Iberostar Rose Hall Resort and Spa is huge. It is divided into 3 hotels. The original least expensive hotel is Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Hotel. That one is currently closed but expected to reopen in November in time for busy season. The middle hotel is Iberostar Rose Hall Suites. This is newer and has all junior suites. This resort is family friendly as well as the beach hotel. The Grand is adults only with added amenities such as butler service. We stayed in the Suites so that is what I will review although I have a few pics from the 2 others.

Iberostar Rose Hall Suites Site Visit October 2009.

We arrived to the resort at around 2pm despite the empty lobby and low occupancy our room was not ready. That was fine as I am not the type to be upset because a room isn’t ready early. Check in time is 3pm. The lobby was large with a bar tour desks the front desk and a grand staircase leading down to the pool/beach/restaurants level. There are elevators as well. We were given our bracelets and directed to the main buffet, Miranda Hill, for lunch. We were impressed with large variety at the buffet. I love the pasta made to order!

We checked back after lunch and our room was ready. We were in an Oceanview Junior Suite. I was very impressed with the rooms. They were spacious and very clean. You enter into a hallway with the bathroom on one side and large closet for hanging clothes, closet with shelves and safe, and mini bar on the other side. The bathroom was large with a huge soaking tub (no jets) and a stall shower with rain shower head and double sinks. There is a door between the hall and the bedroom. The bed is big and comfortable with plenty of pillows and a flat screen TV. Then you step down to a sunken living area with love seat table, desk and chairs. There is free internet connection by the desk but it is not wireless. The balcony was a nice size overlooking the pool with and ocean view if you go out and look to the side (that is what ocean view is if you want a full on view of the beach book and ocean front). There is a rack for hanging wet clothes as they ask you not to hang clothes/towels from the balcony. This rule and others is included in their mini handbook of rules that is given to you at check in.

This resort is very European so all instructions, menus, and signs are listed in several languages and you will hear all different languages being spoken while there. Most staff seemed to speak English and/or Spanish. You will also note ash trays everywhere (even in rooms and next to lounge chairs) because it is okay to smoke although I was never bothered by the smoke.

Restaurants: All specialty restaurants require reservations be made at the guest services desk in the lobby. They all have a dress code. Men must wear trousers and shoes! The buffet restaurant is the only one without a dress code of reservations needed.

We were only got to try 2 restaurants for dinner. Aunt Ruby’s steakhouse was very good! You can walk along the beach to get to it or take a shortcut from the pool area through the hallway of building 3. Everyone sits out on the 2 patio areas for dinner because the inside gets filled with smoke when the grills are going. You do go inside for the salad bar. The other specialty restaurant we got to try was the Japanese Hibachi restaurant. This is actually located in the beach hotel so we had to take a golf cart over and down a steep hill (do not sit on the very back seat). The way back we just walked along the beach which was much nicer until a cat jumped out. The cat was harmless but scared me to death, lol! While at the hibachi we kept waiting for the cooking show to start but it never did. He cooked in front of us but there was tricks, show, nothing. We must have just gotten a dud cook because we heard applause and what not coming from the other grills. The portions here are small so if you are a big eater order 2 choices. Also, they do not offer you sake but they do have it if ask and they serve it warm.
As I mentioned earlier we were impressed with the Miranda Hill lunch buffet. The lunch buffet at Aunt Ruby’s was good but did not have as much selection.


As many know the beach is not as great in the Montego Bay/Rose Hall area as it is in other areas of Jamaica or the Caribbean. It was still nice but the water is a little rough at times which makes not clear for as far out as we are used to. Plus it is pretty rocky along the shoreline. Once you get past this patch it is smoother. If this bothers you, you can bring water shoes or walk down towards the steakhouse and beach hotel where it seemed to be less rocky.

The pool is the best part of the resort! We loved getting a drink at the swim up bar and then leaning up against the infinity edge and just hanging out. This seemed to be the hang out spot. The lazy river was a nice touch too. There is a nice Jacuzzi although it was not heated at the time we were there.

The entertainment staff works hard to keep activities going. Everyone seems to enjoy them but at times they were a bit loud and persistent in getting guests to participate. There is a smaller activity pool for diving instruction and games like water polo.

There is nightly entertainment in the theater each night. They put on shows for the children earlier in the evenings then the entertainment starts around 9-9:30. The disco is open 11pm-3am. We never made it out that late! The music bar was open certain nights with live entertainment. That seemed to be a nice place to hang out in the evenings. There was also a cigar bar and the lobby bar.

WEDDINGS:
I met with the WC Nicole Barnett and she took me on a tour of the resort. She is very sweet and seems to be pretty on top of things. Some resorts only offer limited info on your options after you ask and wait weeks to get an answer. She was able to show me the different ceremony, cocktail hour and reception sites. I really like the balcony off of the main lobby overlooking pool, resort and facing the beach. She said this is a great place to set up cocktail hour and I agree. More on locations below. She seemed a little more accessible and up front with information than other WC’s I have met. She sis admit her job can be overwhelming at times which I can certainly understand, but she does a great job! Also both times I needed to get a hold of her prior to my trip she answered the phone. That almost never happens! There is only one wedding per day at each resort so although she has her hands full it’s not as bad as resorts that have 3-5 weddings a day.

Ceremony Locations:
Beach
Gazebo (next to pool)
Lazy River Island (a pretty neat and unique location!)

Decoration of wedding area is included in your package and includes either and iron arch or a bamboo canopy/huppah, white sheer fabric, artificial ivy and/or flowers. Chairs for all guests with white covers and a tie bow in either gold, white, or silver. A white or red runner is included. SOOOOOOOOOOOO I have heard many complain about the cost of wedding packages at Iberostar but when you consider everything that is included that you would have to pay extra for at other resorts it really is worth it. For example at another popular AI the runner is $40.00 chair covers and sashes are $12.00 per chair!

Music-they can play music you bring or you can hire live music. Musicians must be paid in cash prior to event.
Mento Band $350.00/hr.
Steel Pans Band $350.00/hr.
Violinist $300.00/hr.

Flowers: they use www.flowerstudiojamaica.com

Cake: can be chosen at onsite meeting prior to wedding
Flavors: vanilla cake, chocolate cake, fruit cake, or strawberry cheesecake. It will be decorated with flowers matching bridal bouquet.


Private Event Options:

Aunt Ruby Steakhouse is for groups of 50-200. You can have private dinner on the beach terrace. You can rent restaurant from 7pm-10:30pm and have dancing (extra charge for DJ) set up here as well. The cost is $800.00

Mediterranean Restaurant/Mare Nostrum
Private dinner in an air conditioned restaurant for 25-50 guests from 7pm-10:30pm. The cost is $800.00.

Disco can be rented from 8:30-10:30 with open bar and DJ for $350.00.

If you just want dinner together without having a private venue then you can choose a restaurant and select seating time.

There are cocktail party options as well.


Day Passes:

Day pass 9am-6pm $75.00
Night Pass 6pm-2am $100.00
All day pass 9am-2am $125.00
Special Pass for wedding day (from ceremony till end of celebration) $100.00
Special Wedding Pass for Guests staying at Iberostar Rose Hall Beach $50.00 (from ceremony time till end of celebration)

To see pics please visit http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/f132/iberostar-rose-hall-suites-review-wedding-info-50715/

 

To learn more about the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites & book your vacation please contact  Maureen at - Maureen @SandnSunVacations.com