Fisherman’s Point Resort

During the day, Fisherman’s Point Resort can have an eerily quiet atmosphere. You might check in and wonder if you’re the only guest on property. The pool sits unused, there’s no one in the lobby, and the hallways look barren. But by nightfall, club-goers line the streets and fights break out on the sidewalk — a reassuring sign that you’re not the only one around. Jokes aside, Fisherman’s Point is a seemingly safe place to stay; there are even security guards at night. But there’s something about the place that felt unsettling during our visit — and the hotel’s dingy rooms certainly don’t help its cause. We felt much more comfortable, and warmly welcomed, at the Pineapple Court Hotel, which is about a 10-minute drive from downtown.  

Fisherman’s Point Hotel is located in downtown Ocho Rios, directly across from the cruise ship pier. It’s within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and nightclubs and is a five-minute drive from popular attractions like Dunns River Falls and Mystic Mountain. Though Fisherman’s Point is not on the beach, there is a public beach within a five-minute walk. The two nearest airports to Ocho Rios are Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston. Both are about 90 minutes from the hotel.  

It’s never a good sign when your mattress makes a crunching sound when you sit on it. But if you want to look on the bright side, at least you’ll be protected from bed bugs? Crunchy mattresses aside, rooms at Fisherman’s Point are all-around dingy. Each is individually decorated, but furniture looks like it was hand-selected at a garage sale, and the cinder-block walls might make you think of a jail cell. Rooms are reasonably clean and some may find them OK for the price. 

All units are apartment style, with full kitchens, separate living spaces, and either one or two bedrooms. Some have outdoor balconies. Bathrooms vary from room to room, and some are actually sort of nice — like the blue mosaic tile bathroom we saw in one of the apartments. Hot water, however, can sometimes be an issue. If possible, ask for an ocean-facing room when booking. These are the quietest at night since they don’t face the nearby nightclub, and aren’t subject to lingering Indian restaurant smells.  

The kidney-shaped pool in the center of the property remains quiet throughout the day. Chances are that if you decide to take a dip you’ll have the pool to yourself. The pool is surrounded by several lounge chairs, and large towering palms. It clearly wasn’t built yesterday, but appears to be well maintained. 

The on-site restaurant may be its only truly noteworthy amenity. Though the restaurant is located on hotel property, it is not affiliated with Fisherman’s Point. It is open for lunch and dinner, and serves excellent authentic Indian cuisine and has great free Wi-Fi. 

Fisherman’s Point has free Wi-Fi in the lobby. The Wi-Fi works well and is easy to connect to, but we wish it worked in the apartments as well.