Is Grand Lido Negril worth it?
Jun 3rd, 1997, 06:09 PM
#2
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It's well worth it....My trip to Grand Lido was the first and only time to Jamaica. Grand Lido is a bit removed from the rest of the island, I hope it's not a very short honeymoon!! We stayed for three nights, and if I had to do it over I would stay for at least 5. The accomodation, service, and food are fabulous.
However, unless you are into nude bathing, be sure to request a room on the main beach. They have 2 beaches, the main beach and the nude beach. Well I didn't know, so we wound up with a room overlooking the nude beach, the nude bar, and the nude pool..So just beware that isn't for everyone..It just caught me by surprise. But the atmopshere is very romantic, the service, food, accomodations and view from all rooms is terrific. You picked a great one. Enjoy!!!
However, unless you are into nude bathing, be sure to request a room on the main beach. They have 2 beaches, the main beach and the nude beach. Well I didn't know, so we wound up with a room overlooking the nude beach, the nude bar, and the nude pool..So just beware that isn't for everyone..It just caught me by surprise. But the atmopshere is very romantic, the service, food, accomodations and view from all rooms is terrific. You picked a great one. Enjoy!!!
Jun 4th, 1997, 11:46 AM
#3
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Ask yourself what you really want in a hotel? Grand Lido is wonderful but it is expensive and more upscale than many other places in Jamaica. You may need a cocktail dress, and a tie and jacket for men there, whereas right next door at Hedonism, the fanciest thing you'll need are clean shorts and T-shirts. All the resorts in Negril have nude beaches, but Negril is the only place in Jamaica that allows that. Sandals or Couples might be a little less expensive, Ciboney is VERY expensive but reportedly worth it. If you would like to try St. Lucia, consider Rendevous or Le Sport. Rendevous is a couples only resort, Le Sport is an all-inclusive SPA.
Jun 22nd, 1997, 07:51 PM
#4
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My husband & I celebrated our anniversary at Grand Lido last year. It was wonderful! The all-inclusive concept worked for us. We travel alot with our business and service, location and accommodations are VERY important to us. The food was plentiful and tasty, drinks and entertainment non-stop. The most beautiful beach connected to the hotel. Also consider their wedding vow renewal package, it's free. They provide flowers, minister, cake and champagne. Then take a sunset cruise on the Grand Lido yacht (the honeymoon yacht of Prince Rainier & Princess Grace of Monnaco), very romantic. The "town" of Negril was a HUGE disappointment, so unless you are really into spending alot of time getting from place to place plan to just enjoy the resort. If it's affordable, get a two room suite on the bottom floor facing the beach (not the nude one). In my opinion nothing kills romance more than looking out your window to see naked people (who should have kept their clothes on) playing volleyball. If you plan to sun bathe grab lounge chairs early as they go quickly. They have the BEST Coffee I have ever tasted, if you enjoy it bring some home, the Jamaican Blue Hills Coffee is $45.00 per pound in the states if you can find it!
Considering the prices and what you get for the money, it is well worth it. Keep in mind there are activities which cost additional, SKIP THE EXCURSION TO THE LOCAL FLEA MARKET & TOWN OF NEGRIL, too Expensive and nothing to see. There are day trips to Ocho Rios to the Falls but consider that it is a 3 hour bus ride (each way) on very bad roads. There are scuba diving lessons and 1/2 & full day dive trips which my husband enjoyed (so much so he came home and is being certified for our trip this August to the Bahamas). Hope this information helps. Happy Anniversary, enjoy your 10th and many more to come!
Considering the prices and what you get for the money, it is well worth it. Keep in mind there are activities which cost additional, SKIP THE EXCURSION TO THE LOCAL FLEA MARKET & TOWN OF NEGRIL, too Expensive and nothing to see. There are day trips to Ocho Rios to the Falls but consider that it is a 3 hour bus ride (each way) on very bad roads. There are scuba diving lessons and 1/2 & full day dive trips which my husband enjoyed (so much so he came home and is being certified for our trip this August to the Bahamas). Hope this information helps. Happy Anniversary, enjoy your 10th and many more to come!
Jul 25th, 1997, 04:49 AM
#5
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Hello,
We went to Grand Lido last year for our honeymoon and were very disappointed : we found it really overpriced. Rooms were fine but not exceptional, food quality depended on restaurants, it was average in general, wine quality was disastrous and the advertised champagne was no champagne. It was some awful sparkling wine from Chile.
Service was ok sometimes, sometimes it was not.
Side trips around Jamaica as offered by their travel department were extremely expensive (high-end resort...).
The mini-cruise on the boat was nice (we can be positive sometimes!).
To sum up, it was a bad adventure for us and we're not going to try all-inclusives again. This is definitely a rip-off. I think we would have spent less money organizing ourselves for drinks, meals and activities at various places.
