If ever a resort was designed with the romantic in mind it is Couples. Lying in a cove on the North coast of Jamaica just east of Ocho Rios, Couples is like a private island created by romantics for romantics, where everything you eat, drink, and do is included.
The all- inclusive idea was the creation of John J. Issa when he founded the Couples 16 years ago. Now Issa is Chairman-of-the-Board and majority stockholder of Super Clubs all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica including: Hedonism II, Grand Lido, Jamaica Jamaica, Boscobel Beach, and Couples.
Issa says when he came up with the idea of including everything in the idea of including everything in the price of the room, even drinks and tips, everyone said he was crazy. Now his idea is being copied worldwide. John says Super Clubs is now using the term “Super Inclusive” to distinguish their super service from the inferior “all-inclusive” service being offered by others in Jamaica and elsewhere.
For example, when you’re a guest at Couples, you can sign up for golf, snorkelling, scuba diving, and sightseeing tours, all at no extra cost. The highlights our stay were the plantation tour and the trip to the famous Dunns River Falls where we made the unforgettable trek up the falls under the watchful eye of an experienced Jamaican guide.
You can also go horseback riding on the plantation. With four restaurants to choose from, dining is superb at Couples too. You can dine informally (in bathing suits) at the patio buffet, then stay around for the show and dancing. Or, if you prefer, you may dress for an elegant five course French dinner complete with live entertainment on a grand white piano.
Casual clothes were the norm at the Windjammer Café where a strolling guitarist entertains tableside, and at the open air pasta-bar gazebo at the end of the pier. The Caribbean’s original couples-only all-inclusive resort, Couples offers the most romantic vacations in the world.
And, if you want to get married, they’ll arrange your wedding minister, champagne, flowers, and music…all at no additional charge.
After Couples we spent a few days at Grand Lido, the upscale crown jewel of the Super Clubs family. Super Clubs’ service starts with your transportation to the resort transportation to the resort, and they promise you won’t have to wait more than thirty minutes before your bus takes you to the resort. So we felt like royalty when they dispatched a full-sized bus for us alone for our one-hour trip to Grand Lido near Negril on the Western tip of the island.
On arrival at the lush green tropical paradise you are escorted down a long marble corridor lined with Grecian columns where you are greeted with champagne. After registration you are given a tour of the resort, and are escorted to your suite where your luggage is already waiting. No tipping allowed, of course.
After unpacking and changing into loungewear, we relaxed to consider our dining options. There are four restaurants and seven bars within Grand Lido’s 22 acres of beachfront paradise. The top of the line is the French restaurant with five-star service and the best French dishes we’ve ever experience. As with all Super Clubs restaurants, your wine glass is kept full throughout the meal.
All other restaurants are casual, including the incomparable, open-air main buffet which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And, if you’re really feeling self-indulgent, there is a 24-hour room service with a great menu and all your favourite drinks.
Sports and entertainment are incomparable at Grand Lido including sailing, scuba diving (you can even get certified), snorkelling, and tennis (including tennis instruction by the club pro). Sunbathing is a favourite pastime on either of two white sand beaches, at the huge pool, and on the club’s 147-foot yacht, M/Y Zein, which makes a couple of trips a day up and down the coast. The M/Y Zein was originally given to Prince Ranier and Princess Grace for their honeymoon by Aristotle Onassis.
Evening activities abound also, with a great stage show every night, a laser light disco, and a piano bar. For movie buffs there is a big-screen video theatre with a vast array of movies to choose from. And finally, if you just want a quiet place to read, there is a well-stocked library with most current best sellers and array of international magazines and newspapers. Staying in touch with the world is easy as all suites have cable television with all major networks including CNN.
We discovered several other services included in Grand Lido’s super-inclusive offering that sets it apart from anyplace we’ve ever been. Laundry, dry-cleaning, and even mending is handled in 24-hours at no extra cost. And if you really feel like pampering yourself, stop in at the salon for a manicure and pedicure. It’s an experience you’ll not soon forget.
While talking with other guests at both resorts, we become aware that most were repeat Super Clubs vacationers. Having fallen in love with Jamaica- Super Clubs style- we understand why. We will return too! Although we hated to see our Super Clubs vacation come to an end, they made it as painless as possible with baggage handling and bus ride back to the airport at Montego Bay included in their all-inclusive package.
When choosing air transportation for our Jamaica vacation we chose the best option, Air Jamaica. Air Jamaica is not only economical choice, but is also the most convenient, with non-stop flights from Orlando to Montego Bay. Flying the national airline of our destination county always add a certain ambience to the trip.
Source: Gulf Side Living
