Montego Bay Resort

The rooms looked recently renovated and were quite nice, and you can't beat the location. It was a perfect off-season weekend spot with little ones. My only issue was at check-in, when the front desk associate first asked for twice the balance we owed. Thank goodness for the confirmation emails.

We loved the views from our oceanfront family suite, and the private balconies were a real plus. The renovated unit was brand new and exceptionally clean, with very cold AC and a quiet atmosphere. Water pressure was practically nonexistent, and some little things were missing, like bedroom mirrors, wastebaskets, paper towels, a sliding door screen, and a coffee table. It looked like the unit had just been redone, so hopefully those will be added. Housekeeping came every morning. The location made it easy to walk to the rides and piers, catch the tram, or rent a bike right outside. Since this is at the start of the boardwalk, we had no crowds or noise, and we didn't use the car at all. I also liked the smaller beaches, so there wasn't a long walk to the water. The ocean views were spectacular, and the price and location are hard to beat. I was worried by reviews and the limited photos online that the place would feel run down, but I was pleasantly surprised by the unit. We only took a peek at the indoor pool and water park, but it was much cuter and cleaner than I expected, with hot tubs, a play area, and a snack bar for kids. The outdoor pool is small, though there are plenty of chaise lounges and picnic tables on the third-level deck overlooking the boardwalk. The common areas, especially the halls and elevator, definitely need updating. I'd stay again.

We were so disappointed that we wish we'd left, but the weather was bad and home was more than two hours away. Our kids were excited for the water park, but it was dimly lit and the water seemed barely 60 degrees. My daughter wouldn't get in, and the hot tub was the only water we could tolerate. The towels were basically washcloths, and the bar and restaurant weren't open. The woman working at the pool said they were debating whether to open when we arrived. I wish they'd just canceled our reservation and refunded us. Our room was on the sixth floor, and it seemed like no one else was up there. The hallways were dingy and dark, the elevators were painfully slow and felt like they could break, and there were new mattresses sitting in the hall. Ours had a dip in the middle. There was no room phone to ask for extra pillows or blankets, which we needed, or to call if something happened. It also seemed like none of the doors or windows actually closed or locked. The place was dated and broken, with rusty parts, an exposed ceiling, and only half the lights working. The microwave didn't work, either. There were pubic hairs in the shower when we arrived and what looked like blood on the walls and blanket. I've tried several times to reach management and left my name and number, but I doubt anyone will call back. I took lots of photos. Save yourself the money, time, and frustration and stay somewhere else.

I was charged another $120 for “extra people” when we arrived, even though I had explained our group size when booking and was told this was the only suite that could fit us. We were four couples and four children, two under two. The suite had four bedrooms, three kings and one room with two doubles, plus a pull-out queen, so the extra charge was a surprise. The water park was misleading: it only had two small slides that even the little kids couldn't use. The pool was freezing, and the elevator took ages before breaking altogether the next day, making it difficult to manage the luggage and small children. In the suite, the toilet didn't work. We called twice and spoke to someone in person, but nobody came to fix it. There was no ice bucket or tub stopper, either. From arrival on, there was one problem after another. Poor maintenance, bad communication, unexpected fees, and amenities that didn't match what was advertised made the stay frustrating. I wouldn't return or recommend the property.