Royal Plantation - Ocho Rios, Jamaica Review

I didn't think anything could compare to a Four Seasons for service, but apparently I was wrong as RP lives up to its reputation for service and truly makes you feel "Royal." It's all about customer service here.

The mantra here seems to be "Anything you want....anything at all" and I've never seen people try so hard to live up to it. EVERYONE here, from top to bottom, not only goes out of their way to please you but it's done with such style and such a pleasant and empathetic demeanor that I'd have to say it's one of the best trained staffs I've ever seen. There's never a sense that people are grudgingly doing their jobs, they all treat you as if it's a true pleasure to serve and as if they owned a piece of it themselves, the way those at a family owned business would. And the resort itself follows suit in all ways showing great attention to every little detail with those little details adding up to a spectacular "big picture." The rooms are wonderful, the public areas beautiful, the grounds lush and lovely and well cared for and the restaurants a source of pride. In fact, while we there a photographer for a magazine was also there as they'd been singled out to be featured for their tasty and elegantly prepared dishes. One recommendation....go with the Royal Plan, it's worth it and the ease of it will add to your relaxation.

The spa was lovely and the couples massage is very reasonably priced; I'm used to paying much more for a couples massage, so I'd highly recommend it. The hotel has two beaches, and one offers water sports if you're so inclined, and a tour desk that will help you plan excursions from shopping to sightseeing to bicycle tours, etc. There's a gym, though I must admit that a steam and a sauna was the most work I myself did all week. There's also a game room and library with a pool table. For entertainment there's a Mento band during the day and a pianist and bands that play at night (and they can be coerced to stay later, especially if people are up singing or dancing) but it's not the kind of place where people are up until 3 in the morning. (I'm a night owl in NY, but the sun wipes me out and I'm ready for bed a lot earlier after a day spent swimming so that was okay with me.)

Before I arrived, I was concerned that the beach and the pool might be too small, but they were more than adequate for the size of the hotel and there was never the sense, as we've had at some other very luxurious places, that you had to rush to "get a good seat." When you step on the beach in the morning, someone will come up to you to ask where you'd like your chairs, (so you get to choose your own "good seat") which they'll then prepare with a mattress and terry cloth cover and towels, and if you want to move it at any time during the day they'll run up to do it for you. They never let you work here, that's their job and yours is to get spoiled. They also have a beach service to bring you mangosas in the morning and continue all day to get you a drink or whatever your heart's desire. There's no swim up bar at the pool if that's the sort of thing you like, but the beach service is great. You'll find that most people spend the day out there and may go up to the two-tiered hot tub and pool later in the day. "Pampered" is an understatement here, and yet they have managed to get it down to a science so that you don't feel that someone is "in your face" all day. I'm used to things and people moving more slowly in the Caribbean than in NY, but they're pretty on top of things here. I arrived quite irritated after a bad plane ride, but it didn't take them very long to make me realize that they weren't just "stroking" me when they said "I promise you...you're going to love it here."

If you're looking for super low bargain prices and really don't care about the quality of the rooms or the service or the restaurants because you're going to be running out to local places all the time anyway, this is probably not the place for you since it is a bit more expensive than some. If you're looking for places with children's programs and kid's portions, this is also not the place for you. If you're looking for someone to lead you in a constant barrage of games and keep you entertained 24/7, find another place. If, however, you're looking for luxury and a week of being pampered like royalty and fed well while in a stunning setting, whether it be for a honeymoon or anniversary or birthday or a little romance or just because you've worked hard and deserve a little relaxation or to be spoiled a little...you've found it at RP. And no, I don't work for the hotel, I'm just a very happy guest who intends to return. I know it sounds like an ad, but I mean every word of it. We live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and we've traveled the Caribbean extensively and we're used to the best, and RP provided it. It's not at all pretentious, it's very down to earth with an understated luxury that just appeals to all the senses without being gaudy.

Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" now comes to mind when I think of my experience at RP "Don't worry ‘bout a ting....'cause every little ting gonna be all right."