November 16th, 2006, by Mary Winston Nicklin
Coming Soon: Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica, Runaway Bay
Set to open in Winter 2006/2007, the Gran Bahia Principe Jamaica takes “all-inclusive” (the concept that the Bahia Principe hotels helped pioneer) to another level. This Jamaican playground promises a frolicking, rollicking, rip-roaring good time. We’re talking meals, snacks, drinks, and cocktails available 24 hours a day, along with towel, parasol and hammock service at the beach and pool. The Gran Bahia Principe Jamaica is a funland of remarkably comprehensive facilities: six restaurants, five bars, four lake-type swimming pools, kids clubs, shopping center, wedding gazebo, large solariums, amphitheater for night shows, tennis courts, gym, spa, social lounges, and 757 guest rooms (all Junior Suites). If you want your very own exclusive “zone,” head to Club Golden Principe, a private club with separate, lavish facilities. Warning: you must wear a different-colored identification bracelet on the premises.
Greetings,
I am planning on visiting your hotel and am interested in learning about scuba diving there.
Please provide me with some contacts.
Thanks….
John Curd
I am Attempting to book for a lastminute vacation but we can’t seem to get an answer on weather we can book with your hotel from Dec. 21 to Dec. 30 of 2006.
Could you please reply and inform me as to your opening date.
Thank you
Hi Lorne,
We haven’t heard any new details about the hotel’s opening date. It’s probably best to contact the hotel directly:
Phone: + 001 876 973 77 52
info.jamaica@bahia-principe.com
best,
Mary
We’ve had a slew of inquiries about the hotel’s opening date, and our travel agent specialists are having a hard time getting the hotel on the phone. The website hasn’t been updated either.
We hope that those who’ve reserved rooms this winter will actually get to enjoy some Jamaican sunshine at the Gran Bahia Principe!
Mary
this hotel is not ready to open….we were there for a week from dec.30-jan 6. nothing but problems…save your money go next year!
Carol, A big thank you for letting us know about the hotel! Did you actually stay there? Was it under construction? We can’t get an answer from the hotel.
Hope that you enjoyed your vacation…
Mary
I think your hotel is bad for jamaica as bus drivers like myself have to rely on the bell hops to call us for services at nights, sometimes the guests are in need of a little simulants and your regular JUTA drivers do not provide this service. You must realise that visitors come to Jamaica for all types of things, and I as a member of the JCAL service do not appreciate your bias to the JUTA organisation.
please…make sure you have a good insuranse before you departure….there is no help or first aid measures…………..you can slip anytime on those beautifull marble tiles……………………….the sign of “wet floor” is there…………..so what???
I got 3 stiches, “thank”s” and $200.
The funny part is that in the same day in the man’s washroom someone fell and crack his head ,badly, after 15min they didn’t know how to take the stretcher out of the ambulance…..sun STROKE ,man,YOU DEAD…………..well, the resourt do not have first aid, 5* ???????????????????????
looking for some information, is the hotel up and running. I plan to leave this week-end and want to make sure that I will be able to enjoy the place.
thank you
Lyne,
Our travel agents have made contact with the hotel (finally); their reservations agents say the hotel has been open since December 15, 2006 and people can check-in, no problem. Though other clients have posted comments here on The Informed Traveler about their own problematic experiences at the hotel, so it’s hard to say what the hotel conditions are like.
I would call the hotel directly and query them about your concerns. The phone line seems to be working now: 1 876 973 7000
Good luck and happy vacation!
Mary
I have posted an earlier comment, yet I see no improvement with the hotel. The only calls my company receives are the ones to move the guests to other hotels due to the unsatisfactory condition of the hotel. Why don’t the hotel call the JUTA drivers to move the disgruntled guests.
this hotel has broken every possible rule in jamaica from environmental to labour laws immigration
Recently, February 11, 2007 through February 18, 2007, our extended family (we had three rooms) took a trip to your new facility, the Gran Bahia Principe in Runaway Bay, Jamaica. The facility and service left much to be desired due to the lack of attention to detail. Although the beach, pool, food at the main buffet and overall hotel layout were good, the lack of attention to details left us with a sour taste in our mouth.
