Radiant Spa at The Jewel Dunn's River Beach Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios Jamaica - a spa review by Julie Register at DiscoverSpas.com

Radiant Spa at The Jewel Dunn's River Beach Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios Jamaica
Julie Register visited this Resort Spa in December 2010

It was 23°F the morning I left Philadelphia. I was happy to be heading to The Jewel Dunn’s River, a beach resort near Ocho Rios, Jamaica. There I enjoyed temperatures in the 80's and sun in the mornings and early afternoons. It rained in the late afternoon and evening almost every day, but that was fine with me. I had plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors.

The Jewel Dunn's River Beach is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort on a private, white-sand beach on Mammee Bay. Included in the rate are taxes and services charges as well as:

Airport transfers from Montego Bay Sangster International Airport - It's a 65-mile trip - about 90 minutes each way - on a well-maintained highway. I enjoyed these rides because the drivers were a wealth of knowledge. Our conversations covered the topics of bush medicine, history (Arawaks and Maroons), bauxite production (exported for manufacturing aluminum), the parishes, minimum wages (as low as $44 for a 40-hour work week), coffee production, tourism (the new deep water pier that will accommodate the largest cruise ships and a future mega-resort on Montego Bay and what that means for residents that currently live on the land to be developed), houses (many are built in stages as the owners can afford them since mortgage interest rates are 17% and above), Jamaican Patois (yah mon, irie) and more.

Accommodations - The Jewel Dunn’s River has a total of 250 guestrooms in three buildings: Diamond, Sapphire and Emerald Lanai. There are eight room categories from premier to Butler-serviced suites. Each room has a private balcony or patio with views of the ocean or the lush Jamaican mountains and gardens. I stayed in a Diamond room overlooking the pool and beach that included a liquor cabinet and provided robes. All rooms are equipped with a coffee/tea maker and mini-fridge stocked with water, soda, juice.

Drinks are available at all restaurants and bars. A selection of bars includes the Sunken Treasure Swim-Up Bar and Jasper’s Chillin Pool & Piano Bar, a swim-up bar that transforms into a jazz bar in the evenings. There are also the Emerald Tree Lounge and Boardwalk bars. The Gem of the Day, handmade rum punch with flavors such as Jamaican Ginger, Lychee and Satsuma is offered each day. There are afternoon bartending classes where the resort's mixologists reveal the secrets of each Gem.

Nightly Entertainment includes a selection from Dive-In Movies, Caribbean Night, local entertainment and cabaret shows, live band and DJs and staff and guest talent shows in Bling.

Water Sports include snorkeling, Hobie Cats, kayaks, aquatrykes and water aerobics/aquasize classes. Lessons are available for all sports and activities. The Jewel Dunn’s River features two pools. The larger of the two, Falls Pool, offers a water feature reminiscent of the famous and nearby Dunn’s River Falls.

Land Sports include tennis (rackets provided), 9-hole pitch and putt golf course (clubs provided), ping pong, basketball, volleyball, shuffleboard, horseshoes and giant chess. Lessons are available for all sports and activities.

There are a number of extras available at The Jewel Beach Resort that are not included in the all-inclusive price such as cabana rental packages; private, candlelit, five-course dinners on the beach or above the waterfall at the Falls Pool; flowers and edible arrangements; birthday packages; photos; snorkeling, SCUBA and boat outings as well as:

Radiant Spa

The property became The Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort & Spa in September, 2010 (Sandals Resort previously). They have been busy rebranding ever since, and it was still a work in progress during my visit. Most of the resort had gone through a complete remodel about four years ago, so rebranding has consisted of retiling the pools, new dinnerware, linens and soft goods for the guest rooms. This will be completed by March 2011. While not in the current scope of work, there are plans for the spa to be updated in the next three years or so. The plans include moving the gym, Cut, to another location; moving the nail salon, Polish, to the spa building and adding a relaxation lounge. I hope they plan to do a little remodeling and updating of the current spa facilities as well - especially the wet areas.

The design of this spa is visual pleasing but the six treatment rooms that are located off the balcony surrounding the staircase are noisy. They are open to the beautiful soaring ceiling, the adjoining treatment rooms and wet areas below them. My first treatment was in a room above the shower, steam and sauna area. Fortunately, no one was in an adjoining treatment room, but I could hear every bit of noise from the stairway and wet area beneath the room. It was very noisy and distracting. In fact, my service provider left the room mid-massage twice to scold people to be quiet. My service on the following day was in a treatment room on the other side of the balcony which was located above the whirlpool. The sound of the whirlpool acted like white noise and actually disguised most of the other noises.

Recommendation: I recommend requesting one of the two interior treatment rooms (both couples) or one of the treatment rooms over the whirlpool.

