Secure location close to MoBay's popular Hip Strip
Massive, but simple apartment-style rooms with full kitchens and patios
Restaurant with bar, veranda dining, and room service
On-site pool, convenience market, tennis courts, and business center
Free made-to-order breakfast; choice of Jamaican or American
Free daily entry pass to Doctors Cave beach
Free Wi-Fi and parking
Majority of rooms are subject to heavy road noise
Standard rooms only have air-conditioning in bedrooms
Triple-level property with no elevator
Pots and pans must be signed for with deposit
Not on the beach (it's a short walk away)
The 96-room El Greco Resort is comprised entirely of one- and two-bedroom suites with private patios and full kitchens. On-site features include 24-hour security, tennis courts (and lessons), a small pool, and Sea View Restaurant and Bar with an outside deck perfect for watching sunsets. Strong Wi-Fi, fruity welcome drinks, and daily passes to Doctors Cave Beach are free, and a back entrance leads to the popular Hip Strip in minutes. Unfortunately, many of the rooms suffer from road noise, and if you want pots and pans you'll have to lay down a small deposit for them.
Scene
Private space with a residential and relaxed vibe
Perhaps it's the apartment-style nature of El Greco's rooms, but the place feels more like a condo rental than a hotel. Guests are left to their own devices, although the hotel's services and features are never more than a few minutes' walk away. Guests feel more like tenants, and this leads to a lack of sociability on the premise although everyone is generally friendly. It's not uncommon to see people taking advantage of their private patios in the evening or claiming personal space at the pool. While relaxing and refreshing for some, this residential vibe doesn't suit everyone, and some guests may feel slightly forgotten or ignored. It's also good to note that this resort has lots of stairs and is not ideal for those with mobility issues. Light sleepers may also find rooms outside of the "quiet" D Block too noisy to sleep in, thanks to the busy road nearby.
Location
Off a busy street; close to the Hip Strip, Doctors Cave, and airport
Located off Queens Drive in Montego Bay, El Greco Resort's street-adjacent buildings are often subjected to traffic noise, even late at night. On the plus side, the hotel's location against the busy, narrow road doesn't allow for much direct foot traffic outside the gates. From the back of the hotel, through the neighboring property, guests also have a shortcut down to the Hip Strip where Doctors Cave Beach, Margaritaville, and a convenient selection of bars, shops, and restaurants lie. Sangster International Airport is under 10 minutes by car, and surprisingly, there's hardly any overhead plane noise.
Rooms
Large, self-catering apartment-style rooms with basic furniture
El Greco's one- and two-bedroom apartment units are nothing fancy, but they are huge. All units have full-size kitchens, Caribbean-style wicker furniture, TVs with cable, air-conditioning in the bedrooms, private patios, and basic bathrooms with shower/tub combinations. The basic white tile floors and white wood veneer in the kitchens look a bit '90s. Two-bedroom apartments are dual-level dwellings with dining rooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and larger bedrooms with individual TVs (some are old, bulky, tube-style models), large closets, and personal desks. Upgrading to a Superior One-Bedroom snags you slightly more contemporary decor and comforts like a larger refrigerator, coffeemaker, microwave, and flat-screen TVs; those staying in Executive Two-Bedroom Suites get air-conditioning in the living room. Both upgrades also mean hairdryers and more than just a bar of soap in the bathroom.
Features
Basic resort features and daily passes to Doctors Cave
El Greco Resort has most of the typical features you would expect at a mid-range resort. The Sea View Restaurant and Bar is set at the hotel's highest point, overlooking the sea from several stories up. It serves a tasty Jamaican or American breakfast (the Jamaican breakfasts change daily and are huge), lunch, and dinner. Unfortunately, the bar, with only a few stools, doesn't have much atmosphere, so you're better off heading to the restaurant's veranda to sip, especially during sundown. There is also a modestly sized pool with a few loungers, tables, and umbrellas next to the restaurant. In addition to a small market and souvenir shop near the D block, El Greco has a handful of extra features such as a chilled welcome drink, free water cooler, public computer with Internet in the lobby, reliable and strong Wi-Fi in all rooms, tour booking services, and one-time daily passes to Doctors Cave beach. There are also free parking and 24-hour security.