Foote Prints on the Sands

The room was large and clean, with good AC and a comfortable bed, though the pillows weren’t comfortable. There was little storage, but enough for our few things. We never turned on the TV. It was comfortable overall, but still felt overpriced. Our pricey booking was supposed to have an ocean view, but from one small spot on the balcony we could see only a sliver of water, and that view was obstructed. We were apparently given an upgraded room, perhaps because the balcony was large and had a bathtub. The photo doesn’t show the modern soaking tub, which sat on the wooden platform in the bottom left corner. It was totally exposed, and faced a poor view of, and noise from, the adjacent building’s mechanical system. Maybe with considerable screening, someone might use it in future. The hotel looked recently renovated as soon as we pulled up. The exterior was modern and pristine, and that look continued inside, from the lobby and restaurant to the rooms, beach, and infinity pool. But some details were missing or poorly designed. The rooms had no toilet paper holder, ice bucket, coffee station, or drinking vessels. There was no decor in the rooms or hallways, which made them feel sterile. Staff engagement varied from the friendly and welcoming level I’m used to, to uninterested and uncaring. The included continental breakfast felt intentionally underwhelming, as if to push us toward buying better food. We also had to get our final bill adjusted because we were charged for more drinks than we had.

The beach is right outside, and the hotel feels fresh from a recent renovation. Everything was extremely clean and comfortable, with care put into the details. The staff were fantastic, and the food was really good. Lunch was fairly priced. I do wish breakfast had more affordable choices, though the included breakfast and Blue Mtn coffee worked for us. I’d definitely stay again.

The beach was an easy, lovely walk from the hotel, and our room was modern, cozy, beautifully designed, and very clean. We felt looked after throughout our stay. Melony made breakfast feel welcoming each morning, and Giovanni was attentive, kind, and professional at dinner. Chef Shawn also took real care with meals for our vegan family. Everything we ate was honestly exceptionally delicious, and we felt understood and well nourished. We had such a comfortable stay and will come back. Highly recommend.

The beachfront setting in Negril was the best part. Being able to step onto the famous 7 mile beach was hard to beat, and the pool sits right by the sand. The hotel itself is beautiful, with spacious rooms, contemporary design (especially the bathrooms), a lovely smell in the lobby, and a calm atmosphere. It was clean throughout, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. My company made the trip special, and the accommodation was stunning, though the missing amenities and practical problems kept the stay from being excellent. We had three fire alarms during our visit, once early in the morning and once late at night while we were asleep. At first we didn't know if there was a real emergency, but after another alarm it seemed like a technical problem. The restaurant was only okay for me and expensive enough that we ate elsewhere most of the time. I paid almost $50 USD for fried chicken, rice and peas, and a blended fruit punch. Tourist prices make sense, but that felt high for food that wasn't especially memorable. Several basic things were missing from the room: no toiletries kit or shower cap, no iron or steamer, no hair dryer, and no directions for using the safe. I understand the hotel may have recently reopened, but these gaps still affected our stay. The coffee and tea area advertised baked goods, but none were there for our first three days. They only appeared the morning we were leaving, and when I tried to buy some, the card machine was down and the front desk couldn't make change for my $20 USD. The pastries cost $6, and the cashless sign at the entrance made that especially frustrating.