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Falmouth-Trelawny, Jamaica |
Now the
STARFISH Trelawny Resort
This terrifically priced hotel is a good
bargain with a clothing-optional beach as a plus... |
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U.S. Citizens: Passports are
required for international air travel to all destinations outside the
USA.
 Starfish Trelawny Beach Resort is located near Falmouth, east
of Montego Bay between a stretch of white sand beach and lush tropical green
mountains on the north coast of Jamaica.
The John Issa family, owners
of SuperClubs Resorts in Jamaica, invested several million dollars in
improvements, equipment and upgrades to re-open this high-rise property as its
first of a new resort brand called STARFISH, for moderately priced vacations.
This well established, all inclusive resort is for singles, couples and
families seeking comfortable, well-equipped accommodations with a wide range of
amenities for both adults and children.
Both can take advantage of the
many activities and programs that are designed within age ranges during the day
with entertainment for adults nightly. Sports minded guests can choose from
lots of land based as well as water sports programs. The resort is one of few
family properties in Jamaica that has both a conventional beach and a
clothing-optional beach.
NOTE: The clothing-optional beach is Adults
Only.
If you've visited the resort before, you won't recognize the
public areas...about all that's the same are the guest hotel towers, which have
been completely re-decorated, too.
NOTE: While the Starfish Trelawny
program is "inclusive," it's not necessarily "all inclusive." Designed for
budget-minded families on vacation, the standard package includes airport
transfers, air conditioned rooms and cottage, meals at a buffet restaurant,
basic entertainment, taxes and tips. There are optional sports such as rock
climbing plus fine dining restaurants on site that are an extra charge. You can
buy these extra options beforehand with a "Platinum" package. If you want more
services than the basics, ask your Travel Counselor for a quote with the
Platinum package included. The extra costs are a modest addition and may vary
seasonally.
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Starfish Trelawny is only 23 miles due east of the Montego
Bay Airport on the beach road toward Ocho Rios.
U.S. Citizens: Passports are required for international air
travel to all destinations outside the USA.
Since Montego
Bay is close, the complimentary shuttle bus, a private car or taxi is the
quickest way to get to the resort which requires about a 30 minute ride.
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One price includes your accommodations, meals, bar drinks,
activities, entertainment, non-motorized water sports, airport transfers, hotel
taxes, entertainment, tips and service charges. For after hours supervision,
baby sitters are available for an extra charge. Airfare is extra. Special
children's programs, certain specialty menu items and optional sports
instruction such as SCUBA are available for an extra charge. All prices, times,
activities and arrangements shown here are subject to change without
notice.
Children under 2 years of age stay free with an adult. From ages
2-13 years, there is a $35/day/child's charge per one paying adult.
This
all inclusive beach resort includes a separate Adults Only, clothing-optional
beach plus a conventional beach and pool. Since this is a family resort, there
are also children's activities and a set program for all ages up to teens. Four
restaurants and a beach bar and grill features island dishes, bar drinks and
snacks. A water sports program and tennis are also available. A plus for
parents is that the children's program includes supervision throughout the day
so parents can choose to enjoy their vacation as a couple or as a family. The
350 rooms are plain but clean and decorated in an island format with cool
pastels and tropical colors.
Activities are everywhere, patterned a lot
like the SuperClubs resorts, whose family operates The Starfish Trelawny.
Windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaks, other non-motorized water sports and lots more
are included in the one up front price. Children's programs are filled with
planned activities designed to not only supervise but also entertain kids.
The four bars include the Beach Bar, the Pool Bar, the Piano Bar and
the Impact Bar in the Impact disco at night, which opens at 10:30 PM.
A
free round of golf is included if you stay 7 nights or more, plus tennis and
instruction are provided on site.
NOTE: Please take care of your
valuables, cash, airline tickets and passports while on vacation. Some vacation
destinations are considered "third world" countries and experience petty theft.
Recommendation: Do not take precious jewelry unless you wear it all times; keep
your cash, valuables, watches, travel documentation and cameras with you and
don't expect your in-room safe to be "safe." Just a word of caution to make
sure you remember to practice common sense with your valuables while you're on
vacation.
Room rates include complimentary airport transfers between the
Montego Bay airport and resort, guest room, hotel taxes and tips, meals, bar
drinks, activities and entertainment. Certain specialty menus and water sports
carry an additional charge.