We have gone to various all-inclusive hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico over the past decade and in each case you could always point to an item or two that could have been improved upon, however, in general we would have recommended all of the places we had visited to friends. However, we would not recommend your hotel to friends or revisit your hotel until we were assured the vast majority of these items were fixed.
Following are some of the items and complaints noted during our stay:
Ø Construction noise – the facility appeared to be little more than half complete and the construction noise could be heard everywhere. Specifically, construction noise was heard in the lobby, at the pool, on the beach and at the shops. No matter where we went, we heard it! Even on the weekend!
Ø Construction debris – in areas open to the public, there was construction debris lying around including small pieces of construction material and dirt.
Ø No hot water one day – one evening at approximately 7:00 p.m. there was no hot water in any of our three rooms.
Ø No bottle opener – although we had a mini-bar with beer, the room did not have a bottle opener to open the beer.
Ø No place to hang wet suits or towels – although the hotel requested that no garment be hung from the balcony railing, the room had no area to hang garments to dry – suits, towels, cover-ups. In some resorts the bathroom would have a shower curtain and/or an extendable cord to hang garments from or the balcony area would have an extendable drying rack. All our clothes had to be placed on chairs on the balcony.
Ø Several of the beach areas were covered with small rock and pebbles rather than sand, which made it impossible to walk around in your bare feet.
Ø Building Finishes – although the basic building was completed with nice materials, the finish work on the building was awful including the following:
o Paint was splattered on all the interior trim and doors. The interior of our bathroom door and adjoining door was covered in paint (room 16503).
o The brick walkways were covered in paint (from the building), tar in some places, and cement and other materials in other places.
o The carpeting in the hallways was awful. It was fraying in places and in other places there were noticeable gaps between one carpet section and another.
o Large cracks were in our room (16503) in the ceiling.
o Room 16505 had no door handle on the shower door and construction writing was still on the tiles.
In general, the building felt like a twenty year old Vegas casino and not a brand new construction due to the poor quality of the finishes.
Ø Digital alarm clocks did not keep time properly. We almost missed our first day trip as we did not realize the clock was not keeping correct time. This occurred in all 3 rooms.
Ø The staff only knew answers to questions about where they worked, they couldn’t answer questions about anything else in the hotel.
Ø There was no where to eat lunch outside other than the beach deck that only offered little sandwiches that were not replenished often. The soda dispenser also did not work at this beach deck. We tried to take hot dogs from the Grill restaurant outside to our kids but we were not allowed. Kids (and adults) do not want to get dressed when swimming just to eat lunch.
Ø I have never had so many mosquito bites in my life! I have never had this problem at any other resorts.
Ø In room 16517, our relatives called three times to get their air conditioning fixed. It did not work for four days.
Ø There is no shelf in the shower to put soap or shampoo so we had to put it on the floor.
Ø No pen and paper in the rooms.
Ø The glass table top on the night stand (room 16503) had a huge hunk cracked off with sharp edges left on it.
Ø The 3 rooms we had were very inconsistent. One room had slippers, 2 didn’t. Sometimes we had a nice towel on our bed and no one else did. Only one time did our room receive wash clothes. We had 4 people in our room and not once did we get 4 bath towels. I called 4 times for towels and not once did anyone bring them. My sister also called and was told they didn’t have enough people working to keep up with the towels! We had to use our beach towels in our rooms!
Ø All of the elevators are numbered incorrectly which makes that very confusing. Maybe put a sign next to the floor where the lobby is? Two of the elevators dropped while riding them, very scary. One of my kids was so scared that he wouldn’t ride in any elevator again and we had to walk up the five flights of stairs constantly.
