JAMAICA MISTAKA? NOT AT
THE HALF MOON CLUB
Overall Romantic Experience **** 
We ended up in Jamaica almost by accident. Our flight to Barbados was cancelled 3 days before departure, and we were desperate for our planned 9 day getaway to the Caribbean. I did what I had never done before ~ I called a local travel agent, looking for a last minute package or deal to “any place tropical”. What she came up with was no highly discounted deal, but it ended up being a decent value and a fabulous trip: non-stop first class airfare to Jamaica and an 8 night all-inclusive stay at the famous Half Moon Club. The fact that the Half Moon was a mere 10 minutes from Montego Bay airport was a big draw for us; after a 3+ hour flight, I had no desire to hop in a van for another 2 hour trek to Negril. And the first class airfare was also a draw. We had never been to an all-inclusive and we had no idea what to expect, but were willing to give it a shot. We were desperate, and after reading reviews in Zagat and online at Tripadvisor.com we felt pretty secure that it wouldn’t be a disaster. Fortunately our last minute potential fiasco developed into a fantastic trip.
After the standard one hour wait at Immigration, we walked into the Montego Bay main terminal and immediately found the Half Moon Club “lounge”. We were only there for 2 or 3 minutes before being whisked away into a van; ten minutes later we arrived at the resort itself. The large, open, airy lobby, framed by palms and flowers, immediately said “Caribbean vacation”. It was a little more formal than some resorts we’ve been to, a little more British and reserved in feel, but still very relaxed and comfortable. Check-in was quick and painless, and we were taken by golf cart to our suite. We scored a Junior Suite in the newly constructed “Hibiscus Wing”, a collection of 68 rooms and suites strung along Sunset Beach. The room was enormous, with a luxuriously comfortable four poster bed, a living area with a couch and two chairs, a huge marble bath, separate dressing area, and a large, comfortable patio overlooking the ocean (which was a mere 30 feet from our door). The beach is narrow and the water a bit rocky, but the vista is spectacular, and there are plenty of palm trees around to provide welcome shade and a cooling breeze.
The all-inclusive plan ended up being a good value for us. We could eat at any of the four restaurants on the resort property: The Seagrape Terrace, which served all 3 meals daily including a buffet option for breakfast and certain special occasions. The Sugar Mill was more elegant and romantic, overlooking the golf course and the old stone mill structure. Service was excellent; the only criticism is that this really should be reserved for adults only. The children tended to be too young to enjoy the setting or to tolerate sitting still for an extended meal, and their presence detracted from the romantic setting. Despite this it was our favorite of the resort restaurants. Il Giardino came highly recommended; we thought it was good but not great. Of course we’re Italian and vacation a lot in Italy so we’re pretty picky. And the Royal Stocks Pub didn’t appeal to us, being all indoors, so we never tried it. We prefer dining alfresco when we are in the Caribbean, and the Royal Stocks is more suited to London’s climate.
In terms of drinks the all-inclusive plan allowed for unlimited cocktails and wines by the glass at any time, even from the mini-bar, which was more than adequate for our needs. There were several bars scattered around the huge property, and drinks were always generous. We were invited to a couple of Manager’s Parties, which included cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and live music, but most people seemed to stick to their own companions rather than socialize. The weekly barbecue was fun, with typical Jamaican fare and a great Reggae band playing in the background. Too bad people didn’t dance, and the barbecue ended pretty early. That would be my only criticism: we like to dance and there really was no opportunity to do so. That would be a great addition to the resort. 
If you’re going to the Half Moon, try to reserve the Hibiscus Wing rooms, from what we saw they were the newest and nicest, and offered the best location. If you’re traveling with a family you might want to consider their Royal Villas. These are private houses that feature several bedrooms and a private pool, and enjoy the services of a butler, cook, and housekeeper. They are expensive and less convenient to the main resort area, but they are very elegant and offer the unique combination of a villa vacation within a resort.
Be sure to take advantage of: water sports offered on site; the Dine Around Plan (although transportation costs can reduce the value of this option); the Dolphin Lagoon where you can swim with the dolphins; walking or biking around the beautiful grounds; the hammocks on Half Moon Beach. I will say that the presence of children can take away from the romantic ambiance at times… thus my “4*” rating vs. 5*. If you plan your trip accordingly you can manage to avoid school vacation periods. Also the Hibiscus Wing seemed to have fewer children than the west side of the resort.
Finally, I want to give kudos to the staff at the Half Moon. Service is included in the price of the room, and the staff refused tips even when offered. This is in huge contrast to a few other very high end resorts where we’ve stayed, where the service is included but the hands are always out for more. The people were all very friendly and helpful, which definitely added to our enjoyment of the property. We will surely return to the Half Moon.