Gym and Spa Building at The Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Gym and Spa Building

Walk through the Open Air Gym Overlooking the Tennis Courts to get to the entrance of Radiant Spa

Stairs to Second Floor Radiant Spa where the Reception, Locker Rooms and Treatment Rooms are located

First Floor Showers, Steam Room and Sauna

First Floor Whirlpool and Hot and Cold Dip Pools in Radiant Spa

First Floor Whirlpool and Hot and Cold Dip Tubs in Radiant Spa at The Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Second Floor Reception and Waiting Area

Women's Locker Room on Second Floor

Couple's Treatment Room with Hydrotherapy Tub on Second Floor
First Floor Whirlpool and Hot and Cold Dip Tubs in Radiant Spa at The Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Treatment Room on Second Floor

My first service was The Jewel Signature Massage. When I checked in at the reception desk, I was asked to choose from three aromas for my massage - lemongrass, ginger or peppermint. I chose lemongrass. The massage that followed was great. Unlike most aromatherapy massages I have received where the extent of the aromatherapy comes from a drop of essential oil waved under my nose, this massage was performed with a coconut carrier oil that was mixed with lemongrass essential oil, so the aroma was actually transferred to my skin. And unlike many massages I've received in the tropics where the oil has turned rancid, this oil smelled fresh and fabulous. The lemongrass aroma lingered for hours after the massage. The massage was followed by a vigorous brown sugar scrub of my legs between my knees and ankles. It was an odd addition to the massage. If it had come first and been on my feet, I would have had value for it. As it was, it just undid the relaxation the massage had done.

Recommendation: I recommend getting a separate whole body scrub when you first arrive (good preparation for tanning) and an aromatherapy massage (without the scrub) afterwards or at a later time.

Lemongrass, Ginger and Peppermint

The spa carries lemongrass personal care products in their small retail boutique - body lotion, body wash, shampoo, conditioner and candles. These and the lemongrass essential oil used in spa treatments are all sourced from a local company called Country House, which is owned by Prof. Henry Reid. He grows his own organic lemongrass, or fever grass as they call it in Jamaica, without chemical pesticides or fungicides. This hardy perennial is anti-viral, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, promotes good digestion, and is a mild insect repellent. Mostly, I just love the aroma.

My second service at Radiant Spa was a facial which, for some reason, is not included on the printed spa service menu. However, when I asked for one, they clearly offer them. The esthetician used a rotary brush to cleanse, applied a hot towel and steam, performed extractions and a mask that including elastin and collagen and finished off with a moisturizer. The spa uses Pevonia products for their facials. My skin had been particularly sensitive that day - from the sun or sunscreen, perhaps. Thankfully, it seemed to be "calmer" after the facial.

Other services available on the spa menu at Radiant Spa at the time of my visit include:

Relaxing Massages and Treatments

Traditional Massage
X Marks the Spot
The Jewel Signature Massage
Diamond in the Rough Massage

Packages

Brilliantly Cut - Sports Massage, Facial and Paraffin Treatment for the hands and feet
Honeymooners Delight - Couples Massage and In-room Bath
Body Polishing for Caribbean Tanning
Say Yes Again - Sugar Cane Scrub, Caribbean Exfoliation and Diamond in the Rough Signature Massage

Wedding Packages

Get The Groom To Shine - Full Body Massage, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Wrap, Man’s Only Manicure and Pedicure, Rejuvenating Facial
Bring Out The Bride’s Sparkle - Natural Herbal Body Wrap, Caribbean Coral Exfoliation, Jewel Signature Massage, Hands and Feet Paraffin Treatment, Manicure and Pedicure

Other services are available such as facials and body scrubs as well as customized treatments. Spa services can be performed in the spa, in a garden, in the water, on the beach or in a guest room. They are not part of the all-inclusive and are on the high side price-wise. The spa is also available for "sparties." I attended one. I never liked martinis before, but they were fabulous there!

A Sparty was held in the courtyard behind Radiant Spa at The Jewel Dunn�s River Beach Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
A Sparty was held in the courtyard behind Radiant Spa

Three women performed during the Sparty

A Couples Treatment Room was set up in a pavilion in the courtyard behind Radiant Spa for the Sparty. Treatment providers offered samples of spa treatments such as the sugar scrub on our hands.

Polish Salon is currently located near the resort lobby and offers hair and nail services. It is the ideal spot for bridal parties to prepare for their wedding ceremonies.

Polish Salon Entrance at The Jewel Dunn�s River Beach Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Polish Salon Entrance

Polish Salon Entrance at The Jewel Dunn�s River Beach Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Polish Salon

Manicure Stations at Polish Salon at The Jewel Dunn�s River Beach Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Manicure Stations at Polish Salon

Off-Resort Activities - While the resort offers activities to keep you busy, I spent a lot of my time visiting three different attractions that were about a mile from the resort.

Dolphin Cove - a park where you can swim with dolphins, sharks and stingrays.

Mystic Mountain - We rode the SkyExplorer chair lift to the top of the mountain. The view was great! At the top, there is a waterslide and infinity edge pool, a restaurant and a museum. Also at the top is where we took Bobsled Jamaica, kind of a self-regulated roller coaster. Most of my group did not use the brakes. I was chicken and did. After the bobsled, we went down a good bit of the mountain on the Canopy Zip Line and then took the lift back down the rest of the way. It was great fun.

Dunn's River Falls - This was my last and favorite activity. The Arawak name “Xayamaca” means land of rivers and springs. The area was called “Las Chorreras” by The Spaniards which means the waterfalls and springs. Dunn's River Falls is absolutely beautiful and very accessible. With a guide, groups descend the stairs to the beach at the bottom of the falls where they empty into the Caribbean Sea then climb the 600' falls in the water - a unique, beautiful and invigorating experience! The Battle of Las Chorreras was fought near Dunn's River Falls in 1657 when the English defeated the Spanish expeditionary force from Cuba.