Ø Right after our meeting with the Funjet representative, we went to make dinner reservations. We could not get any time earlier than 9 p.m. the entire week. We ended up going to the Steak House at 9 p.m. and we didn’t get our main meal until 10:20 p.m. One of us ended up leaving to take the kids back because it was so late and they were falling asleep. We complained to the manager working the Steak House and he did nothing.
Ø My brother-in-law went to the Lost and Found looking for his son’s stuffed animal and the woman working there refused to look for it. She was very rude and he ended up looking for it himself.
Ø I wanted to sail on the catamaran and signed up for it but I wasn’t able to go because someone overbooked it. The hotel has two catamarans but one was broken the entire stay of our visit.
Ø At our check-out, I asked three different people for some kind of survey to fill out about our stay at the Gran Bahia. I got three different answers and still didn’t get a survey.
We are so disappointed in the Gran Bahia and the vacation we waited for all year. We are sorry we talked our family into this hotel because it was all of their first times at an all-inclusive resort. I will not recommend the Gran Bahia to anyone
I have a reservation for Easter weekend and I realy hope its not as bad as all the comments
I have reservations for the week of 4/5/07- 4/9/07. I hope it’s better!
I have reservations for memorial day weekend.
For those yet to travel, please post your comments upon our return.
thanks
Good day,
I have scheduled a vacation on Apr14/07 to the Bahia Priciepe in Jamaca. I have been reading all the negetative comments on this website. I am alittle uneasy about this hotel now.
Wish me luck!!!
We are also going on memorial day weekend…hope things arent as bad as they say…nothing like a bunch of pissed off new yorkers raising hell when things arent right…
Hi, I am french so please dont mind the spelling mistake. I just want to say to the people that are having reservation to go to the Gran Baya in Runaway Bay to not be scared, We where there me and my wife from March the 3rd till the 10 and the place was awsome. Yes not ready but awsome the food was unreal(super) specially the buffet never seen something like this the hotel is unbelevable yes not all finish but super nice and clean( someone who takes time to send a bad remarque about gaps between 2 carpets ???),yes maybe the beach has small rocks but is realy nice. Relax and go to that place you will enjoy. All the people who take the time to send bad remarques about that place must complaint on eavrything anywhere.
Thanks….. I will go again when all finished because it will be out of this world.
My wife & I have reservations from April 28-May 7. Just wondering if anyone has been there within the past month? Any comments or suggestions. Pro’s/Cons? Any information would be gretly appreciated. I can be reached at potszy@msn.com
To Jill,
who very nicely and in much detailed explained your experience when you visited the Gran Bahia Principe in Jamaica.
Thank you Thank you for all your information. I was planning a trip to go in Oct. 07. With much thought I am going to pass. It may be better and the construction somewhat completed by then but still, your experience sounded unfortunately as a pretty bad experience. Personally I feel if they were not prepared to provide you with all the necessities for a wonderful vacation they should not have offered reservations. After all most of us l work out butts off now a days to spend our hard earned money on a vacation that will not depress us or make us wish we were not there. I am glad you wrote about it as I hope all others who visit will please do the same. Thanks again. I Pass…
two females going week of oct 20
i hope things change…i’m getting very nervous we made a mistake booking this place
I went from May 7 till the 11….Hotel is breathtaking….they do have alot of kinks 2 work out….such as pillows r hard …my room didn’t get cleaned until 930 after I called 3 x…..Reservations were hard 2 get…..I got so many mosquito bites! Beach was very rocky…I would go back…..everyday it was getting better. Staff did try 2 b accomodating.