Last detail : security was very efficient but we disliked the fact being -guarded- all the time.
It was a kind of tourist ghetto, as most resorts in Jamaica, certainly because of the country's economic situation. For us, holidays also equals to freedom.
Sorry for this negative message.
Regards.
Joelle
We went to Grand Lido last year for our honeymoon and were very disappointed : we found it really overpriced. Rooms were fine but not exceptional, food quality depended on restaurants, it was average in general, wine quality was disastrous and the advertised champagne was no champagne. It was some awful sparkling wine from Chile.
Service was ok sometimes, sometimes it was not.
Side trips around Jamaica as offered by their travel department were extremely expensive (high-end resort...).
The mini-cruise on the boat was nice (we can be positive sometimes!).
To sum up, it was a bad adventure for us and we're not going to try all-inclusives again. This is definitely a rip-off. I think we would have spent less money organizing ourselves for drinks, meals and activities at various places.
Last detail : security was very efficient but we disliked the fact being -guarded- all the time.
It was a kind of tourist ghetto, as most resorts in Jamaica, certainly because of the country's economic situation. For us, holidays also equals to freedom.
Sorry for this negative message.
Regards.
Joelle
Jul 25th, 1997, 11:45 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
I've never stayed at Grand Lido.
Let's just say that you don't always get the best by spending hundred's of $$$ per night on overpriced hotels.
At times you can find lodging at another hotel sharing the same beach with similar amenities for 35%25 less than the "pricey hotel" would charge. That was my experience. I got a 1 bedroom villa(w/kitchen, living room, patio) for 1/2 the price of the room in the hotel that I spent my first 5 nights in.
You may want to look into another all-inclusive resort.
Happy Anniversary.
Let's just say that you don't always get the best by spending hundred's of $$$ per night on overpriced hotels.
At times you can find lodging at another hotel sharing the same beach with similar amenities for 35%25 less than the "pricey hotel" would charge. That was my experience. I got a 1 bedroom villa(w/kitchen, living room, patio) for 1/2 the price of the room in the hotel that I spent my first 5 nights in.
You may want to look into another all-inclusive resort.
Happy Anniversary.
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Sep 7th, 1997, 07:05 AM
#8
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We were at the Lido the last week of July. As experienced travellers we should have know better than to go there. If this is a five star resort, I'll never leave home again.
First the food: a number of people, including myself, got what we believe was food poisoning after eating at the Italian restaurant one nite. By the way, "dining" in this place is like eating in a food court in a mall. The restaurant is glassed in and located next to the main people thoroughfare in the resort: for those with a penchant for observing people while they eat, simply standing outside this 'restaurant' would satisfy their every desire. One more point: the service while indifferent in this place, was hurried. We couldn't believe that from the time we were seated to the time we were finished, less than 40 minutes had passed.
More good news about the reputed "culinary delights" of the Lido. We were there for seven days and allowed to visit the French restaurant ... supposedly the 'creme de la creme' only twice ... something that's not mentioned in the brochures. Really, it wasn't that much of an experience anyway. When the Lido talks about 'white glove dining in (their) French restaurant' what they really are referring to is that the waiters wear white gloves. Believe me, it is not a 'dining' experience.
Champagne? One of the other respondants was correct. Concha y Toro, a cheap Chilean sparkler was the Lido's version of champagne. No wonder you can get as much as you want: probably costs less than $3 a bottle ... drink enough of it and you'll spend $10 on aspirin.
Rooms were acceptable ... best ones are at the nude beach. Certainly not the kind of rooms you'd expect from a five star however. "Tired and worn" would be an apt description.
Beach itself was great. Safe. You could walk anywhere on it and meet the friendliest of Jamaicans. Far superior to Ochos Rios in that sense.
Service was so-so. Some staff were great, some were surly. Trying to get a message from the front desk was a trying experience.
When we were there, a heavy rainfall flooded the weight room: a least 2 - 3" of rain covered the floor. It was never dried out before we left. Also, the same storm caused the room over the beauty salon to essentially, fall apart. The "library" became the beauty salon for the next while.
More about food. Most of the people we spoke with were amazed at the poor choice and quality. For the money spent they expected seafood (shrimp, lobster etc.) and never saw any. To top it off, a well publicized evening "beach BBQ" ended up serving hamburgs, hot dogs and chicken ... at a five star? As one woman we met said: "If I wanted a ....... BBQ on my honeymoon, I would have stayed at home in Jersey and done the backyard thing." Unbelievable!
I wrote a letter of complaint to the owner of Superclubs about our experience. It was pushed off to the GM of the Lido. As of this date, I have heard nothing from him ... and expect to get little satisfaction.
By the way, if you want to hear more about the "Superclubs experience" in Jamaica, there's a couple of horror stories from Boscobel Beach on the "Excite" travel bulletin board .... scarey.
