I just spent a week at the Iberostar Grand in MB,Jamaica. What a spectacular resort. It truly is magical, beautiful and luxurious...but the real gem of this place is the amazing staff throughout. These wonderful people make you feel loved, spoiled and so incredibly well cared for. Everybody was amazing, and you can't list them all....but they deserve to be recognized.
When we arrived, Sylvester greeted us with a warm smile and nice cool cloths to help us ease into the temperature. He is a wonderful ambassador for the grand. At the front desk, Dexter and Corey are both professional yet welcoming. If you go to the front desk, they will always be able to help with whatever you need. Dexter went out of his way to accommodate me when I was not feeling 100% on my last day, ensuring I had access to my room until later in the day so that I could rest before our journey. He offered to have me escorted back to the room as I was feeling faint. He was genuinely interested in taking care of his guests.
My butlers Roland and Stephen were incredible, and truly went out of their way to help and accommodate whatever I needed. They made me feel special and taken care of, never saying no to me once. I think I was fairly high maintenance but they graciously took care of every request, with a smile on their faces.
The bar staff at the pool was out of this world. Every day, all day. Special mention should go to Wayne, Kamar, Sentilman and O'Niel. Raquel was a poolside server who was amazing, happy and attentive to my needs. She also has an amazing voice and I loved hearing her sing while she dropped off my drinks.
The poolside staff mopping the decks...Michael and Jamoi are such kind men who were working so very hard ALL the time. Ensuring things were clean and paying attention to detail all while making my girlfriends and myself feel safe and special. Saying good morning, always remembering our names and just generally adding to our overall experience.
Nordia: this woman is out of this world as a manager. She worked so so hard, every day I saw her. She made me feel special and went out of her way to chat with me, joke and tell me anything I wanted to know. If I needed anything, this woman made it happen within minutes. Her kindness will not ever be forgotten, she made me feel like family and it was horrible to have to say goodbye to her. She even did something special for me when she found out it was my birthday. This is a strong women who works very hard, and it shows. Without Nordia my experience would not have been the same, I cannot wait to see her again when I re book in January.
The bartenders inside the lobby lounge were also exceptional. I rarely made it there during the day but the evenings it was a must stop place for me. Andreas and Christopher are two very special men who went out of their way for me, made me laugh and always kept professional; while being very entertaining. It wouldn't be the same without them. How can I forget young Mark, who I only had the pleasure of seeing for two nights. He is a great bartender and was great to chat with while sipping a drink.
Kacyan and Renay, in the lounge are lovely women. Warm,kind and exceeding expectations. Spending time with them was a pleasure.
The security staff were all excellent as well, always warm and friendly but they made you feel safe and well guarded. I can't remember all the names but all the ladies and gents doing security in the lobby of the hotel were spectacular.
Ricardo the gardener also went out of his way to help. Offering some aloe, fresh cut from the grounds, for my girlfriends sunburn. He didn't have to do this and it was a really nice touch. I certainly did not expect to see a grounds maintenance person impressing me, but he most definitely did and it really heightened the experience.
Overall....my experience could not have been better. All the staff were on par, exceeded expectations and made my trip truly a magical time. It felt as though I was living in a fantasy world. I encourage others to spend time chatting and getting to know the staff. They are all special and fabulous people, with a story to tell and true warmth to give. They will blow your mind and make you want to come back for more. The resort itself, minus the people, is absolutely stunning; "Grand" definitely summarizes it...but in my opinion it's the great staff that make this place what it is. The food was excellent, drinks good and the views spectacular. I'll be back in January and cannot wait to see everyone again.