S Hotel Jamaica

S Hotel may be the best place we've ever stayed. That's not hyperbole - I can't say enough good things about it. First, the staff was amazing. Everyone was friendly and attentive. We especially loved Meldon, the "Chief Entertainment Officer". He created the perfect vibe at the pool; great music, fun activities, and frankly, he's just a really great guy. You'll love him, too. A huge thank you to Andres for taking great care of us at the front desk. The hotel itself is lovely. The rooms were clean and the views are amazing, and the pool is even better than the pictures. Toney, the lifeguard, is awesome and took great care of us. He can also set you up with water sports. The hotel is right on a semi-private beach (Doctor's Cave), with the most beautiful clear-teal water I've ever seen, and because it's in a cove, there were almost no waves. And the sunsets... just incredible. There are free chairs and umbrellas exclusively for hotel guests, and the beach lifeguards will rent you snorkels for $6 (we got two for $10) and can point out a couple of beautiful small reefs right off the shore. The food at the hotel was really good, but we specifically chose a hotel close to other restaurants so we could have options. The restaurant on the beach (Sand Bar) is solid, and reasonably priced. Drinks come quickly (and are strong!), but the food is definitely on island time. Delicious, though. Usain Bolt's restaurant is right next door and was so good - it's a "don't miss" for me. Of course, Margaritaville is close, as well. For a nice dinner, Marguerite's was excellent. Get the Caesar salad. Finally, the spa was wonderful. Tamieka, the manager, was so helpful setting up a nice Anniversary spa package for my wife, which ended in an amazing couples massage. I love the tepidarium, which are the small spa pools you can use before or after (or both). If you need to go anywhere, I very highly recommend the hotel's preferred driver, Romaine. He took us to and from the airport, as well as to dinner, and was on time, safe, and really fun. The hotel can put you in touch, or you can WhatsApp him directly at 876-891-1591. Seriously, he's the best. There's a reason they have five solid stars on TripAdvisor. Our expectations of S Hotel were pretty high, and they managed to exceed them in almost every way. If you're going to Jamaica, this is the only place you should stay. Read less

We can't stop thinking and talking about our incredible week there. The moment we walked into the spacious lobby with the view of the pool and the ocean beyond, our incredible week unfolded, just ten minutes after leaving the airport. It's not all inclusive, which we preferred, but it did include a delicious breakfast buffet. The hotel is both romantic and accommodating of well-behaved children. Attentive service meant that we didn't have to wait for amenities, weren't overwhelmed by crowds. The rooms are stunning, thoughtfully designed, modern and beautiful, with island touches. Stay on the 5th or 6th floor and there is all day access to the rooftop deck and pool. It's open to everyone after 5pm, perfect to have a drink and catch the sunsets, as we did every night. We enjoyed getting to know the friendly, professional and responsive staff, led by GM Lisa Gardner. In addition to American guests, we chatted with others from France, Australia, Canada, Columbia and the Caribbean. Several of us started the day in the pool to a fun water aerobics class, to a distinctive Jamaican beat. In fact the music everywhere was a special part of the ambience. Live bands some nights and music by the pool and the rooftop deck. We recommend two roadside jerk restaurants, Jerkey's and Scotchies. Hotel based taxies were pricey but safe, often with local stories and a tour of the sites along the way. We left, relaxed, happy and immediately planning our return. Read less