Shaw Park Beach Hotel And Suites Ocho Rios

My husband and I married at Shaw Park Beach Hotel in front of 25 of our family members (all of us also stayed on the premises) in 2000. While the wedding and reception was beautiful, the hotel itself was definately not! This hotel is definately roach infested! They were everywhere! They were in the dining area and rooms as well as crawling out of cracks in the bar at the nightclub! The rooms were quaint at best and the air conditioning in the room leaked on my grandfathers suit for the wedding. The staff acted unconcerned about our complaints and there was hardly any activities to do during the day. There was a very small selection of snacks during the day and they were only available at certain times. After 10pm, you were on your own which meant you may have to venture into town at night. The food in the evening was decent but nothing to write home about. In my opinion, I should have shelled out a few extra hundred bucks like I did before and stayed at a far more decent hotel! If you want an excellent stay, try Beaches Negril. It is definately worth the money spent!!!

I enjoyed my stay at the Shaw Park Beach hotel. My flight arrived very early 06:30, When I arrived after about a hour and half taxi ride from MO-Bay still being about 8:00 in the morning my room wasn't quite ready but they got it ready within an hour of my arrival even though check-in time isn't until much later. While I was waiting the attendant at the desk pointed me to the restraunt where I was given coffee and breakfast while awaiting my room. There is a Scuba shop right on the premises, I suggest asking them to take you to the ship wreck. Shaw Park isn't a large fancy type hotel but a smaller place which seems to emphasize the natural beauty of Jamaica, not some elaborate pool. The nightly entertainment was great, from the Crab Races to the Regalas Steel Drum band, they also have a wonderful Jamaican trio that pllays nightly on the patio. They have options on all inclusive. I started out on a non-all-inclusive but about half way changed to all-inclusive, great decision. The room was simple but clean and comfortable everything worked fine from the air to the hot water in the shower even a TV which I never used.

I took my family on a trip to Shaw Park Beach hotel and we loved it! We've been back every year since. It was kid oriented, yet my husband and I found it was great for adults too. It's an awesome hotels for familys with kids and newley weds. My niece went with her husband and also enjoyed the place. I would definetly recommend this hotel!

I had the pleasure of staying at Shaw Park for one week in August 2002 and I had the time of my life! No, it's not one of the more luxurious resorts, but it's VERY nice and it's the workers who make this a beautiful place to stay! They treated us like queens and I will definitely return!

We have been staying at Shaw Park for almost twenty years, usually twice a year,over the years we have taken some 400 people with us and we continue to do so. We are returning with two friends in December and they are also returning for the second time this year

We visited in Feb 2001 and had the pleasure of getting married on the beach at Shaw Park, the staff were great, the food was brilliant and we had one of the best rooms! - we found all the jamaican people very friendly and couldn't do enough for us, we were pestered to buy drugs, but they think its like offering a cup of tea, and a firm yet polite ''no'' usually does the trick! - the blue mountains were a trip to remember as was the helicopter ride over the beach and hotel, the only thing to spoil the holiday was typically english ''Air tours!!'' - and maybe the entertainment in the hotel if you wish to be picky, as it was the same the 2nd week as the first - but then again on honeymoon - you make your own entertainment! - get out more - whoever wrote the sad review

Me and 4 other friends just spent a week at Shaw Park. I tell you that the service was great. They really cater to your needs, "no problem". Talking with the locals was wonderful. You found out a lot about the culture and they were helpful in getting around Ocho Rios. The food was great. If you want lobster you have to pay a surcharge which is $12 US dollars. We had an all inclusive plan which included all food and drink. The drinks are not watered down. The hotel is very clean but small. The staff is very accomodating to your needs. They serve food all day, from breakfast, lunch, snacks, then dinner. The bartenders are very friendly. Our room was on the bottom level which the beach is right outside your patio. The bar was right outside our door also. We saw absolutely no bugs/roaches. The mesquitos are plentiful. It is a humid place. If you stay on the bottom floor, it has a musty smell but you probably won't be in your room enough to notice. This being my first time in the Carribean, I would have to say that it was worth the trip. I will be going back again. Beware of the taxis. The taxis with the "burgundy" plates are licensed drivers and they have to charge a certain fare. The taxis with "white" plates, charge their own rate and they are not licensed. We found this out like 5 days in our trip. The driver we had charged us what ever he felt like, we didn't know.

Make sure you go to JImmy Buffet's "Margaritaville". This club just recently opened, very clean and the atmosphere is outstanding, if you like to party. Also, make sure you take plenty of $1's for tipping. If you fly into MOBay, you will tip several times before getting on your shuttle. They also take travelers checks in Ocho. IF anyone have anymore questions, email me at greenn@earthlink.net

5th March 2002 - Having just returned from the Shaw Park

Beach Hotel after our second visit in three years,I fail to understand the previous reviewers comments. The staff are supurb, managing to mix a friendly manner with excellent customer care. Whilst the decor is perhaps in need of an uplift, the hotel is spotlessly clean and the food excellent value for money, well prepared with a good choice. During our 'second' two week stay, we met many repeat visitors, some who have been staying at this hotel for many years.

There was no sign of any undesirable wildlife, so either they have either undertaken a massive clean up since the last reviewer visited, or you should not believe all you read !!!

My recommendation would be go & judge for yourself - you will not be disappointed. What you will find is a charmingly relaxed, quiet hotel, set on its own beach - in its own cove.

We have previously spent two holidays at Shaw Park and will be returning again in a few weeks.

The hotel is well run by dedicated staff who go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable. The buildings are not modern or glitzy but all the better for that. Situated right on the beach at Cutlass Bay - a dozen or so steps from your room to the Caribbean - the hotel is relaxing and friendly, an ideal place to escape from the pressures of the modern world.

This had to be the worst hotel I've ever stayed in, and i've been around ! I spent Christmas & New Year there and I wished I stayed at home. The staff seemed like they were on another planet,totally lax and nonplussed by the guests gripes. The hotel was run down, roach infested (but we did get our money back for roach spray) and damp. We are still waiting for a refund from our tour operator. I could go on but there's not enough space....