Montego Bay Club Resort

Montego Bay Club Resort might have the word resort in its name, but calling it a resort is a stretch. The hotel opened in 1974 and it’s pretty much a dated, apartment-style property long overdue for an update. Sure, there’s a restaurant and a pool with stunning views, but the overall decor is bland and the pool deck is cracked. The front desk feels ignored, too. It’s covered and outdoors and looks like a parking lot attendant’s booth. The lobby is definitely a step up with its gorgeous hardwood ceiling and funky (maybe too funky) plush couches with wild patterns. The 13-story hotel is built along a tall, overgrown cliff and the lobby essentially doubles as a bridge between the clifftop and the hotel’s guest rooms. Hallways are open air and overlook the lush cliff face, covered with ferns and flowers and vines with huge leaves. Hotel guests are mostly couples from the United States and Canada.

Montego Bay Club Resort is located on the Hip Strip, the oceanfront area in downtown Montego Bay full of restaurants, shops, and bars. Across the street from the resort are a bank, tourist gift shops, and mini-markets. There’s also a market on the hotel’s second floor. The nearest beach is across the street, but it’s not free. The closest free beach is Dead End Beach, that’s a four-minute drive or 15-minute walk. Food wise, there’s a Jamaican restaurant across the street and a jerk shack is a five-minute walk away. Fast food restaurants are a four-minute drive or an 18-minute walk from the resort. A bit farther afield, Negril is an hour and a half drive and Rick’s Cafe, the famed bar and sunset spot, is an hour and thirty-five-minute drive away. Bob Marley’s birth site (and burial site) in the town Nine Mile is a two-hour drive away. Sangster International Airport is a seven-minute drive from Montego Bay Club Resort.  

The air-conditioned rooms at Montego Bay Resort are a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments with ocean-view balconies. They’re all individually owned and furnished, but managed by the resort. The units we saw were dated and were shabby chic before shabby chic was a design choice. Expect bell-shaped lampshades, white tile floors, and tired couches. Needless to say they’re overdue for an update. Units have either one or two double beds or a king bed, a mix of couches (some with sleeper sofas) or love seats, lounge chairs, and small dining tables with chairs. All units also feature flat-screen TVs with cable channels. Most guests like the compact kitchens loaded with an electric range and ovens, microwaves, blenders, electric tea kettles, toasters, and coffeemakers. The cabinets are also full of sugar, tea, and other leftovers from previous guests. As a tease, some rooms have washers and dryers but guests technically aren’t permitted to use them. Irons, ironing boards, floor fans, and safes are also standard. There’s free (and fast Wi-Fi) in most, but not all guest rooms. Otherwise, a daily fee is charged for internet access.Bathrooms all have showers and include bar soap. Like the rest of the unit, they are a bit dated and have signs of rust. Some also provide hairdryers. 

The amenities at Montego Bay Club Resort are pretty limited. Without a doubt, the 24-hour freshwater pool with its gorgeous Montego Bay and azure ocean views is the resort’s top feature. It’s surrounded by plastic lounge chairs, metal umbrellas, and there’s a lifeguard on duty during the day. The pool deck is splintered with cracks and like most resort guest rooms, it could use a little TLC. El Greco is the hotel’s restaurant, located next to the pool. It serves seafood and Jamaican cuisine and has a big patio with fabulous ocean views. There's supposed to be free internet at the restaurant and pool -- both amenities shared with the neighboring resort -- but during our visit only guests of that resort were provided the Wi-Fi password. There’s a market and tour office in the hotel's second floor. The hotel can arrange airport transfers, taxis, and car rentals. There’s also free parking near the entrance.