We recently spent 3 weeks in Jamaica going to multiple resorts throughout the island and we were very intrigued as we planned our visit to Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway Bay.
We needed to find a place to stay for one night, somewhere between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, and came across this resort. We saw that the reviews online were really great (4.8 stars on Google) and the price was very reasonable, a lot less expensive than other all-inclusive luxury resorts in Jamaica we were looking at.
Bahia Principe was able to host us for one night and we really enjoyed our stay, our only regret was not staying longer.
What Is Included?
All food is in included in the price of your stay. That includes unlimited á la carte dinners, 24-hour soft drinks, and fast food, and a wide selection of unlimited local drinks, beer, and soft drinks in the hotel’s bars until 2:00 a.m.
All entertainment is included, including bar and waiter service at the pools and beaches.
Guests can also use all the facilities and restaurants of the Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica, except the buffet.
What is Not Included?
Water sports offered by Scubaquatic including scuba diving (PADI), sailing classes, paddle boarding, hiring catamarans with a dive team, fishing, banana boats, etc. are available at an additional charge.
Premium drinks and spa treatments are available at an additional charge.
The Beaches
The beach in front of the adult-only area of the resort is rocky and shallow, but as you walk a bit further away the beach is much nicer (pictured above). Down the coastline, you will find a quieter beach area where the water activities are, followed by an expansive beach that is family-friendly.
At the very far end of the beach, you can also find a clothing-optional area tucked away from everyone else.
The Food
All-inclusive resorts can have a bad reputation for weak drinks and mediocre food. At Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway Bay that is not the case. There are multiple bars throughout the property, as well as room service, where you can get choose from a large selection of drinks.
For food, the restaurants have a variety of options to choose from. We loved the jerk chicken during lunch, and for dinner, we ate at Las Olas, the Brazilian steakhouse. This restaurant is a traditional rodizio where you indicate when you are ready to have meats and main dishes sliced and presented to your table side. Additionally, it includes a salad bar, soups, and most importantly, desserts.
After getting our drinks and a few sides from the buffet, servers started bringing out the main dishes. We skipped the chorizo and turkey breast, leaving room for the lamb, flank steak, picanha, ribeye, and of course pineapple with cinnamon!
Other restaurants include The Knife Restaurant for grilled cuisine, the Picasso Restaurant for more gourmet options, Asian Takara for Asian fusion, Dolce Vita for Italian, Don Pablo for french, and Mikado for a teppanyaki experience. These restaurants are spread between Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway Bay and the family-friendly Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica next door.
Make sure you pack some resort formal dress with you as it is required at the a la carte restaurants.
The Pools
Bahia Principe has three interconnected beachfront pools with swim-up bars. One pool is very lively with constant entertainment and bumping music throughout the day. The other pools are a little calmer, and they connect to the family-friendly pool areas as well.
The Entertainment
One thing the resort does very well is entertainment. While we were there for just one day, they had a chocolate party, movie and popcorn night, a steel band show, karaoke, a foam party at the pool, aqua aerobics, and a paella cooking lesson poolside.
If you are looking to do something active, you can play a game of beach volleyball, find a dance class, go to the Scubaquatic Activities Center to learn how to paddle board, sail a catamaran, or even try scuba diving in the pool. There is a fully equipped gym with stretching and aerobics classes as well as an awesome AquaGym, Water Polo, and Pool Volleyball games throughout the day.
The Cost
In the off-season in the fall, prices start around $110 per person per night and go up from there. During a busier part of the year, it can start around $160 per person and go up from there based on the room or suite.
The Location
Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway Bay is located in Runaway Bay. It is about one hour away from Montego Bay and about 30 minutes from Ocho Rios. Both cities have several of the most popular activities that visitors enjoy while in Jamaica.
Honeymoons at Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway Bay
If you plan to enjoy your honeymoon at Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway Bay, there are several additional inclusions that may include a bottle of wine and box of chocolates, bathrobes and slippers in the room upon arrival, a discount on couples massage at the spa, and turndown service.
Excursions
You can conveniently plan your excursions while you are at the resort. They will even pick up you right at the lobby. Dunn River Falls, Rafting, visiting the Blue Hole, ziplines, horseback rides, and visiting Luminescent Bay are all within reach. Our recommendation is to definitely visit Dunn River Falls combined with the catamaran cruise, but skip horseback riding or ATVs.
See all our tips and recommendations for excursions in Jamaica in this video!
He is an expert travel advisor and enthusiast. He has traveled extensively in the USA, Central America, South America, and Europe. He has visited every Sandals Resort and is one of a select few Diamond Elite members of the Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club.
Dan graduated from Johnson & Wales University with an associate degree in Culinary Arts. Later he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a focus on people and culture.