Moon Palace Jamaica Grande: Experiencing Paradise

It has always been a dream of mine to visit Jamaica. A place I have wanted to go since I was a little girl.

Back in 2014, I wrote an article about Palace Resorts opening up their Moon Palace Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios and I just knew this was the resort I had to experience. I have stayed at a Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico before and it was an incredible place and one of the most fun times I have ever had. You can read about my experience here: hellosensible.com/moonpalacecancun.

Palace Resorts sets the standard in luxurious, all-inclusive resort accommodations and their Moon Palace Jamaica Grand destination is no different. Located on the north coast of Jamaica, less than 90 minutes from the Montego Bay airport, Moon Palace Jamaica Grande features over 700 guest rooms and suites on a superb 17-acre beachfront featuring the longest stretch of private beach in Ocho Rios.

Upon arrival to the airport, Moon Palace offers shuttles to take you to the airport. I highly recommend using the rest room before you hop on the shuttle as the ride there is almost two hours. Don’t let the travel time disappoint you though, as the ride to and from the resort is a great way to take in all of Jamaica. It was interesting to see where the locals live, the roaming goats, the lush green trees, and of course, that gorgeous ocean.

Leave your worries at the door once you arrive to Moon Palace Jamaica Grande as everything from that point on is taken care of, including your luggage. Checking in is simple, but I will tell you, it seems as though the front desk is on island time. It took a while to get to us and even then, it took a while to get everything needed before we were able to wander off and check out the resort. I initially thought it was a fluke until it was time to check out and the process was yet again extremely slow. It didn’t bother me too much though, after all, we were on vacation. We had nothing but time.

Once we got our room key, we headed to check out our room. It was spacious, bright, and the best part? The AMAZING ocean view from our balcony on the 8th floor, where I spent every morning sitting and taking it all in.

The beds were incredibly comfortable, and I raved about it every time I sat on them. Seriously, I still can’t stop thinking about them and I am convinced I must buy whatever mattress they use. It is THAT good.

The rooms also feature a stocked fridge with water, soda’s, juice boxes and beer. When you are in the mood for a mixed drink, simply pull out the drawer next to the fridge, where you will find plenty of bottles to create the perfect cocktail— all included.

On the resort’s property you will find an endless amount of activities to do. There is truly something for everyone there.

If going to the pool is your thing, the resort features several pool areas to choose from. Some with a swim-up bar, some a little more quiet, some that are focused on fun with a water slide and basketball hoops, and even one with a waterfall.

For kids, there is an incredible splash pad that is sure to bring out the fun! The splash pad area is even complete with a play house and a lawn. A great way for kids to play in the sun and burn off some of that energy.

Once your children are done with the water play, there are two different rooms they can enjoy, depending on their age. Younger kids, ages 2-12, can enjoy the “playroom” which is complete with multiple play rooms, a beauty salon, xbox room, arcade zone, and more. You can drop them off as they provide breakfast, lunch and dinner, and get some much needed time to unwind and relax.

For older kids, ages 13-17, they can enjoy WIRED, which is targeted towards teens and features a fun snack area, pool table, air hockey, arcades, TV and Xbox room, and more. Parents of younger kids, don’t worry, kids of all ages are allowed to hang out there, as long as they have their parents with them.

When your ready to break away from the music and pool life, head to the picturesque ocean that is literally steps away. The water is shallow, calm, and clear.

Because the property sits on the beach front, there are two sides to the ocean which is divided between the property. One side is perfect for relaxing and swimming, the other side is where you can find all the fun ocean activities like kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, water trikes and more!

When you’ve worked up an appetite, head to one of the many restaurants on property. You can find an international buffet, sushi, pizza, seafood, Italian, American, hibachi, and even a yummy steakhouse where you can eat dinner and watch the sun set over the ocean.

The buffet, in my opinion was just mediocre and I wish the options and quality were better, but it’s perfect for breakfast and lunch. When you want something of a little more substance, definitely head to the other restaurants at the resort. We were huge fans of the Italian restaurant and the service was above and beyond. I do wish they offered a place to get authentic Jamaican food, so I am crossing my fingers they add something permanent to either the buffet or an actual location in the future.

Overall, our experience at the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande was fantastic. We were entertained every evening, the staff was friendly, the pools were clean, and we found fun all throughout the property!

To learn more about the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande and the deals they have going on, please visit: www.palaceresorts.com/moonpalacejamaicagrande.

*Huge thanks to Palace Resorts for hosting our stay.