We were at Ciboney in Ochos Rios last March. Far superior to the Lido. Only problem was a postage stamp for a beach ... however, they have private and semi-private pools which offset the beach problem somewhat. Excellent service, outstanding food ... expecially Orchids and the Italian beach restaurant. Best of all, it's cheaper by far than the Lido.
First the food: a number of people, including myself, got what we believe was food poisoning after eating at the Italian restaurant one nite. By the way, "dining" in this place is like eating in a food court in a mall. The restaurant is glassed in and located next to the main people thoroughfare in the resort: for those with a penchant for observing people while they eat, simply standing outside this 'restaurant' would satisfy their every desire. One more point: the service while indifferent in this place, was hurried. We couldn't believe that from the time we were seated to the time we were finished, less than 40 minutes had passed.
More good news about the reputed "culinary delights" of the Lido. We were there for seven days and allowed to visit the French restaurant ... supposedly the 'creme de la creme' only twice ... something that's not mentioned in the brochures. Really, it wasn't that much of an experience anyway. When the Lido talks about 'white glove dining in (their) French restaurant' what they really are referring to is that the waiters wear white gloves. Believe me, it is not a 'dining' experience.
Champagne? One of the other respondants was correct. Concha y Toro, a cheap Chilean sparkler was the Lido's version of champagne. No wonder you can get as much as you want: probably costs less than $3 a bottle ... drink enough of it and you'll spend $10 on aspirin.
Rooms were acceptable ... best ones are at the nude beach. Certainly not the kind of rooms you'd expect from a five star however. "Tired and worn" would be an apt description.
Beach itself was great. Safe. You could walk anywhere on it and meet the friendliest of Jamaicans. Far superior to Ochos Rios in that sense.
Service was so-so. Some staff were great, some were surly. Trying to get a message from the front desk was a trying experience.
When we were there, a heavy rainfall flooded the weight room: a least 2 - 3" of rain covered the floor. It was never dried out before we left. Also, the same storm caused the room over the beauty salon to essentially, fall apart. The "library" became the beauty salon for the next while.
More about food. Most of the people we spoke with were amazed at the poor choice and quality. For the money spent they expected seafood (shrimp, lobster etc.) and never saw any. To top it off, a well publicized evening "beach BBQ" ended up serving hamburgs, hot dogs and chicken ... at a five star? As one woman we met said: "If I wanted a ....... BBQ on my honeymoon, I would have stayed at home in Jersey and done the backyard thing." Unbelievable!
I wrote a letter of complaint to the owner of Superclubs about our experience. It was pushed off to the GM of the Lido. As of this date, I have heard nothing from him ... and expect to get little satisfaction.
By the way, if you want to hear more about the "Superclubs experience" in Jamaica, there's a couple of horror stories from Boscobel Beach on the "Excite" travel bulletin board .... scarey.
We were at Ciboney in Ochos Rios last March. Far superior to the Lido. Only problem was a postage stamp for a beach ... however, they have private and semi-private pools which offset the beach problem somewhat. Excellent service, outstanding food ... expecially Orchids and the Italian beach restaurant. Best of all, it's cheaper by far than the Lido.
Sep 11th, 1997, 11:05 PM
#9
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Posts: n/a
Sandals, Sandals, Sandals, Now go to your travel agent and repeat this word. BUT, the friendliest staff of all the Sandals that we have been to, and friends, and even several travel agents I have spoken with concur, is in Montego Bay. And the great staff is a bonus since all the Sandals are scrupulously clean, beautiful resorts that serve the most wonderful food. I am surfing this site this evening to find out which Sandals is close to some decent diving sites. We have learned through misurable holidays that there is no one like Sandals in that price range.
Feb 9th, 1998, 05:32 AM
#10
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Posts: n/a
Please see my posting "Grand Lido Negril - A Grand Rip-Off. We were there in November 97. I totally agree with the response to your posting by [email protected]. I thought the experience was one of the worst I've had in vacationing. THE BROCHURE IS VERY MISLEADING. Rooms are nothing special, beach chairs were dirty and broken, towels sometimes unavailable. But the worst was the food and the outrageously misleading nature of the brochure. We were allowed 1 dinner in the French restaurant. The alternatives were waiting in excess of one for the B restaurant which didn't take reeservations, eating at the Pasta bar that jim mentioned (the meal was worth about $2.00 per person), or burgers and dogs. When we complained to the resort, they brushed us off. Definately an extremely poor value. I am in the process of suing them for a refund. Others at the resort during our stay were equally disappointed.
