We got married on the 16^th December 2010 and were in Jamaica from the 11^th-25^th December. Everyone had an amazing time and we will definitely be back. I have gone to Jamaica nearly every year with my family since about age 12 and we have always stayed in all inclusive hotels and the Iberostar was our favorite. Every year I would watch couples getting married on the beach and I am so blessed I had my turn too. Even though it rained!!!!!

 

We actually got married at the Suites but stayed at the Grand, and we had guest staying at the Grand, Suites and Beach. So I have posted this review on both the Grand and Suites Review sites. I have specified between the Grand and the Suites so I hope its easy to follow and can be as useful as I found all the BDW reviews to be.

 

Check in A*

 

We were first to arrive by a couple of days out of all our guests. We had booked to stay at the Suites for the first few days up to the wedding then move on to the Grand. The Suites was fully booked and the room we had requested was unavailable so they upgraded us to the Grand straight away, which was no problem at all for us. We were so pleased! We had only planned to stay at the Suites first as we wanted the wedding there as we had children attending, but this all worked out perfectly. Both the Suites and Grand check in was smooth and quick and we were greeted by a lovely cocktail at the Suites and then another at the Grand. Perfect! Everyone was super friendly, super helpful and very efficient.

 

Rooms

 

Grand A*

 

I am still dreaming of this room. Room 5326! Amazing. It was a corner Ocean Front room and the view was absolutely beautiful. We had a bottle of Red wine and some delicious chocolates waiting for us upon arrival. The bed was so comfortable and the pillow service allowed us to change pillows and literally be in heaven we were so comfortable. The bathroom was lovely, I actually want to do my home bathroom exactly the same now! Everything was so clean and had the best Jacuzzi bath. The rain shower head was also fabulous. As soon as we got in the room our wonderful butler Dwayne asked if the mini bar was stocked how we like it. I swiftly changed rum to vodka, sprite to diet coke and had more Guinness and Red Stripe in there for the hubby and that was it. Our mini bar was stocked just as we liked it for the duration of the holiday.

 

View looking left:

 

 

View looking head on:

 

 

The amazing balcony

 

 

The Jacuzzi Bath

 

 

Suites A

 

I had family staying at the Suites so was in those rooms a lot too. They are also wonderful, not quite the same standard of Luxury as the Grand but I am sure if I had not seen the Grand first I would have been just as happy. Bathrooms were also to a high standard with marble and double sinks and balcony views were also amazing. The difference in mini bar is that they only stock wine, beer and soft drinks, so no spirits.

 

Room Service

 

Grand A*

 

Amazing, you order a glass of Champagne and they bring you the bottle. From burgers to sushi and lobster everything was so good. I just wish there was more hours in the day as I was always too full from the rest of the lovely food in the hotel. Service is very quick I think the longest we waited was 20mins.

 

 

Suites B

 

The difference with the suites room service is you cannot order drinks and there is no sushi and lobster. But apart from that it is just as good. The only reason I have given it a B and not an A was because the service was not as fast and a few occasions I know my guests had to wait over an hour.

 

Food A*

 

Put it this way I put on 13lbs my husband put on 22lbs in 2 weeks!!!! We arrived on Saturday and the wedding was on Thursday and I nearly didn’t fit into my dress. It was a real fight with my aunty and hubby both on their knees trying to tug it over my hips! And I had been holding back those first few days too lol

 

The food was amazing in both the Suites and Grand. The selection at the Grand for the buffets’ was a tiny bit larger and the presentation was a lil prettier but that is only because I was paying very close attention. It was all fab. Breakfast was our favorite, Jamaican, American and European and I was sure to have all each day! I also love the beachside lunch buffet restaurant at the Grand, the food was great but even just going for the views would be good. We ate at Calabash, the Mexican, and the Japanese. They were all great, but to be honest the standard of the buffet was so good we didn’t even need to go anywhere else. We were there for 2 weeks and were not bored of the food, and I had family there for 3 weeks and they just about managed to try every restaurant.

 

Japanese Restaurant at Grand

 

 

Mexican Restaurant at Suites

 

 

Drinks A*

 

Amazing!!!!!!! Both Grand and Suites, everything you could want and the brand you would want. And if your cocktail was not on the menu they will be sure to make it for you.

