The highlight of Royal Plantation is you are made to feel so welcome from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. Every member of staff we met were so sincerely friendly and made you feel at home.
Here are examples of the excellent service you can expect:
On our first day at breakfast in the Terrace restaurant we asked Vanya if there was any fresh ginger to make a fresh orange and ginger drink. Vanya said she’d go and check, then soon came back and said she’d got someone to open the storeroom so she could make us our drink. It was delicious and all done with a smile and her lovely sense of humour.
David, who makes delicious omelettes at breakfast in the Terrace restaurant calling me by my name as I approached him – I’d only met him once before. David’s happiness is infectious.
Robert, one our room Butlers arranged for our room to be decorated with the blinds shut and lights off, with red tealights and hearts sprinkled on the bed along with the words “Happy Wife, Happy Life”. Robert had also watched to see when we were getting ready to leave the beach and had run a hot bubble bath decorated with flowers ready for when we got back to the room, without either of us mentioning we’d even like that – amazing.
Our other room Butler Anthony is so perceptive and sincere; we loved him from the minute we met him and missed him from the minute we left. Anthony should be the mentor to all new Butlers as he has so much he can pass on to make every guest’s stay a perfect holiday.
Danielo, one of the beach Butlers - when he forgot my Wife’s drink he immediately said ‘my bad’ and rushed off all the way back from the East beach to the Royal Cafe & Grill bar to get it and came back very quickly, whilst checking what other guests wanted to drink on the way. All done with a smile. At the end of the day Danielo came over to us at the far end of the East beach, simply to wish us a good evening and said he’d see us the following day. No wonder Danielo wears two name badges – he’s so good they had to name him twice. He’s a real professional and his smile is infectious.
Trevado, one of the other beach butlers came and found us hidden away in the shade under the trees at the far end of the East beach, and because my Wife was asleep he tiptoed over to me and whispered did I wanted anything so he wouldn’t wake her- what a star.
Romaine who serves in both the Terrace restaurant and the Royal Café & Grill is so observant and has a great personality. I asked Romaine for a Jamaican Patti, which wasn’t on the menu, which Romaine arranged. It was delicious.
Simone at the Royal Café & Grill beach bar won our hearts with her infectious Jamaican charm.
Chadwayne who takes such pride in keeping the beaches clean, raking the beach meticulously throughout the day from 6am to 5pm.
Omar, the general manager, who leads by example setting a high standard of sincere customer service and greets every guest by the first name. Omar also led the singing with a farewell song when we left.
Here’s some observations about the hotel:
• Hotel & grounds - constantly being kept tidy to maintain the original 1950s Plantation Inn feel
• Beach - West beach has more sunbeds and umbrellas and is closer to the Royal Cafe & Grill. East beach needs more unbrellas, but is a lot quieter and you can swim/walk out in to the sea further than the West beach. East beach also has a lovely secluded and shaded cove at the far end. Sunbeds on both beaches are not the most comfortable, so I recommend taking an air mattress to put on the sunbeds under your beach towels. Beaches are constantly kept clean and Chadwayne does a brilliant job.
• Sea - crystal clear, calm and warm (20 to 28 May)
• Pool - small with two separate jacuzzies which are hot.
• Room - Royal Monarch second floor West wing (room 258) - best views we’ve ever had. Large bedroom area, very comfortable bed and pillows. Air conditioning and ceiling fans worked really well. Separate seating area with mini bar, tea & coffee making facilities is very spacious and lovely to sit in with the French patio doors open listening to the waves (with the air-con off). Loads of drawer space. Very few power outlets so recommend you bring an extension lead (6 feet). Bathroom area is dated but jacuzzi bath and separate shower worked well. No issue with mosquitoes throughout our holiday.
• Room cleaning - room and bathroom were kept spotless by housekeeping
• Terrace Restaurant - serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is à la carte or buffet, with a varied choice and all very tasty. Buffet temperatures are monitored to ensure food is kept hot. David at the omelette station makes great omelettes and has a great sense of humour. Romaine who serves at breakfast is excellent as are Vanya and Sherika.
• Royal Cafe & Grill - serves lunch and dinner. Ask your room Butler for off menu dishes to be delivered to Royal Cafe & Grill. Romaine also serves here and could easily develop into an excellent Butler. Simone at the bar won our hearts with her infectious Jamaican charm.
• Papillon Restaurant - serves dinner (every night we were there). Excellent menu and you can ask for off menu items (we had Beef Wellington, which was excellent). Great service. Dress code is long trousers, collared shirts and shoes for men - it’s special, so get dressed up.
• Butlers- Anthony and Robert. Anthony is so perceptive and sincere; we loved him from the minute we met him and missed him from the minute we left. Anthony should be the mentor to all new Butlers as he has so much he can pass on to make every guest’s stay a perfect holiday. Robert ‘Easy Peasy’ has a great personality and sense of humour. Both Anthony and Robert took care of our every need and needs we didn’t even know we wanted, such as when we were getting ready to leave the beach running a hot bubble baths ready for our return. Ask them for off menu items and they will sort it.
• Beach Butlers - there are three, Danielo who will make an excellent Butler and has a great personality and really looks after you; Trevado who works so hard to ensure all the guests on his shift are never without a drink or a smile; and Romane.
• Wobbly Peacock - Garnett & Junior make great cocktails – Expresso Martini, Old Fashioneds, Dark & Stormies
• Loyalty desk - Horatio - offers great onsite deals (circa 12% discount)
• All Royal Plantation staff - come across as sincerely wanting you to have an excellent holiday and are all so friendly
• Entertainment - excellent quality of entertainment (singing, modern electric violin, balancing & fire eating) in the evening on the Terrace. Ends by 9am, then follows on in the Wobbly Peacock.
• Accessibility - lift in West wing only, lots of steep steps to and from the beaches. Not suitable if you have accessibility issues.
• Transfer from Kingston Norman Manley airport - circa 2 hours, takes about an hour to get out of Kingston.
• Tipping - policy is that you can only tip Butlers, Beach Butlers and Spa staff.
• Room Butlers – how much you tip is personal to you and is per shift based on service provided. Some days you’ll have just the one Butler, other days you’ll have two - one in the morning and one in the afternoon until 8 or 9pm.
• Beach Butlers – again how much you tip is personal to you as per shift based on service provided.
• Transfers from and to the airport circa $20 and airport luggage porters $1 to $2 per item of luggage.
Thank you so much Omar and your team for making sure our holiday will always remain a very, very fond memory,
