Secrets St. James is one of the top all inclusive options in the tourist destination, Montego Bay. The property features, designed to provide optimal relaxation and luxury, include an expansive spa, eight bars, and of course, half a mile of beautiful beach.
A visit to the Secrets Wild Orchid Resort in Montego Bay is bound to be one that you won’t soon forget. It’s not often my expectations are exceeded, but my visit there was one of those times. Here’s a quick synopsis.
What I liked
- Accommodation: large rooms with classic décor and tasteful furniture.
- Preferred Club: provides a real VIP experience throughout your stay with swim-out rooms, private Jacuzzis, and other perks.
- Plenty food choices: all of 10 restaurants to choose from.
- Adults only: ideal for a romantic getaway.
- Numerous activities: there are so many ways to pass the time; never a dull moment.
What I disliked
- Crowding: can get a bit crowded, especially in the restaurants and bars, due to facilities being shared with the neighbouring Secrets St. James.
Overall Assessment
Secrets Wild Orchid seems to have put a lot of thought into planning their all-inclusive packages, in addition to the design of the property and the level of customer service. I don’t know if it’s just the Preferred Club section, but the workers were super-friendly and they make you feel relaxed and at home the minute you enter the impressive lobby. A combination of glossy wood, tile, and concrete, as well as warm, earthy colours here give a sense of what is to come.
And the rooms don’t disappoint at all, accentuated by rich wood and a pop of colour in things like cushions, drapery, and the bedside lamp. Rooms are large compared to regular rooms I have stayed in at other hotels, and are outfitted with bells and whistles fit for a king. These range from an imposing four-poster bed to a 36-inch flat screen TV, along with a well-stocked minibar and a whirlpool tub on the balcony. On top of that, room service is top-notch, and you can even make use of what is called a “Secret Box,” which makes it possible for you to get what you want without having to open your main room door.
Outside, there is plenty to do, starting with the pools. I guess most people would agree that the Preferred Club Pool is the nicer of the two pools (a third pool can also be accessed next door at Secrets St. James), especially with the added benefit of swim-out access for PC guests, and its closer proximity to the beach.
Both pools also feature swim-up bars and restaurants and many lounge chairs.
When it comes on to food, Secrets Wild Orchid didn’t disappoint. For starters, the restaurant promenade is designed in such a way that all restaurants have their own identities. The variety covers a lot too and includes Jamaican, Mexican, Italian and French. My personal favourites were the Barefoot Grill and the Bourdeaux (fine dining), but the regular buffet restaurant was also enjoyable. The bars were great as well, offering some of the finest mixed drinks, liquors and wines.
Now, there are tons of ways to pass the time, whether night or day, but I would recommend that you definitely spend some time at the Pevonia Spa. Better yet, get a couples’ late night massage (requires reservation) for the ultimate in romantic relaxation. Other amenities you can enjoy include a casino, theater, and tennis court, plus you can even go shopping.
Get a Great Deal
I could go on and on, but I will leave you to discover some of the secrets of the Secrets Wild Orchid on your own. If you’d like to book a reservation check for available dates below.
[kkstarratings]
“Secrets Wild Orchid Monteo Bay” – Room. toilet, bathroom, face bowl, living room area not clean. Staff rude & impatient. Lobby very small people had to wait outside between doors open to get assistance (2 chairs only available to sit in to wait). Food not good. In room dining took 2 hours each time (when asked waiter he slammed door in my face). Bedsheets were so short kept coming off of bed. Had to request towels and face cloths EVERYDAY (wait for 2-3 hours before received or had to keep calling to obtain). If you ask a staff person a question they would say “I don’t know”. When speaking with a member of the staff another staff person would interrupt (foregoing our moment). No ambiance to the lobby. Service was poor. Had to wait 35 – 40 minutes in line to get hamburger at “Barefoot Grill”. Poor check in procedures. Asked for upgrade (request was ignored & not responded to. Told on honeymoon after travel agents interception they put “Happy Anniversary” on door (wrong again). Paid for Club MoBay service no one met at plane (asked for help took 2 hours to resolve as others went through customs line and were done). MoBay agent want to about why we didn’t get service when we didn’t know ourselves. We paid for service directly to hotel from airport (bus driver made a stop). We didn’t have a ride from airport if we hadn’t kept asking Amstar agents for assistance. Then they picked a bus and stuck us on it. I gave a list of issues to the Manager (his response was to give us complimentary dinner at the hotel next door. Sent champagne to our room 1 day before we left. Breakfast was actually on time the day we left. If our travel agent hadn’t stepped in we probably would be still stuck there.
Hi Nancy, I’m so sorry to hear about the unfortunate experience you had at Secrets Wild Orchid. Definitely not the experience I’d expect any guest to have at a 5 star resort. I hope the management sees your feedback and makes steps to rectify issues mentioned. I hope you’ll give Jamaica another shot, perhaps another resort? Be sure to share your views if you visit other resorts.