I've had the time of my life...
Written: Jan 01 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: All Inclusive, beautiful, beach, great food, great drinks, a great time!
Cons: Ants and sand fleas, and going home.
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| Leahwes's Full Review: DISNEY'S PARADISE PIER |
I’ve had the time of my life at Grand Lido Braco!
A seasoned cruiser I decided to try a land vacation in July to get away from it all, and eliminate the stress of clock watching in ports of call while on cruises.
I had no idea where I wanted to go, I simply wanted a warm beach, all inclusive accommodations (so I would not get a big bill after I had my fun) and no children (I have four kids, I needed a break!). So I called my local travel agent to see what she could do on short notice (under 14 days).
My travel agent suggested Jamaica and suggested Grand Lido Negril; but while she was checking the rates she came up with a special deal for Grand Lido Braco. She told me that Braco was at the high end of the Breezes resort chain and that she recommend I go to Braco even if it was about $150 more per person; she told me it was worth it.
The price was $3000 for two including airfare, for a five night stay. You may think that is very high; but when you consider the amenities you realize it really is a great price. Here is what you get:
All Drinks including non-alcoholic beverages, premium brands as well as call brands.
All food. The food was FANTASTIC! It was right on par with even the best of the cruise lines, and the variety was great too.
All scuba, snorkeling, windsailing, and other water sports equipment; including scuba instruction for beginners with PADI certified dive instructors.
All Laundry (yep, even your skivvies)
One complimentary manicure
All Golf. You could play at Grand Lido Braco or they would take you to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course at Montego Bay.
All Entertainment, including excellent nightly shows, not “talent show fare” at all, but really well trained performers.
Aerobics Equipment.
Spa Facilities (massage, facials and the like were extra, but you could use the sauna etc).
Several boat tours a day
While that is all I can think of at the moment I am sure there was more.
The Grand Lido Braco isn’t really in a town at all. It is remote from just about everything. The “party” starts the moment you board the Air Jamaica plane, where the Red Stripe beer is free. The airport is small and crowded most of the time, a bit hectic, but that part is over quickly and you are loaded into your tour bus to be taken to your destination. It takes half an hour to forty-five minutes to drive from the airport to Grand Lido Braco. A comfort and Red Stripe stop is made about half way.
The first thing you see upon entering the grounds is well a manicured golf course. The grounds throughout the resort are meticulously maintained. They even rake the beach several times a day to remove litter and even footprints.
At check in the entertainment directors there see to it that you are given a drink to cool you off, finger towels of cool water to wash the sweat from your brow and the grime from your hands. All this is done to make you feel comfortable while they process your passports and do the paperwork required to stay in a foreign country. Nothing at all like checking into a regular hotel with a desk clerk and the computers. Here they process it all by hand and you sit back and relax while they do their jobs.
There are two sides to Braco. All the suites are to the west, and the regular rooms to the east. In the center is the front desk, excursion office, small stores with resort wear, jewelry, gifts and sundries, a few buildings they use for entertainment purposes and meetings. Also there is an Italian bistro – open 24 hours a day – serving Salads, Italian food, pastry and coffee, and a first class black tie restaurant off the center square. (We never ate in there because we just didn’t want to dress up, but those people who we met who had eaten there raved and raved about the food) As you near the beach you will see a large, but shallow swimming pool, with a swim up bar. And to the left is the main dining area. It is covered outdoor seating pool/beach side and it very relaxing to have a meal there. Beyond the restaurant is the spa, and beyond that is the area of Braco called “Au Natural” where those who like the freedom of no clothing stay. Unfortunately that is also the “suite” side. So if you do not want to go Au Natural, you won’t be staying in a suite. In order to go on that side of the facility men must be completely naked and women must be topless. Our room was not a suite. With my fair skin, even if I wanted to go “Au Natural” I would have been as red as a cooked lobster after the first day SPF100 and all!
To the right of the pool is a hot tub, and Nanny’s Jerk Pit, where they serve up the Jamaican fare that many have come to love. Beside Nanny’s is a bar, which carries all the premium brands and can make you just about any drink you ask for.
We stayed on the East side of the resort and nearly as far as you could possibly get from the center of activity. In many ways that was great because at night, when all the parties were going on in the town square, we had peace and quiet. While those nearer to the center had to deal with the echoes of revelers bouncing off their walls. Now, don’t get me wrong, we reveled a bit ourselves! However the main purpose for me in taking this vacation was to get away from the hustle and bustle and noise generated by a house full of children, I wanted quiet when I wanted it, and was happy to be at the far end of the resort.
While we were not too close to the main activity we did have our very own little 24 hour bar, and beach side hot tub located a mere 100 feet from our room. At any time day or night we could go out and get a drink of whatever we wanted.
The beach and surroundings at Braco were simply fantastic. The sand was fine and clean, the sheltered swimming area was calm and warm. There are lots of palm trees on this beach and many have hammocks strung between them. It was so relaxing to sit and swing in a hammock, drinking a Pina Colada in the Jamaican way.
The accommodations are set up in groups of four (like a quad-plex) two on the top and two on the bottom. Our room was on the second floor. We had a balcony overlooking the beach where we sat late at night watching the stars and drinking in the Ocean Air. The rooms are furnished well, and very spacious. TV and telephone were both present. The one phone call I made back home was VERY expensive $25.00. (I suggest you buy a Caribbean Phone Card, in the USA before you go and use it).
We took advantage of all the facilities and had a lot of fun. We participated in hermit crab racing, nightly entertainment and dancing, bar games, where they really do try to get you drunk, usually successfully! Swimming, snorkeling, windsailing, and most importantly of all relaxing. Our bill at checkout was $25 for the phone call, no surprises, no hidden charges.
There is one thing to remember when going to these resorts in Jamaica. There is a departure tax imposed upon all as they are leaving the country. You MUST have this in cash. I believe at the time of our visit it was about $27.00. I really don’t know what happens to you if you do not have the money; but I really don’t want to find out either.
Grand Lido Braco is open to those ages 16 and up. However if you are the parent of teenagers (16 – 18) I suggest you leave them at home. Sure they are allowed but they will be the “odd” ones as nearly everyone there is a couple. The entertainment isn’t set up for that age group except for the daytime beach activities. I just don’t think it would be a good idea.
All in all I felt that Grand Lido Braco was a great adult getaway! I would love to go back, but first I must go to the Cayman Islands so I can write another review. Leahwes.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Leahwes
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Member: Leah Wesolowski
Location: Madison, AL
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 4 members
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