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BA, Sunshine and Sandals
Here in Jersey it was ‘Flaming June’ … hot and sunny. But we needed to get away.
(1) We wanted to get some trips in to take advantage of the BA Holidays Double Tier Points offer before it expired, and thus ensure we renewed BAEC Gold status. (2) We really wanted to get away from the noise of Builders, renovating our house, and the house next door, and a major construction project on the other side! Where to go and what to do? Largely based on price, we decided to return to the Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. for the 5th time. Not our favourite destination for a few minor reasons, but at least is was ‘cheap” … BA Club Europe/Club World flights and a decent Suite for £6.5k for a week in September. All-inclusive of course, and at least the RP is fairly small and Adults Only so it isn’t Party Central with noise into the small hours! Sandals is inevitably rather US-focussed, and almost impossible to contact from UK as I tried to link our BA hotel confirmation (a jumble of letters and numbers) to my Sandals Select membership account. It took 3 attempts via their on-line messaging system to finally get a useful response that didn’t require me to make an expensive International call to their US 1-800-SANDALS number! It’s apparently their International Desk at +08000 22 30 30. With that finally resolved, and our Butler requests for mini-Bar contents etc, the rest of the Admin was fairly easy. No Covid testing or certificates needed for Jamaica, just an on-line Immigration and Customs form to complete at https://enterjamaica.com and we think we’re ready to go! Monday 5 Sep 22. Taxi at 0600 to catch the only JER-LGW flight of the day at 0740 (the other 5 go to LHR) . A painless airport process, with our solitary suitcase checked through to KIN and Security quick and easy. The Lounge was surprisingly empty after the 0705 to LHR had departed! https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...417ab0e08f.jpg 5 Sep 22, BA1361, A319, JER-LGW, 0740-0840, CE seats 1D/F Eventually called to Gate 10 for boarding, where surprisingly we in Group 1/CE were immediately invited to board. Nice, and plenty of overhead locker space too! The usual blah blah blah … airborne on time for a quick en-route Breakfast. On this occasion a crusty roll with either Egg & Cheese or Bacon, along with the Fruit bowl of mainly Melon and a Nutrigrain bar. Not very ‘executive’, IMO. Safely to LGW, where we were abandoned at Gate 31 for the bus transfer to Domestic Arrivals and the long walk! hey-ho, we can survive, and by 0900 we were kerb-side for a cigarette or two before entering Security [no Connections airside here] and heading for the BA Lounge to await the next leg. I tried for a proper hot breakfast, but all the ingredients on the buffet were tepid/cold by now. Oh, well, have a comfy seat with a view and wait. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0e6d7756fb.jpg 5 Sep 22, BA2263, B777, LGW-KIN, 1245-1630, CW seats 4A/B Oh, great, we have a delay. 1245 becomes 1445, and later 1600. Memories of our 2016 LGW-KIN [https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip...r-lgw-kin.html} , where we ended up staying at LGW overnight. However, mercifully at 1441 we finally have a call for Gate 15, to which we proceed and arrive at 1500. No priority in evidence, just a slow queue for the 2 Agents , after which we grab a couple of seats at the boarding end of the ‘holding pen’ [we know this territory] and … wait. At 1510 a ‘Gate Coordinator’ walks past talking on her phone … “No Cleaners, and Caterers only just arrived …” Things are going well for G-YMMA, B777-200ER and our holiday! 1548 - we have some Cabin Crew. Who then turn round and go and get coffee! Announcement that “the Cleaners have just started, another 30 minutes”. Finally, at 1630, boarding commences in an unclear manner - was it Groups 1-3? Whichever, we’re right by the door to the airbridge and … whoosh, we’re there! Settling in to our preferred seats for this ac configuration, we sip our cold PDB and listen to all the announcements about settle in quickly, keep the floor area clear, yada-yada, and at 1705 something about 2 missing passengers! Mercifully, at 1715, the doors are closed and we push back at 1728 and finally get airborne at 1748. That’s FIVE hours late - is there some EC261/2004 compensation to be had here? Like €600 each? Claim submitted … we shall see! On the positive side, the CSD [In-Flight Lead?] or Senior Cabin Crew Member [SCCM], was excellent. We were greeted in the BAEC Gold manner and generally fussed over very nicely! Not sure if we were the only BAEC Golds around, but it felt like it - the KIN route is heavy on Friends and Family, and we are a bit out of the holiday season. Oh, and we are issued with paper Landing Cards to complete, so the on-line form-filling didn’t seem to achieve anything! Lunch/Dinner time! https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a8555afc1.jpeg I’ve rather gone off Lamb Shanks for some reason, so I asked the charming young CC for the “Traditional chicken tikka masala” {is that a British tradition?). “Sorry, they’ve all gone.” “Excuse me, we’re BAEC Gold!” Fortunately the SCCM resolved that - the CC had apparently been drafted in from Eeekonomy to help in CW and was unfamiliar with the rules about who gets their first choice. My Chicken ... https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0c84ecdccd.jpg Her Lamb https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...758b418fe0.jpg OK, it was a