Great Trip!
I read a lot of reviews before we went to Secrets Wild Orchid and since we've been back and I wanted to write as comprehensive a review as possible for future visitors.
BACKGROUND: Went on a couple's trip from Feb 10-17 2024 (during Super Bowl and Valentine's Day). We booked a Preferred Club King Swim Out that had butler service included.
CHECK-IN: The check-in process was a breeze. We arrived around 4:00pm and we were in our room about 30 minutes later. The Preferred Club check-in was nice and relaxed. We were pushed a bit to join a breakfast and sales promotion during our stay. I read about this in advance and simply said no. There was a little more effort to get us to agree, but when I simply said “I don't want to but thanks”, they stopped and that was it. I read reviews of people getting really pestered and pressured during check-in, but this wasn't the case with me. We then met one of our butlers who took us to our room and showed us around a bit.
THE ROOM: The room was excellent. Spacious and very clean. Yes, there are some signs of wear and tear (some scratches in the wood closet, an area rug with some worn spots) but nothing that screamed to me that this place was neglected. The bed was firm and comfortable, all the linens, towels, robes, etc. were clean. I requested a bottle of champagne and it was there, chilling on ice. The view was stunning and everything worked.
I've read other reviews about how cold the room is and yes, it was quite cold and felt even colder when coming in from the Jamaican heat outside. We were able to adjust the thermostat to get the temperature up slightly. Now saying all of this, I can understand how difficult it must be to maintain a consistent temperature in these suites. I can truly say that we both got used to the cool room temperature and, in fact, welcomed it after being outside all day in the heat. Overall, the room was exactly what I expected.
THE BUTLERS: Our butlers were Kenroy and Duran and these two gentlemen were the best. Every day, we had our spot on the beach reserved for us with a cooler full of beer and water and later on a bottle of champagne and a coconut delivered without asking. Every night we had our dinner reservations taken care of which meant that we never had to wait around for dinner. If we needed anything (more drinks, lunch, snorkeling arrangements, a golf cart lift to the other side of the property) all we would have to do is call and they would show up with a smile.
I understand that this is a perk that we paid for and that a lot of people complain about lack of beach or pool chairs, waiting for dinner reservations, etc. which are all valid. But if you have the means to do so, I highly recommend the butler service as it takes your vacation to another level.
THE PROPERTY: The property was excellent. All three resorts (Wild Orchid, St. James and Breathless) were clean and with beautiful landscaping. I heard some complain about the lack of bottled water on the property, but there are barrels full of iced bottle water throughout the beach. The beach itself was gorgeous. The pool was clean and every night we saw multiple staff ensuring that it would be pristine again first thing in the morning.
The fitness centre, although small, had a wide array of machines and some free weights. It can feel cramped in there when there's more than 5 people working out at the same time though.
THE FOOD: We tried the Mexican (Il Patio), Italian (Portofino), French (Bordeaux), Jamaican (Blue Mountain), Fusion (Altitudes – Rooftop @ Breathless) and Seafood (Oceana). We skipped the hibachi place as it's not our thing. The food was what you'd expect from a resort: average portion size that is done in a catering fashion. I read reviews of some people complaining that the food was lukewarm and yes, sometimes we did get food that could've been hotter, but this didn't happen regularly. The portions can be on the small side if you're a big eater. But in that case, order more food. It's an all-inclusive. We saw it happen.
We ate our breakfasts every day at the World Café buffet, although we had the option of the Preferred Club breakfast buffet (good selection for a small buffet) and a la carte at Bordeaux.
We also sampled the jerk chicken from the cart (AMAZING!) and the jerk chicken and pork and patties from the Barefoot Grill (also AMAZING!) for lunch.
We also had some snacks from the Preferred Club from time-to-time and they were quite good too.
I'd give the food an 8/10.
ACTIVITIES: We didn't do much. We mostly stuck to our usual spot relaxing on the Preferred Club beach or at our swim out. We stopped in at the Super Bowl party (which was a great setup on the beach with tons of food and drink) and we went to a couple of the shows (good bands playing reggae music and some standard resort type entertainment). We did get a private snorkel from Floyd the lifeguard which was a highlight of the trip! Highly recommend.
THE SERVICE: The service was so friendly. Kenroy and Duran were amazing butlers. Sean and Mathew were fantastic bellmen who were always smiling and joking. The staff that ran the Preferred Club bar and buffet were always happy to see you and get you whatever you needed. The café staff were top notch and efficient and made the best lattes and americanos. Rodney at the rum shop was not only friendly, but very knowledgeable and happy to let us try multiple rums. The lifeguard Floyd was amazing taking us out on a private snorkel where we saw some amazing fish, including an eagle ray. Dowaine and Alona at the Barracuda bar were engaging and awesome. Overall, this was the best service I've ever received on a vacation and I've been to Sandals, Excellence and Barcelo properties before.
SUMMARY: This is a great place. If you're the kind of person that can afford a little more to add the Preferred Club butler service to your vacation, I would do it and I would specifically ask for Kenroy and Duran. This made the whole vacation more relaxing and enjoyable. If you're expecting a room that looks like you're the first person ever staying in it… if you're expecting Michelin-star rated meals prepared by world-renowned executive chefs on a daily basis… if you're expecting drinks like Dom Perignon, Clas Azul or Louis XIII cognac… then I'm afraid this place is not going to cut it for you. However, if you want to be treated like royalty, eat well, drink well and stay in a clean, comfortable and well-appointed room, in a beautiful paradise surrounded by friendly people, then book your vacation here.
