Travelling to Moon Palace Resort in Ochos Rios, Jamaica was definitely one of the highlights of our summer holidays. As the cooler weather sets in, I am dreaming of warmer places. If you are the same and looking for a place to head this winter, keep reading. I have put together a full review of this gorgeous, all-inclusive, family friendly resort.
Arrival and Amenities
We were greeted upon our arrival at the Montego Bay airport by the amazing staff from The MoBay Fast Track. We were escorted past the long line for customs to a VIP area where we could get through customs quickly and then enjoy time in the lounge with freshly prepared food and refreshments. From there we had a private van to take us to the resort. If you are travelling to Moon Palace I would highly recommend booking the arrival transit with Club Mobay!
Once at the resort we were checked in and enjoyed a light snack. Clay opted for the Peanut Butter and Banana sushi. I love how they served it in the shape of a “C”… a perfect example of the exemplary attention to detail from all staff at this amazing resort! Wes and Rhett opted for ice cream sundaes, their first of many for the week!
Our room was a “Junior Suite”. It had two queen beds and a roll away which accommodated our family of 5 very well. We also had a gorgeous bathroom with a jacuzzi tub and water closet, a balcony with a stunning view, fully stocked mini bar, large screen TV, diffuser, and Chi hair and body care products. I also loved that there was a Chi hair straightener right in the room! A cleaning service was offered each morning and a turn down service each night. We went on a tour of a few other room types and you can see the special amenities from those in the photos below and on my most recent IGTV post.
The Beach, Water, and Activities
Moon Palace Resort has a seemingly never-ending list of activities to do. Having said that, you are also more than welcome to sit on the white sand and swim in the clear waters all day long. Some of our favourite activities were: the splash pad, the water slide, kayaking, swimming, and going on the Hobie Kat and FlowRider. The boys also loved the Playroom, the arcade, and watching the dolphins jump. I was planning to go to the Awe Spa and Fitness Center, but the weather was so gorgeous that I never wanted to take a break and be inside. They are on my list to visit next time as I heard the spa is a “must do’. Each pool and segment of beach has a lifeguard from 9 am to 5 pm. There were also foot washing stations on the edge of the beach which I loved as this kept the pools VERY clean. Each night there was a fabulous show. I especially enjoyed the Michael Jackson tribute.
The Playroom
The kids camp at Moon Palace is called “The Playroom“. The Playroom has a staff of 6 “aunties” to care for and have fun with children age 4-12 between 10 am and 10 pm. These ladies are INCREDIBLE! The boys were so excited to go to the Playroom each day. There is a set schedule for each day that includes various activities and crafts. Crafts included making bracelets, rock painting, making balloon animals, creating picture frames, tie dye shirts, and more. For free time there is an imagination center, an indoor exploration gym, a lego wall, an air hockey table, and a mini arcade. For outdoor time there is a splash pad, climbing wall, and sand area. Children between 0-4 years of age can also enjoy The Playroom with parent/caregiver supervision. Children with allergies wear an orange bracelet that alerts the staff of their allergy.
We chose to take the boys to the Playroom from 10 or 11 am to 3 or 4 pm most days. This allowed for family time from 6 am to 10/11 am and again from 3/4 pm to bedtime while my husband and I enjoyed time to relax and connect during the day.
The Food
The Moon Palace Resort Dining offers a lovely buffet that is open for all meals, in addition to 4 sit-down restaurants, and 2 beach grills. The buffet offered just about anything you could desire including traditional Jamaican dishes, an incredible variety of hot and cold options, freshly prepared baked goods, and freshly squeezed juices.
My favourite breakfast at the buffet was coconut pancakes or fresh oats topped with papaya, melon, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts along with a freshly made smoothie, spinach juice, and coffee. I really missed this morning start when we came home! We also enjoyed breakfast at Pier 8 some mornings. Pier 8 is a sit-down restaurant right next to the beach that offered several traditional Jamaican breakfast specialties.
For lunch, the children had lunch in the Playroom and my husband and I enjoyed lunch dates. Most days we ate at Pier 8, the restaurant located right next to the beach. The food and view could not be beat! We started each lunch with plantain chips and hummus and then I had a different salad each day topped with incredible fish or seafood. My husband enjoyed Curried Goat, Rum BBQ Chicken Wings, Fish Fry, and other unique dishes. We really enjoyed everything we ordered and the service was outstanding! The lunch buffet was also lovely. We went there one of the days and I especially liked the explanation provided about the local dishes. One of the days we stayed right on the beach and I had Ceviche Fish from the grill and my husband had Jamaican Jerk Chicken which is prepared daily in a hut on the beach. I also had my first coconut water straight from a coconut that day. What an incredible experience!
Every single night we were in awe of the delicious supper selections. We ate under the stars at Pier 8, enjoyed fine dining at The Gondola a few of the evenings, and had a blast at Momo, which is Hibachi style service. At all locations there was the option of a kids menu and an adult menu, and Clay’s allergies were honoured well!
After supper we had fun going to the Boulangerie. We enjoyed freshly made dessert crepes, ice cream, popsicles, pastries and more. It was a fun time to sit as a family and chat about our favorite moments of the day while enjoying a sweet treat.
The Pools
There are several pools at Moon Palace Resort and all are maintained impeccably! One has a waterslide that is open from 9 am to 5 pm and one has a shallow area that the kids really enjoyed playing in. There are on-going activities in the main pool throughout the day including water polo, water aerobics, and more. All pools have a life guard watching closely from 9 am to 5 pm daily.
The Excursions
There are several excursion options within 5-10 minutes of Moon Palace Resort. We chose to head to Mystic Mountain. We enjoyed a gondola ride 700 feet up the side of the mountain. The view was unbelievable. Once at the top we read about Jamaica. The boys were especially interested in the wildlife and I was especially interested in learning more about the Jamaican bobsled team! From there we spent an hour in the invisible edge pool and going down a big waterslide. We could see Moon Palace Resort from the edge of the pool. From there we enjoyed a nature hike and then headed back to the resort.
The Sunsets
Some of my favourite memories from our week at Moon Palace Resort are from during the sunsets. Most nights we played in the warm turquoise waters until the sun was completely down. Watching the boys splash and play was truly magical. A few of the nights we got ready for supper and watched the sunset from the pier. The boys loved watching the colourful fish swim between the coral during these times too. Each sunset was completely unique and it felt like the sky had been painted for our enjoyment.
The Departure
The day we left we were served breakfast in our room at 5 am and then upon arrival to the airport we enjoyed more time in the Mobay Lounge. The lounge in the departure area was two stories with incredible views of the airport runways; fresh sandwiches, salads, soups, yogurts, and sushi; a full bar; and a children’s play area. They even made a chocolate banana smoothie from scratch upon Wes’ request! What service!
We are so thankful for the incredible gifted experience from Palace Resorts to visit Moon Palace Resort in Ochos Rios, Jamaica. It was a very special week for our family. If you have any questions at all about the resort that I have not answered, please feel free to ask in the comment section or on my instagram feed. Cheers and happy travels!
Although my recent visit to the resort was my first, I sincerely hope it will not be my last. Supposedly nothing is perfect, but my three days at the resort certainly came close. The room was well appointed, comfortable, and offered a spectacular view of both the pool area and the ocean. The front desk personnel were patient, courteous, and friendly. That’s the personal touch that I found so great about the hotel and staff. I’ve visited St. Simons many times, but always stayed in rental units. After this wonderful stay, next time will again be at the Resort.