Feb 9th, 1998, 05:34 AM
#11
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Posts: n/a
Please see my posting "Grand Lido Negril - A Grand Rip-Off. We were there in November 97. I totally agree with the response to your posting by [email protected]. I thought the experience was one of the worst I've had in vacationing. THE BROCHURE IS VERY MISLEADING. Rooms are nothing special, beach chairs were dirty and broken, towels sometimes unavailable. But the worst was the food and the outrageously misleading nature of the brochure. We were allowed 1 dinner in the French restaurant. The alternatives were waiting in excess of one for the B restaurant which didn't take reeservations, eating at the Pasta bar that jim mentioned (the meal was worth about $2.00 per person), or burgers and dogs. When we complained to the resort, they brushed us off. Definately an extremely poor value. I am in the process of suing them for a refund. Others at the resort during our stay were equally disappointed. PS I would rule out Jamaica and consider Barbados (Sandy Lane or Glitter Bay) if you want to see what 5 star really means. I wouldn't give Grand Lido Jamaica 1 star.
Apr 6th, 2001, 08:00 AM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Boy, are you people way off. maybe it's just vastly improved since you were there (in 97?), but none of that info is true today. my husband and i just returned in march from our honeymoon and we had a BLAST! the food was great-ok, the pasta rest. isn't the best, but cafe lido never disappointed us and we never, once saw a hamburger or hotdog (unless we got a hankering and ordered it from room service). in fact, i ate lobster, shrimp, steak, veal, pork loin, grilled makeral, etc. they have also changed champagnes and wines, although who goes to Jamaica for wine? the staff was extremely courteous and very helpful, in fact, when asked who was outstanding during our stay (for the comment card), we had trouble fitting in all the names. we were on the beach side and it was wonderful, there were plenty of beach chairs and great beach service. We both highly recommend GLN for a honeymoon, wedding, or just a great get-away. Never mind these compplainers, they wouldn't be satisfied anywhere!<BR>
Apr 6th, 2001, 12:05 PM
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
I got married at GLN Feb of 2001. Not everything was perfect....check in was slow, our bathroom could have used some updating...<BR>Other than that it was a fabulous experience.<BR>It was a lot of money, but it was nice not to have to worry about anything..food, drinks, activities...<BR>I have been on two cruises in the past, and I enjoyed them. However, when you add on your bar bill and the cost for excursions....the price is about even to the "All Inclusives."<BR>GLN was my 1st trip to Jamaica and my 1st experience with All Inclusives. I loved both and will most definitely be going back.<BR>I think it depends greatly on what you're looking for and what your expectations are.<BR>I wanted a beautiful tropical paradise to get married with 12 of my family members there. I didn't have a whole lot of expectations. I just wanted to relax on a beach for a week and have no planned itineray.<BR>Good luck deciding and have fun wherever you end up!
Apr 6th, 2001, 03:16 PM
#16
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Posts: n/a
Hi Lisa, I have been to several Grand Lidos multiple times and enjoyed them very much. It may cost a little more than the average resorts in Jamaica. But we think we got our money's worth. BTW, Grand Lido also attracts many celebrities. GLN has very nice ground and very nice beach. Servce is excellent. Food is prepared with high quality ingredients and with good attention, even at the buffet restaurant. Beach chairs are in very good shape. Chairs pads are 5" thick foam that we can sit all day comfortably.<BR><BR>A couple posts might have given you incaccurate information:<BR>1. Tie is not required in all restaurants. Jacket is required only in the French restaurant. If you didn't bring one, they will loan you one.<BR>2. You can book the French reaturants as many times as you want. The only day they advise you not to book is the Beach Party Night. But if you insist, they will take your booking. How ever, as in many reserved restaurants, they only have so many seats to accommodate so many guests. If you want to eat there every night. Book them as early as possible. Same as municure and spa, they only have limited sloted hours.<BR>
Apr 6th, 2001, 08:36 PM
#17
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Before we discovered Superclubs, our travel agent always sent us to Sandals. Since we visited Grand Lido Negril, Braco and Sans Souci, we will not go back to Sandals. My travel agent was somewhat disappointed perhaps she would not get free trips as Sandals has been heavily promoting their resorts.<BR><BR>Grand Lido Negril is only 2 resorts north of Sandals but is in a total different class. We rode Boat at Sandals. We cruised in a yacht at GLN. GLN beaches are long and quiet. Sandals beach is crowded.
Apr 13th, 2001, 11:43 AM
#18
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There are several Grand Lido Trip reports on the www.dennyp.com web site.
Oct 12th, 2002, 05:16 PM
#19
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I am a very reputable travel agent and a Cable Travel Show TV SHOST.<BR><BR>Grand Lido has my high recommendations.<BR>Best of all the Management is SUPER!<BR>Service Superb.<BR><BR>I am an expert JAMAICA rep. The Grand Lido, as well as San Souci Lido in OCHO, would be my choices to stay in Jamaica.<BR>should it be yours?<BR>
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