Azul Beach Resort Negril, Gourmet All Inclusive by Karisma♡

Below basic expectations

2.0

The hostess Keedee at breakfast, pool staff Tavoy, and the life guards.

− Overall, our stay was disappointing and fell well below our expectations. The resort felt much more like a 2-star property than the 4-5 star resort that was advertised. When we arrived, our room was missing hand towels and washcloths, and we never received them during our stay. We requested additional towels, but it took over an hour for them to be delivered. Even more concerning, the staff member who brought them opened our room door without knocking or obtaining our consent, which was unsettling. In addition, some of the furniture in the room was either broken or missing pieces, which made the accommodations feel poorly maintained. The beach experience was also disappointing. We were frequently approached by vendors and individuals offering drugs, which made it difficult to relax, especially since we were traveling with our child. The beach beds were also in poor condition, with cushions that were ripped or torn, adding to the overall sense that the property was not being properly cared for. Service at breakfast was inconsistent. We had to repeatedly ask for coffee, water, and other beverages before receiving them. The food quality throughout our stay was also underwhelming, with many dishes lacking flavor. The television in our room also froze frequently and was unusable much of the time. Perhaps most concerning, we observed members of management treating staff in a disrespectful manner. We also witnessed what appeared to be sexually inappropriate comments directed at female staff members. Seeing employees spoken to in this way was uncomfortable and reflected poorly on the resort’s workplace culture. Unfortunately, these issues added up and significantly affected our overall experience. We expected a much higher level of service, professionalism, and hospitality and left feeling disappointed.

STAY WAS NIGHTMARE

2.0

Please take my advise. This is not a five star hotel. I styed at this MOTEL for my Anniversary in June 2026. I have been over to Jamaica 5 times and this the worst MOTEL (NOT EVEN A HOTEL) I HAVE STAYED AT. Don't be fooled by the pics. They sold me a Dream when I arrived it was a NIGHTMARE.

My overall experience was good Big up Obrian

8.0

They didn’t have a variety to chose eggs everyday doesnt cut it for breakfas

− They need to have other breakfast supplements

Nice Stay, But Not the Adults-Only Getaway We Expected

8.0

Overall, I would rate this resort somewhere around a 3.5–4 stars rather than a true 5-star experience. If you're looking for a family-friendly vacation, this resort is a good option. However, if you're looking for an adults-only atmosphere or more of a party vibe, this probably isn't the resort for you. There were children throughout the resort, including at the bars, which wasn't the experience I was hoping for. We stayed in a Deluxe Swim-Out Suite, which was very nice and one of the highlights of our trip. The room itself was comfortable, and the swim-out feature was great. However, the furniture could definitely use a deep cleaning and some updating, as the rooms are beginning to show their age. The mini-fridge was consistently stocked, and housekeeping did a great job keeping our room clean throughout our stay. One of the best parts of our vacation was the staff. Everyone was welcoming, friendly, and always willing to help. A special thank you to our butler, Rasahne, who was fantastic and made sure we were well taken care of throughout our stay. Selena was also amazing and provided outstanding service. The bartenders were another highlight. Safarie at the Nesata Lounge made excellent drinks and was always a pleasure to visit. Alshane at the main bar was also outstanding and made some of the best drink shots during our stay! The beach staff and lifeguards were friendly and attentive, especially Shawn, who went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. The food was okay—it was definitely edible, but nothing particularly memorable. The only restaurant I didn't enjoy was the Asian restaurant, which unfortunately wasn't to my taste. Would I return? Maybe. If the resort added an adults-only pool, more adults-only activities, and updated the rooms, I would definitely consider coming back. The exceptional staff made a positive impression, but overall, the resort caters more to families than adults seeking a relaxing or lively adults-only getaway.

