Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica

Let me just start this off by saying this my my fiancés sixth time, my third time and our bestfriend second time coming to this exact resort. We always have such a pleasant experience here with all the staff members. We prefer to come during slow season because we come from a very busy city and need the break from the rush and the people. This resort was perfect for that experience. Usually when we come, we stay in block 11. This year (WITHOUT NOTICE may i add) there was ongoing renovations and construction going on in multiple blocks on the grand side including block 11! This was very disappointing to us as we book our room for the view, and block 23 didn't have the greatest view even though we paid for Oceanview. It was very far from everywhere we frequent so as someone with back problems this was a minor setback (but some advil helped with that) WE DIDNT LET IT RUIN OUR TRIP.

Let me also say, that the owners of this resort need a reality check, they have so many excuses as to why they're "short on budget" but they charge and arm and a leg to stay here. I WILL ALWAYS RETURN TO THIS RESORT, but please get your **** together!!!! These workers deserve so much more than what you are giving them, with the hours they work and the workload you give them. ITS NOT FAIR. Maybe if you paid them fairly, they would be able to be more POSITIVE and give these negative reviewers a BETTER EXPERIENCE. Its hard to smile all day when you get treated badly by your bosses. God bless all the workers on this resort that work so hard.

The grand side buffet is currently closed, so " The Round Table" Restaurant is considered our "indoor buffet". We had access to the luxury indoor buffet this year due to all the renovations (Poor luxury people who paid for adults only and had kids in their buffet) We also have the "outdoor buffet" by the grand beach, unfortunately that was only opened for about 3 of our 10 days. They took the option of steak away from the hot stations, which was a little disappointing. Jerk by the pool was absolutely amazing as usual, same with the Jerk hut that's attached to the round table. My only issue with the jerk hut was the wait times for chicken, that's the main dish of that hut, they should have it available for all hours that they are open. Some points there was a 45 minute wait for chicken to come out. As for Al la Carts i had no issues booking these on the app before i even arrived. We booked the Dolche Vita, RodizzioX2 and the KnifeX2 all which were amazing as usual. The cuts of meat at the knife (steak) could have been a little bit better to be honest, but it was still a great meal. AND DONT FORGET TO TIP!!!

Entertainment was absolutely phenomenal, the grand team never fails to blow my mind with their smooth moves, positive attitudes and their way of getting us to always participate in the activities they have around the resort. They offer us such a unique personalized experience with it being slow season, we get to spend a lot of time getting to know the resort and the ways of the Jamaican people. They always have special information for us about the country, their dances, their music. I love how informative and entertaining they all are. They all work SO hard everyday, just to ensure there's big smiles on our faces. Shoutout to Tiffany, Avel, Orlando and Derice. They made our trip very special this year, as they do every year. AND DONT FORGET TO TIP!!!

Drinks and bartenders, honestly this year was probably the best year for drinks. The bartenders all remembered us from the previous years, so without a doubt before i even arrived at the bar, there were three of our special drinks sitting there waiting for us. These guys DO NOT get the appreciation they deserve, Take a walk to every bar and get to know the bartenders, they all have a different story. ALOT of them sing, and have voices of an angel. Shoutout Damien, Denzel and Michael. AND DONT FORGET TO TIP!!

The GRAND beach is currently under construction as well, they have the first half as normal, but as your heading to the nude beach they have it all torn up and are tearing down trees to extend the beach further as the water level had come up. There are ALOT of amazing snorkeling spots around this resort but PLEASE BE CAREFUL of BLACK SEA URCHINS and LION FISH they are starting to show up more frequently and closer to shore since the hurricane. There are a lot more Rastas on the beach this year, but that's fine because they have very nice stuff on their boats, may i suggest paying them in Jamaican dollars as you get a better deal. If you don't want them bugging you just tell them You don't smoke and your not interested, and they'll leave you alone. The beach bar has been taken down, but they have a little cart that is on the beach now with few drinks available, better than nothing though!!! DONT FORGET TO TIP

The lifeguards are absolutely amazing as well, shoutout to Conroy and Harrington, those two made the couple rainy hours we had VERY SPECIAL. They came and spent time with us, explaining the clouds, the climate, the weather, and also Singing us songs!!! No matter what time a day, these two always had a smile on their faces and had open arms to us. We appreciate them beyond words and cannot express how much of an amazing experience these two made our "pool side" to be!!!!

