My Island Adventure

I recently took a much-needed vacation to Montego Bay, Jamaica, with family and friends. Initially, I had real doubt that an all-inclusive resort would be able to accommodate my food allergies. This apprehension was based on a previous experience (I went to the Dominican Republic last year and my food choices were LIMITED) and the sheer number of buffets commonly found at resorts, which increases the chances for cross-contamination. These concerns, though, were found to be unwarranted at the Iberostar Grand Rose Hall Montego Bay.

Two weeks before my arrival, I called the resort and spoke to someone at the front desk about my allergies. They immediately connected me with their public relations department (public relations has a very literal meaning in Jamaica) who instructed me to email them with the details of my stay, as well as a list of all of my allergies. I received a response the same day, assuring me that I would be completely taken care of during my stay. I was sent a minibar list so that I could select items that I could actually enjoy, as well as a pillow list so that I could be sure I was sleeping on a hypoallergenic pillow. Impressive, right?

Fast forward two weeks — my best friend and I arrive at the resort. Once we have checked in and devoured our ‘welcome drinks’ (which the bartender made without any citrus), we were introduced to Chef Anthony. He was designated as my contact chef at the resort to ensure that I was clear on which food items were safe. He alerted each restaurant of my dietary restrictions. He also made sure that the room service staff was fully aware of my food allergies so that if I ordered food at 2 am (I did, by the way), I could eat without any worries.

My food experience at Iberostar Grand Rose Hall Montego Bay was wonderful. There was always something for me to eat and the staff was more than accommodating. To anyone planning a trip to Jamaica anytime soon, I suggest you check out this resort!