Alrighty…my husband and I went a week after the resort opened (Jan 3-Jan 10). We eloped and got married outside under the gazebo. We had never been to an all inclusive resort, and we are college kids that are very easy to please. Most all the horror stories everyone is telling about were true, but for your inconvience they will make up for it. We talked to Vanessa and/or the hotel manager who took very good care of us. Arteuro was a little help, but he will only help “Gold Club” members. They are very busy and a lot of people are complaining so it may take Vanessa a little while to get to you, but once she does, she fixes a lot. The resort should not have opened yet, there are a lot of things that still need to be done. As for dinner resorvations, the best thing you can do is RIGHT WHEN YOU GET OFF THE BUS get one member of your party to go stand in the reservation line (when we were there it was to the left of the front desk). And make sure another member of your party stands in the check-in line because it takes forever. That will be your best shot at getting a good time for dinner and the fastest way to get your room. Every restaurant had great tasting food and you will meet a lot of fun people when you eat at the Japanese restaurant, but you will have to talk to your neighbors. We had an amazing experience at each one of the restaurants. There is splattered paint in a lot of places, there are some rooms that are are unfinished, you probably won’t get slippers or robes, you may not get towels when ordered, if you don’t have a handle on your shower door just push it open, if there isn’t anywhere to put your shampoo, what the heck is wrong with bending over? Yes there are things that are out of order, sometimes there was no hot water, but they did come and fix it within an hour when we called. There were a lot of things that went wrong…but we couldn’t have asked for a better wedding, and the mishaps just made a better story, all the food was great, there is alcohol wherever you turn–even a swim up bar…we loved it. If you can get into contact with the right people they will try their best to take care of you. Yes there are some bad things but if you go into it with an optimistic attitude…it could always be worse. It is a beautiful place. In a few years all the kinks will be worked out and it will be a perfect experiece…we will definately go back again.
…oh and tips are NOT included for the employees and they are working very hard for very low wages, so feel free to leave a tip, they will greatly appreciate it.
I just went to this resort about a week ago & I think it was fabulous. The only complaint I had was the location & that it was US$80(+) to take a hotel cab into Ocho Rios. At times we felt like we were grounded to the resort; however, the resort does have plenty to offer. I especially recommend a sail boat tour. I also wanted to commend the entertainment staff. They work very hard to get the guests to join in & keep activities running. I think more guests need to involve themselves & Help the entertainment crew out. The night life at the resort also has great potential. The shows/ karaoke bar/ & Disco are all great, again however, people just need to get involved & take advantage of these ammenities.
I highly recommend this resort. I think it is best for couples or an older crowd who is looking to avoid the “spring break” vacations.
wondering if anyone upgraded to the club golden option, what it includes and is it worth it?? traveling there 7/26 thru 7/31
I visit Jamaica 4/5 times for the year; not all times staying at a hotel but have done many, from Kingston to Negril. Stayed at Grand Bahia for a week in May with my wife. There were a few items that were not perfect but not more than would be at any other hotel that I’ve stayed. I can see the hotel’s attention to detail and can tell that their service will even be better as time passes. Can’t comment on the transportation arrangements as I drive myself around as I probe the island, but one should never pay as much as US$80 for a taxi ride to Ocho Rios. That’s about what is costs from that town (Runaway Bay) to the south of the island (say Spanish Town). The ambience, food and accomodations were very good generally. Met a couple from South Carolina who were switched to this hotel from a prior reservation they had at another at the last minute. They were very fearful based on the negative comments they read, but were pleasantly surprised at the wonderful treatment they were receiving. Although I’ll be visiting Jamaica a couple times before August, I’m having reservations for my wife and I, and daughter and grand-children for August at the Grand Bahia.
Just got back from Gran Bahia Principe in Jamaica and we had a great vacation! I must say we were quite apprehensive about this trip, given all of the negative comments I read on this page, but to our surprise, the place was wonderful. The staff is pleasant, the resort is large but well spaced and the weather is just perfect.
I will say though that it was a little sad to see such a lovely place built with such great detail in design, but not the same level of care to the construction end of it. I can’t imagine this resort will age well.
