Bahia Principe Explore Jamaica: what to know before you book

Rooms

Most rooms are deluxe junior suites with either a king bed or two double beds, in standard, sea-view and oceanfront versions. Each takes up to three adults and a child, or two adults and two children, and comes with a sofa bed, minibar, safe, coffee maker, satellite TV, air conditioning, a ceiling fan and a balcony or terrace. Bigger families should look at the family suites: two rooms, one with a king bed and one with a sofa bed, each with its own bathroom and TV, for up to four adults and a child. A sea-view family suite is also listed.

Food & drink

Bahia Principe lists seven restaurants and nine bars on a 24-hour all-inclusive plan. Nyam is the main buffet, with no reservation needed. For casual meals there’s a Jerk Center, the Round Island food market and a beach food truck. The four à la carte restaurants are Dolce Vita (Italian), Mongol (Mongolian, cooked to order), The Knife (steakhouse) and Route 66 (American diner). All four need a reservation and have a semi-formal dress code. Local drinks, beer and soft drinks are included at the bars until 2 am; premium drinks cost extra. My take: start with the jerk. It’s the most Jamaican thing on the menu.

Pool & beach

The resort is on the beach in Runaway Bay, with three pools, swim-up bars at some of them, and a children’s water park. Loungers, umbrellas and towels are included at the beach and pools. The all-inclusive covers one free hour a day of kayaks, tennis, catamaran or snorkeling, subject to availability, and one pool scuba session per person per stay. PADI diving and sailing lessons cost extra.

For children, the Kids Club runs games, workshops and team challenges for different ages, and there are shows every night, including the resort’s own Xaymaca production. Babysitting is available for children aged 2 to 12, at extra cost.

Location

The resort is at Salt Coopers in Runaway Bay, on the St Ann coast west of Ocho Rios. Bahia Principe puts it 68 km from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Runaway Bay is quiet, with a few resorts along the beach, and Green Grotto Caves is close by at Discovery Bay. Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain and Blue Hole are a day trip toward Ocho Rios. Locals will tell you to do Dunn’s River early, before the cruise-ship crowds. See where to stay in Ocho Rios for the wider area.

The adults-only Bahia Principe Escape Runaway Bay shares the complex. Bahia Principe says Escape guests can use this resort’s restaurants and facilities, both resorts have access to Bahia Principe Village (where services cost extra), and an internal shuttle links the hotels.