Birthday celebrations seem to have grown from one-night parties into events that last entire weekends, so with that in mind, I planned a three-day getaway for a niece who was reaching a milestone birthday—a perfect excuse for a warm-weather vacation for our travel-loving group who were mostly in the midst of a cold January. We looked to the Caribbean and learned of a new upscale resort in Jamaica, assured of sunshine and a luxurious setting.  The recently opened adults-only all-inclusive Princess Senses the Mangrove turned out to be ideal for our girls getaway.

Jamaica was a new destination for all of us, so we took in the scenery, small towns, colorful houses, beach shacks, and glimpses of the turquoise sea on our hour-long drive to the resort from Montego Bay’s airport. Upon arrival, we were greeted with an escort to the Platinum Club lounge area—we had opted for Platinum’s upgraded amenities—for a light lunch and beverages as we took care of check-in details. On the way to our rooms in a large golf cart-like shuttle, we looked out over acres of dense mangroves with their tangled roots and green foliage, clearly explaining the name of the resort.

The newly built property curves around a sandy beach, and our rooms, like all the accommodations in the resort, faced the sea for sunset views and breezes. We took full advantage of our furnished terrace, especially the large round tubs that we filled with bubbles and luxuriated in day and night. Another favorite spot was the Blue Mountain coffee shop where we enjoyed ice cream, coffee drinks, and friendly young ladies anxious to serve their delicious creations.

The atmosphere around the pools was relaxing, and when we shuttled over to the separate Princess Grand Jamaica to check out the food trucks and water park, we enjoyed the lively atmosphere, colorful pool slides, and our first Jamaican jerk chicken. But the sophisticated adults-only resort beckoned, and we happily returned to our poolside lounges and cocktails.

Days flowed into evenings and then into dancing at the nightclub, and our only challenge was deciding where to have pre-dinner cocktails and our evening meal. At Robert’s Flame, the resort’s steakhouse restaurant, our server provided a personal touch, surprising us with a special dessert and a hand-written (in chocolate) birthday wish for the guest of honor.

This new resort is a perfect destination for a weekend getaway, group trip, honeymoon, or any time some sunshine and fun sounds like a good idea. Here’s what it was like to stay at the new Princess Senses The Mangrove.

The Rooms

All 401 luxury suites have furnished balconies or terraces overlooking the ocean, and the resort also offers 14 overwater villas with infinity pools. The 183 entry level Deluxe Junior Suites include a living room area, spacious bathroom with a designer bathtub, rain shower, minibar, and coffee maker. With a stay in one of the 61 Swim Out Deluxe Junior Suites, you can step outside and relax in a sun lounger set in shallow water or take a dip in a semi-private pool, perfect for cooling off or swimming laps. Choose a king bed, two queens, or one of the suites with a sofa bed.

If soaking in a bubble-filled tub on your private terrace while you bask in the sun or under starry skies sounds heavenly, select one of the eight Luxury Junior Suites with a Whirlpool. They also include a designer bathtub and double rain shower in the expansive bathroom. You can indulge in a few extras in one of the 54 Pleasure Junior Suites where you’ll have premium bathrobes, slippers, a complimentary privacy kit, mood lighting, and a round king-sized bed. The Swim Out Pleasure Junior Suites offer the same amenities.

Book a Platinum Junior Suite, Swim Out Junior Suite, or Platinum One-Bedroom Master Suite, and you’ll enjoy privileges like a private check-in area, exclusive beach club and restaurants, butler service, premium drinks, discounted spa services, and early check-in/late check-out when available. The five Platinum Master Suites offer larger rooms and terraces, with a Balinese bed and whirlpool tub, additional bathroom, and high-end hospitality products.

The Princess Bridal Suite features Platinum Club amenities, a designer bed, make-up room, and exclusive terrace, and the Presidential Suite offers a private infinity pool, expansive Sky terrace, and accommodations for five guests. Fourteen overwater villas feature spacious living rooms, bedrooms, glass floors, large furnished terraces, private infinity pools, and Platinum Club amenities.