But for now, I recommend it 99%. The only thing lacking was sufficient staff at the buffet - - getting a table during the “rush times” was not at all easy
myself and some friends will travel to gran bahia july 27-july 30 and i am kind of apprehensive having read the comments. can anyone tell me about transportation around jamaica.
thank you
misbama
My husband and i will travel to the Gran Bahia resort in a week.. I’m anxious to see what it’s like.. All the fuss and negativity?? How bad can it be?? It’s a brand new resort and obviously if you see they are still under construction it’s not going to be perfect. BUT you are on VACATION.. why spend the trip nagging about all the dilemas.. IT’s the carribean…not your home.. So get in the island mood, spray on the mosquito spray and enjoy your trip! Cold showers feel good on tanned skin anyways! : )
I’ll make sure to follow up on our experience once we return..
I WILL BE IN JAMAICA THE WEEK OF AUGUST 3RD AND WILL BE STAYING AT THIS HOTEL I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
MY MOM FIRST CHOICE WAS THE RIU SHE SAID ITS THE BEST HOTEL DOWN THEIR SO FAR BUT, I AM HOPING TO PROVE HER WRONG. I HAVE NOT BEEN TO JAMAICA FOR TWENTY YEARS AND HOPE MY TIME WILL BE ENJOYABLE AT THIS HOTEL
I just want to say thank you everyone who has stayed at this resort for your info.I was thinking of going there the Dec.through Cheap Caribbean .com that had a special for this hotel.I say thank you ,BUT NO THANK YOU after all that I have read.I will go back to Jamaica, but I guess I will go back to SUPER CLUBS,where everything was just perfect. Food was excellent, all TOP SHELF liqior,Great BODY PAINTING. ADULT ONLY resort. I did want to try another resort in Jamaica. I am sure this one is not it. I think I may try RIU thay have great resorts in CANCUN, so I might give them a try. SANDELS resorts cost more than most resorts in Jamaica. I am sure if you want to pay top doller you will be happy.My husband andI loved Super Clubs in Runnaway Bay . We were there when this resort was only open 6 months and everything was great. Not like what I have been reading about this resort.I also tried to get an updateon this place online an it was incmplete.After about 9 months of opening and no major signs that this resort has yet completed all of it’s structrual,safety,and staffing problems.If I were you Buyer Be Were. Bayonne, N.J.
Just got back 07/27/07. What a beautiful place. All inclusive food was the best over Grand Lido, Breezes and Sandals. Been to ALOT of places, all 5 star and this tops the list in Jamaica. Can’t beat the Ritz, but for Principe Bahia, not one issue comes to mind. Clean and nice rooms, staff was very nice (you will always find one or two to avoid), food was excellent, drink line was long at times (who cares), when pool was crowded beach was always a option, can walk out and see your feet for a long time, no need to snorkle by the rocks water so clear. View from our room was ocean, daughter had poolside room. Bring sunscreen and bug spray. Room mini bar is stocked daily, water soda and beer. Can’t think of anything else you MUST have. We heard no construction, everything worked (AC included), toilet did run constantly but shut the bathroom door (didn’t bother calling it in), tub is jacuzzi tub HUGE, nice marble tiled. We stayed in the JR suite, did not upgrade to “gold” club. But what we received was wonderful. Personally I think maybe people are posting bad reviews to keep this a secret!
Stayed at Bahia Runaway Bay w/end of May 17 2007.First the security woudnt let us in..said she had to find out if we were staying there..Of course we had our bags and stuff coming directly from the airport..My bro in law paid for us to stay and left his signed cc slip..front desk said they couldnt honour it..Why did they allow him to do this in the first place?..so i whipped out my cc to pay..Had to check out due bad service sat morning…so to give me credit..they had to refund first amount and run my card again..Im still waiting on my credit for thur/fri and sat nite..since they ran my card again for thur and fri nght when we checked out..It has been hell to deal with the account department..We were pushed to leave on sat morning when no wash rags were provided for us and after we called it took 35mins to get them.Not to mention the spanish speaking managers who we dealt with..they have no command of basic english language..The food was all latin plus most of the staff is disgruntled..The first time we had to leave a hotel early due to poor service. That saturday morning 17may they were all busy polishing the hotel entrance as the owner was visiting…no concern for guests.
Its a disgrace.
