Trip Recap: “Welcome back to Jamaica Mon”

Editor’s Note: This blog is part of a series based on a recent trip to Jamaica where we toured resorts to offer you the best all-inclusive properties in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.

“Welcome back to Jamaica Mon”, is the phrase often heard upon landing back in Jamaica!

Situated about 20 minutes from the airport was our first stop: The Hyatt Zilara. This adults only paradise is in the Montego Bay area of Jamaica.

Upon arrival, the front desk staff was friendly and helpful and escorted us to our room. Unfortunately, the air conditioning was not working properly, but the staff didn’t even skip a beat in grabbing our luggage and escorting us to another room. For our inconvenience we were also given access to the concierge lounge. Pretty impressive service right out of the gate! We stopped by the lounge, which had a private bar for cocktails and hors d’ouvres before dinner and plenty of snacks throughout the day.

As I mentioned, the Hyatt Zilara is an adults only property, but it’s located right next to Hyatt Ziva, which is open to everyone. The Hyatt Ziva has 387 rooms and no reservations are required for dinner.

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Speaking of dinner…

Speaking of dinner, Food is always an important part of any vacation and at the Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva there are many choices for adults and families. Here’s a basic rundown:

Choicez: An international buffet featuring several show-cooking areas. It’s open for breakfast, lunch & dinner and shared by both resorts. We had the same server every morning, Valene, and she was always friendly and accommodating!

Di Roza: Italian cuisine served in a stunning oceanfront setting. It’s open only for dinner and is shared by both resorts.

Fuzion: Your Pan-Asian favorites prepared at small cooking stations, an open wok station and a yakitori grill. It’s open only for dinner and shared by both resorts.

Calypzo: A Caribbean restaurant located seaside and open for breakfast, lunch. dinner. It’s also shared by both resorts.

Brazil: Skewers of succulent grilled meats served up in a traditional Churrascaria. It’s open for breakfast, lunch & dinner and is shared by both resorts.

Barefoot Jerkz: Enjoy local specialties and casual fare at this beachfront grill on the beach. It’s open for lunch and afternoon snacks. A must for jerk chicken lovers!

Grindz: This casual coffee bar lets guests enjoy cappuccino, pastries or a sip of island rum. It’s open all day. It’s also a beautiful spot to get out of the sun and relax with a delicious dip of ice cream and specialty coffee.

Union Jack’z is a UK sports bar that will remind you of walking into your neighborhood pub in London.

Fez & Lagoonz (Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall) Great roof top lounge for catching the sunset or relaxing after dinner.

Bonus: Hyatt Zilara has a French restaurant and a delicious creperie.


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Let’s talk about those rooms:  We had a swim-out pool category, which is a ton of fun to jump into the blue water. Lounge chairs are on a platform in the water to relax in this private oasis.

The overall property is lush with friendly staff, upscale amenities and plenty of dining options. The best part about staying at Hyatt Ziva is adults are able to use all restaurants, pools and the beach area at both properties.

Sharon Benoff is a travel concierge with over 20 years of experience in the travel industry. When she’s not helping clients plan their dream vacation, you can find her on the beach drinking a frozen margarita!