On the Virgin Atlantic fam trip to Jamaica that took place last week, it was the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa that hosted the group for its first two nights on arrival to the tropical Caribbean island, while JOIA Rose Hall by Iberostar hosted the group for their final two nights!
Both hotels offer something unique and different for holidaymakers in Jamaica, and the fam trip was excited to learn more about each hotel with in-depth tours. ITTN’s Katie joins Travel Counsellor Claire Maher, Kaytlyn Fitzharris of Barter’s Travel Net, Alison Clark from Club Travel, Kat Tryjankowska from Tropical Sky, Louise Kenna of Cassidy Travel’s Dundrum branch, Edel Ward from Best4Travel and Joanne Gomez from Travel Focus.
The Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa
Having arrived in the late evening into the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton, on the second night of the trip the group had a chance to enjoy a delicious meal on resort, in the Japanese restaurant Sumptori that hosts teppanyaki and a-la-carte dining. The group feasted on a selection of hot starters, sushi platters and teriyaki noddle and rice dishes for mains. This was the perfect introduction to the resort, giving the group time to enjoy the live performances of violinists and karaoke before and after dinner. The following morning, on Day Three, it was time to go and explore all that the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton all-inclusive resort has to offer. The group was led by an attentive sales representative around the resort and Jo Peters, their very own Sales Manager for the Palladium Hotel Group who’s based in England.
Located in Lucea, on the northwestern edge of Jamaica, the Lady Hamilton is a unique destination for all types of travellers- from families, to couples, friend groups and beyond. The complex is made up of grand, colonial-style buildings painted in subtle pastel tones. The grand white pillars and marble floors lend themselves to a Roman style of architecture while rooms across the property are spacious and elegant. There are 11 restaurants on the property, seven are a-la-carte while the other four offer international food with themed self-service buffets and show cooking. Alongside this, there are 11 unique themed bars, including swim-up bars, beach bars, lobby and waiting bars, sports and lounge bars, too!
With over a thousand holidaymakers accommodated in the resort, its design is so vast that the busyness of the hotel is balanced across locations. The private beach is just a few minutes’ walk from the main piazza, while its wrap-around infinity pool with swim-up bar is the largest on the island. Guests can stay active with a state-of-the-art gym, tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, soccer field, and archery range. A diverse all-day activities and entertainment program features yoga and Zumba classes, craft demonstrations, catamaran rides, deep-sea fishing excursions, windsurfing lessons, scuba diving courses, and much more. Kids are treated like VIPs with special clubs tailored to three different age groups and fun amenities like a water park, mini disco, and decked-out game room. The adults only oasis Zentropía Spa at the Lady Hamilton is one of their biggest attractions for holidaymakers, where they can get pampered with indulgent treatments and chill out in hydrotherapy baths, sauna and steam room!
There are a variety of room options at the Grand Palldium including Junior Garden Suites (230), Ocean Views (27) or Beachside (27). There are 40 suites with Garden View and 8 with Ocean View, 6 Suites Beachside and two more beachside and with panoramic views. The group was lucky enough to be upgraded to the Signature Level, which come in a variety of bungalows, junior suites and suites that total 156 on the property. There are adults-only bungalows (48 available) with tropical surroundings and ocean-views. The Signature Level at the resorts offers a selection of exclusive benefits designed to elevate traveller’s all-inclusive experience and provides an extra spot of luxury on an already luxurious resort!
JOIA at Rose Hall Iberostar
Located in Montego Bay, JOIA hosted the group on the third and fourth night of the fam trip, and they were lucky enough to have Sales Representative Crystal to give them an in-depth look at the hotel. The Rose Hall Iberostar Montego Bay is divided into three categories- Waves is the perfect family experience with kids pools and clubs, shared with Selection- the second category of the resort- that offers a more refined experience. JOIA is the hotel’s third section which offers adult-only experiences to guests.
The beachfront complex offers an all-inclusive experience in Jamaica’s natural paradise. Guests can go scuba diving while little ones will have a blast playing at the waterpark Aquafun, floating in the lazy river, or enjoying the awesome Star Camp activities. Guests can be treated to a hydrotherapy circuit at one of the best spas in the Caribbean. Each hotel has a range of buffet options for breakfast lunch and dinner and hosts five a-la-carte restaurants with a variety of international cuisine and Italian, Japanese, Greek and Jamaican dining.
The rooms at the property vary from hotel to hotel. In Waves, rooms are designed around accessibility and price is only differentiated by the view- with customers having the option to choose beachfront or sea views depending on their preferences. Importantly, adjoining rooms are booked as part of family rooms, so agents don’t have to worry about rooms not being beside each other when booking for their clients. There is slightly more variety in Selection, which also hosts Junior Suites and Family Suites, all featuring standard amenities like air conditioning, balconies, flat-screen TVs, free WiFi, and daily stocked mini-bars. Some rooms have sea views, and specific options like the Family Junior Suite include a second bedroom with two double beds, a separate tub and shower, and a gaming console. The adult-only JOIA option at Rose Hall Iberostar offers swim-up suites and the Presidential Suite, Ocean Front Penthouse Suite with Butler, Ocean Front Butler Suite, Pool View Suite, and Tropical View Suite!
On the final night of the trip, agents and the group’s journalist joined a fantastic Silent Disco just a few minutes from their JOIA rooms in the Selection part of the hotel. While on the final day of the trip, they were able to chill out and enjoy this beachfront property, enjoying lobster at the Beach Grill while others offered for buffet options!
