Starfish Trelawny Resort Hotel

5 readers found this review helpful

My husband and I were married at the Starfish Trelawny we travelled out in a party of 11. We found the hotel to be clean, friendly, good food, good range of activities for young and old. We had a Beautiful wedding and was everything we expected. My only gripe would be that our hotel room was next to the air conditioning unit which was very noisy but we were moved straight away to another room with lovely sea views. The food was very nice, we did eat at the other resturants within the hotel but to be quite honest the main resturant offered great choice catering for all tastes. I would highly recommend going on some of the excursions we particularly enjoyed the Dunn's river fall. We all agreed that the staff at the hotel made our holiday experience great fun particularly the entertainment staff.

8 readers found this review helpful

I went to the Satrfish resort for the third time in a party of five. I have seen the reiviews and some of them are a bit far fetched. If you are wanting to lap in luxury go to the Plaza. The Starfish is quite basic however very welcoming family hotel resort hence why I have been three times my parents have been four times. Each time we have been it has been like home from home, staff extremely friendly and try to their best to ensure you have a good holiday. Manangement need to appreciate the pressure that staff are under as they are the first point of call for complaints i.e drinks running out (people on the resort were drinking like fish having four and five drinks at a time so what do you expect?!!!!!!)
I had a fab time as before, but hopefully things will get better once the company changes hands. The food was lovely, staff freindly, room was basic (you're supposed to spend most of the day out on the beach anyway) however it was clean, fresh linen every other day or daily if you wanted, fresh towels every day and a bottle of bradny, white and dark rum in my room (where else are you gonna get that?
I have stayed in montego bay before and I did not enjoy it as much as Starfish, it is a true Jamaican hotel with Jamaican entertainment and food (also pasta, burgers, chips etc for those who wanted an alternative) I went to Jamaica to experience Jamaica other hotels I have found to American/English orientated and it was nice to see Jamaicans staying at the resort aswell.
I have seen reviews with people complaining about insects Hello!!!! Jamaica is a hot country thus expect insects!!!! I had some ants in the room but it was dealt with as soon as I spoke to mantainance.
I had a fab holiday, was mega stressed before going and came back fully refreshed and CHILLED OUT!! I can't wait to go back to Jamaica, judge it for yourself.

3 readers found this review helpful

for all the people writing all these negative comments.........SHut up! the staff in the hotel were very friendly and welcoming, the entertainment for kids was great!lots of competitions and games! the water aerobics was fab! not much entertainment for adults although the beach party was Wicked!!! food was great!i can see lots of people have said very repetative.......IT WAS LOVELY SO WHO CARES IF THEY MAY DO THE SAME THING TWICE? weather was great, beach was nice and relaxing and trips e.g the dolphin cove, duns river and bob marleys house was the best! also the helicopter ride which was great but made me feel sick! for anyone that wants to get their nails done PLEASE go to the salon mayb a bit expensive but the ladies are very nice and corrected the mistakes that a local jamaican woman did to my nails! all in all was great!iv booked mine for this year!

5 readers found this review helpful

Me and my boyfriend stayed at Starfish in aug 08...we arrived on the same day as Hurricane Gustav and left on the same day as Hurricane Ike...all in all we had 3 major storms, but not even that could have ruined our stay here!
The staff handled the storms brilliantly, we were a bit scared when we got there as with the weather we didnt know what to expect, but the hotel gave us regular updates and made provisions so we would be safe should the worst happen, even when the rain was coming down and the winds were picking up, the staff were still dancing and singing!! Luckily for all of us the storm diverted away from Jamaica... and left us with what could only be discribed as the most beautiful weather i have ever had. The first couple of days were spent in our room, which had a perfect sea view, a telly, brilliant air con and was very comfy! When we were allowed out of our rooms even though the weather wasnt great we could experience the food for the first time. I can not think of one bad word to say about the food... please dont listen to people who say stupid things like it needs more british food...or there isnt enough choice, these people need to get a grip and realise they are in a JAMAICA not benidorm or tenerife or even blackpool!! The Jerk chicken is a must, as is all the food, it was lovely!! Plenty of choice morning, noon and night!
We havnt got children, but there seemed to be enough to do for them, i assume this was the case as they werent over running the pool or getting in my way, i hardly noticed them so they must have bee tucked away some where being entertained by the great staff. Look out for Huie who is the head of entertainment, he will do anything to make your stay more enjoyable. We met him on our first day and he was so friendly and helpful!
I recommend you go on as many trips as you can afford, Dunns River Fall, Martha Brae river swim wihh dolphins and go and see where Bob was born!! Do be aware of the locals, although friendly enough Jamaica isnt that well off and they do tend to hound you for the smallest amount of change for the smallest gift possible, so either take enough with you or just politley say no! Same goes for the guys on the beach, they can be a bit much and when they see your new they will aim for you so again politely say no and they will leave you (till the next time) Dont let them put you off going to the the beach though, it is a perfect place to chill out, especially on the little island, definatley an experiance you need to try!!
Try the Spa, the girls are great and you can have a couples massage which is so relaxing!!
Definatly try the restuarants on the complex, there is a little surcharge for some of the meals but it is well worth it if you fancy a change from the main food place, but to be honest there is something different everyday there anyway.
You might want to know why iv not given it a 10, the only reason for this is the bad weather which has nothing what so ever to do with the hotel, but perhaps avoid Hurricane Season. If you are looking for a relaxed laid back place to spend your holiday with someone special or your family this is defiantly the place for you, i have no regrets just a head full of happy memories from the Starfish Trelawny!!

