GoldenEye

We visit Jamaica often, and after a long covid hiatus we were looking forward to finding somewhere we could return to time and again. The property and setting are exceptional, but the service fell far short of what we expected from such a storied property. At best, I would describe the hospitality as nonchalant, at worst it’s unwelcoming. This is a mismatch from how Goldeneye is marketed and what our expectations were for a warm and welcome stay. Pros: -Property is stunning, multiple beaches and pools abound -Room is well appointed, luxurious linens and robes -Kevin at Bizot has infectious energy. He wasn’t even our waiter, but was so friendly, he made quiet an impression on our little one. -Almarie and Simone were very warm and welcoming, great waitresses. -The entire Bamboo Beach Bar staff were friendly and engaging Cons: -Property entrance is difficult to find, when we called for some help in finding it, the call was very curt. I would have expected a pre-arrival text or phone call a day before checkin, especially if they discourage driving yourself. -Check in experience left something to be desired. 1 young lady gave us vague instructions about unloading our luggage and parking elsewhere on the property. In the checkin area another young lady greeted us nonchalantly and gave us a clipboard to fill out. She was not very welcoming, and seemed to be preoccupied with her phone. We were told our room was ready, but the check in process still took close to 30 minutes. We were offered a welcome drink by the 1st young lady, at the latter end of that 30 min window, right before being walked to our rooms. -The check in experience set the stage for the service that was to be expected over the course of our stay, other than the highlights noted. Overall it just seemed like a disconnected experience, and perhaps an age or training gap. For example, the grounds men we encountered walking the property during the stay seemed to give a warmer welcome than some of the guest facing staff. And all the groundsmen did was say good morning. -Dining quality was good across the 3 restaurants, but menus became repetitive over multiple days (we stayed on property the entire time)

I came here to celebrate my birthday and I was greeted with a welcome drink which was called the golden eye which has pineapple and rum inside it so good! They also provided a card and champagne for my bday! They brought our suitcases to the room then the bell guy gave a quick tour of the place before we got to the room. I booked a cottage over the lagoon and it has a beautiful view and our kayak that we can use around the lagoon! The room was nice and clean and they have the shower outdoors and the bed was so comfortable. Housekeeping comes to clean your room twice a day one in the afternoon and one in evening. So the restaurant we ate at the most was bizot for breakfast, lunch or dinner! One of the nights they had curry which was buffet style and that was good! Just keep in mind all the food is very expensive and wished they had more other food options but the ones they had were good. I used the spa once while I was there and got a hot stone massage which was relaxing. They have 3 pools, two beaches and our lagoon swim in! I stayed here the whole trip and didn’t leave the resort and it was much needed for rest and relaxation for a vacation! Ian Fleming wrote the books from James Bond here and some of the James Bond movies was filmed here like dr no and no time to die so it was interesting to stay here. If you needed anything you can text to make any spa reservations, place a room service order, or ask any questions on what’s app!!! One thing I loved about this resort is that is never crowded and quiet so it feels like you have it all to yourself!!! This has been one of the best resorts I’ve stayed at in Jamaica. Also the hospitality from all the staff at this resort has been friendly and helpful!

Love this place, they don't pretend to be something like their competition Roundhill. Staff attentive and food was so good.

My wife and I recently stayed at GoldenEye, and overall we had a wonderful experience. The property itself is absolutely beautiful. If you’re looking for a polished, ultra-modern luxury resort, this may not be it—but that’s exactly the point. GoldenEye embraces a rustic, authentic Jamaican charm that makes it feel unique and special. The grounds are stunning, and the entire resort has a relaxed atmosphere that encourages you to slow down and enjoy your surroundings. The food and service were excellent throughout our stay. Every member of the staff we encountered was warm, friendly, and genuinely eager to help. It’s difficult to remember everyone’s names, but I would especially like to recognize Chef Laire, who went above and beyond to make sure we were well taken care of. I would also like to thank Teswayne and Brian at the front desk, who were incredibly helpful and always available whenever we needed assistance. A special shout out to Laurel the driver who is an absolute angel. If I had one small criticism, it would be regarding the accommodations. The rooms are very nice and fit perfectly with the rustic theme of the property, but some aspects could use updating. In particular, the bathrooms felt somewhat dated, and the window shutters can be cumbersome to open and close. A more user-friendly solution would be a welcome improvement. That said, these were minor issues in what was otherwise a fantastic stay. The beauty of the property, outstanding food, and exceptional staff made this a memorable vacation, and we would happily return to GoldenEye in the future.

My husband and I just returned from a one week stay at GoldenEye for our 30th anniversary. We were surprised at how few people were there and often felt like we had the place to ourselves - sometimes good, sometimes a little boring. The property itself is stunning. We stayed in a Lagoon Villa that was incredible. It was a little difficult to air condition as it is screened in with shutters (it was very hot & humid while we were there, upper 80’s-low 90’s). The ladder used to exit the lagoon needs to be replaced with something sturdier and more accessible. The food at all 3 restaurants was very good, although not a lot of variety - after an entire week, we were pretty tired of it. They offer yoga, but only at 5:00 pm and only twice each week. I would have gone to morning yoga if it were offered, I don’t really understand the logic of that scheduling. My one big issue and disappointment with the stay was the quality and inconsistency of the spa. We each had 2 massages. The first ones were fine. My second massage was a truly terrible experience. The therapist got oil in my eyes (which caused an allergic reaction) and bruised the undersides my arms. At the price point of this hotel, I expected a better and more concerned response than I got from management. Frankly, I expected a refund for the entirety of that massage but only got a 10% discount. If they had taken care of it appropriately on their end, I wouldn’t review them negatively about it here. It really put a sour note on what was otherwise a stellar trip, and is why I'm giving the resort a 4 instead of a 5. Hopefully they will take this feedback and make some very necessary improvements. Overall, it was a wonderful week and we would consider going back. The restaurant/bar/water sports staff were AWESOME - very friendly and accommodating and truly contributed to making our stay very special. Shout out to Glen Roy, Kevin, Marlon, Richard, Everyone - I wish I could remember everyone’s names!!