IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Rose Hall

We’ve been visiting JOIA for the past 15 years in April and December. We visited April 11-18 and again experienced excellent service. What makes JOIA stand out is the staff. The resort will be undergoing an expansive renovation starting in June through December 1. My prayer is that the staff will remain in place as this is the main reason people return year after year. I have uploaded a number of pictures of the employees we’ve interacted with year after year and they all are extraordinary. There are others, but I just don’t have pictures of them.

Writing this on the plane so I don't forget anything about this fantastic trip. I always try to keep it short but I already know I'm going to fail because we enjoyed it so much. Grounds - first impression - Sean haha. He greeted us with warmth and walked us into the absolutely grand lobby with many nooks to sit and have a drink and enjoy. Large elegant staircase down to the main entry to the pool and beach area. We were brought ice cold towels by Maygal and a welcome drink which is always a nice touch. From the moment we arrived on site, people were helpful and kind and wonderful. Room - kept absolutely spotless every day by Jodane. Extremely efficient and I loved the your room is ready text afterwards. Super nice touch. The balcony with swing was my favourite part of all. I spent so much time out there just listening to the waves (and bracelet offers haha). Everything in the room worked well, lots of water pressure and HOT water. Had one issue with the sink that was fixed within the hour. Tons of towels, mini bar stocked well, bright and airy space with a wonderful 2 sinks on opposite sides bathroom which made getting ready so easy. Beach - after 20+ years travelling to Cuba and Dominican and being used to those beaches, the beach here was nice but the vendors reeeeally detract from it. I get everyone needs to make a living, but when you wake people up from sleep on a cabana to ask them if they're good, nah that's not good. Now I don't want anything you're selling. I also do not need a bracelet from my 4th floor balcony when I just want to look at the gorgeous views, so probably yelling up to me not required either. Just strange and jarring behaviour on an otherwise very quiet beach. Maybe implement hours for vendors? 6am balcony sales is not it. Pools - absolutely PERFECT water temperature. Lots of loungers and if you're not picky on specific spot, lots available all day and afternoon. Of course the towel game is in effect here, but it was nice to see workers removing just towels from loungers throughout the day so others could enjoy the prime real estate others blocked and weren't using. Amenities - sun bum SPF 30/50 at towel hut was a huge nice touch! Saved me having to run back to my room to reapply, which meant I actually did many times this trip! No towel cards, just replace as needed. The room keys are worn on your bracelet which is awesome. It was extremely relaxing to never have to worry about where your room key is since it's always on you. Entertainment - Mr. Fresh another huge stand out. He doesn't stop. Always on the go gearing people up to have fun. Trini another absolute star, I don't know how she dances like that! The shows we caught were awesome - Michael Jackson and especially the Bob Marley tribute night! Food - not one sick minute! Everything was the correct temperature it was supposed to be, everything tasted fresh and as it should. No mystery meat, everything very easily signed which is of huge importance to us as my husband has an anaphylactic shellfish allergy. Chef Claudio came out to ask how a meal was and my husband mentioned awesome, but he was a little sketchy seeing so much shrimp spread around the lunch buffet. The next day, everything in one area, so a dramatic reduction in cross contamination. Super thoughtful and extremely appreciated moment that made a huge different in his relaxing. Room service - a standout part of the vacation for us. To wake up with oceanfront views, having coffee and breakfast delivered and not having to queue up for it? Yes please! Everything arrived on a warming tray so it was just as good as any restaurant - we went to the Italian twice before we doscovered filet mignon room service at night. Just awesome all around and zero issues with his allergy. That alone is enough to come back here! Another thoughtful thing I liked - about an hour or so after you input your order, they call and check to ensure you've received it. Another small gesture that is so impressive, and one that permeates the resort - never was any feeling that anything wasn't going to go exactly as planned. Drinks - all top shelf brands, name branded mixes and no shortage of awesome bartenders to pour them. Nothing was too much trouble, drinked were mixed with love (I see you Dontae!) and it showed. Staff - hands down, the best staff we've come across in 20+ years of travelling south. Everyone was SO kind, so attentive, so lovely to deal with. I wish I could remember everyone's name but the bartenders were too good at their jobs so I missed so many haha. Maygal, Natasha, Alexia, Shevaughn, Omar, Vanesia, Dontae, Andre, Obian, the Devons, Sean all rockstars. All excellent ambassadors to the resort I hope they all return after the renovations are completed. We can't wait to return to see how it looks and I'd be so devastated if the staff weren't brought back because they are the heart and soul of the entire place. Butlers - what a crew! Devon, Christopher, Travis, Omar and Glen are absolute standout stars of this resort. Nothing was too much trouble for them, particularly Glen. Glen especially was like meeting up with an old friend after many years. Instant at ease personality. A kind and decent man who goes out of his way to ensure people are feeling taken care of. All of the butlers were fantastic people and extremely good at their jobs, Glen was just a notch above, that's how good he is! Cat sanctuary (Melissa and Jessica) - this was one of the absolute highlights of the trip for us! We went up 4 separate days to spend time with the lovely ladies running it and all of the beautiful cats! It's so incredible to see the care and attention put into these kitties, they are thriving and it is a glowing representation of the resort to provide care for these animals while also reducing unplanned pregnancies and removing cats loitering in the food halls. Absolutely awesome all around. I can honestly say in my 43 years I haven't ever been this relaxed on vacation or while leaving. Everything was taken care of by some of the mot wonderful people you'll have the pleaaure to deal with. We were continually asked if we had any complaints or what could be done to help us enjoy it even more, and I can't think of ANYTHING. We absolutely can't wait to return.