1 reader found this review helpful

We have just come back from the Starfish a week ago and the only good thing was the weather. The hotel is aweful and we couldnt wait to leave it,the first room we were in we managed eo stay in one night but the bugs that were in the bed on the second night were too much,we only got to move when I said I would sleep in the lobby.The staff were a disgrace and didnt give a damn,the food was the same day after day,we went on a recomendation,never again. This was the first time to Jamaica and we will think again before going back. It wasnt a cheap hotel for us so on this occasion we didnt get what we paid for. My advice...... stay away. It is getting an overhaul this year so beware of a name change.

We booked the Starfish for our Christmas break (2 weeks).....what a waste of time and Money!
The place is absolutely hanging and in dire need of refurbishment. The staff are disorganised and very poorly trained with the exception of a few. It certainly does not deserve the 3-4 star rating given by various tour operators.
Here is what we experienced in point form (I will be typing all night otherwise):
1. Substandard accommodation and service.
2. No hot water
3. Money taken from our children in games arcade by other guest's children (their ONLY source of evening entertainment/activity)
4. Beach adjacent to children's play area was filthy (see pics) and stank of rotting seaweed and whatever else was in it.
5. We had to "bribe" staff (wave $$ bills) to get basic cutlery, glasses, cups at mealtimes in the buffet.
6. Maniacs on jet-skis (the watersports guys, not tourists) whizzing about far too close to the shore and cutting across the bathers - someone will get killed before long!
7. Filthy swimming pool, water so cloudy you couldn't see the bottom, full of debris and scum - they admitted that the filtration system was broken but insisted on keeping it open (despite there being 3 others which were crystal clear)- a health hazard if ever there was one.
8. Poor food selection for children and cold drinks machines by the beach and pool out of order despite it being in excess of 80 degrees!
All in all, a HUGE disappointment, my advice would be to go elsewhere. Jamaica has far better places to stay than this!

I spent 2wks along with 5 other friends at the starfish from end of sept thro to oct 08,
i was amazed to what we found musty smelling rooms sea view couldnt see a sea view with the big tree that was blocking our view.
food was terrible nothing ever that hot an when it was you get rude arrogant ppl who drop things on you an dont apoligize an mainly always the same old same needs some more thought an more british food brought in yet the poolside bar where you could eat was the best.even try one of the other restuarnt but be perpared to pay extra which is another rip off in all inclusive in all the deserts were the best
the entertainment wasnt grt at all nothing at all for teenagers to do think the entertainment department needs some more looking into as in training there were one or two that actually knew what entertainment was all about, maybe they need too see mona she knew what entertainment was about also dont take along a video recorder as your not allowed to video any acts all copy rights they say how would they like there hotel promoted with the hostility its going to get thro not allow this an that in total it was more like faulty towers or butlins in need of a total refurbish as the place is totally dated an needs a big uplift plus the entertainment needs to go on for longer with a little something for the kids before the adults entertainment starts
Bar staff especially junior was the best he could fix almost anything you wanted to drink thats if they hadnt run out of what you wanted which was more than likely they had as it happened once to often.would i go back to the starfish A BIG NO NO not untill it was refurbished an upgraded in many aspects

What a fantastic place, welcome was fab, rooms clean and equipped, staff helpful, friendly and determined to give you a great time, food was delicious, beach was out of this world, i can't wait to go back again and again and again! The trips to Dolphin Cove, Dunns Falls, Horse riding in the sea and Bob Marley's house were well organised, on time and wonderfull i can't praise the place enough

This was THE best holiday EVER!!!!!! Loved it sooooo much!!!
We went for a birthday in August and stayed there for 2weeks!
It was truly AMAZING!!! Loved it soooooo much!!!!
Cannot wait to go back next year! Hopefully the same staff will be working there Touch wood
Cant wait to see everyone again and stay for 3weeks this time hopefully
:D:D!!!!!! Amaziiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnggg!! LOVED IT!!!!!!! x x

1 reader found this review helpful

Hugely disapointed - have been to Jamaica more than once and this is the worst resort we have stayed in. Chaos at check-in - the time it actually took to perfrom this simple act was far too long, even given the prevailing and expected laid back attitude. The room was awfull - very small, peeling paint, ants everywhere, no 3rd bed for our child, bathroom ceiling tiles falling out, too few towels etc etc. We had paid for an upgrade, and when complained (on arrival at the room) was informed this WAS the upgrade!!!!
The noise level was far too loud and almost continuous - the layout of the resort meant that as soon as the evening entertainment started it was louder in the room than by the stage - and this was every night until 10.30 - not good with children or even if you want a quite time. Also as soon as the staff were at the pool (usually about 8.30 am), they instantly turned on loud music there also, which wasn't switched off until 6pm- Not relaxing, or nice, just a bombarment of noise all day and night.
Both myself and partner had food poisening during our stay - says it all about the food and overall hygiene I think!!!!
Beach is beautiful tho, with plenty of watersports - shame the Jamaica's think a 2 inch wave is choppy and stop all watersports for the day. Can get mithered by the sellers from the nearby market, but a polite no is usually all it takes.
No shuttle bus to either Mo Bay or Ochio Rios - really could do with this option to get out of the hotel. Gift shop very small and overpriced.