 

Lobby bar at the Grand with the best barman 

 

 

Service

 

Grand A*

 

OUTSTANDING! The best service I have ever experienced at a hotel or resort anywhere in the world. From the bar staff to butlers to bell boys to spa staff. Everyone was friendly, fast and efficient. I didn’t experience any “Jamaican time” which I am well used to my family being Jamaican! And no pressure for tips. The pool and bar staff would always remember what you are drinking and have it ready for you and the chamber maids were lovely.

 

Suites B

 

The service was very good just not quite as high a standard. All the Spa staff remembered my family from previous years when they had stayed at the beach and even the services they had which was quite incredible.

 

Beach and pool A*

 

There were plenty of lounge chairs in both the sun and the shade. My fav was a big double bed near the pool bar. I am not really a sea person but the sand was lovely. The pools were large and well maintained and I could float around without crashing into anyone. The infinity pools looked gorgeous, made you just want to dive right in, until you felt the cold lol The Suites pools were busier but still lovely and fun.

 

Beach Volley Ball at Suites

 

 

Pool at the Grand

 

 

The Club A* or D

 

The Club was so fun, on a good day there would be loads of people with great vibes or just you and who you came with. So the club is what you make it. We always had fun even with just us. Christmas Eve was amazing as it was staff and guests and everyone was dancing. The music is a mix of reggae and commercial. I think the DJ goes by the crowd and what he thinks they want to hear. There is a big screen which plays the videos to the songs which is fun after a few drinks trying to copy all the dances! What is good about the club is that everyone form the Beach Suites and Grand are welcome.

 

Christmas Eve Party at the club

 

 

 

Spa A*

 

We received a free couples massage with our wedding package and then we were hooked! They are so good! I felt like I was at the Sanctuary Covent Garden. The standard was very high, we had more massages, and a facials and reflexology. The prices aren’t cheap but they aren’t more than you would pay at home either. I didn’t use the salon for my hair and make up but that is only because my hairdresser was with me and I like to do my own make up. Everyone I saw coming out looked wonderful. Even if you are not having a treatment you can still use the facilities, sauna, Jacuzzi and hydro pool. They are great and very good on rainy days! The only thing is that the steam rooms were out of order and have been for 6 months. I didn’t miss it but my hubby likes a steam. But really it is no biggie when there is everything else.

 

Gym A

 

Gym was great only reason it doesn’t get an A* for me is there was no rowing machine. But to be honest I only went to the gym the first 4 days so who am I kidding. There is everything else you need and it’s new, clean and bright in there. Plus the juice bar is amazing, different selections of fresh juices and smoothies.

 

Activities and Star Friends A*

 

The star friends are great and always try to involve people without bugging you, they remember what you like and will always let you know when it is happening. My husband liked to play, beach volley ball,  pool volley ball, football, table tennis – actually every sporting activity that was going on, and I liked to do yoga, step aerobics class or Zumba. The fact that it was not taken too seriously was good too, as they realized you are on holiday! By 11.30am after a few cocktails I was in no mood to do a hard-core fitness class, but step aerobics outside at my own pace was perfect. My guests that were more dedicated did the fitness classes in the fitness studio, which I think was for the more dedicated folk.

 

 

Billing

 

We paid for our trip before arrival, all Spa services we paid for at the Spa desk and on check out we did not incur any other hotel charges. The wedding invoice was exactly as we had expected it, any questions we had were answered before the final bill was issued and it was all handled very well. Absolutely no hidden cost. Our total bill for the wedding was $3250. Which included vendor passes and guest passes for guest staying at the beach hotel. I think this is great! This didn’t include flowers and photographer which we used and outside service.

 

Christmas

 

Although we left on Christmas day the Christmas Eve banquet and the general Christmas experience was wonderful. I recommend a December wedding. There is nothing like sunshine and cocktails on Christmas Day. Father Christmas even arrived on a speed boat and everyone from all three hotels gathered for the party 

 

 

 

 

WC Nicole at the Suites A*

 

 

Nicole is great and such a sweetheart. I know it’s a little difficult to get her before you arrive and she may take a couple of days to reply, but she is so organized and has everything down to a T. No need to worry just relax!