Four tennis courts, badminton, beach
volleyball, nature walks, aerobics classes, basketball, miniature golf, sumo
wrestling and bounce-boxing are included. In addition board games, bingo,
shuffleboard, darts, ping pong, pool games and ice skating (on hard plastic)
are available. Slot machines, billiards, pool and video games are available for
an extra charge. Game arcade is open 8 AM-2 AM daily.
A rock climbing
wall and a circus workshop featuring flying trapeze clinics and juggling are
also available with professional instruction at an additional cost. Schedules
and workshops times vary so check with the activities desk for the events.
Starfish Trelawny features a new workout center with an on-site
instructor with a fully-equipped gym. A spa offering body massages, facials,
manicures, pedicures and other beauty treatments are available for an
additional charge.
For water sports, a private beach offers sunfish
sailing, windsurfing and kayaking all with complementary equipment and
instruction included. At an additional cost, scuba diving and "Learn to Dive
Courses" are available for all levels of proficiency plus water skiing,
parasailing, banana boat rides, snorkeling and jet skiing. Four swimming pools,
two cool Jacuzzis, 3 hot tubs, a private island and two beaches (one
clothing-optional) are included on site. And, don't forget to enjoy the water
slide...all of you can be like a kid on it!
KIDS CLUB
The Kids Club
features supervised children's activities, including Jungle Gym Playground,
trampoline lessons, art & crafts and a separate children's pool where kids
can play with others their own age from 9 AM-5 PM, daily with full supervision
throughout the day. Kid Club is open for children between 6 months and 12 years
old at U.S. $5/child/day. After hours child care is also available for U.S.
$5/hours up to three children.
If you actually have to think about
business or a huge family wedding, the banquet and conference facilities are
able to seat up to 1,000 guests theatre style in the Great Hall. A small board
room with seating for 25 is also on site. |
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Your choice for dining can be split four ways as listed
below. Reservations required for all restaurants for Dinner. Local bar drinks
are included with meals, too.
STARFISH BUFFET
The Starfish Buffet
is for casual, buffet-style dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner plus a late
night snack. There are two (2) seatings for the evening meal. First sitting is
630 PM-8 PM and Second sitting is 830 PM-10 PM daily for all guests.
CASABLANCA
(Dinner only 630PM-11PM daily except Tuesdays) This
venue offers a la carte, four course gourmet dinner for the evening meal every
night except Tuesdays. Reservations are required and men, suggest you wear long
pants. Great view on the upper level. Surcharge applicable for some menu items.
Adults and those over 14 years of age.
MUNAHANA REASTAURANT
(Dinner
only 630PM-1030 PM except Thursdays) A Japanese menu is offered as a la carte
dining in the evenings serving sushi, tapanyaki, and other oriental
specialties. A supplement of $12-$15/person is required upon booking and
reservations are necessary. Open for dinner every night except Thursdays. .
Reservations are required and men, suggest you wear long pants.
GIUSEPPE
RESTAURANTS
(Dinner only 630PM-1030 PM daily) Casual a la carter dining for
evening meals offers pasta and pizza dishes. A supplement of $6/person is
required upon booking and reservations are necessary. Open every evening, all
week long.
Beachside bars and grills serve burgers, fries, snacks and
drinks pool side and on the beach, too. The Seashell Bar & Grill serves
snacks daily by the pool from 1030 AM-630 PM.
All times, arrangements
and surcharges are subject to change without notice. .
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The best attraction is the price. Sometimes, rooms are
offered as low as $50/person/night on special, although normal room rates range
from $79-99/person/night, all inclusive. Airport transfers are included from
the Montego Bay Airport. Rates will vary between low season and high season,
with holiday periods more than any other time of the year.
Total room
count is 350 including 40 large, ground level cottages, perfect for bigger
groups or families. Each room includes a king, double or twin beds, air
conditioning, private balcony/terrace, cable TV, direct dial phones, coffee
maker, in room bar, CD/radio/Clock, iron, ironing board and hairdryer. The
hairdryers can be underpowered so bring your own from home, since electricity
is 110, as in the U.S. Many of the rooms in the two towers can accommodate only
three guests, so a family of four may need two rooms.