Food and Drink

Decisions, decisions. You’ll have to stay for a few weeks to experience all the dining venues, with the all-day buffet Food Market and restaurants serving sushi, steak, seafood, Italian, Mexican, Japanese teppanyaki, Jamaican-Caribbean, and Asian fusion cuisine, all exquisitely decorated. Across from the row of restaurants on the resort’s second floor, there’s comfortable seating for pre- or post-dinner relaxing and rows of seats facing the ocean, where we spent some time each evening after dinner, listening to live music and enjoying the sea breezes. Our sushi dinner at Umami was delicious, and I enjoyed the filet mignon and grilled shrimp (Beef & Reef) at The Pearl.

Then, there are the food trucks for snacks and jerk chicken, the Reef beach buffet, MVP Sport Bar, and the 24-hour Blue Mountain coffee bars, where we ended each night with an ice cream cone. Cocktails, dancing, and games at MVP Sport Bar were favorites, and the rooftop bar at the Platinum Club was the perfect place to watch the sunset. There will have to be a return visit to catch up on the rest of the 14 bars that we missed.

Activities and Experiences

It might be tempting to find a lounge chair by the pool—especially one that’s partially submerged on a hot day—but then you might miss out on sunrise yoga, beach volleyball, a reggae, soca, or salsa dance lesson, or a music trivia contest. There are cornhole games, horseshoe tournaments, spin classes, and lots more. Every evening at 9 p.m. in the Moonlight Theater, there’s a different show on the outdoor stage, and we caught Retro Night, with lively dancers and great music.

During the day, you can take a kayak or paddleboard out for a spin, play water polo, take a guided snorkeling tour, or snorkel on your own. We slipped over to the Wild Princess Water Park at the Princess Grand Jamaica family resort for snacks from the food trucks. While we ate, a couple of adorable young activity directors encouraged us to play a few games of Jenga and tic-tac-toe. Watching the kids on the slides and splash pools was fun before we headed back to our adults-only haven.

The Spa

The spacious and beautifully designed Princess Grand Jamaica Spa includes a sauna, steam room, solarium, hydromassage pool, and massage cabins. The spa offers a variety of massages, and the Swedish massage was heavenly. Guests can also choose pampering with facials, body scrubs, and a range of wellness experiences. There’s a full-service beauty salon for manicures, pedicures, and makeup and hair services.

Family-friendly Offerings

Princess Senses The Mangrove is an adults-only (18+) resort, but the nearby Princess Grand Jamaica is open for all ages, with a water park, kids club and shows, games, and activities. The convenient location of the two resorts creates an ideal destination for multi-generation groups.

Location

Princess Senses The Mangrove is about an hour from Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport, and shuttle transportation can be arranged in advance, which is advisable and convenient. There’s an onsite travel company, Tropical Tours, for off-property excursions to rum factories, waterfalls, boat tours, and more.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Accessible guest rooms are available, and there are elevators in each of the buildings. The Platinum Beach Club is accessible to guests with disabilities, and shuttles are always available for transportation to restaurants, clubs, and other parts of the property.

The adults-only Princess Senses The Mangrove (along with the family-friendly Princess Grand Jamaica) is the first fully sustainable hotel to be developed in Jamaica. More than 100 acres of lush mangroves border the property, having been preserved for beauty as well as their value for the country’s ecosystem. The property includes its own electricity-generating plant, water treatment plant, solar energy system, and natural gas generation plant.

The hotel is the first to construct 500 rooms for tourism workers, and as a member of the local community of Green Island, Princess has adopted Green Island High School and Harding Hall Preparatory School. The company also developed a relationship with two local hospitals.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Join “MyPrincess” at no cost when making your reservation through the Princess Hotels website and receive a discount of up to 20%, which can be combined with other offers, rates, and promo codes. Also, the MyPrincess program for Princess Senses The Mangrove includes free shuttle to and from the airport, 10% discount on spa services, and exclusive complimentary services on arrival.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.