Bellhop Fabien!!! Hes a real one, as soon as we pull up into the resort, he always has the biggest warm welcome for us!!! Ensures our bags are safe, we get checked in quickly, and that we are okay with our room. He also ensures hes EARLY picking our luggage up on the last day! Such a sweetheart, he will always be remembered by us!!! Last year i got stung by a bee(and being allergic) We rushed to the lobby where we found Fabien before his shift ended, he rushed us over to the nurses station and got me the help i needed very quickly. Always look forward to seeing his face when we pull up to the bahia!!!

I had one issue, ONE MAIN ISSUE that was really bugging me, There was a washroom maid by the grand pool towel hut named Samantha. My friend had a hat made up from a guy and that same guy had made me a basket, That washroom maid tried to hassle me for my basket!!! So out of the kindness in my heart, i offered her a giftbag that i had made up for workers around the resort. (including hygiene products, makeup, school supplies etc) I then proceeded to bring her down a bag and thanked her for all her hard work. During the following days, she continued to ask me to get her drinks, food, etc. I HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING IT ONCE, BUT PLEASE DONT HARRASS ME ON MY VACATION. I did not pay $1900 to serve you at the snap of your finger. I paid $1900 to be on vacation, relax, and BE SERVED MYSELF. This continued my entire trip, again I DIDNT LET IT RUIN MY TRIP, but it was very bothersome as at one point we totally avoided that area of the resort which is unfortunate because that's one of my favorite areas to hangout.

The rooms in block 23 are the usual to be expected, it is still the grand side, so they're unrenovated rooms, but the front door backs out to the luxury lobby and thats all we could hear all night long was the people in the lobby, as well as cars and trucks from the road (we were very close to the main gate) We didnt get a "welcome home" banner as requested, also supposed to get as returning customers. No big deal, i just like to feel special lol. Lots of lizards and Roaches over in that block as well, but im assuming they are migrating because of the construction, and hurricane that just happened. IT IS A MOIST ENVIROMENT, YES THERE IS ROACHES, NO ITS NOT GONNA RUIN YOUR TRIP. Either ignore it, or kill them lol. We had 2 rooms, as we were with 3 people... Our air conditioners worked perfectly all trip, our balcony doors locked, no issues with maids, no issues with fridge guy, we got extra pillows and blankets almost instantly when i called for them. Also got left extra face cloths and towels every day, (Thanks to the maids, you the mvp) DONT FORGET TO TIP YOUR MAID AND LEAVE A DOLLAR FOR THE FRIDGE GUY!!!

Now, my real big shoutout is to the Animal Control worker Jevaun that works on the resort. On our second last day we found 3 abandoned kittens right in front of our block. The mother had left them inside a bush, which was up high by the statue. The kittens kept falling off the ledge and hurting themselves, we carefully put them in a box in a safe place and awaited the mothers return, after over 24 hours with no site of mom cat, we decided to try to feed these babies as they're supposed to eat every few hours (They were only MAX 3 weeks old, just learning to walk, still suckleing instead of licking) After a few hours of sitting with these babies in the grass, and a few times of him walking past us wondering what we were doing, Jevaun approached us and assessed the situation. He took it into his own hands to ensure these 3 babies got to a safe place and that they were taken care of. They went to JSPCA, then transferred to Orkin "Cat Sanctuary" in Montego Bay, where they were quickly adopted out into loving homes. Jevaun continued to follow up with me until these kittens left Orkin's facility to their new home. EVEN AFTER WE LEFT JAMAICA AND RETURNED HOME TO CANADA. Every time i got an update i could have cried, i don't know anybody who would have done this ( Just because there is so many wild cats out there, they usually just let them go on their own and learn, but these guys were very vulnerable and young) I thank god every day for this angel that he sent us to save these kittens, we were so worried when we left what was going to happen to them if we just left them to fend for themselves. I left Jamaica with PEACE OF MIND knowing they were cared for with love. BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU TO JAVAUN FOR EVERYTHING HE DID FOR THOSE BABIES!!!!!!
If you ever find an animal in need of help on the resort please go to the lobby and ask them to contact the animal control for the resort. Thanks in advance.

