First, let me say, Jamaica is a beautiful island. It's funny, I've talked to people who say they don't find the people on Jamaica very friendly, but I don't understand that at all (although a lot of people say the same thing about us New Yorkers, and I didn't have that problem when I first came here either) since I find them to be very warm and friendly. I've been to Negril before, this was my first time to Ocho Rios, and I've had a great time every time I've been here. Granted, I’m prejudiced because I haven’t found an island in the Caribbean I didn’t like, I’m in love with that area.

Most of you are already familiar with a lot I'm going to say, but I'll post it anyway for anyone who isn't.

Sunday: We usually fly American but I didn’t want to have to leave the resort early in the morning the day we returned home, so I booked first class on Air Jamaica. Unfortunately, they switched the flight to an all economy airline with no real explanation as to why. I suppose it could have been worse, at least we didn’t have to sit on the runway for hours, but it was uncomfortable (since we had some inconsiderate types in front of us) and made for a bad mood before we even arrived, something to be considered when you plan your trip and choose your flights. Honestly, the flights are the only complaint I have about traveling to Jamaica. They did let us use the First Class check-in and the First Class lounges at least.

The hotel sent a car to pick us up at the airport and since that was much more comfortable than the buses so many other places send and had a cooler of soda and water and Red Stripe, the ride was more pleasant than expected, especially since it only took an hour and a half instead of the expected two hours. When I arrived at RP, I was initially disappointed because I had requested a room in our category in the West Wing with the big balcony and there wasn’t one available. However, they did offer to move me to said room the next day. By the time Monday had rolled around, we were now a jacuzzi, a couples massage and plenty of good food and drink later and were comfortable where we were.

Just to make sure we were happy, however, they showed us the West Wing Honeymoon Luxe Suite. There are only six rooms in the Honeymoon Luxe category and the three in the East Wing differ from the three in the West. In the West, the bathroom and the balcony were truly impressive, though I didn’t think the main room itself was as nice as those in the East. At any rate, they did offer to move our things for us, but we opted to stay where we were. The room was beautiful with a canopy bed, the bathroom, though smaller was lovely with a nice, strong jacuzzi and separate marbled shower, a separate “dressing area”, a walk in closet, an en suite sitting area with a French balcony and an additional outside balcony. They had the bar stocked with our favorite topshelf liquors and all kinds of juices and sodas, beer and water. I looked at several of the rooms before I left, and even the cheapest of the rooms were nice. We tried many of the selections on the “pillow menu” while we were there, the linens are a high quality and the pillows were just a nice added touch.

Monday morning was beautiful but it poured Monday afternoon. We were “forced” to spend the time in the jacuzzi and using the room bar and getting a couples massage and playing pool. Heartbreaking, isn’t it? *grin* Met a lot of great people at the Manager’s cocktail party, both employees and guests. One woman, who I came to like very much during the week, was there alone as her husband worked for the British Government and had been called to Iraq. As a testament to the type of guests we met, she didn’t spend a moment all week alone unless she wanted some private time. The mantra here seems to be “Anything you want....anything at all” and I’ve never seen people try so hard to live up to it. EVERYONE here, from top to bottom, not only goes out of their way to please you but it’s done with such style and such a pleasant and empathetic demeanor that I’d have to say it’s one of the best trained staffs I’ve ever seen. There’s never a sense that people are grudgingly doing their jobs, they all treat you as if it’s a true pleasure to serve and as if they owned a piece of it themselves, the way those at a family owned business would. And the resort itself follows suit in all ways showing great attention to every little detail with those little details adding up to a spectacular “big picture.” The rooms are wonderful, the public areas beautiful, the grounds lush and lovely and well cared for and the restaurants a source of pride. I was sorry that Peter Fraser, the General Manager, was away since I had been corresponding with him before arriving and was looking forward to meeting him. Suzanne Millwood, the hotel manager, came up to us at the party to say “We’d like to ask you for a favor. We’re being featured in a magazine and we consider it a big honor. We’d like a couple to be in one of the photos, would you do it for us?” I’m all about having a good story to tell when I get home, so we agreed to do it the next day. “

Tuesday we spent most of the day on the beach, swimming, drinking, eating, reading and just generally relaxing. They started us off with mangosas (mimosas made with mango juice instead of orange juice) on the beach and anytime you want a drink or something to eat it’s right there, so there was no reason to go anywhere else as far as I was concerned. They even give you flags to signal them, but I didn’t even need it because one look will bring them over. Took a dip in the pool later and tried the two tiered hot tub. My big excitement of the day, being that I’m such a six year old at heart, was the peacocks. I was awake early and didn’t want to wake my husband, so I went out to take some pictures before breakfast. I saw seven of them (they tell me there are more) strolling up to the spa like they were going for a massage. They let you come right up to them. Later that day, when we were meeting the photographer, I saw a hen with several chicks.

By Wednesday we had gotten to know people and we spent the afternoon hanging out on the raft in the ocean drinking with several other couples. When I returned from this vacation, a friend who works for the Today Show asked “What are the guests like? Are they that pretensious, snooty sort?” I knew what she was asking, because I’ve run into that type at some places. NOT AT ALL. Maybe we just got lucky, but everyone we met was wonderful and we had a great time hanging out.

There are different vendors on the beach each day, one day selling jewelry and another wood carvings or paintings, but they don’t bother you. You go up to them if you wish, they will not harass you. There is also a vendor who is up at the gazebo selling jewelry and a store on the premises.

By Thursday, we were in the habit of meeting other couples after dinner to dance to the band that played at night. I just couldn’t believe how fast the week had gone. I had initially planned to do a little sightseeing, but maybe next time we visit. Truth be told, we were just too comfortable to bother.

Friday was a big day. They had their special hot chocolate made fresh in the morning and their martini party (the chocolatinis were to die for -- and I finally got to meet Peter Fraser who had now returned ) at night and it was our anniversary. I thought all the restaurants were good, though I was partial to Le Papillon myself so I had made a reservation there. When I came in, they led me to a table that was strewn with flowers and a bottle of Veuve Cliquot was waiting for us. They had prepared a special meal that was delicious and waited on us like we were celebrities. I talked to a couple that had been married there that week and RP goes out of their way to make occasions special. Earlier in the week I had met a young woman who was planning her wedding next March at RP and I have no doubt she made the right choice. That's going to be some dream wedding. Everyone was waiting for us downstairs when it was over and we all danced the rest of the night away and hung out on the porch and talked. Not once the whole week did I ever get a sense from anyone working here that we were “being humored” in any way, everyone was genuninely warm and friendly and incredibly efficient no matter what their position and though everything about this place was wonderful it's the people that really made the difference between this resort and some others I've been to.

Saturday was our last night, so seven of us arranged to have dinner together. Again, they could not have done anything they weren't already doing to make it more special. The piano player moved from the restaurant to the bar later in the evening and we all hung out singing (being a little drunk will do that to you) and he was nice enough to stay later than usual since we were all having such a good time.

Sunday, we had a leisurely breakfast and they offered lunch (we declined) and a few drinks while were waiting to leave after checkout. (we took them up on the drinks!)

I have nothing but nice things to say about RP and am looking forward to going back. It's a beautiful place, every inch of it, and it’s full of great people, consummate professionals who manage to be efficient while exuding genuine warmth. It had not seen the last of me.