I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

[lonewolf]

I know the all-inclusive concept is taboo for most on this site, but as one who thinks Jamaica excells in this hotel category, it's my opinion that "The Jewel" will bring stiff competition to the Couples and Sandals resorts in the Ocho Rios area.
It's the old Sandals Dunns river resort that Butch cut loose and the new owners and staff have excelled and improved it over the old Sandals product.
It's a bargain right now as they have been offering promotional prices on your stay.
This was trip number 15 to an all-inclusive in Jamaica.

[StarGirl]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

Have you stayed at Couples Sans Souci? How does it compare to that resort?

What about the food? Although the property at the RIU in Ochi is nice, the food was very disappointing at the buffet and the specialty restaurants.

[Magician]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

[lonewolf]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magix</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> </div></div>

Magix, sorry, I stopped taking pictures. I have to many from all those years of travel.
They are not important to me anymore. LOL Anyway, they just remind me of how old I'm getting.

[Magician]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

LOL I see.
Well hope you enjoyed it!

[lonewolf]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: StarGirl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Have you stayed at Couples Sans Souci? How does it compare to that resort?

What about the food? Although the property at the RIU in Ochi is nice, the food was very disappointing at the buffet and the specialty restaurants.

</div></div>

I had a day pass to San Souci and only had the chance to eat lunch, which was very good. I ate the seafood stew which was full of lobster and shrimp. The choices for food in general for lunch were quite varied. I was impressed with San Souci.
The food at the Jewel was excellent and compared very well to the Couples Resorts. At the Jewel I had everything from surf and turf, lamb chops and they had a very good Japanese restaurant and the cooks were very entertaining.

Remember, you get what you pay for and the RIU resorts are considerably less in cost and much larger than any Couples Resorts and the Jewel.
We use a certain criteria when choosing a resort and the most important is that it be adults only and that room capacity does not exceed 200 -250 rooms. We have found that food is usually much better and service is more personalized than resorts such as the RIU (purple monster).

The Jewel compared favorably to the Couples resorts, but fell short as it pertained to the inclusive excursions such as Dunn River falls climb, snorkeling, scuba etc. which the Jewel did not include. Of course it was much cheaper than any Couples resort.

PS the Jewel is next door to the RIU in Ochi.

[Magician]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

Seafood sounds tasty.

The only AI's I've done are the ones work puts me in and I enjoyed some and didn't like others. But not in Jamaica.

[Q3210]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

I didn`t know that it the Jewel now. Years ago before AI`s that same hotel was the Arawak Hotel, one of the first.
btw. It is located not in Ocho Rios, but in Mamee Bay, west of and half way to St Anns Bay.

[Yuriatin]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

Q!

You beat me.

I was JUST going to say the same thing - RIU not in Ochie. No biggie to many &amp; most but a major pet peeve of mine. ie:, I hate when <span style="font-style: italic">Couples Ochie </span>or <span style="font-style: italic">RIU Ochie</span> is referenced. Ugh.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Q3210</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I didn`t know that it the Jewel now. Years ago before AI`s that same hotel was the Arawak Hotel, one of the first.
btw. It is located not in Ocho Rios, but in Mamee Bay, west of and half way to St Anns Bay. </div></div>

[Stormmey]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lonrwolf</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: StarGirl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Have you stayed at Couples Sans Souci? How does it compare to that resort?

What about the food? Although the property at the RIU in Ochi is nice, the food was very disappointing at the buffet and the specialty restaurants.

</div></div>

<span style="font-weight: bold">I had a day pass to San Souci and only had the chance to eat lunch, which was very good. I ate the seafood stew which was full of lobster and shrimp. The choices for food in general for lunch were quite varied. I was impressed with San Souci</span>.
The food at the Jewel was excellent and compared very well to the Couples Resorts. At the Jewel I had everything from surf and turf, lamb chops and they had a very good Japanese restaurant and the cooks were very entertaining.

Remember, you get what you pay for and the RIU resorts are considerably less in cost and much larger than any Couples Resorts and the Jewel.
We use a certain criteria when choosing a resort and the most important is that it be adults only and that room capacity does not exceed 200 -250 rooms. We have found that food is usually much better and service is more personalized than resorts such as the RIU (purple monster).

The Jewel compared favorably to the Couples resorts, but fell short as it pertained to the inclusive excursions such as Dunn River falls climb, snorkeling, scuba etc. which the Jewel did not include. Of course it was much cheaper than any Couples resort.

PS the Jewel is next door to the RIU in Ochi. </div></div>

glad to read the above bolded as I will be there for (3) days soon..... and next to oxtail seafood is my favourite.

[lonewolf]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Q3210</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I didn`t know that it the Jewel now. Years ago before AI`s that same hotel was the Arawak Hotel, one of the first.
btw. It is located not in Ocho Rios, but in Mamee Bay, west of and half way to St Anns Bay. </div></div>

Well, you need to take that up with the resort because they think Mammee Bay along with the resort is located in Ocho Rios.

Here is the official address off their website.


The Jewel Dunn’s River Resort &amp; Spa
PO Box 858
Mammee Bay
<span style="font-weight: bold">Ocho Rios</span>, Jamaica

[lonewolf]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Yuri_</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Q!

You beat me.

I was JUST going to say the same thing - RIU not in Ochie. No biggie to many &amp; most but a major pet peeve of mine. ie:, I hate when <span style="font-style: italic">Couples Ochie </span>or <span style="font-style: italic">RIU Ochie</span> is referenced. Ugh.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Q3210</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I didn`t know that it the Jewel now. Years ago before AI`s that same hotel was the Arawak Hotel, one of the first.
btw. It is located not in Ocho Rios, but in Mamee Bay, west of and half way to St Anns Bay. </div></div> </div></div>


Same goes with the RIU and Couples. They recognize themselves in Ocho Rios
Their official address'....

RIU
Mammee Bay Ocho Rios,
St. Ann Jamaica
P.O.Box 4442.


Couples
Tower Isle Ocho Rios
St Mary, Jamaica
PO BOX 330

[StarGirl]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

Couples Sans Souci is my favorite AI for adults in Jamaica. If the food at Jewel is comparable and the only downside is that some excursions are not included, it sure sounds worth the change.

What were the renovations to the Jewel because the former hotel did not look so hot last time I was there.

[ohliz]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

Someone i know from another board was just at the Jewel and took a bunch of photos:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/579646764KtgcNz

[lonewolf]

Re: I just returned from the Jewel Dunns River

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: StarGirl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Couples Sans Souci is my favorite AI for adults in Jamaica. If the food at Jewel is comparable and the only downside is that some excursions are not included, it sure sounds worth the change.

What were the renovations to the Jewel because the former hotel did not look so hot last time I was there. </div></div>

Please, remember, my stay at San Souci was limited to a day pass, but my experience with Couples resorts on a whole is enough to give you my opinion that this resort is a nice option especially if the price is much lower than Couples as it was for us. The Jewel is very similiar in quality, but it's not Couples.

I would not make a change to the Jewel if San Souci was my favorite resort unless the Jewel made it worth it. There was a difference in price from Tower Isle to the Jewel of almost $1000.00 dollars for the same dates. Also, my idea of a nice resort may be different than yours.

I could not tell you exactly what renovations were done, but the resort seemed to be very up to date and beautiful. Very clean and well maintained and easy to navigate.