Sunset At The Palms

I know before I even begin that this is going to be a very long review, so strap yourself in because Sunset at the Palms and it’s beautiful staff fully deserve the attention to detail. I’m going to start with my only con (let’s get that out of the way so I can focus on all the good things) and that’s the dinner options - I found there to be little choice in the evenings at the buffet. Especially as a vegetarian! Don’t get me wrong, the food that is on offer is absolutely delicious…which is why it’s such a shame that there wasn’t more to choose from. The breakfast buffet, however, was great and we really enjoyed the lunchtime a la carte as well as the beach bar - lots of delicious options for meat eaters and veggies too! Big shoutout to Johannes at the breakfast egg station!! My partner could not shut up about his scrambled eggs…I was beginning to feel like I had competition! Great chef and a genuinely nice, chilled guy too. Sunset at the Palms, you are lucky to have Johannes. We enjoyed the Lotus Leaf restaurant, but again limited options for vegetarians…that’s not a real complaint though to be honest as the food was delicious and the service was incredible. The Chef’s Showcase is great!! We went twice and they served all different meals each time. Absolutely mouthwatering! Couldn’t fault it one bit. Grounds: The whole place is absolutely stunning. I am so so glad that we opted for somewhere like this instead of one of the massive beachside all inclusive hotels. It really feels like you’re in the middle of the rainforest. It was pure bliss waking up every morning and sitting on the balcony listening to a whole array of exotic birds. We had room 711 and we feel like we really got the best balcony! Completely private, couldn’t hear a single thing aside from birds and frogs and completely surrounded by lush plants and trees, nothing artificial in sight. Hummingbirds often came right up to us!! We came in July so every afternoon there was rain, but this was actually lovely because we usually sat on our balcony during the rainstorms and it just felt so cosy! The hotel itself is beautiful too, the dark wooden style truly compliments the lush greenery that surrounds it. Beach: I was a bit apprehensive at first about the fact that the hotel isn’t right on the beach, but couldn’t have been happier with this! It takes 2 minutes to walk there, which is a nice experience in and of itself as you get to chat to the lovely security and crossing guards on the way over. I love how they open the gate just for you after you cross, it really feels like your own private secret beach! I can’t praise the beach enough, we absolutely loved going there. It’s stunning. Soft sand. Clear, warm waters. The complimentary watersports were a great opportunity to get out further into the bay and wow! We saw sting rays and massive starfish, crabs, sea urchins, fish. It was like an aquarium. I see a lot of people complaining about the beach vendors, but I think they add so much charm and character if you actually have a conversation with them instead of ignoring them or brushing them off. No, you don’t always have to buy something, but if you’re polite and give them your time they will absolutely respect that. We are privileged westerners coming to their home, laying on their beach….they’re just trying to make a living to support their family, the least we can do is have a chat with them, find out their name and their story. All of them were polite. We loved them. Especially the guys playing music and singing, some of them were REALLY good! We made sure to always tip them. It’s great listening to them play as you sunbathe. The staff on the beach are incredible, and they go above and beyond for you. We felt like royalty! All you have to do is pop your flag in the sand and they will come right up to your sunbed to take an order of food or drinks and bring them straight to you! I’ve never had service like that before. Entertainment: We’re not party animals so we really enjoyed the laid back nature of the resort, and to be honest the band and singers were amazing as was Piano Paul. Only thing we were gutted about was the cooking class was cancelled due to the rain I think?? We were told they would reschedule it and let us know but we never heard anything, sadly, as we would have loved to have experienced this! The picnic with Betty is a must-do if you’re an animal lover. Jacob and one of the other gardeners (I’m so sorry I forgot his name!) were good company as well as the goats! Staff: This is what makes this hotel so special. I know that this is the reason why so many people come back here - the staff. I have never been the sort of person to go back to the same hotel twice. I like to travel to different places and experience as many new things as possible. So trust me, it’s saying a lot when I say that I am definitely coming back to this hotel to see the beautiful people that made my stay so special the first time. We only spent 10 days here, but when we left it felt like we were leaving our family behind! Cornelius - So kind and welcoming! Great host at the Chef’s Showcase and always had a smile on your face, you made us feel so welcome around the resort. Jason - I know we’re not supposed to have favourites but I loved seeing you around the resort, and your service was always impeccable. You felt like a big brother to us, always going the extra mile if there was anything we needed. Delacey (aka Beezy) - You made our stay here special. Felt like we really got to know you well during our 10 days here and now we’re home we still talk about you every day! Every time we arrived at the beach to see you we knew we were in excellent hands, you went above and beyond to make our time special and we genuinely just loved chatting to you. You deserve a big pay rise! Tish - You are just the sweetest, you remembered our names from day 1 and greeted us with a smile every time. Brittney - Great energy! You put a smile on our face every time we saw you! Nadine - Loved chatting to you, excellent service at the bar. Cooper - Genuinely lovely guy, all six foot 9 of you! Would have liked to spent more time getting to know you, always had a smile on your face and we felt in very safe hands with you! Andrice - You are a ray of sunshine, special lady. You’re beautiful inside and out. We feel lucky to have met you. Lynford - We really enjoyed the garden tour and were so impressed by your knowledge of the plants and animals. When we had to leave the tour early you made sure to show us the rest another day out of your own time, which we really appreciated. The bouquet of flowers you made for us was beautiful! So sad we couldn’t take it home. Truly gentle man. Keep being you! Teacher Blacks - Such a chilled, lovely guy. You helped us take pictures at the end of our trip, really appreciated that and everything else you did for us. Claudette - Kind gentle lady, thank you for everything. There are so many more people to mention but we are ashamed to have forgotten so many names! Thank you all!!! Read less