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Singles, couples and families visit the resort so you will
find youngsters, teenagers and adults from the 20's to the 50's on
average.
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This terrifically priced hotel is a good bargain with a
clothing-optional beach as a plus. In addition, the resort also includes a
disco for the late night set plus a little escape from the kids. Three high
rise wings include 350 guest rooms with the main public rooms, restaurants,
registration and shops located downstairs. The shops were surprisingly upscale
so make sure to take time to visit them. The ala carte restaurant is on the top
floor with a great view. The high rise guest room buildings remind us more of a
moderate property on Florida's east coast than a Jamaican resort.
The
resort, built in the 1970s, is well maintained and provides you with arguably
the best value for your money in Jamaica at an all inclusive resort, especially
if you can take advantage of some of the seasonal specials announced from time
to time (we've seen rates as low as $50/person/night). Daily activities are
scheduled just about on an hourly basis, similar to SuperClubs' format, so you
will find something to do all the time if you choose to do so.
Bubbles
Disco is open very night from 1030 PM until the last person stumbles out. A
nice touch: There are separate times for teens and for kids, too. The resident
band performs frequently with with popular Jamaican entertainers featured, too.
Reggae and Calypso dance classes are held once a week, for those of us with two
left feet!
There is also a piano bar on site called Neptunes, open five
nights a week for sing along tunes and Karaoke two nights a week.
Guests have a choice of six (6!) bars located throughout the resort, so
you won't go thirsty for sure. Here is a list: Starfish Bar in the lobby, our
favorite; Ocean Bar, Casablanca Bar, Seashell Bar, Neptunes Piano Bar and of
course, Bubbles Bar in the disco.
Wedding ceremonies can be performed
on site as well.
THEME NIGHTSAlthough subject to change, current theme
nights include: Jamaican Celebration on Tuesday, Toga Party night on Wednesday,
and Caribbean Beach Party on Thursday featuring a Circus show the kids will
like, too
TIPS
There is an Adults Only nude beach available
to one side of the main beach area but take your drinks and snacks with you,
since there is not bar service right on the nude beach.
If you're a
family, consider taking one of the cottages which can accommodate up to four
family members.
Hang out at the lobby bar for some great fun un the
evenings.
If you want an adults only resort, avoid The Starfish
Trelawny unless you want to travel on a limited budget.
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The Starfish Trelawny Beach Resort is well situated for a
trip to Montego Bay for shopping, rafting up the Martha Brae River near the
resort, plus a visit to Dunns River Falls, a little over an hour to the east of
the resort. There are up to 15 or more other day trips for seeing the Blue
Mountains, Jamaica's largest mountain range, glass bottom boat rides or
bicycling down a mountain slope in the morning, stopping along the way to visit
quaint villages. SCUBA diving, snorkeling and sunset cruises are also available
for diversions plus shopping trips into Montego Bay.
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The resort is a moderate property, so make sure
that's what you want before you pay. Don't expect the Ritz, but it is a great
value. |
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Resort is a great deal for anyone, especially
families, on a budget. |
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The rooms are clean and neat but don't expect
world-class amenities such as theme restaurants or full service spas. |
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The clothing-optional beach does not have a snack
bar, facilities or service functions there so take your drinks with you. There
are no other services on the clothing-optional beach....just a beach with some
lounge chairs, sand and saltwater. |
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The Starfish Trelawny is close to the Montego Bay
airport, only 30 minutes away and easy to reach. |
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Many of the rooms in the two towers can accommodate
only three guests, so a family of four may need two rooms, or one of the ground
floor cottages if you want togetherness. |
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Just about anytime is a great time to visit the Caribbean,
with daytime temperatures averaging about 85 degrees most of the year. From
late August to early October, the weather can be more unsettled as hurricane
season is late summer and early fall.
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Provide more services on the clothing-optional beach.
THE BOTTOM LINE - A good all inclusive resort with excellent value for
all persons and families, including a clothing-optional beach on
premises.
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• View the Photo
Album
We have a small photo album online for the The Starfish
Trelawny Resort. You can contribute to this section as well. All you have to do
is go to our Contribute Trip Report
/ Photographs page.
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We don't have any trip reports for this resort yet. But you
can fix that by contributing one of your own to this section - all you have to
do is go to our Contribute Trip
Report / Photographs page.
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