Being that Jamaica is one of the friendliest, most service-oriented islands in the Caribbean, you're likely to find a pleasant, consistently helpful staff at just about any hotel. But for a hotel to make it onto this list, the service must be truly exceptional -- brilliant concierges, prompt room service, welcome freebies, and thoughtful gestures to make every guest feel especially well cared for.
You quickly get used to hearing "Sure, whatever you want" from staff members at Royal Plantation, and by the third day, the thought of getting your own drink, lifting your own bag, or adhering to any of the resort's loosely enforced rules feels absurd. Offering such things as specialized dinner entrees, 24-hour room service, beachside drink service, and welcome "mangosas" (mango and champagne), the staff at the Royal Plantation is polite, professional, and friendly (without being flirty).
Prioritizing privacy, all of the services at the Geejam -- be it a nightly turndown, a special entree you've been craving, or a staffer to drive into town to exchange cash on your behalf -- are by request only. Every room includes a cell phone that's been preprogrammed with the numbers for room service, guest services, the hotel's technician, the free, hotel-provided driver, and even the hotel owner, Jon Baker -- should you need anything extra special.
Service is formal -- gentlemen, get used to being called "sir" -- but the intimate, don't-you-dare-lift-a-finger attention from the Round Hill staff hardly feels stuffy. Management remembers every guest by name, the veteran concierge graciously accommodates just about any request, and the private nannies (available 24 hours) can quickly feel like part of the family. Plus, the hotel offers all the upscale niceties, like room service and dry cleaning.
The Caves has a magical setting and an intimate, eco-boutique style, but it's the warm, personalized attention from every staff member -- from the water-sports director to the on-site chef -- that guests praise the most. Among the highlights: signature welcome drinks, nightly turndowns, room service, and plenty of easygoing chitchat.
Featuring an attentive concierge and 24-hour room service, the above-and-beyond service at the Ritz-Carlton in Rose Hall is a cut above its luxury sisters elsewhere in the world. Without fail, there is always a staff member ready to grab your bags, open doors for you, hover over your dinner table, and even walk you back to your room at night.
Even in this resort with 400 rooms, you'll still feel like a star. Absolutely everyone on staff -- landscapers, housekeepers, porters, servers, massage therapists, and managers -- greet guests with a warm smile and a big hello. In the restaurants, waiters have been known to hug returning guests and the bartenders typically remember your favorite drink. Room service, a concierge staff, laundry, and dry cleaning are also available.
A big step up from the typical Riu mega-resort, the Riu Palace Tropical Bay offers nightly turndowns, personal greetings from front-desk clerks, 24-hour room service, and much more. At the restaurants -- unlike most all-inclusive resorts -- the servers are incredibly attentive and are quick to offer a fresh pot of coffee in the morning.