Sunset at the Palms is a hidden gem and we would go back in a heartbeat. My wife and I shared 10 wonderful days there in June 2025. The resort experience was great but, like any resort, there are some things that could be improved. Hence the 4-star rating. We chose this resort based on other reviews on Trip Advisor by previous guests, knowing it was not a 5-star resort, but it fitted our needs both financially and it met our expectations. I’ll try to keep it short and summarise the pros and cons, and you can take it from there. Pros: The staff really make this place; they are the best!. Standouts are Lynford (gardener), Michael (chef), Dotlyn (security), and Brittany (bar). Clean cabins and outstanding cleanliness of the resort. Quiet and private resort hidden amongst lush foliage and gardens (not a “concrete jungle”). Wake up to the sounds of birds and go to sleep to the sounds of tree frogs. Great private beach with enough thatched huts and lounges, security, clear and warm water. The food was very tasty, a variety that changes daily, fresh fruit, and the Jamaican jerk and scotch-bonnet-pepper touch. There was a great selection of cocktails at the bar. The Martini Bar was a nice touch. The friendly cats in the restaurant were a touch of home (Take a bag of cat treats for them when you go). Only 85 cabins/treehouses, not crowded. Comfortable bed. A/C worked well. Cons (Management, please note): Too little entertainment, no stage shows, same reggae band twice weekly, a mento band one night. Only one small pool, but nice. Premium liquor lacking. Rains caused having to wade through ankle-deep water on the walkway to get to our room #407, we had to go to dinner with wet beach shoes. The hot tub was closed for 5 days for “maintenance”. Wi-fi in the resort and room was intermittent. Room phone not working for days. No cream for coffee in restaurants. No ice cream anywhere (unbelievable for me). More specialty restaurants needed, only one specialty restaurant at the resort with not enough variety. General comments: In June, it rains every afternoon so be prepared for this. Adults only. Not a “party resort” (which is what we wanted). There is good snorkeling in the area. Short walk to the beach across a busy two-lane highway, but there are crossing guards there to help. Calm clear water at the beach but if you like bobbing in the waves, Bloody Bay is not the place for you. You get what you pay for and overall, we had a very pleasing and enjoyable time, and we will go back. It was very good value! Highly recommended. Read less

From the moment I entered the property, I felt a sense of peace. The energy and atmosphere felt like a home away from home, very Zen. The Manager, Ms Donna Grant, and her amazing staff ensured that our stay was one for the books. The treehouse-style accommodations, the sound of birds chirping at sunrise, and the lush greenery all around created the perfect reset for both body and mind. It's the perfect spot if you want to just slow down and breathe. It was a 10/10 experience. Read less