I’ve Got A Secret!!!

And I’m Going to Tell Everyone

by Rochelle Brown

I’ve got a wonderful secret, but sometimes secrets are to be shared, especially this one.  It is the new Secrets Resorts and Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

I’ve always loved Jamaica. I’ve made many visits there, but my stay at Secrets, I must say, topped them all.  Secrets is an incredibly beautiful new all-inclusive all-adult resort located on a once unoccupied peninsula in Jamaica only 20 minutes from the airport. You can literally land, and depending on Immigration, be on the beach in little more than an hour.

As you approach the resort, the gorgeous, beautiful buildings rise up to meet you.  Then, a very handsome Jamaican bellman, dressed in a great looking summer suit and cute stingy-brimmed hat greets you with a very warm, “Welcome Home”.  From that moment, you realize that you are home away from home.  More warm welcomes and cool island drinks and cloths are offered as you enter and check-in is a breeze.

The 350 room suites resort, which only opened last April, is actually two resorts on one property – Secrets Wild Orchid and Secrets St. James. The Wild Orchid is a bit sassy while the St. James is a little more conservative.  Both offer extraordinary amenities and preferred sections, although visitors are free to roam any of the beach areas, bars and on-site restaurants.

There is a beautiful stretch of beach that wraps its way around the resort with man-made coves and walking paths that dare you to explore. If you’re a morning person, as I am, I highly recommend walking the beach to catch a glimpse of, what I fondly call, the starfish parade.  It is truly a beautiful sight. I’ve never seen so many starfish wash ashore as I saw at Secrets.  If you’re not a morning person, make sure you catch the evening sunset.  There’s nothing more relaxing or romantic than a Jamaican sunset.

Speaking of romance, Secrets is perfect for destination weddings or romantic couples.  There were four brides on my flight over. I would bet money that some of them were coming to Secrets.  The fabulous onsite restaurants, bars, shopping mall and activities would keep even the most picky guest intrigued while the happy couple enjoys some privacy, if they so choose, in one of the preferred buildings.  The preferred buildings offer some special treats that a newly wed couple would really enjoy. Specialties such as private check in and check out, sun beds and soaking tubs on the terrace and private pools just outside the suite. 

When I really want to get away, I love a great room.  A room I can lounge in, take a great luxurious bath, get good room service, read and watch a little TV. or sit on the terrace and enjoy the view.  Secrets Wild Orchid, which is where I stayed, offers it all.  The decor was very elegantly and understated with a large mahogany bed with fringed canopy, flat screen TV. on the wall, and an ample terrace that offered a good deal of privacy.  The bathroom was exceptionally well planned with a deep free-standing bathtub, suitable for soaking and remembering the wonders of the day.  I must say one thing that impressed me was the full sized products in the bathroom.  It was so nice to not have to ask housekeeping for more shampoo or body wash because the sample size bottle ran out. Bravo to Secrets for that!  And best of all there’s 24 hour room service with private butler doors, so that you’re not disturbed.

If you want to work up a sweat, try the fully outfitted fitness room or make arrangements for a round of golf at a nearby golf course.

While visiting the resort, you may want to take some side trips especially if you are a first time visitor to Jamaica or if you’ve not been there in a while.  There’s so much to do!

 You can take the famous climb up the Dunn’s River Falls, visit the Rose Hall estate and learn about the mysteries there, go to Ocho Rios and take a zip line through Mystic Mountain or swim with the dolphins at Dolphin cove.  Venture a bit farther to Negril and check out Rick’s café.  You must do this!  The restaurant sits on a cliff about 30 feet in the high. Every evening, around sunset, some very brave souls jump from the cliff into the cool Jamaican waters.  On our trip, we were lucky enough to be out for the day on a catamaran, thanks to the fabulous Sandals Resort, and we got to see the action from a very different point of view.  Would I ever be so brave? Probably not, but you may want to try.  My more adventurous travel buddies did and loved it.  It’s one of those once in a lifetime things to experience.  All of these excursions can be arranged through the resort.

After a day of adventure, a day at the Secrets Spa by Pevonia, is just the thing to complete a trip.  The spa has been called one of the best in the world by spa experts.  The “wet” area, as it is called is one of the most inclusive I’ve ever seen. There are cool waters, hot waters and secret jets for hydro-therapy. The best part is that all of the wet area including sauna and steam room is free.  There are a host of other surprisingly reasonably priced treatments that can be had as well.

So, as my newfound friends at Secrets say, “Welcome Home!”

Secrets Wild Orchid and Secrets St. James in Jamaica are the newest of a chain of Amresorts throughout the world. For more information log on to www.amresorts.com or call

1-866-GOSECRETS.