If you want constant entertainment, waterslides, & luxury accommodations, don't go to Shaw Park! However, if you want a relaxing, refreshing vacation away from mobs of people, a beautifuly beach, friendly staff and good food, by all means go to Shaw Park Beach Hotel. This is an older hotel, with the maintenance woes of an old hotel, but the staff does its best to make everyone comfortable. Every room is an ocean front room, first floor rooms open out right onto the beach. I was on the second floor with a lovely view of the Caribbean & shoreline. While the hotel has 94 rooms, there were only about 35 people staying at the hotel when I was there from January 9 - 14. As a result, I made some wonderful new friends. The staff is friendly & helpful without exception. The bartenders are always happy to mix whatever concoction you can dream. This was my first trip to Jamaica and I found everyone welcoming and friendly, happy to tell you about their country, but enough already about Bob Marley!

my first impression was nice , lots of history in the decoration ,bedroom was clean and bed very comfortable , the staff on a whole were amazing seriously very warm and friendly .
there was a manager that was always shouting at the staff in front of guest this made us feel very uncomfortable not very proffesional .
The food was average , we got very nice food when one of the cruise liners docked and visitors came to the hotel to eat ,
the hotel is perfect if you dont want to do any activerties, i was with my niece but it was very boring for her the pool was always being cleaned and did not look very inviting , luckerly we had a few excurstions planned
i did appreciate that it was not to packed , as seen in other hotels where towels are put down early as to secure a sun lounger
would i go there again , maybe if certain improvments are done, but i would look elsewhere first

Amazingly Surreal vacation

My husband and I stayed at the Shaw Park Jamaica over the Christmas and New years holiday 2012 and enjoyed the most fabulous all inclusive vacation we have ever been on.
The resort itself has the charming allure of an old colonial mansion. The staff is friendly and the food is delicious authentic Jamaican cuisine.
The view is simply majestic. All the rooms face the ocean and are literally a few steps away from the beach and the main bar.
Furthermore, this resort attracted the most wonderful, brilliant, and funny guest I have ever met (you know who you are ). We met so many amazing people and would stay up late discussing politics, sitting around the bar, or adventuring together into Ocho Rios.
This resort is best enjoyed by couples who aren’t interested in a luxury plastic Beverly Hills hotel. Shaw Park has a rustic charm more dazzling than any cookie cutter resort.
Because this resort is so small, you have a chance to make friends with everyone there. And It was so quiet at night that it felt as though we had rented a private mansion with a few friends.
If you plan to go off the resort the best way to do this is to walk five minutes up the road to the highway. From the highway you can catch a cab (cabs have red license plates) for $1 each compared to the $20 cab straight from the resort. The same goes for if you want to take a day trip or tour. It's better to talk to a cabbie and get a reasonable price because the tour groups are quite expensive. And I can assure you that taking the local cabs is completely safe.

My husband and I had a fantastic time and met fantastic people. That being said, the air-conditioning in our room didn’t work, the pool was closed the entire time, and the hotel didn’t have an a la carte restaurant. These things didn’t bother us as my husband and I are experienced travelers. However, if you are looking to stay in an American style hotel with all the amenities this resort might not be for you. But if you love a relaxing ambiance, great people, rustic charms, and great food, then the Shaw Park is where you should vacation.

6 of us went there last March 2011 and it was the worst trip we have ever experienced. We are not 5 star hotel people but we are not budget hotel people which is exactly what this was. In fact we had to pay an extra $250.00 per person to leave this dump and upgrade to the Riu in Ocho Rios. Needless to say, when we returned we wanted our money back for some of it. The hotel did not reimburse us one cent. Do yourself a favour and don't waste your money going there.