I’ve been to 10 Countries, 34 states, three county fairs, two fist fights and a finger food cookoff but I’ve never seen anything like RIU Ocho Rios. This place is all the way awsome!!!! The room had marble floors and bath with a glorious view, the food was outstanding at all the different resturants, the waiters treated you like royalty and bartenders made you just want to live there. The beach, the water and the sun were as perfect as you can get . After reading sooooo much blog about Jamaica, I was almost ready to just spend my vacation on some lake in Oklahoma. I’m glad we took time to look at all the different resorts and very glat to have chosen RIU Ocho Rios. We plan to visit RIU Palace in the Dominican Republic next year and then RIU Santa Fe in Cabo San Lucas in two years. We cant wait now that we’ve had a taste of the RIU life style
this hotel has the worst service ever!!! Don’t waste your time or money, the management sucks and they are rude and only consider speaking to you if you are spanish…waste of time, slow, rude staff,,,spend your money elsewhere.
slow, slow, slow service!!! absolutely disgusting!!!
this hotel was our 39th trip to Jamaica we allways stayed in the runaway bay area we are Belgians but very related to the Jamaicans in this area.We have spend 15 days at the resort and we had a great time even we had some rain most of the days.
Every day I go on the streets and meet some locals visit their house and try their food.
never in these 12years of visiting I had one
problem in the daytime.Nights in Jamaica
you may call sometimes dangerous .
but nighttime you should be on your bed.
We are planning to go back to the BAHIA
PRINCIPE next month and I m inviting some of my friends to have a wonderfull time toghetter Those who are not happy at this
wonderfull resort they have a problem but not
a JAMAICAN PROBLEM one love
Thinking skeptically(after all negative blogs)of taking a family vacation in February 2008, with all of our grown children and spouses. Can anyone update the progress in hotel construction, staff, etc. as of Dec. 2007?
This will be a major reunion celebration, would not want to ruin it.
I just got back from Bahia Principe, it was the worst experience of my entire life. Thank God I had amazing sex with my boyfriend, if I didn’t have him…I believe I would have been suicidal.
Staff…has no CUSTOMER SERVICE…SPA…if you made reservations - don’t be too confident you still have them. Bugs in my bed…I woke up two out of the five mornings with huge bug bites on my face. No towels…rude employees…I will take a vacation in the Bronx and feel safer than ever contemplating the thought of going back to this living HELL.
I’m going to be at the Gran Bahai Principe Jamaica for the last week of Feb 2008. If anyone is going there with someone the same age as my son (16) that he can hang out with, drop me a line.
BTW I’ve read all the negative comments and I’m still looking forward to the trip.
I was very discouraged going to this hotel; I have been to most other islands, and they were all OK. After reading the blog I tried to cancel my trip but it was l too late, so I had to go,…..short story Jamaica was great, and t his hotel was actually way better than many others I’ve been to. I would definitely be going back.
Hi, My husband and i are booked in to the Bahia Principe on the 25th of November 2008, we have read all the reviews, but still very much looking forward to it, we have read reviews on other sites and it sounds wonderful, seems like teething problems after it was built, anybody else going when we are?
Some of the Hotels who boast about having good service have the worst services in fact, and I guess this is one amongst them. Feels terrible when we got to pay for all the services and still feel betrayed.
My military husband and I are planning a trip Aug 23-31, 2008. Never been to Jamaica and are tossing between this hotel, Grand Lido Negril Spa, and Breezes Runaway bay. Does anyone have any information on upgrading to Club Golden Principe for the Grand Bahia principe? Anyone been after Jan 2009 and if so do problems mentioned persist? This is only my 2nd trip in over 20 years - so this is a HUGE deal for us…especially as its a reunion as hubby is at sea for 6 months and arrives home Aug 21 and we leave Aug 23 for Jamaica…..help? input? advice please?
Oops last post said Aug 23-31, 2008 and it’s actually AUGUST 23-31, 2009. By the way, we’re from Canada, Vancouver Island, British Columbia