Deja Resort
Deja Resort wins its loyal following on location and warmth rather than polish. It sits on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in the middle of Montego Bay's Hip Strip, a minute's walk from Doctor's Cave Beach (entry is free for guests) and a few minutes' drive from the airport. It is Jamaican-owned and small, roughly 90 rooms, and the staff are the reason people come back: travelers describe being looked after like visiting family rather than processed like a booking number.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Free entry to Doctor's Cave Beach, about a one-minute walk across Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, so you get Montego Bay's best-known beach without paying the gate fee non-guests pay
- +Sits right on the Hip Strip, so Pier 1, Margaritaville and the strip's bars and shops are a short walk with no taxi needed
- +A few minutes' drive from Sangster International Airport, one of the shortest transfers of any all-inclusive in Jamaica and handy for late arrivals or early flights home
- +Jamaican-owned and small, with staff who greet repeat guests by name; travelers keep calling it a home away from home rather than a resort
- +More going on than the price suggests: a Tuesday Jamaican Street Party, karaoke nights, live music, trivia, Bingo, aerobics and a 'Dance like a Jamaican' class, plus billiards, table tennis, Jamaican ludo and chess
- +Several places to eat and drink for a property this size: Waterfalls Restaurant for buffet meals, Irie Italiano, the poolside Jammin Bar & Grill for burgers and sandwiches, and the One Drop Cafe for Jamaican coffee, pastries and ice cream
- +Roughly 90 rooms means short food lines and no dawn race for pool chairs
- +One of the cheapest all-inclusives in Montego Bay, which suits travelers who plan to spend their days off property
Cons
- −There is one cliffside pool with a hot tub beside it, which is small for an all-inclusive and gets busy in the afternoon; guests have reported the pool and hot tub out of service during their stays
- −The buffet rotation leans heavily on chicken and fish, and longer stays start to feel repetitive by midweek
- −Rooms are clean but basic and dated, with finishes and bathrooms well behind newer Montego Bay resorts
- −The Hip Strip location cuts both ways: traffic and music from nearby venues carry into street-facing rooms well into the night
- −Wi-Fi is free but guests describe it as patchy away from the lobby and pool area
- −Non-guests pay a day-visitor fee to come in, so hosting friends staying elsewhere adds up; ask the front desk for the current rate
- −No resort-run watersports at all; kayaks, snorkel gear and boat trips are rented from vendors at Doctor's Cave or booked through the tour desk
- −Airport transfers are an extra charge even though the drive is only minutes, and the spa is run by a partner, so treatments are not part of the package
The practical experience is modest and honest about it. Meals are mostly at the Waterfalls Restaurant buffet, with Irie Italiano for a sit-down change, Jammin Bar & Grill by the pool for burgers and sandwiches, and the One Drop Cafe for coffee, pastries and ice cream. Tuesday is the Jamaican Street Party, and the entertainment team runs karaoke, live music, trivia, Bingo, aerobics and dance classes, with billiards and table tennis in between. There is a kids' programme for ages 4 to 11, a 24-hour gym, and the partner-run Escape to Exhale Spa. The single cliffside pool is small, rooms are dated, the menu repeats, and street-facing rooms hear the strip at night.
Deja suits travelers who want an all-inclusive base for exploring Montego Bay rather than a resort to disappear into: people on a long weekend, budget-minded couples and friend groups, and families who will mostly be at the beach. It is one of the cheapest all-inclusives in town and competes with other small Hip Strip hotels rather than the big Rose Hall resorts. Doctor's Cave, the strip's restaurants and bars, and tours booked at the front desk (Chukka is a partner) are all close by. If you want multiple pools, a la carte dining and a spa included in the price, budget for a larger resort instead.
Common Questions
Is Doctor's Cave Beach really free for Deja Resort guests?
Is Deja Resort good for first-time Jamaica visitors?
How noisy is it on the Hip Strip?
Can friends staying elsewhere visit me at the resort?
Is the food authentic Jamaican?
Does Deja Resort have a kids' club and is it family friendly?
Restaurants (2)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Italian | Irie Italiano Restaurant |
| Caribbean & local | Waterfalls Restaurant |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown.
What's nearby
Doctor's Cave Beach1 min walk · 0.1 mi
Sam Sharpe Square3 min drive · 1.1 mi
Montego Bay Cultural Centre3 min drive · 1.2 mi
Montego Bay Yacht Club12 min drive · 4.1 mi
Rose Hall Great House20 min drive · 8.6 mi
Falmouth40 min drive · 20 mi
More things to do (23)
- Mayfield Falls · nature60 min drive · 23 mi
- Hip Strip (Gloucester Avenue) · town3 min drive · 0.9 mi
- Dolphin Cove (Lucea) · adventure park35 min drive · 19 mi
- Martha Brae rafting · excursion50 min drive · 22 mi
- Hampden Estate rum tour · historic site30 min drive · 17 mi
- Catamaran snorkel cruise from Montego Bay · excursion1 min walk · 0.1 mi
- Walter Fletcher Beach · beach2 min drive · 0.7 mi
- Harmony Beach Park · beach2 min drive · 0.8 mi
- Dead End Beach · beach3 min drive · 0.7 mi
- Half Moon Golf Course · golf14 min drive · 7.1 mi
- Bellefield Great House · historic site14 min drive · 4.8 mi
- Cinnamon Hill Golf Course · golf20 min drive · 8.8 mi
- Ahhh...Ras Natango Gallery & Garden · nature20 min drive · 7.3 mi
- Rocklands Bird Sanctuary · wildlife20 min drive · 8.0 mi
- Falmouth Historic District (Water Square) · historic site40 min drive · 20 mi
- Luminous Lagoon night boat tour · excursion40 min drive · 22 mi
- Falmouth Cruise Port · marina45 min drive · 21 mi
- Burwood Beach · beach45 min drive · 24 mi
- Lucea · town45 min drive · 24 mi
- Fort Charlotte (Lucea) · historic site45 min drive · 24 mi
- Hanover Museum · museum45 min drive · 24 mi
- Good Hope Great House · historic site55 min drive · 23 mi
- Roaring River and Blue Hole · nature60 min drive · 28 mi
Amenities
Seaweed & sargassum
Jamaica gets sargassum, typically worst June through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 3.9 · 1,660 reviews
“Our stay at the resort was amazing!!! Before during and after the hurricane!! The staff makes this resort stand out. They are sooo friendly and accommodating. Nellie was super!! She made sure we were good and took care of whatever we needed! She made...”
“The exceptional hospitality with clean and comfortable rooms is what i generally expect from a hotel, and overall Deja resort exceeded my expectations. A massive thank you to Miss Walker for your help and support, I really appreciate it. Thanks to L...”
“My Deja family.. I would recommend anyone and everyone to come stay at the Deja Resort. I am a travel Advisor and I will definitely have my clients to stay here. The food is authentic Jamaican food. The staff are amazing. Thanks to the following...”
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