OVER ALL 4.5 / 5
I have no MAJOR complaints that would have totally ruined my trip, IT IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT. If you let little things bother you, then your trip will get ruined. Just go with the flow, your in Jamaica. No problem mon! One love to you all, Enjoy your trips. and Do not let the negative reviews deter you from this beautiful resort. [Details]

This resort is VERY big, so lots of stairs and walking. Our room was on the same floor as the lobby which means the main buffet and most other restaurants, pool and beach require using stairs or elevator. Our room was rather outdated and the beds are in need of replacing as they have a valley in the middle. Not very comfortable. The toilet is very low, but our friend's room was a bit more updated including a higher toilet.
Food was good, the gourmet restaurant was amazing, the knife steakhouse was just ok. We always wee able to find lots to eat. Drinks are strong but good. Staff is stand-offish, I had one girl in the main buffet roll her eyes at me because I brought my plate back in from the pool area. but Jessica at the gourmet Don Pablo) was beyond exceptional. She made our vacation! The beach once we found it and the point beyond is awesome and is located by the kids water pool. It's not a beach for a nice big walk though. The main pool is ok but suggest using the middle section although it isn't easy to get out of, don't know why there's no stairs. The sections of the pools on the ends have pool bars which means a lot of people peeing in the pool. Why the shallow kids pool is connected to one of the ends I have yet to figure out. That end has to be closed because there was a diaper accident! They do allow locals and off-duty staff to come by bus using a day pass. The majority that day took over the place and started dancing raunchy by the pool bar…. It was like a porno with clothes on - too much with kiddos around. Another reason to have the kids pool NOT connected to pool bar. We would return but the price point is a bit high considering the rooms are outdated and the majority of staff are rude. [Details]

This resort is so huge and it's very beautiful! Lots to do there! Beaches were amazing! Only thing that was disappointing was most of the staff! Not very friendly and very rude! A select few bartenders were nice. The ones in the sports bar off the main lobby were friendly but pretty much all the rest were not friendly. The maids who cleaned the room did not change sheets and forgot to restock fridge and toilet paper a lot! Loved the beautiful sceneries but unfortunately cause of the staff we will not be back! [Details]

I can recommend the place for family getaway in the beautiful country and among very friendly people. [Details]

Very happy with our stay at the resort, the food is amazing and the facility is great. Some employee at the bar and the towel station were a little bit rude and it took 2 days to get a blanket but other than that, we enjoyed everything. I'll go again. [Details]

The resort knew we were coming to celebrate our anniversary, upon arrival our door had a Happy Birthday banner. For 3 days we requested the proper banner, the banner was never updated. We were suppose to receive wine and chocolates - never received those. Finally we ran into a manager of housekeeping who changed out the banner right away. Most of the staff are friendly and accommodating. The pool closes at 6PM which is quite early. The service at the À la carte restaurants is excellent! Service at the buffet, no so good. Most of the time you are halfway through a meal before you can get a drink. Unlike other resorts you cannot get up and pour your own drink. The beach has a lot of rocks, is not maintained and also closes very early. The rooms are very spacious and clean which was great! Cleaning of the main common areas such as hallways were cleaned at the most inconvenient busy times causing them to be very slippery. Wifi is not very strong in this resort. [Details]

The resort was wonderful, clean, reputable, accessible, friendly staff. We had an ocean view in our junior suite. We didn't feel crowded so much space in the room and thru out the resort. Food and drinks were fresh and plentiful. Would definitely go back and recommend to anybody. [Details]

Been to many resorts , but the food here was the best so far .
Large resort and lots of walking . They do have golf carts to give you a ride if needed.
Beach was nice , but not the best i have visited. [Details]

Although this was 1st time in Jamaica but for me and my family 2nd time with Bahia. 1st in Mexico and now Jamaica.
The reason we return to Bahia Grand was due to our experience in Mexico and we where not disappointed. Wonderful facility with options for all family members starting for 6 month old to 60 years old.
The staff are very friendly and accommodating, always helping in need. Rooms are always clean, always something happening. Wonderful experience [Details]

It was a good experience first time in Jamaica [Details]

Overall experience was really good. and would visit again. [Details]

Had an amazing time, when my friend and I first got to the hotel we had the wrong room however that was quickly changed. My only thing was that we didn't know where anything was, the hotel is really big and we didn't learn until later that there were mini bus to drive you around. Also be careful of the bridges very slippery, I fell as it was wet and hit my elbow and knee. [Details]

This little resort is amazing. The staff are kind and helpful. The pools are very spacious, which was excellent for my wife, as she enjoys swimming. I also loved the selection of drinks at the strategically placed bars: you can always find something to quench your thirst at this resort. The food at the buffets was ok, but the real treat is to be found at the specialized reservation-only restaurants. A special thanks to Monica Henry, the barmaid near the big pool always ready to make you a quality drink with a warm smile. Ask for her special cocktail and you won't regret it. [Details]

I recently had the opportunity to spend an 8-day trip at this resort, celebrating a friend's 70th birthday. The check-in process was surprisingly swift, even though an entire busload of guests arrived simultaneously. However, it was somewhat disappointing that I had to specifically request information about the hotel's Wi-Fi, which should have been readily offered.

