On my familiarization trip with the Jamaican Tourism Board (JTB), Round Hill Hotel and Villas was one of the 9 resorts we had the pleasure to tour. Most of my Caribbean clients are looking for all-inclusive resorts, so I was not very familiar with Round Hill. This was an exciting opportunity to learn about this amazing property! Being with 10 agents who are all trying to get beautiful pictures at the same time, it can be difficult to get a shot without other people in the picture. For that reason, there are 2 images on this page that I borrowed from the Round Hill website.
The Round Hill Resort and Villas has attracted some very well known people over the years. Bing Crosby, John and Jackie Kennedy, Alfred Hitchcock, Adele Astaire, etc. Oscar Hammerstein met Maria von Trapp and wrote the Sound of Music here! The English royal family has even visited here to attend a friends wedding. Round Hill is incredibly beautiful, so it makes sense that it was also the setting for the movie “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”. Taye Diggs enjoyed it so much while they were filming that he returned here to marry Idina Menzel.
There is something very unique and special about this resort. The feel of the resort is so luxurious, but yet it is very laid back. There are kitchens in the villas, so you have the choice of cooking your own meals, having a chef prepare your meals in the villa, eating at the restaurant on property, or finding some great restaurants in the Hip Strip area of Montego Bay. Although Round Hill is not an all inclusive resort, four meal plans are available.
Here are your options:
- Half Board (breakfast and dinner)
- Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Round Hill Plan (breakfast, lunch, dinner and beverages by the glass)
- All Inclusive Platinum Plan (breakfast, lunch, dinner, all alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks by the glass, bottle of sparkling wine, gift basket, fruit plate and round-trip airport transfers!)
We toured a premium luxury villa with 6 bedrooms, 2 private pools, gourmet kitchen, bar as well as several patio and deck areas that overlooked the bay and mountains. This villa has a dedicate staff and you can have your meals in the villa prepared by the villa cook. We were unable to take pictures inside this villa due to some work going on at the time. We were however able to take a few pictures of the 4 bedroom villa with many of the same amenities.
The large villas would be great for family reunions or corporate retreats and they have smaller villas that are perfect for families. For a single person or couple, the ocean front rooms are just right. The rooms either have a king bed or 2 doubles. The rooms on the 2nd floor have vaulted ceilings and a sitting area with a huge window that can be open. The rooms on the 1st floor have huge doors that lead to the patio. Both floors have wonderful views.
You might be wondering if Round Hill would be any fun for kids… The answer is yes! They have 2 kids clubs with a lot to offer. There is the Pineapple Club for younger children and the 7-Up Club for the the rest. We met the people running the kids programs and you could see how much they loved working with the children. There are games, arts and crafts, water activities, talents shows, reggae lessons, etc…
Some things I liked about this property… It’s located in Montego Bay and that means it’s a short drive to the resort. They grow a lot of their own vegetables on the property (see below). The chefs come around each day to pick what they are cooking that day. I like how spread out the villas are as it gives those staying some sense of privacy. The people working here seem to love what they do. When they tell you about their job, you can see the passion and the joy. My only regret is that I didn’t get to stay on this property, but it is now on my list and I will be back for an actual vacation!
If you would like to read about my travel experience to and from Jamaica during covid, click here. The article covers the process of getting tested before leaving for Jamaica and how I was tested at my resort to get back to the US. I also cover what it is like to fly at this time and any other documentation that is needed to enter travel.
If you would like more information about these resorts or travel in general, you can reach me at:
Karen Boss
KBoss Travel by Dream Vacations
919-346-7779
kboss@dreamvacations.com
www.kboss.dreamvacations.com
KBoss Travel By Dream Vacations 