 

Wedding at the Suites

 

The wedding was wonderful and everyone had a great time, however things did not go to plan! First off I forgot to bring my veil, which I was so upset about. Secondly I almost didn’t fit my dress as I had eaten too much. I couldn’t actually sit down in the dress as I’m sure it would have split. But after that I was like whatever! Lets just have fun. So we were super laid back and just enjoyed ourselves.

 

Then the rain - It rained, A lot!!!! But I was determined to have a beach wedding!

 

The plan was to have a beach wedding, then cocktail couple hours on the beach, then dinner at Calabash, then disco.

 

So as it comes time to do the final call for rain, its still raining but about to stop. So I wanted to wait, Everything on the beach looked so pretty. Basically we went in and out about 3 times. In the end we just stood up in the shelter of Aunt Ruby’s Steakhouse and just did it there and then. My hubby was bored of waiting and I thought it would be a load of trouble for nothing moving it all inside again. So everyone just stood and watched. Then my husband and I went in the rain to take pictures, while the guest went into the music room to have cocktail party. I missed it but everyone said it was good and Nicole organized everyone to there and then on to Calabash for the reception dinner.

 

So all my organizing of flowers, songs to walk down the aisle to, where the bridal party would stand all kind of went to waste. But then it was still beautiful; I took pictures by the huppa so I was happy. It just goes to show all the little details we stress and obsess over are not even that important. We had a blast!

 

 

 

 

Reception dinner at calabash

 

The decoration and layout was gorgeous! They did such a good job. On the first day we arrived I dropped my bag of candles vases and rose petals along with a detailed map of how I wanted it set out to Nicole’s office. I turn up at the reception and it is perfect. Simple as that.

 

Dinner was very tasty, I had the snapper and loved it. The presentation was beautiful and it was perfect for a wedding reception. I had also done a little map of who was sitting where and what they were eating so that it was easy to serve. This would have been perfect except a few of my guest decided to switch seats! hehe

 

 

Wedding Cake A*

 

The best cake I have ever had! The top was lemon cheese cake and the bottom was rum cake. It was so good! I took it back to the room and continued to eat it for 3 days. I put a big note next to it saying ‘please don’t take the cake!’ Then on the 4^th day they had to as it wouldn’t last any longer. I know lots of BDW brides were ordering cakes from outside. I wouldn’t bother this was sooooooo good! And looked pretty too.

 

 

Disco

After the wedding we went back to our rooms had a little nap/ change, whatever   then the plan was to go to the disco. However my hubby didn’t make it back down so I just went for a little bit and shook a leg with my bridesmaids then headed back to the wonderful room!

 

 

Flowers by  Floral Fantasies

 

I found floral fantasies on BDW and from day one they were great. Rose Williams replied straight away and was very helpful. Their prices were also fantastic almost half of what other companies had quoted me. I ordered the flowers and they were delivered on the morning, everything was perfect. I didn’t go crazy with flowers I just ordered the 5 bridesmaid bouquets, 8 buttonholes and my bouquet. The bridesmaid bouquets doubled up as our table flowers – also another BDW idea that worked out fantastically. I highly recommend floral fantasies. If you cannot see what you want on the website you can send an inspiration picture that they will match. They deliver to your hotel for $30

 

 

Photography by Diana Campbell

 

Diana and her son Richard were great and quoted us a fantastic price. They were friendly and they made us feel very comfortable. We received our pictures a couple of days later on a disc as we requested and were very pleased. If it weren’t so chaotic due to the rain and changes of plans I know we would have had a few more of the shots I wanted. But they worked well with the situation and we have some great pics. I highly recommend them especially if you are working on a budget as the photographers can get very pricey.

 

Overall the holiday and wedding was amazing. Everything I could have asked for. The Iberostar hotels are great and I would highly recommend them. If you have no children and budget allows it stay at the Grand as it is such a fantastic experience, however the suites is lovely too. We will definitely be back at the Grand in 2011!

 

If you have anymore specific questions please feel free to message me.

 

 

Cam xoxo