One of the less impressive aspects of our stay was the inconvenience of obtaining beach towel passes. This necessitated a trek from the beach to the front desk, which was a bit of an inconvenience that left me less than impressed.

The rooms themselves were a bit dated, and notably, bathrobes and house slippers were no longer provided, which was a letdown. However, there were certainly highlights to our stay, including the resort's expansive grounds, which were meticulously maintained.

The beach was a standout feature, with an incredible beach entertainment staff, and I must give a special shout-out to Derrice for making our beach experience truly memorable. Additionally, the fire show at the beach party was a captivating spectacle that added a touch of magic to our evenings.

On the flip side, there were some aspects that left room for improvement. The entertainment offerings were lackluster, particularly the nightly events on the lobby terrace, which failed to meet expectations. The absence of nighttime shows, replaced by one or two-person acts or small bands, was a disappointment.

The food offerings left much to be desired. The cuisine was generally unappealing and at times, bland. Our experiences at the a-la-carte restaurants, including Picasso and Rodizio, were inconsistent, with both food quality and service varying from visit to visit.

While the well-maintained grounds, beautiful beach, and exceptional beach entertainment staff were definite highlights, the dated rooms, inconvenient beach towel pass system, and underwhelming entertainment and dining options left me with mixed feelings about the overall experience.

Will likely not return to this resort in the future [Details]

Overall, the hotel is nice, however there are several things wrong.

1. The second we received our room cards, they were NOT functionable. The lobby was about an eight minute walk to the room. This happened twice in one week.

2. Front desk staff are arrogant and rude

3. The hotel corridors smell like mould, the smell was so horrendous and bad.

4. There was cockroaches; I saw 3 of them during my 7 day stay.

5. I paid extra for an ocean view room and in DID NOT see the ocean whatsoever.

6. Very very hot. There is no functionable AC nor fans anywhere. I am talking about in the restaurants , elevators and in the halls and especially in the lobby. The AC in the room was alright. [Details]

The Grabd Bahia Resort is well built. The pools and the beach areas are well kept. The accommodation is excellent. The staff over all are very polite. The 3 times food had plenty of variety. The bar and drinks area were very well supplied. [Details]

From the greeting on arrival to check out, I enjoyed this hotel. The front lobby was beautiful and the rooms matched. [Details]

We definitely will be back to this resort with our family next time [Details]

Restaurants were great, especially the staff at the Knife restaurant. Went out of there way to make my girls bday special.

Lots to do for the kids. They have a nice Kids Club with fun staff. A huge water park and a gorgeous beach.

Entertainment was amazing, went out of their way to interact with my 4 year old every day. Definitely made our stay very special.

Beds were so comfortable and the rooms were spotless. I always wipe down remotes, light switches and surfaces and not one speck of dirt found. [Details]

We had an amazing time, definitely would go back to this resort.
I would listen to moat of the bad reviews, People could always find something to complain about but that's just the people they are.
Go with an open mind and positive attitude, your on vacation in Jamaica, Enjoy it. [Details]

Overall the property offers great food, great rooms, great beach and pool areas. Lots of entertainment and things to do.
The hotel is getting tired in areas so I hope the hotel rectifies this as it should not be allowed to get too run down ( carpets in halls, some rooms). Grounds are beautiful though.
Checking in had issues with forgetting to give us towel cards and WiFi access and safe instructions. Late check-out also should be offered for later day flights as we lost a day coming in.
Definitely would go back though. Just needs to fix little things to keep it 5 star. Love Jamaica ❤️ [Details]

The amenities were numerous and well maintained. The pools looked great and were warm from the sun. The a la carte restaurants had marvelous foods and even the buffet had white table cloths, changed if any spill. The beaches were pleasant and free non-motorized water sports were great when there was no wind. [Details]

everything from start to finish was amazing! the food is absolutely delicious and the entertainment staff couldn't be better. Orlando, Nikesha, Kendar and all the rest are fantastic. the pool bartender Denzal was so much fun and the terrace bar Natrice is great. I don't remember all the staff names but all are great! [Details]

