms designed by part-owner Ralph Lauren, a clutch of gorgeous, historic villas and a delightful little stretch of Jamaica beachfront. If there’s one word to describe this place, it’s this: magical.
S Hotel Jamaica A significant injection of energy into the formerly fading Hip Strip in Montego Bay, this Montego Bay outpost of Kingston’s hip hotspot, the Spanish Court, is a fresh, cool take on modern Jamaica, with crisp, colorful design, a buzzing entertainment and bar scene and one of the island’s most beautiful spas.
Sandals South Coast Maybe you’ve been to a Sandals resort before. Maybe you haven’t. But if you haven’t been to the Caribbean resort brand’s outpost on the South Coast of Jamaica, it’s time to plan your trip. It’s the Sandals experience, from the broad culinary options to the service and the look, with an even more serene, relaxed, tranquil vibe. And did we mention the overwater bungalows?
Goldeneye With the 25th James Bond film set to debut in 2020 (a movie filled with Jamaica scenes) , it’s fitting to visit the actual home of James Bond, the Oracabessa resort where Ian Fleming wrote all of the James Bond novels (and yes, his desk is even in one of the villas). Even for a historic property (now owned by legendary music producer Chris Blackwell and part of his Island Outposts resorts collection, Goldeneye continues to evolve its luxury experience. The rooms and villas are all unique and wonderful, highlighted by the spectacular Lagoon Cottages, set right above the water.
Tryall Club Jamaica is the Caribbean’s most underrated golf destination (the aforementioned Half Moon is also a wonderful golf resort), and the Tryall Club is right at the top of the list. Home to a 6,836-yard Ralph Plummer track, the villa resort is the perfect vacation for the golf-minded traveler, with a selection of staffed villas and an elegant, exclusive vibe that will make you feel that you’ve temporarily joined your own private country club.
Jamaica Inn Still something of a well-kept secret for in-the-know travelers, the historic Jamaica Inn is a throwback to another age of Jamaica resorts. The hotel, which is now in its seventh decade, is a timeless, family-run resort, with just 55 rooms and cottages and a genteel, clubby, old-school feel. It’s Ocho Rios’ signature resort, and, well, a classic.
Strawberry Hill Another Island Outpost masterpiece, this hotel set in Jamaica’s world-famous Blue Mountains is a boutique stunner, an authentic, wellness-focused mix of colonial-style cottages with breathtaking green views and a host of villas, too. And then there’s the destination restaurant, a “New Jamaican” cuisine eatery that draws travelers from hours away just for a meal.
Skylark Negril While Seven Mile Beach has long been one of Jamaica’s top tourism destinations, it’s gotten a major new addition in the form of Skylark, the sister resort to the nearby, popular Rockhouse boutique hotel. The beachfront Skylark is a hip, cool, crisp beach resort with colorful, eclectic rooms and the only Jamaican outpost of New York’s Miss Lily’s.
The Caves Chris Blackwell’s take on the all-inclusive is a complete reimagining of the genre, where authenticity and cool are the main story, not mere convenience. Set on the turquoise-accented cliffs of Negril, it’s a quirky, bright, personality-filled boutique adults-only resort with outstanding food and an even better spa.