My wife and I have stayed at JOIA Rose Hall (Formerly Iberostar Grand) several times most recently in December 2025 one month after Hurricane Melissa. Upon arrival there was some obvious damage to the Iberostar complex but the JOIA Adults Only resort was in very good shape.
Our stay overall at JOIA was very good and everyone we interacted with in Jamaica expressed their gratitude that we had continued with our vacation in Jamaica. Tourism is of course a huge part of the Jamaican economy and it was nice to be able to support them following the hurricane.
I will start with the positive aspects of our stay at JOIA. The staff were absolutely fabulous providing happy enthusiastic service throughout our stay whether it be in the restaurants, bars or coffee shop definitely well above and beyond.
The food in all of the restaurants was very good, with an abundance of prime steaks, lobster, seafood, jerk chicken and every meal we had did not disappoint. Not one bad meal and exemplary service at every venue.
One suggestion, the Galleon Steakhouse really does need a much better smoke extraction fan system.
Every time we dined there the entire restaurant was lingering in smoke. On our final night, the smoke was so thick your eyes were burning and many people actually had to leave.
Now the two managers of the resort were in attendance and hopefully this will be effectively addressed immediately. The food was delicious but, we ate quickly to escape the smoke, the staff still did their best under very difficult circumstances.
The exterior public areas of the resort, the pools, bars, beach grill, the beach, guest restrooms and the facilities including loungers and beds were fantastic. Everything was of superior quality and very well maintained.
There was an abundance of quality beach towels and they even provided both 30 and 50 good quality sunscreens. Very well thought out beyond my expectations.
The housekeeping staff kept our Oceanview Suite immaculate and fully stocked with towels, soaps and shampoo products. Nightly turn down service was a bonus with fresh towels and any required bathroom supplies.
All of this what we have experienced in the past at Iberostar Grand now JOIA in Rose Hall and the reason we have returned on multiple occasions.
Unfortunately, there were some issues that were never really effectively addressed. Each day for the first week I had to request through guest services, our butler and/or room service to have our minbar restocked with snacks and soft drinks.
Not something that we have ever needed to do in the past and frankly I got tired of asking. Our butler on one occasion said, he would take care of it personally, that day nothing happened, once again I had to call room service.
During our first week the resort wifi was inoperative but, we did have access to intermittent inconsistent services of Spacex Star Link. This would allow texting, iMessage and occasional emails but often failed.
What was more troubling is being told prior to visiting JOIA both by telephone and in email that everything was 100% operational before we arrived. Then at the resort we were told when we asked, it will be fixed today, it was not until our second week that the wifi did actually work. I would have preferred an honest if not accurate answer rather than the daily assurances.
The final issue that we requested be addressed almost every day with our butler was our lack of hot water, lack of water pressure and raw sewage odour emanating from or shower drain each morning.
To have a shower, we were instructed to turn on both sinks and shower hot water taps and let it run. Well, this did work after about 5 minutes but, frequently then when actually in the shower the water would first go cold, then actually turn to a drizzle and then stop.
Exit the shower repeat process, wait maybe 2-3 minutes, back in the shower and rinse off the soap and shampoo. When the shower did work the water pressure was not great and frequently the pipes would rattle like an air lock type situation.
Every morning upon opening the shower door the smell of raw sewage was brutal and again to have a shower required the 5-minute process. After the housekeeper did clean the room, the shower smelled just fine with a clean scent.
Throughout the resort, there were numerous suites being renovated, several in the vicinity of our suite so this may have contributed to the problem. In speaking with other guests, several had the same water pressure and temperature issues.
After reporting the problem multiple times, we were told it was because we were on the top floor. Well, if that’s the case and this is a 5 STAR resort, then you need to install a pressure pump to provide proper water pressure to all your suites.
One final issue that over the years the police have employed targeted enforcement the DRUG DEALERS on the beach. As I understand it if they stand in the water the hotel can do nothing about their presence.
In the past police enforcement has resulted in physical confrontations between the dealers and the police. Security at the hotel one day, were actually standing talking to the drug dealer, while he made a deal with a guest.
This problem is of course exasperated by the fact the guests are buying the drugs, creating a demand and thus supply situation. I wish the hotel would simply ban the use of drugs on their property.
In the past I have given the IBEROSTAR GRAND now JOIA Rose Hall a full 5-star rating and highly recommended to anyone looking for a superior adult only resort.
On this occasion, based repeated requests, that were never properly addressed and that it took until our second week to actually have our minibar restocked without request, I could only rate JOIA Rose Hall as a 4 STAR RESORT.
At a 5 STAR resort, you make one request and the issue is effectively addressed in a timely fashion.