BA meal. The Chicken Tikka was severely uninspiring, but the OH said the Lamb was “OK”. And the IFE was not exactly inspiring either, so I did what I usually do on l/h … went horizontal and slept for a few hours. It had been a long day already! Eventually, after 4,688 miles and c. 9 hours of tedium, we arrived at KIN, aka Norman Manley International Airport (it was Palisadoes Airport when I lived in Kingston many decades ago!). The time, by my watch and indeed my body-clock on UK time, is now 0245. Yeuch! Due to our carefully selected seats, we are the first off and on to the long walk to the Border. There the process was mercifully quick, passports and landing card duly stamped and a quick visit to Duty Free had us at Reclaim 0305, with our case being the first one on the belt (YAY!) at 0310. Customs collected the stamped landing card, and at 0315 we were at the Sandals Reception Desk in the Arrivals concourse (down the passageway to the left just before you exit the building). Time to adjust my watch to local time, which is apparently 2115: my body is still unconvinced! And at 2130 we and 2 other passengers are in the minibus on our way to the Resort. |
Sandals Royal Plantation.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...51089c6cde.png It’s a 1h 30m drive, about 55 miles across the mountains spine of the Island on Highway 2000. But first it’s round the Harbour, through down-town Kingston towards Spanish Town before joining Highway 2000 to the north coast at St Ann’s Bay and finally through Ocho Rios to the Resort. A huge $91m engineering project, that has very little traffic and an 80kph (50mph) speed limit! https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4a1986d26.jpeg Video Anyway, enough of that … it’s really quite boring! We arrived at 2300 to be greeted by our Butler and escorted to our room where, after a quick shower, we crashed into bed and slept like logs for a few hours, surfacing as the sun came up. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b274c6d805.jpg We quite like the RP, as it’s generally known. It has a lot of positives from our POV … small [74 suites], quiet [no blaring Disco scene], AI and a la carte at 3 restaurants [no buffet meals] and 2 nice little beaches [one smoking, one No Smoking]. The Staff are universally delightful, smiley and helpful. The guests are, predictably, mainly Americans as it’s fairly easy [and cheap] for them to fly in to Montego Bay (MBJ) and transfer along the north coast. The grounds are lovely and well maintained, and the beaches are clean. The food is generally very good [especially when Lobster is in season, which it was!]. But, overall, the rooms are getting rather tired … nothing has really changed since our first visit in 2012, although they are finally renovating some of the bathrooms! https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2e1d88bd3c.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...300bb2ba4b.jpg Our biggest downside is Sandals Corporate itself, and the way over the decade or so since they bought the property that they have dragged it down-market. It used to have a charming ‘country house’ feel about it … but no more. The main website pictures still show it as it was. Now it’s Sandals banners and illuminated signs and advertising all over the place, with constant ‘music’ playing in the [empty] public area all day. Do they really need to remind guests they’re staying at a Sandals resort all the time? And up-selling everywhere, including the super-expensive Spa! A lovely hotel has been “Sandalised” in the only way America-focussed Corporates know how … noisily and tastelessly. Oh, and pretentious to the n-th degree, of course, to try to look stylish and special. The ‘Butlers’ are an unnecessary confection, and as for the meaningless room categories … e.g our “Royal Monarch Oceanfront Butler Suite, Situated in the stately West Wing on levels 1, 2 or 3, and featuring a broad, ornamental French balcony, this airy and alluring suite offers every imaginable indulgence.” Oh, for Heaven’s sake, it’s a decent hotel room with a view! But I guess they know their main [and gullible] audience. We managed to persuade our Butlers to forgo the endless towel animals and petals all over the bed! https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...42ba22b796.jpg Yours for only $200, if you need dinner in the middle of nowhere … and probably cold by the time it arrives! https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a5f857377e.jpg Just in case you didn’t realise where you are. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b3b73c19c7.jpg OK, I’ve got that off my chest! We did actually have a lovely week, with unseasonably very fine weather [just an hour of rain one morning] and dined very happily at all 3 Restaurants. Sadly a supply issue denied us Scallops, but plentiful Lobster compensated! It really was a very nice week, which sadly had to come to an end … but we’ll give them 4 stars. |
12 Sep 22, BA2262, B777, KIN-LGW, 1845-0950, CW seats 4A/B
