Size matters: the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort sparks big joy for families

The Grand Palladium Resort and Spa is a great big resort, and it’s big on charm too. Lisa McGarry finds out just why this Montego Bay star gives families its grandest welcome.

Main pool, Grand Palladium Resort

The Grand Palladium’s feelgood factor starts in the lobby

We arrived at Grand Palladium Resort and Spa after a long flight, shuffling blinking and overdressed into a majestic, marbled, open plan lobby. The shimmering blue horizon and lush palm frontage made it clear we’d stumbled into paradise – like Dorothy waking up in technicolour Oz, our senses ignited full throttle. Rum drinks were offered, wristband keys handed out, sunglasses donned, and then we hopped into golf buggies to be smoothly despatched to our rooms. As introductions go, this one was magical.

Kids pool, Grand Palladium Resort and Spa

Double trouble, but it’s no trouble at all

The Grand Palladium Resorts and Spa are the Grand Palladium and Lady Hamilton Resorts, doubling the fun and occupying a huge spread of stunning Montego Bay coastline. Of the two, Grand Palladium is the more family-orientated, and it was here we stayed, but the blending is seamless and it’s easy to get around on foot or by hailing a buggy. Staff are numerous and helpful, and the service is smiley and attentive.

Live family shows, Grand Palladium Jamaica

A brand-new look for a true family hotel

The resort underwent a major £20m renovation late in 2023, for a full remodelling of common areas and refurbishment of 537 rooms, including 48 suites in two new categories (some with private hot tubs and uber-romantic designs), and a new pickleball court.

There are 11 restaurants in total – seven a la carte and four international show cooking – as well as four pools, a live performance area (we played bingo and saw a brilliant Michael Jackson tribute show), kids’ clubs for babies, children and teens. On top of that, you’ll find 15 themed bars, along with shops, and Zentropia: an incredible Venetian-style spa and wellness centre. Family activities include dance lessons, water sports, mini golf and basketball. There’s loads to do, and no pressure to do anything – in other words, perfect!

Sunset Cove, Lady Hamilton Resort

Beach life, pool life: it’s the Grand Palladium good life

The beach at the Grand Palladium is a long stretch of perfect shallow waters and white sands, ideal if you want to stay right in the resort, just steps from the main pool. And what a pool it is, in keeping with the resort’s Venetian theme: classical pillars, part-submerged sunbeds, and a swim-up bar, and so big that it never seems crowded. Right next to it is a large kids’ pool area with waterslides and even a waterfall, and again, it never felt too busy. You get drinks served to your loungers, and can swap towels as often as you want at the replenishment areas – just don’t lose the magic card.

Then there’s pretty Sunset Cove at the Lady Hamilton end of the resort, which is great for sunset swims and selfies and is home to the water sports centre (there are free paddleboards and kayaks for guests, and it’s where you depart for boat trips). It also has a bar, towels, and a Jerk Hut, and is a seriously serene spot.

Villa views, Grand Palladium Resort

Rooms with the best views for holiday feels

Our well-equipped family room was housed in one of the two-storey villa blocks a little way up from the main resort building, with pillars and fountains for more Venetian vibes. Waking up to the Caribbean Sea views, and sound of gently lapping waves was blissful. And side note: due to daily misting around the resort, we didn’t get a single mosquito bite – unheard of on a tropical trip.

We had a look around some of the other room categories, with private hot tubs and rainforest showers, which were stunning. But ours was perfect for us: two large beds to sleep four; seating area with sofa bed; fridge; massive bathroom with whirlpool tub, and a private terrace, all decorated in tasteful neutrals. Our mini-fridge had soft drinks and snacks as well as waters, and anything we used was replaced the next day.

Guest room, Grand Palladium Resort

There are walkways in all directions flanked by beautifully maintained gardens, all tropical flowers and palms, adding to the general deliciousness. Cleverly, the walkways have covered sections, meaning that if you walk from one end of the resort to the other, you can keep in the shade the whole time, which is great for kids. It’s little touches like this which make Grand Palladium such a welcoming home for families; and if you don’t want to walk or are running late, buggies are always cruising by.

