Entertainment, Relaxation and Culture; Nights at the S Hotel Montego Bay

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“How can anything possible be this beautiful,” I thought as I arrived at the S Hotel. There was a beautiful view of Doctor’s Cave Beach as soon as you entered the S Hotel in Montego Bay. I mean you could literally see the beach from the check in desk. The designers had clearly put some thought into the renovation of the building, and this could be seen in the artful combination of discreet urban sophistication, and the authentic rootsy vibe that was felt when you looked at the history that was beautifully displayed on the hotel walls.

The S Hotel Montego Bay has been featured in: Upscale Living Magazine, Extra TV, Forbes, Caribbean Journal, Family Vacation Critic, The Suburban, Travel Weekly, USA Today, Resorts Daily, Boutique Design, Hospitality Design, Beach, and New Worlder. The hotel made its highly anticipated debut on January 27^th, 2019. The placement of the S hotel gives guests easy access to shops, restaurants and entertainment spots on the strip. What makes the S Hotel unique is that most of the 120 rooms available have a spectacular view of the Doctor’s Cave Beach and the Caribbean Sea.

Let’s go back to when I first walked in; I was greeted by a 25-foot interior lobby walled with coral stone. The central boardwalk (which I later found out was made from local Jatoba hardwood) led from the entrance to the pool deck. I slowly walked towards the deck, all the while taking in the artwork that was tastefully and strategically placed on the wall. Local artists contributed original hand painted murals and a dramatic photomontage of “faces of Jamaica” which added to the rustic and nostalgic feel of the hotel. I was amazed at how the designers were able to pull off a contemporary and nostalgic feel as well as they did. There were certain art pieces that stood out to me; one of the pieces was a 14-foot antique dining table made by Mr. T.T. Jackson, a famous furniture maker in the 1950’s.  There were also pieces by Tamara Harding, who used wood from recycled trees that existed on the original property. To complete my visual intoxication were the funky hand-painted murals and prints found on each of the floors. To think, this visual stimulation was all before I had even checked into the room.

I appreciate small details, and what was really cool was that the concierge were wearing these straw hats accented in red, gold, and green; the same hats were found placed meticulously around the hotel. I noticed this as I was escorted to what would be my home for the weekend. I walked into this gorgeous room complete with a wicker wrapped soaking tub, a double shower, and what I think is called a rain shower, a massive King-Sized bed, and a really cool feature; a old-school turntable complete with a copy of Bob Marley’s Iconic Album Legend.

After fully taking in my room, I decided to investigate and see what other visual stimulations existed within the hotel walls. I had heard about this endless pool and I had never seen one, so I took the elevator up to the Sky Deck. The sun was setting, and I was in total amazement. I kicked myself for not bringing a camera, because the moment was perfect. I looked over the deck railing to the beach below, and took in the property with the attached beach. It was getting late and I had plans to meet the group for dinner, but I already knew where I would be going in the morning.

We were treated to some time at Irie Baths and Spas. The eucalyptus smell was evoking; I sat there as they prepared me for my dip in the subterranean plunge pools. Each of the pools has varying temperatures: warm to start, hot is the second step, and then finally a cold dip. I did warm no problem, struggled with the hot, and ran from the cold. After my dip, I went and laid in their dry sauna. The team at the spa were very nice and I was pleased with the experience.

I commend the designers, the architects, the artists, and the staff at the S Hotel. Regardless of how lovely a hotel is, if the customer service is bad, the experience is bad. S Hotel has a promising bright future ahead of them.