Beaches Royal
*Mariann and her
husband were the resort’s first guests*
Note 1
Well, we are home. My computer is out of sorts so I'm
going to make this brief.
Firstly, all I could say is WOW. It is far more beautiful than they describe.
It is truly first rate, 6 stars in my opinion, and the resort was not
even fully opened!!! It is breathtakingly beautiful. The staff is
wonderful, and the views are unmatched. The food was incredible, you will
need a jacket and tie for the French restaurant. They seemed to have left
no stone unturned. It is nothing less than true luxury. Albeit,
there are many
stairs, so be prepared, there are no elevators that we saw. I feel that
elevators would have taken away from the ambiance. The marble, artwork
etc., are just beautiful. The rooms are stunning. Marble is everywhere
throughout the resort. Tea time is not to be missed. After a day of
sun and fun on the beach, there was nothing more relaxing than tea time. A cup of tea, some yummy scones, listening to Andre play the
piano and sitting on a beautiful verandah looking at the sea, my goodness, it
was wonderful!!!!! One thing to note, there are no playmakers, which
suits me just fine. This is not an action packed holiday, quite the
contrary. If you want to relax and I stress RELAX, this is the place.
The Spa was terrific, I had an 80 minute massage, it
was great. The beach (there are two) was beautiful, although is does lose
a lot of sun around
Mariann
Note 2
We had little entertainment as they just opened but they did
audition bands. I can say that the entertainment will be light but very
enjoyable. Sandals Ocho Rios is right next door, so if your
looking for more excitement, it's very close. We had the premium room,
but any room is outstanding (not huge) but very beautiful. Mahogony, marble and tile, they enclosed the balconies so
the sliders are in the room. It brings in the outside in (wonderful).
All the restaurants were terrific (top shelf) The
French Restaurant is a set menu that changes every day. I believe it's 8 courses, from appetizers to desert (scrumptious).
They serve champagne cocktails to start and white and red vintage wines.
The Bayside has a great menu, I had the veal and my husband had the
ostrich. Both were fabulous. The menu includes lobster, steak and
so on. The Beach cafe was great, not just burgers, they had a wonderful
gazpacho, and seafood salad. Breakfast is served in the Bayside with a
full menu. They serve continental before
Mariann
Notes from my Phone Conversation with Mariann
(we talked 2 or 3 hours)
Anyway,
regarding Marianne, she called last night and talked for 2 hours. This
trip to Royal Plantation was for her 40th, but her birthday is next month.
She just wanted to go for the intro deals.
Their friends had them picked up in the airport in a limo, and by the time they
got to the airport, she was looped from the champagne. So after waiting
for the plane to be deiced and then the flight, she had a hangover when they
got to Ja.!
They told her they were putting them at Dunns because
Then at Dunns, there was a loud drunken group there. She was in the best
suite--the one w/ two bathrooms and balconies. However, the restaurants
were all booked, the jacuzzi
was too cold, etc. They got free massages.
By Wednesday, they told them that
Of the two categories of rooms, they were in the better. French linens, new beautiful marble (all over the resort).
Toiletries were things like body scrub, etc.
They were the first guests. At the time, only 6 people were there.
She didn't get to cut the ribbon because another lady that checked in
beat her to it, but Marriane and her husband checked
in first. All their pics were taken, and by the end of the week, they had
60 guests.
She said they had 120 staff
members waiting on 6 guests. She said she was telling staff that they
needed to help the staff, rather than the staff help
them. She said they were so pampered.
Marianne said her last name is so hard to pronounce and that the front desk guy
didn't want to call them by their first names and was so apologetic.
The spa shower had flowers all over the floor.
Anyway, Marianne is a fan
of Beaches Turks & compare to that. She didn't like Sandals Royal C.
or Dunns. The main problem is she was SUPPOSED to be at Royal P.
There are 42 steps down to the beach, and there is no bathroom down
there. She is really a beach person, so this was her only complaint
(except for the place not being finished).
The pool is small, but they've added two hot tubs. She said something
about double-decker and wrapping around. I never really did understand
it. There are two pools--one where the watersports are and one where the
snacks, etc. are, I think. They stayed
near the snacks. The snacks were more upscale than Sandals/Beaches.
They had gazpacho and some other stuff and also the regular burgers, etc.
On the beach, in the morning, they bring out smoothies.
Later, it is fruit (you choose), then cold towels, then consume. You get
a yellow flag and raise it when you want drinks or anything. You can eat
your whole meal there, too, all brought to you.
She raved on and on about the high tea. The view from where it is served is
fantastic. They had wonderful teas and finger sandwiches and (I believe
it was) a pianist.
At the French restaurant, they rotate menus every day. Each day, it is a
set menu w/ no choices. She met the executive chef, so she was able to
find out what they were having and even have some input. You have to
reserve for that. Of course, before they went, she was told by Beaches
when they called about the dress code that this restaurant required jacket AND
tie. She was put out because there aren't even brochures out and they
would have missed going there had they not called. Then they were just
finishing brochures before they left, and she got one. It mentioned
jacket but not tie. Anyway, her husband wore the tie both nights they ate
there. They had courses such as quail, rack of lamb (both excellent), vischisua (sp???), smoked marlin ,
halfway thru, they had the sorbet for the palate that Lidos sometimes do and
Couples Ocho Rios does. Sandals used to do it way back when. The
regular restaurant had wonderful steak and they had a lobster that was stuffed
with scallops. The menu there doesn't change, and no reservations are
required. She mentioned a steak sandwich from room service.
Also, at the French restaurant, they have vintage wine and give the info on the
menu. She named the champagnes around the resort and knew them, although
I didn't. The in-room bar had name brands like Tanquaray
and Absolut.
Her whole impression is that if this is what you imagined it would be, it would
be even better. She says Butch has a hit here and should not descale the luxury. She thinks it will be quite a
sell out. This is a quiet vacation, though.
The gym looked new and immaculate, but they didn't go. Activities aren't
really going yet.
One day, they ate w/ Jamie Stewart, Butch's daughter. By the end of the
stay, there were many "somebodies" there.