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Grand Lido NegrilSuper-Inclusive Luxury in JamaicaBy Toni DabbsTo many travelers, Jamaica is synonymous with all-inclusive. At their three Jamaica resorts, SuperClubs have taken this one step further, creating what they call "super-inclusive" holidays. "Super-inclusive," they say, " isn't just about more. It's about better." Seeing is believing, so I spent a few days testing the concept at the SuperClubs Grand Lido Negril.
I immediately liked the look of the place: comfortably luxurious; not intimidating. Blocks of accommodations are spread throughout the 22 acres of gardened grounds. Almost all suites have views of the bay, facing either the main beach or its secluded "clothing optional" counterpart. My air-conditioned junior suite had a king-size bed, a sunken sitting area and a small balcony ideal for enjoying breakfast while watching the sunrise.
Other evenings, guests may dine at the resort's three restaurants at no additional charge. La Pasta features Italian specialties in a casual setting for both lunch and dinner daily. Cafe Lido offers continental dining in a casually elegant atmosphere on nights when the Gran Terrazza buffets are not available. Piacere, for guests who feel like dressing up, serves nouvelle cuisine by candlelight six nights per week.
Although the green fee and transportation to the 18-hole Negril Hills Golf Course are among the super-inclusive offerings of the Grand Lido Negril, charges for caddie, cart and rental of golf clubs are extra. But for guests who can't take a holiday without playing at least one round of golf...
The spa was a different story. The most desirable time slots for complimentary manicures and pedicures already were taken. And many of the treatments for which there is a charge were booked. I managed to arrange a 30-minute aroma salt glow massage in one of the open-air pavilions on the grounds and a soothing 30-minute aloe facial. Sauna, steam room and plunge pool also are among the super-inclusives and were readily available.
Other nightlife at the resort does not require reservations. In addition to the nightly disco and regular performances by the resident band, special events are scheduled throughout the week, such as Carnival Night and a beach party. More sedate entertainment is available in the Piano Lounge.
The Grand Lido also included a library, video theater and games room with pool tables, table tennis, cards, dominoes and a variety of board games.
But the Grand Lido also arranges individually priced tours and excursions, ranging from parasailing to deep sea fishing to a day on Jamaica's North Coast. I opted for two excursions: a tour of Negril and a crocodile safari cruise along the Black River on the island's South Coast. During my stay at the Grand Lido, someone said to me, "An all-inclusive resort is like a cruise ship that goes nowhere." Seeing everyone around us enjoying the resort's activities, I had to ask, "What's wrong with that?" Photos by Toni Dabbs FOR MORE INFORMATIONSuperClubs Copyright 2002 by Toni Dabbs. This work, including photographs, is protected by copyright and may be used only for personal non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved, and commercial use is prohibited without permission of the author. |
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Negril, on
the west side of Jamaica, is about a 1.5-hour drive from Montego Bay, where
international flights arrive. The Grand Lido is situated on a 2.5-mile
crescent of private beach north of town. It caters to adult singles and
couples.
Three club
houses strategically located around the property provide 24-hour room
service for nearby accommodations, but they also are open for light meals
and full service 24 hours daily. Each has terrace seating and a Jacuzzi. The
resort's Gran Terrazza serves breakfast and lunch buffet style daily and has
buffet dinners twice each week.
When I
checked in, the clerk at the reception desk suggested that I make several
decisions as soon as possible: whether I wanted a reservation at Piacere for
one night during my stay; whether I wanted to play golf any day during my
stay; whether I wanted any spa treatments; and whether I wanted to join one
of the sunset cruises aboard the 147-foot yacht M/Y Zein. It seems some
things fill up very fast. So once I had unpacked, I began making calls.
And for
those who don't want to spend a penny more, there are plenty of other
activities. The resort has four on-site tennis courts, volleyball, bicycles,
two swimming pools, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, SCUBA diving
and glass bottomed boat rides. There's also a fully equipped fitness center
and organized power walks, yoga, aquacise and aerobics. However, I found
that reservations generally weren't needed for these.
There
was space aboard the M/Y Zein that night, so I registered and joined the
dockside line-up at the appointed hour. A motorboat ferried us to the power
yacht, where we were greeted with champagne, hors-d'oeuvres and Jamaican
music. But the Zein is no ordinary party boat. The beautifully appointed
yacht was presented as a wedding gift to Princess Grace and Prince Rainier
on Monaco by Aristotle Onassis. Guests dressed well for the cruise, drank in
moderation, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves.
I
discovered that the Grand Lido Negril included some complimentary services
that I would have expected it to charge extra for: laundry and dry cleaning;
conference facilities; even weddings. I didn't need to use any of those
during my stay! Although, as an afterthought, I should have let the resort
do my laundry before I went home.
It would
have been easy to spend my entire holiday on the resort property. I didn't
even need to leave to shop for souvenirs. The on-site shops had a good
selection that included quality clothing, Blue Mountain coffee and Appleton
rum. In addition, kiosks selling different Jamaican crafts were set up on
the grounds.