Shaw Park Beach Hotel & Spa

You know the feeling when you show up to your high school reunion, and your class’s all star quarterback now has a beer belly and dad jeans? We sort of get the same feeling when arriving at Shaw Park. It’s clear that the place was once great, but there’s a hint of sadness in the air from the hotel’s evident downfall. Much of the property looks like it did in the 1970s -- mirrored walls, stone facades, black-and-white checkered flooring -- and not much has been done to revive the place. During our visit, there weren’t many guests around, giving the hotel an almost eerily quiet atmosphere. The few guests we encountered were mostly older couples who were enjoying the peace and quiet.  

Shaw Park is a beachfront property about 15 minutes from downtown Ocho Rios. The immediate area surrounding the hotel is quiet and feels secluded. The only pitfall is that there’s nothing to see or do within walking distance. Popular tourist attractions like Dunn's River Falls, Mystic Mountain, and the cruise port are all within a 20-minute drive. 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. 

Though they’re spotlessly kept, rooms at Shaw Park are in desperate need of a makeover. Decor is reminiscent of a 1980s beach motel, with pastel hues and bright floral prints. Wicker headboards and trellis armoires look like they came from a child’s bedroom set, while multi-colored valences recall an era of interior design that no one wants to revisit. Flat-screen TVs (some rooms still have tube-style TVs) are rooms’ only indication of the current decade -- since other amenities, like key operated safes, look dated. Wi-Fi doesn't connect in most of the rooms. Bathrooms are small, underwhelming spaces with bland tile work and tiny shower stalls. Some are exceptionally dark, with low hanging drop ceilings and awful fluorescent lighting. We also found the hot water supply to be inconsistent. On the plus side, all of Shaw Park’s rooms have oceanfront balconies or patios, which offer gorgeous views of the beach. Shaw Park has multiple room types -- including Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, and multi-bedroom suites. There isn’t much variation between Deluxe and Superior Rooms, but suites are much larger, and some have multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. Decor is dated throughout, and was especially egregious in the hotel’s top tier Seahorse Suite (think: green carpeting and floral furniture).    

Shaw Park is an all-inclusive property, but it doesn’t have the same mega-resort, party-centric atmosphere as many of its neighbors. Instead, Shaw Park has a few amenities, one restaurant, and one bar in a supremely quiet setting. The food is better than average for an all-inclusive, and while there’s only one restaurant, guests are given several options, including a few Jamaican specialities, at every meal. All meals are served a la carte, either in the hotel’s main dining room or outside on its beautiful oceanfront terrace. Adjacent to the restaurant is the hotel’s bar, which has a cute outdoor seating area that overlooks the beach.  The beach at Shaw Park is a long, narrow strip of sand that’s lined with lounge chairs and blue-and-white striped umbrellas. The water is calm and ideal for swimming. The hotel has kayaks, Jet Skis, and Hobie cats available for rent, along with its own catamaran that guests can charter for private excursions. Though the beach is nice, Shaw Park’s pool isn’t amongst our favorites. The pool doesn’t overlook the beach, but is instead located behind one of the hotel’s buildings; so guests are subject to the hum of industrial air conditioners should they choose to take a dip. Besides the faulty location, the pool is actually pretty large and has substantial shallow and deep ends.  Shaw Park’s spa is located across the street from the main property. The spa isn’t particularly tranquil, or aesthetically pleasing, but instead looks like a half-hearted assemblage of old furniture and spa products. The spa has a few treatment rooms, along with a considerably-sized hair and nail salon. Shaw Park has free Wi-Fi in its lobby, that sometimes also works in the restaurant. The connection is strong in the lobby, but don’t count on it working in the rooms.