View from Blue Lagoon Restaurant, Grand Palladium Resort

Dining out on a large scale at Grand Palladium Resort

When you’re holidaying with kids, choice is important, and we tried a few of the à la carte restaurants as well as the buffet ones – our favourites were, high-end Indian restaurant, Bhopali, and the seafood restaurant, Poseidon. We loved the buffet breakfasts and lunches at Mo’Bay, and the breakfast at Blue Lagoon, complete with saxophonist, chirping birds and pool views, was a feast for the senses. I tried saltfish, ackee, collard greens, and enjoyed many delicious freshly-made omelettes, while the kids loaded up on pastries and pancakes (there’s a pancake station at Mo’Bay with all the toppings – your basic heaven for kids).

Another place we visited a few times was the sports bar, which had the coldest aircon and food available all day. And the Jerk Hut for those classic Caribbean feels didn’t disappoint – there’s one by the main pool, and the other at Sunset Cove. There’s also a little beach bar with fresh coconuts, but you need to get there on time or you may miss out.

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Rafting, Martha Brae River

Rafting on Martha Brae River without a care in the world

It was hard to leave the resort, particularly as we were enjoying such good weather in the so-called October rainy season (a couple of showers, and some cloud cover here and there) but as it was our first visit to Jamaica, we needed to get out and see the island. The resort organised our trips, and the first was a bamboo river rafting experience on the Martha Brae River, a serene experience where our gracious skipper took us downriver as we got to lie back, take pictures, and just enjoy the scenery and peace.

Afterwards we stopped at Father Bull restaurant for jerk chicken, and the legendary fizzy drink Ting (a bit like the now-defunct Lilt, only better).

All signs point to happiness, Father Bull Restaurant

Rick’s Cafe Jamaica for iconic sunset views and cliff jumping

We joined a tour to the famous Rick’s Cafe, currently celebrating its 50th year, famed for stunning sunsets and people leaping off the cliffs into the sea, which draws a huge crowd (one guy stood on his hands to walk towards the edge before somersaulting in, which made us think he’d done it before). It’s not a place to keep kids after dark as the music gets loud and so does the crowd, so once we’d seen the sunset we hopped on our bus for the 30-minute transfer back to Grand Palladium and a well-earned dinner.

Our last trip was a catamaran excursion with Chukka Caribbean Adventures, which I can’t recommend highly enough. We had a crew of four including a DJ for those cool reggae beats, and moored up in a pretty bay to snorkel the reef and then float around with handy inflatables. There was drinks service in the sea – the ultimate swim-up bar – and even non-swimmers were able to snorkel with the help of the lovely crew.  A half day is about the right amount of time for a boat trip, especially with little kids, and there was plenty of shade in the rear section of the boat. It was a great way to see the island’s incredible beauty from a new perspective.

Hydrotherapy area, Zentropia Spa

Zentropia Spa is a jewel of Grand Palladium wellbeing

Of course, I sneaked off to visit the spa, for a massage which was chatty and restorative – I loved the upbeat energy of my therapist, and we laughed as she soothed away my knots – I felt very relaxed, unusual for me with my city-tense shoulders. I also made use of the hydrotherapy centre – a great shady alternative to the main pool. The Venetian style works so well and, as well as mum and daughter spa experiences, I discovered that dad and son pedicures are all the rage too. It’s a very high-end space, and the therapists are impeccable.

They host weddings at the Grand Palladium, and Zentropia, with its pools and pillars is a perfect setting – we were lucky enough to witness all the guests arriving for one, dressed up in their finery and beaming from ear to ear as they greeted each other: absolutely gorgeous, and made us all beam too.

Sunset Cove, Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort

Sunset on this incredible trip, but we’re feeling irie

We would 100% return to the Grand Palladium Resort. It’s just so welcoming, so easy, so beautiful, and the feelgood factor lasted well into the cold UK winter. We loved being surrounded by so much amazing scenery, fantastic facilities, the happy energy of the staff and everyone we met, and the overriding sense of not taking life too seriously, because we’re ‘feeling irie’. Just a lot of love in a very big room, where there’s plenty of room for everyone.

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