Hotel was very clean but a little dated. A lot of work going on to update the buildings. Pools were exceptionally clean and grounds well manicured.
Food: buffet was plenty but luck-warm most of the time.
Ala Cartes: very tasty and well presented. The Brazilian was excellent.
The Japanese was also great. We did not do the show at Japanese this time as it was done before. Get the deep fried ice cream for dessert. You won't be disappointed . The knife and don Paublo also have amazing food, but we skipped them this trip.
Rooms: dated but clean. They have coffee machines, stocked fridge with sofa, water and beer. We had issues with tv and fridge but both were fixed within minutes of calling.
Beach: shallow calm water on the grand side. No need for water shoes. You can snorkel along the ropes and see fish. There is also a kids water park that looks very entertaining.
Staff: the reason we return!! Always friendly and willing to help with anything you need. Great people who work hard to keep the resort in running order
TIPS are accepted and much needed. Doesn't have to be much, but 1 or 2 dollars per meal in buffet and a few more at ala cartes are greatly appreciated by all. We also bring school supplies and toiletries to give to staff. These items can be costly in Jamaica. We have been 3 times to the bahia principe grande and will return again. The resort is big but getting around is easier than it looks. [Details]

We found the room to be nice, comfortable bed & oceanview balcony. Our room was beside an elevator which resulted in elevator motor noise all day. Lots of hot water but too much rainwater through bathroom ceiling. The bathroom had a tub with shower head but no walk-in shower which was disappointing to me. The beaches were ok, not great. All the food was great. The maid service was good. It took 1 1/2 hours to get ice to treat a sprained foot. Wet carpet from leaking ceiling in hallway was left with towels to soak it up for days and began to smell quite awful. I would give this resort a 3-star or 4-star rating not a 5-star. [Details]

The hotel was very nice and clean. Staff were great and friendly. The food was very good. [Details]

So it began with the transfer bus from the airport to the hotel losing my luggage. I was told it was on the next bus to the hotel and after waiting 2 hours and walking to another section of the hotel, my bag was not with the luggage that arrived. I was then told by the representative that it was sent to another hotel. Due to my concerns I visited the desk where I was totally dismissed which I was then told by an onlooker that it was because I was a local. I am actually Canadian.

My bag arrived 4 hours later and was left at lost and found. I was then allowed to go to my room and soon realized my air conditioning did not work. Soon after I was visited by roaches (I have pictures as proof ). Used the restroom the toilet wouldn't stop running. My husband left his cigarettes on the balcony table and woke up to them ruined due to a leaking roof ( pictures as proof ). I tried calling front desk there was no answer, so I spoke with a supervisor who said they'd inform guest services who would connect with us. However, no one called or showed up.

Then there is the currency discrimination. The wonderful Canadian dollar is not accepted on site and treated as if it has NO VALUE and compared to the US currency.
One guest suggested moving to the Luxury side of the hotel but after a ruined first impression I was unwilling to pay for an upgrade as I was already angry and unimpressed with the service.

After many all-inclusive vacations this was the most DISAPPOINTING holiday ever. I was in the middle of school and work and did not need this kind of unnecessary stress but it was truly a waste of time and money. Service staff are on top of guest care, managerial staff have their noses in the sky unless you look and sound like a tourist.

Just a friendly warning to potential guests..there are many fabulous all-inclusive hotels in Jamaica. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!! [Details]

Not sure why there are negative reviews I have been travelling the Caribbean for over 25 years and this resort is very good. Food was excellent at al a carte and buffet was fine. Rooms we nice and clean. Hallways with carpet may have been a design error :). Staff were wonderful. [Details]

Hotel was great, rooms and grounds were clean, food was good, staff were friendly. Entertainment staff kept us entertained daily with different activities.

My only real complaint, (with knowledge that this was a new procedure) was the info, set up and process of paying for, booking your time and the actual testing for Covid required for our reentry to Canada. There was a lot of miscommunication or lack there of, unorganization and confusion. *All 3 areas for these systems were located in the same area at the bottom of a stairwell that was busy as it was also one of the main pathways to the buffet. Everyone was jammed in this area all around 9 am. No social distancing possible as it was quite a small area for all stations. Some basic signage to help those in need of the services would have saved a lot of confusion and wasted time and closeness in my opinion.

STEP 1) "paying station" is in *** area... please bring with you....ie passport and when to come (not the 2nd day of your stay)
STEP 2) booking station is in *** area, please bring with you ie receipt of payment/ passport and when to come(not the second day of your stay)
STEP 3) testing area.. what to bring, when to come etc.

Results should be available in a timely fashion. We were told results would be emailed at 8 pm the night before we were to go home (which is still late IMO). Finally received them after 11 pm in paper form after the security guard had to fetch them.
This info would help ease some of the questions and pressure on the folks working in this area as well. [Details]

The resort's grounds are beautiful. The hotel and rooms could use some TLC. 3 star not 5. [Details]