The Perfect Family Vacation at Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica

We knew that we wanted to return to Jamaica for this year’s family vacation after visiting Negril three years ago. We wanted to experience another region in Jamaica but had a budget that we had to stick to.

From the moment we arrived at the Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica, in Runaway Bay, the staff welcomed us and made us feel at home. We upgraded to the oceanview when we booked on iTravel2000.ca and it was worth every extra penny! It still fit within our budget and we were blown away by the family vacation experience and the value for our money. We felt at home, cared for, entertained, well-fed and relaxed! Our youngest son even cried when we had to leave!

Accommodations:

This large resort has over 800 rooms in low rise buildings around the property. The room and bathroom was spacious and clean for the four of us (2 adults, 1 – 12 yr old and 1 – 8 year old) and we quickly settled in. The balcony and view was one of the best we have ever seen, as it overlooked the immense pool area and out to the ocean. The four poster beds were so romantic and beautiful. They were comfortable and pillows were great. The linens could have been a bit softer and on the second last night, we realized that both beds didn’t have fitted and top sheets, but it was okay for the kids. I’m sure they would have fixed it if we had asked.

Food:

We ate most meals at the ‘Orquidea’ main buffet. While there were several lovely a la carte restaurants, we only tried ‘The Garden Grill’ (steak and seafood) and ‘Mikado Teppanyaki’. Both were fabulous but we also really enjoyed the food and selection at the main buffet. Each night the themes were kid-friendly but also offered a great choice of authentic Jamaican dishes for our family to enjoy (ox tail, dumplings, and fish being our favourites). Each night and even some breakfasts, there was a station that fried a special pastry treat- I’m still dreaming about the banana bun in the morning, sugared donut holes for dinners and the “Beaver tail” from Canada night! The staff in the main buffet were so friendly and always kept our water (and wine) glasses full. During a few meals, they ran out of plates, and while some guests got very upset, this didn’t bother us at all and really only resulted in a few minute wait (grab a dumpling to ease the pain!). My sons (12 and 8 yrs) loved everything about the buffet and tried so many new things, especially at the beach buffet. I highly recommend going their for a breakfast and for lunch. While it was a smaller selection, it was very good authentic food, including jerk pork and chicken right off the grill for lunch! The best part of lunch at the open buffet restaurant ‘Piscis’, is that they have live entertainment during each lunch. Reggae singers and steel drum bands really were the perfect break from the hot sun in the afternoon (along with a nice Red Stripe Beer!).

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Beach:

You MUST spend time at the beach…I’ll admit that I’m usually a pool person, but this beach was amazing and worth the short walk there! The water was breathtaking, beach bars were fun and the lounge chairs were plentiful. The kids swam and played in the white sand while we relaxed and tried some Jamaican rum! Take some time to walk to the point of the bay to see the most spectacular view and try a Jamaican patty from the Rasta on the raft (an unforgettable experience).

Pool:

The pool was huge and so lovely and man, was the music ever awesome! We never had to fight to get a spot or leave our towels on the chairs in the morning (although some families did). The kids had so much freedom to explore the pools and enjoy some pool activities with the other kids there, so that we could have some grown up time together at the pool bar! The bartenders were hilarious and Michael even made us our own signature drink! We did a few of the activities by the pool, but never felt forced to participate at all.

Excursions:

We don’t usually leave the resort on vacation but I had to climb Dunn’s River Falls for my birthday (on my bucket list)! That was one of the most unforgettable experiences that I’ve had in my life! Only about a 30 minute bus ride away, the guided walk up the falls was incredible. It’s not too strenuous but so much fun for the whole family. I would absolutely recommend you do this reasonably-priced excursion while you stay at the Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica.

Entertainment:

One of our favourite things to do at night was to sit in the open lounge for a coffee and then hit the little shopping centre beside the resort. This is also where the nightly shows would be (we only saw the amazing Michael Jackson show on our last night). You can bargain with the shop owners and take souvenirs back home for co-workers or family. We loved the tshirts and water bottles we bought- NOTE: that there are several sexy, inappropriate and NSFW souvenirs that might need some explaining to the kiddos! LOL!

Kid’s Club:

The kid’s club was great for kids a bit younger than ours, but our 8 year old sure did love the bracelet making, pool soccer and beach Olympics! The teens also had some activities, but we didn’t have teens (yet). The best experience for our boys was the Segway tour around the property. It was $60 each but they loved it and we got some alone time by the pool! Dare I even say that our boys got along better in Jamaica?

Internet/WiFi:

If you like to unplug, you will be fine at this resort. For me, I hope that they figure out the wifi issues before our next visit. Since I work in social media, I really needed to be connected through the day and in our room. They include only 1 hour each day, that must be used in the lobby. This didn’t work for me or the boys who wanted to check in while we were in our rooms. I think that more guests would share their photos, if they had free wifi around the pool and in rooms as well! Not a deal-breaker, but I do think that they should upgrade what they offer to guests.

This Jamaican vacation was JUST what we needed to recharge, reconnect and reinvigorate our love of the island and all that it has to offer! We loved every minute of our vacation at this resort and have already decided to go back next year (likely with my parents too). We found that the Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica was the best value and best experience on the island!

We will be back, ya mon!

Disclaimer: This was NOT a media or sponsored trip, however, the Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica PR team generously gave us a few guest perks during our stay. Read my own review of this resort on TripAdvisor.