ROYAL PLANTATION

RON & MAUREEN

NOV. 9^th - 16^th 2004

Our trip report of our first stay at The Royal Plantation Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Although our report is not a day-by-day or blow-by-blow report, we have included 50 pictures and think each picture is worth a thousand words.

We usually spend the night before our flight at an airport hotel as to not have to worry about traffic, bad weather or accidents on I-95 but with our flight leaving at 8:20 A.M. and with enhanced security requiring us to be at the airport for an international flight three hours before that we decided to drive directly to a park & lock next to the airport & take the five minute shuttle ride from there. So, with the bags packed & alarm set for 4AM we find it hard to sleep with visions of a fantastic vacation dancing in our heads.

We were originally booked on an Air Jamaica direct flight only to find out that AJ cancelled the Tues. flight out of PHL. our TA knowing that we prefer direct flights requested AJ to refund our money & then our TA re-booked us on a US Air direct flight and refunded us the difference. Our US Air flight left the gate 15 minutes late & then it was announced that because of heavy air traffic leaving Phila. there were 20 aircraft in line ahead of us waiting to use the runway. Amazingly, after leaving Phila one hour late we arrived at Mo Bay nearly on time, either we had one heck of a tail wind or the pilot knew a shore cut? After retrieving our bags & going through customs, we were directed to the Sandals new reception area & lounge where we were invited to have a cold drink & fresh fruit (see first two pictures). We booked the Air Jamaica shuttle to Ocho Rios and were taken, along with our luggage, to the AJ check-in all the way on the other side of the airport by cab. After checking in we had a half hour wait for our flight to leave. The aircraft was a 36 seat, twin turboprop. It was a very nice, 20 minute flight along the coast to Ocho. We were the only passengers getting of at Ocho everyone else continued on to Kingston. We were expecting to be met by the resort shuttle but after inquiring we found that no one was there to pick us up. An AJ rep called the resort & they said someone would be there shortly. After a half hour wait the resort driver arrived to take us to the resort in style, a black Mercedes stretch limo. We booked the AJ shuttle to Ocho to save time but as it turned out, if we had taken the over land route by cab to the resort right from the Sandals hospitality booth, and not waited for the cab to the other side of the airport, waiting the half hour for our flight, then waiting the half hour for the resort transfer to arrive and then the 20 minute ride from Ocho airport to the resort, the only thing we saved was a bumpy ride.

The entrance to the resort was a welcome site, as were the cold towels, champagne and fruit offered at check in. Check in was friendly and quick with the usual swiping of the CC & we were taken right to our room, 207, 2^nd floor in the east wing. Our room was very nicely appointed, roomy and looked to have been just freshly redone with new curtains, and a white duvet. Most impressive was the beautiful view of the aqua water & flowering gardens out of our sliding doors that faced the Caribbean. After unpacking & a change of cloths, it was off for a bite to eat & exploring. Through our week stay we were very pleased with house keeping, we found our room remade & stocked with fresh towels every morning after we returned from breakfast and every evening after returning from dinner we found our bed was turned down, with slippers at our bedside, the lights dimmed & soft music playing.

The resort itself and it=s approximately 80 rooms is compact & on a very nice setting, it is unlike the larger, sprawling resorts that we are used too but bigger is not always better. We spent most of our time on the water sports beach below the east wing rooms. We always prefer the beach over the pool, and we were surprised how small the pool was at RP. After the first few days the water sports staff got to know us & when they saw us coming would pull down two lounge chairs & would arrange them with Mo=s facing the sun & mine right next to hers but in the shade. After lunch we would try to get lounges on the pier by the gazebo in order to get an extra 45 minutes of sun, the two beaches become shaded after 3:00 P.M. One very nice aspect about the beach was that it was private, quite, and very relaxing, with both of us finishing two books each. My reading for the week consisted of, AFive People You Meet in Heaven@ & AThe Da Vinci Code@, Mo=s were AThird Degree@ & ABlowfly@. Not once were we bothered with anyone trying to sell us anything or any other distractions, There were venders that had permission from the resort to set up a table by the beach and they were very polite never pestered anyone and always had a friendly Agood morning@ for everyone passing. We did not have a perfect week weather wise, we did get to snorkel one time, the wind kept the red flag flying most days but the water was jump right in warm.

The resort & grounds were very clean, green & flowering with no noticeable damage from the recent hurricane. The grounds personnel were busy with new plantings going in daily.

We took the shuttle to Sandals Ocho Rios Grand one afternoon to see if there were any changes to the resort since our last visit there, it is still a happing place but right away we got the feeling of it being just too big and impersonal for us. We walked the grounds, had lunch and then walked back to RP, about a three - five minute walk.

Food ! Overall we think the food at Royal Plantation to be outstanding, dinners truly gourmet. This was our 10^th trip to Jamaica and we have been to close to 20 other Caribbean islands and have never experienced dinning as consistently exceptional as the Royal Plantations. Our dinners usually took two hours and Maureen=s private, surprise birthday candlelight dinner in the study was a three+ hour meal. Our server for that meal told us that he would serve our six course meal at any pace we wanted and as it turned out it was just right. All the food is cooked to order, attractively served, at a beautiful setting, and we consider that quality time, enjoyed together, just how we like it. Le Papillon Restaurant was probably our favorite. Lunches we enjoyed at the beach bar, where the soup of the day & lobster BTL was one of our favorites, or at Bayside. We had room service two mornings and that too was very good, the food still hot and with a view to die for. We tried to sample every hors d=oeuvre & entree, even the octopus & frog legs but with the variety of the menu we may have missed a few. The beach BBQ was very good, the only buffet of the week, with good selection, including lobster & prime rib. We enjoyed the entertainment at dinner, the flutist, piano player & singer were very good. We did not try the Flambe Terrace or the Caviar Bar, looked good but just not our preferences. Overall if I would have to describe the Royal Plantation with one word it would be AElegant@. All the staff are very cordial, professional & well trained. We seem to be past the phase of pool volley ball, and drink till you sink games at a swim-up pool bar and really enjoyed the laid-back, relaxing, pampered feeling we got at the Royal Plantation.