The previous day our check-out time was kindly extended from 1100 to 1200, and transport back to KIN confirmed for 1330. So, with the case packed [including the free bottle of Rum [which I found very tasty] we were ready to depart. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7bc83bedf5.jpg Departure on the dot of 1330 - Sandals really are VERY well organised in that respect, and just the 2 of us in a nice clean minibus again. Back down Highway 2000 to KIN, where sadly our driver gets pulled by the Police. Oh dear, doing 105kph in an 80kph speed limit [and there are bits that are 60kph!]. That appeared to cost him JMD5000, or c. USD33. What a wonderful mix of standards … Drive on the left, use US voltage and plug sockets, measure distances in km but frame the Law in mph! :) https://japarliament.gov.jm/attachme...21-No.-22_.pdf Anyway, at 1645 after that slight delay en route, we are KIN Departures. The BA desks are on the right end of the Hall [with toilets nearby], Departures https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...76820ee241.jpg Smoking allowed! https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2c6e6b3032.jpg We queue for Club World, of course, and a Tensa barrier is unhooked to enable us to access the first available desk. The case is tagged through to JER and, importantly, apart from getting our BPs for both sectors, we also get our Premium passes for Security and the Club Kingston lounge. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...32bfb88070.jpg And then back to the opposite end of Departures, where we find the Priority Security lane closed - which is not a problem, as there are very few people around. A fairly rude/abrupt collection of Security staff, and its shoes off and even BPs and Passports need to be scanned … neurotic or what? And on the other side I repack, noting that their hysteria failed to spot either of our disposable lighters. haha. Up the escalator to the Retail Zone, where my wife is delighted to find that Jamaica has not [yet] banned the sale of menthol cigarettes. I generously allow her to use my allowance for some of these increasingly rare products. And then to the very far end and the elevator down to the Club Kingston lounge, which may be windowless but is nice. It’s well covered elsewhere on FT, so I’ll just note that the Patties are as good as ever, and that table service was provided for F&B. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b0d4d54450.jpg Boarding was declared at 1810, and we were escorted on the long walk to Gate 6 where we queued briefly [as Group 1] before boarding at 1825. So far so good, until at 1850 we were advised of a minor tech issue which needed to be ’signed off’. OH NO! Not again? Happily it was quickly resolved … Doors at 1910, Pushback 1915 and airborne 1930: I can live with a 45 minute delay on a 9-hour flight! Dinner? Yes please! https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7b97bfe0b.jpeg Hmmm … exciting, or what? Roast Chicken for me, Grilled Salmon for her. Both filed under ‘Acceptable’, although the other accompaniments were as dull as ever. Her Salmon https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...61fbfafd3c.jpg My Chicken https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5ce9eb24b3.jpg And so for a bit of sleep … and amazingly Lady T slept as well. That’s a novelty! 13 Sep 22 Breakfast served at 0300 … that must still be Jamaica time. It was ‘food’: I’m not a fan of baked beans, and the scrambled egg was not surprisingly a bit worse than that served at the RP! And then it’s last call for the bathrooms, and tidy up the cabin, because it’s time to arrive at LGW. BTW, some CC were decided untidy, with over-tight clothing: perhaps the promised new uniforms will enable them to find something that fits? https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2a31950b94.jpg 1020 - having reset my watch, and we experienced the smoothest 777 landing ever! Scarcely a bump. Nice one, Captain! Which Gate? I can’t remember, but I think it may have been back to 15 where we started the trip. And a refreshing long walk to the Border, which was agreeably quiet and there Lady T’s passport refused to communicate with the E-gates. The “Helper’ tried to assist, trying different gates, but no … go and join the manual queue at the Border. There she was told she has a ‘temperamental passport’, which worked perfectly well at LHR, PHX, ANU, PUJ, KIN! Landside for a quick cigarette, back through Security and a quick visit to the BA Lounge. Interesting to see several’ ‘anonymous’ easyJet airframes with Latvian registrations - presumably leased for the Summer season? https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e7002ac43d.jpg And finally the last leg … 13 Sep 22, BA1362, A319, LGW-JER, 1250-1355, CE seats 2A/C Another long walk to Gate 32, where we find G-EUPJ in the old BEA colour scheme waiting for us. [Here’s a pic I took in January, when it was raining!] https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c161620218.jpg The Gate area seems very quiet as Group 1 are called for boarding. And why are we in Row 2? Ah, a family of 4 booked Row 1 long before us. OK, we can survive! And it’s just 3 rows of CE? I discover, talking to the crew, that there are just 10 pax in CE and a total load of 45! I hope BA doesn’t see an excuse to delete JER/LGW from their schedules! Push back at 1250, so basically on time for a change! And away on the last leg, with a BA meal of Chicken Caesar Salad with soggy croutons … pretty dire, TBH. We saved the rather nice choccie pudding pots to have at home, at which point one of the CC kindly donated us another 2. Cheers! And with a bone-rattling thud we have landed! The Reclaim Lottery was not in our favour this time, probably the last bag! Taxi home, arriving at 1430 … for an early night! Hope some of you enjoyed reading - a bit boring/repetitive having done this 4 times previously. However, my next TR will be NEW … Crete/HER/Rethymno in October for our very first visit to Greece. New country/airport/hotel - quite excited! |
Originally Posted by T8191
(Post 34614696)
Sandals Royal Plantation.
