Catalonia Montego Bay

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Virgin rating

The hotel

This authentic basic resort sits on the edge of a half-mile stretch of sandy beach. Offering clean, simple accommodation at a good price, it’s great for families with rooms spacious enough for everyone. If you’re part of a large family or group, some rooms are also conveniently interconnected. Families will appreciate the spacious beach and water sport activities, whilst taking a swim over to the private island, which will keep the little ones occupied. Adults have a dedicated pool, spa and fitness centre if you can pull yourself away from the sunbed!

Amenities

  • Kayaking
  • Snorkelling
  • Tennis
  • Babysitting service
  • Kids Club
  • Families
  • Bar
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Free Parking
  • Internet Access
  • Laundry Service
  • Restaurant

Where is it

Along a half mile stretch of coastline, a 15-minute drive from Downtown Montego Bay. Transfer time from Montego Bay Airport: 20 minutes.

Hotel information

522 rooms on 4 floors in 7 buildings. Elevator access to all upper level rooms. All with air-conditioning, balcony or patio, TV, complimentary WiFi, clock/radio alarm, coffee maker, safe, hairdryer, iron and ironing board. Garden View Rooms have 1 king-size bed with a sleeper sofa or 2 double beds, sleeping maximum 3 adults or 3 adults and  1 child. Garden View Rooms have garden or courtyard views.

All Inclusive of: all meals, snacks and local brand drinks, facilities, activities and children's programs as provided by the resort. Food options either include a buffet meal service or a la carte, depending on the resort schedule. All A la carte specialty restaurants are free of charge but reservations are required. These items/restaurants are clearly marked, and items highlighted on all menus. Beverage selection includes house brands, as defined by the resort. The use of non-motorised sports is included (excluding floats). Refundable deposits may be required for equipment rentals. Airport transfers are not included.

Superior Rooms as per Garden View Rooms but with partial ocean views. Sleeping maximum 3 adults and 1 child or 2 adults and 2 children.

Deluxe Rooms as per Garden View Rooms but with oceanfront views. Sleeping maximum 3 adults and 1 child or 2 adults and 2 children.

1-Bedroom Suite has a separate living room and oceanfront views. Sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

Grand Caribbean Buffet restaurant (breakfast, lunch and dinner; buffet-style International cuisine). Mamma Mia (dinner; Italian fine dining). Terrace (dinner, à la carte seafood specialities). Ayami Japanese Restaurant (dinner, Teppanyaki). BLoved (dinner, Jamaican à la carte). Sea Blue Bar & Grill (light lunch bites including hamburgers, grilled cheese, fish and fries). Funny Snacks (ice-cream, nachos, hotdogs, popcorn). Jerk Bar (serving Jamaican Jerked Chicken and Pork). Lobby Bar, Players Sports Bar, Irie Pool Bar (swim-up adults-only pool). Pearl Lounge & Bar - for guests who have booked Rose Hall Adults only.

Please note: there is a Resort Casual dress code for all restaurants. Reservations are required at à la carte restaurants.

2 swimming pools (1 freeform lagoon-style pool and 1 adults-only with a swim-up pool bar and whirlpool). Private beach with island. Spa*. Salon*. Health and fitness centre. Recreation and sports court (basketball). Snorkelling and kayaks. Tennis, table tennis and pool table. Kids Club (supervised activities for kids). Children's playground.

Basic self-service laundry room*. Babysitting*. Concierge. Complimentary self -parking. Complimentary Internet access. Mini-mart. Gift shop. Cash machine.

Wheelchair accessible rooms available on request. Please note that these rooms are subject to availability and may be restricted to specific room categories and bedding arrangements. Rooms and facilities vary between hotels so please check at the time of booking. For more information and contact details please check out our Special Assistance page

3 nights between 2 Jan-22 Dec. 7 nights between 23 Dec - 1 Jan.

* Denotes local charge.

Please note: child ages at this property up to and including 11 years.

Dress code: Resort Casual for restaurants.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (1925)
  • Very good (1620)
  • Average (807)
  • Poor (339)
  • Terrible (363)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Excellent ambience cleanest excellent staff excellent entertainment perfect location environment peaceful and clean the

Jan 17, 2025 Rosemarie E

Every thing was excellent upgrade it's excellent staff excellent i enjoy my stay place was clean the ambiance was excellent food was delicious alot of varieties to choose rooms clean i enjoymy self I choose the best hotel in montego bay best
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Would not recommend