Not the same resort that I remembered! This was our fourth visit to Joia Rose April 26th to May 3, 2026. They really should have closed after the hurricane. The halls were musty and mold smelling. the rooms were damp, everything was wet. The worst part was the hot water came out rusty in the sink, the shower, and the bath. I remember the food being great in the past not so this trip. All of the restaurants served the food cold and sub-par. We complained about the water to Daniel the assistant manager since there was no general manager and he offered us a two day credit on a future visit, however upon checkout we received no documentation or apology. The rusty water was attempted to be corrected by maintenance but they were unable to fix it and they admitted that he pipes were old and rusty. This was very serious since my wife has stage 4 lung cancer and is immunocompromised. Some of the staff were super friendly and helpful and some were not. The one highlight was the spa, but super expensive, a 80 minutes massage was $250.00 and the $800 credits offered can only be used for services above $100.00 and only $25.00 for each service. They are closing for renovation in June for much needed TLC.

I stayed at Iberostar Joia Rose Hall Suites from April 26–29 and booked an ocean view suite with butler service. Starting with the positives — the property itself is beautiful. Everything is well-maintained, clean, and always smelling fresh. My room was very nice, and overall the environment is relaxing and visually appealing. There is also entertainment for everyone. If you’re looking for a more vibrant, high-energy atmosphere, Iberostar Waves Rose Hall Beach is the better option, while JOIA Rose Hall by Iberostar is more suited for a calm, laid-back experience. My morning butler, Omar, was excellent — very responsive and helpful whenever needed. However, there were several disappointing aspects of my stay. I repeatedly had to request basic room cleaning, which should not happen at this level of hotel, especially when paying for a suite with butler service. Another issue was the room service experience. On one occasion, I ordered dessert and it was delivered wrapped in a paper towel, which was very unprofessional and not what you expect from a resort of this standard. More concerning was the way I felt treated as a Jamaican guest. I genuinely felt I was treated differently based on my skin colour. At one point, I was even told I was being ignored because staff were prioritizing guests they believed would tip. That experience, along with other similar situations, left a very negative impression. On a positive note, the front desk staff were outstanding. Sonika deserves a 10/10 — professional, pleasant, and extremely helpful. Travis and Keneisha were also exceptional — a big “WOW” to them for their service. The food was okay for the most part — nothing particularly memorable, but acceptable. I would also advise future guests to be cautious about the “resort credits” offered. The structure to using your credit is (25% off for every $100 spent) for me, it's very confusing and doesn’t provide real value (It's a scam!!). Additionally, the spa experience was disappointing — the service and attitude did not meet expectations. Overall, while the property itself is great and some staff truly stand out, the inconsistent service and treatment I experienced take away from what could have been an excellent stay.

Everything about the resort was top notch, including the food, people, accommodations, swimmer, pool, and the cleanliness of the grounds.Alaine our Butler was very knowledgeable and kind. He helped us truly enjoy our experience. The only negative, which is really not the resort’s fault are all of the drug dealers and peddlers on the beach that keep whistling trying to get your attention to sell you drugs and souvenirs. We went there to relax, not be harassed constantly on the beach by them, staring at us, trying to get our attention all of the time to buy what they’re selling. It is not the resort’s fault as I inquired, and they cannot stop them from walking on the beach, trying to sell their marijuana and other drugs. We would definitely go back to the same resort again if they stopped all the drug peddling on the beach