The ‘Butlers’ are an unnecessary confection. [...] We managed to persuade our Butlers to forgo the endless towel animals and petals all over the bed! I always politely ask for towel animals to be painlessly and quickly dispatched. 😑 Petals look lovely but are a practical pain in the neck when picking up every last one before getting into bed. My heart sinks when I see them. I express gratitude for the effort and request that no more appear. Butlers are often a mere marketing device. In some settings, they can be useful, but who really uses services such as bath running and clothes unpacking/packing? |
Cheers, AnaTravel ... and we are 110% aligned on the subject of Butler Bullfeathers! :tu:
Thanks to our very delayed arrival, we were presented with a cold bath filled to the brim and covered with 'petals', although they are now fabric petals so presumably dried and re-used ad infinitum. Our Butler seemed quite content to be spared the chore of making towel creatures, especially after we pointed out he had better things to do with his time ... and pointing out the waste of energy and water and laundry associated with the task. A few years ago at the RP we made the mistake of admitting to a wedding anniversary. The room was turned into a tasteless nightmare while we were at dinner! And, yes, the lights rotated! "Adults Only Resort"? Depends on the definition of 'adult', I suppose. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...792b072a6d.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8be899243b.jpg |
make an expensive International call Is there some EC261/2004 compensation to be had here It sounds like it, if BA didn't have their people ready, but how readily they will pay up depends on how the delay got coded/attributed. If, for example, the aircraft was late arriving due to inclement weather elsewhere, they may focus on this rather than the fact it was then made much later by their operational failures. Claim! |
Ah, technology! I’m sort of OK at home on my Mac, but I only have a cheap PAYG Stupid Phone! I must try to remember Skype, because it’s in the Mac somewhere!
I have heard by PM that a fellow pax (who claimed very quickly) has already had their EC261 paid, so I’m optimistic. My fault for waiting until we got home, of course! |
I only have a cheap PAYG Stupid Phone! My fault for waiting until we got home, of course! Whether that's driven by reluctance to spend holiday time on admin, or reluctance to risk one's flight home by having admin staff meddle with reservations following a complaint, I'm with you on this. |
Another great report T8191!
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Have stayed there 3 times and had Richard as our butler each time. We've always booked the Royal Oceanfront One Bedroom Butler Suite and have loved it every time. Prefer the side/smaller beach near the Villa Plantana.
Love me some eggs benedict, steak and a coffee and Baileys in the morning on the balcony. Great report. (Do the still pour ice in the urinals by the Peacock Lounge? So weird) |
Thanks for replies, and … ATLATC, no ice in the urinals this time!
Nor, I might add, beach umbrellas on the East Beach, despite people endlessly compaining on TripAdvisor for years. But at least they now have an impressive array of new sun-loungers on both beaches, all you need is to find a bit of shade … if you’re lucky!! exLATCCATC(Mil)😎 |
Well done UncleT. Nice trip report.
You will enjoy Crete. Have a few Raki's for me. |
Thank you for another excellent TR Uncle T. It makes my dy when a new contribution is posted by you!
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Originally Posted by bigbadjoe
(Post 34620549)
Thank you for another excellent TR Uncle T. It makes my dy when a new contribution is posted by you!
I always hope some of the info I post is useful to someone! |
Originally Posted by T8191
(Post 34615140)
Cheers, AnaTravel ... and we are 110% aligned on the subject of Butler Bullfeathers! :tu:
Thanks to our very delayed arrival, we were presented with a cold bath filled to the brim and covered with 'petals', although they are now fabric petals so presumably dried and re-used ad infinitum. Our Butler seemed quite content to be spared the chore of making towel creatures, especially after we pointed out he had better things to do with his time ... and pointing out the waste of energy and water and laundry associated with the task. A few years ago at the RP we made the mistake of admitting to a wedding anniversary. The room was turned into a tasteless nightmare while we were at dinner! And, yes, the lights rotated! "Adults Only Resort"? Depends on the definition of 'adult', I suppose. |
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