Jan 15, 2025 Lesley D

Me and my husband have been coming to this hotel for 12 years when it was the holiday inn. We never had a complaint across all boards from service to food standards. Our last time here was February 2024 and we are here for 2 weeks over the new year period. We are so disappointed to what has happened since being taken over with Catalonia that we… Read more
Me and my husband have been coming to this hotel for 12 years when it was the holiday inn. We never had a complaint across all boards from service to food standards. Our last time here was February 2024 and we are here for 2 weeks over the new year period. We are so disappointed to what has happened since being taken over with Catalonia that we will NOT be coming back. The staff are miserable when usually happy. The food is cold even when your the first ones in the buffet no matter the time of day. Food choice is very poor and repeated each day. I work with food back in the uk and this quality would not pass our food standards with our local authorities. After complaining about this to our TUI rep I was told that the equipment is always breaking down needing repair. I asked for evidence of food temperature logs and was told I could not see them but said that they were done before the food leaves the kitchen which if this was true the food on opening up the buffet would surely be hot?? The help yourself area for tea and coffee is dirty and has not been cleaned in the 2 weeks I have been here see photo for proof. The storage area to restock this station is absolutely rotten dirty. I witnessed at 10.13pm a member of the cleaning staff refilling the hot coffee with all the left over pots of coffee and hot water from dinner. See photos. The entertainment is nothing to what we had in February and starts too late at 9.15 - 10pm then nothing at all after that apart from a late disco upstairs that nobody goes to because the music is horrendous and not catered to anyone who isn’t Jamaican. Everyone we have spoken to who we meet here most years have said the same and we are currently looking for another hotel for our new year holiday as we love Jamaica. This is advertising as 4 stars complex but personally I wouldn’t give it more than 2 at the most. We paid nearly £6000 for the privilege of this hotel thinking it was still the same as it was before the take over and so upset that our special holiday place has been ruined. I got an email today from TUI giving me a £100 voucher to use on another holiday and when I went to ask the rep what this was for I was told it was for the inconvenience of the food being under standard & cold. (More like hush money to stop me complaining) I’m not keeping quiet as this is so wrong of them. The only good thing about this hotel is the location being 15 minutes travel from sangster airport but I would advise to go elsewhere. The rooms are dated and in need of upgrade across all the blocks. The daytime entertainment is non existent and nothing to do on a daily basis. The late burger bar is serving under cooked hot dogs & burgers my husbands hot dog was still frozen inside. My husband had no food at all tonight at dinner and I had mac n cheese not what you would expect from a 4**** hotel. The only night the food was good was New Year’s Eve but still not upto the standards of the holiday inn new year gala evening. The a la carte restaurants are better well hot anyway but not great as when your server comes to you they tell you all the things that are not available after you have already chosen what you want I mean what Italian restaurant doesn’t have pizza or lasagne it’s actually laughable but not funny. Rooms: 1/5 | Service: 1/5 | Location: 5/5 Rooms Dated and in need of repair and a good clean Food and drinks Below standard always cold Dining area Needs a good clean & over spill dining area needs floors scrubbed and tea n coffee station needs clearing out and scrubbing including dirty coffee stained doors. As seen in photos that was sent with this review. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Old Sturdy Hotel

Jan 14, 2025 Michael S Jacksonville, Florida

This was a Holiday Inn just last year , Old Sturdy Hotel with 7 4 story building not all have elevators. I would book a Jr suit on the top floor and big . Staff is wonderful there is a unairconditioned dinning area and 3 restaurants you need to book when you arrive, we tried but only got 2 after 7 days, Jamaican food is spicy!!! lastly bring… Read more
This was a Holiday Inn just last year , Old Sturdy Hotel with 7 4 story building not all have elevators. I would book a Jr suit on the top floor and big . Staff is wonderful there is a unairconditioned dinning area and 3 restaurants you need to book when you arrive, we tried but only got 2 after 7 days, Jamaican food is spicy!!! lastly bring mask and snorkel to swim in the Caribbean aquarium Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Catalonia Montego Bay extremely terrible resort

Jan 12, 2025 g g

This resort inaccurately names it's rooms particularly the oceanview rooms we paid extra for did not have an oceanview at all. We were told only the oceanfront rooms had actual views of the ocean. Our group of 7 paid over $1889.00 canadian on top of our regular room rate for a room with no oceanview. My sister and nephew had to change their room 3… Read more
This resort inaccurately names it's rooms particularly the oceanview rooms we paid extra for did not have an oceanview at all. We were told only the oceanfront rooms had actual views of the ocean. Our group of 7 paid over $1889.00 canadian on top of our regular room rate for a room with no oceanview. My sister and nephew had to change their room 3 times due to severe neglect in the maintenance. The first room had a 5 foot circular puddle of water on floor between the beds, the second room did not have hot water and the 3rd room had electrical problems the door handle even fell off their door room 1319. The food is horrible even the smell of rotten food was at every buffet service the temperature of the food was not kept at a healthy level. The front staff had no care to try and resolve the room issues. Also rooms do not include a fridge which should be mentioned when booking. I had medicine that needs to be kept in the fridge. Called the front desk multiple times to get one in our room instead they brought a cot. Speaking to some of the staff they mentioned that the resort has gone downhill since it's been taken over by new management. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great First Time, Wonderful Kids Club

Jan 12, 2025 Journey495389

This was our first time staying at this resort and we had a great experience overall. My room was nice, thoroughly cleaned and restocked each day. The shower was amazing. Even though the Kids' Club location was undergoing renovations Elsa, Serena, Irene, Pauline and Francine did an excellent job while operating out of one of the hotel rooms. My… Read more
This was our first time staying at this resort and we had a great experience overall. My room was nice, thoroughly cleaned and restocked each day. The shower was amazing. Even though the Kids' Club location was undergoing renovations Elsa, Serena, Irene, Pauline and Francine did an excellent job while operating out of one of the hotel rooms. My kids eagerly looked forward to joining the ladies and participating in the many planned activities. We loved that the water between the resort and the island was shallow and easy to transverse for the kids. Also the Jamaican restaurant on the 2nd level was really good. Orrette was an awesome bartender in the adults only area. The only downsides were the speed of service in the Privileged Restaurant (formally called Seabreeze); the cats EVERYWHERE, and the service in the main buffet area which was mediocre. Read less