Rounding up to a 4 Star

8.0

I am not bashing the hotel in general because there were many good aspects of it. BUT it is not the 5 star hotel that it claims to be, and that the price would reflect. The employees were generally very pleasant and helpful (especially Dean who helped with our bags and valet, Ricardo and the other guys in the beach area and Racquel and Timar at the restaurants). The food at Ackee especially was excellent (although the desserts in general at all the restaurants were underwhelming). The front desk worked with us to set up a birthday surprise for one of our group, made a room change to accommodate someone who would have struggled to climb 3 sets of stairs once we realized there were no elevators, and did things like call the evening before our check-out to verify if we needed help with our luggage or transportation for departure day. That was good. The grounds are well kept, the beach is great and we felt comfortable with the level of security that was provided. HOWEVER, to be a 5 star hotel - and charge 5 star prices - some things need attention. I was there with a large group. (over 20 ppl in 10 rooms and a mix of Jamaican residents and foreign residents). Some rooms were good (if a little dated), but there were others that had issues: from faulty shower heads to rusty/grimy shower curtains, to un-useable bathtubs with cracks in them, and at least one where the tub had not been 100% cleaned prior to check-in. One in our group asked for a bathmat and was told none were available but I had a bathmat in my bathroom. Other things: There were many areas where the paint had just not been done neatly and a large coffee spill/stain on the stairs leading to my room took 2 days to clean up and even then was only partially done. The lounge chair on my balcony was tattered as were several others. Regarding the entertainment staff: The evening shows they put on were fine. One area where they can improve though is learning how to cater better to their audience. One night there was to be a party but most of the music being played was dancehall and the only people dancing and enjoying themselves were the staff. At one point my group requested a change in music and when that happened we got onto the dance floor and were having a good time but that did not last long before they went back to dancehall music and only the staff dancing. The music should be more inclusive considering that MOST of the guests are foreigners. eg. Instead of so much Vibez Kartel and Alkaline, there should be more Sean Paul and Shaggy. That's what the tourists would respond to. These things are what makes the difference between 5 star luxury and not. Lastly the room occupancy policy is highly limiting and made things even more expensive for some of the families in my group. It actually priced one family out altogether from making the trip because a father, mother and their 2 children were being required to book 2 separate rooms. Even though ultimately we had a good time, I would not come back to this hotel when I can pay these same prices and stay somewhere else and get a true high end experience.

Great Vacation with constructive feedback!

8.0

Stunning resort! This is my second time here, and this visit was much better than before! Some staff members were truly exceptional. Notably: Paula at the cafe; Dwight, the Sales Manager; and Jorge, the Hospitality & Culinary Manager (I don’t think I ever saw this man off the job, and he was always happy with a smile on his face—it was wonderful to see). Our bellboys, Dwayne & Shamar, our housekeeper, Donna, and our turndown housekeeper, Kaye-Anne (I hope this is how you spell her name), were all top-notch. Lifeguard Shawn was wonderful and always made sure we were taken care of, and Lifeguard Rush was one of the hardest-working people we saw at the resort. The security team was also awesome—super friendly and attentive! All of these people set a wonderful example, but we did notice some discrepancies that need work. First, at the snack bar, guests who have already ordered need to be prioritized before staff members place their own orders for guests. Additionally, some staff members truly didn’t look like they wanted to be at work; it was very hard to get a smile out of them, and we noticed a couple of eye-rolls. I think that behavior needs to stop. Perhaps a training session or two on hospitality and guest interaction would be helpful, as this behavior gives a negative spin to the resort experience, even when staff think guests aren't watching. Again, this wasn’t directed at me at all, but I did see it happen with other people. On a positive note, the jerk pit in front of Garfield is amazing, and it should happen more than once or twice a week! However, the entertainment needs improvement. The nighttime shows were excellent but in the daytime it was dead. We hung out at the beach near Garfield’s, and there was barely any music playing. The last two days we were there, they had music at the pool for the pool party, and it was awesome. We feel there should be music playing every single day for those who are at the beach as well. It was a little too quiet—again, that’s just constructive criticism because I know that Karisma loves to highlight their entertainment team. Our rooms were excellent and very clean. The welcome amenity and setup for our last night were absolutely stunning and beautiful, which we appreciated. I thought the food was OK, and definitely better than the last time I was here. More options were available, making it easier to eat with dietary restrictions and allergies. They definitely had gluten-free options, but it would be nice to have a few more, especially when it came to desserts and breads. Now, the biggest thing for me—again, it didn’t ruin my vacation, and I gave a four-star rating for that reason—is that there should be more beach service on the Garfield side of the beach. There was barely any service at all. That said, the vibes, the cleanliness, and the overall staff environment were beautiful. The beach itself is exceptional; I don’t think there is a better beach in Jamaica. A few final things to improve: Azul needs a better system with the beach towels because there were very few available. Maybe bring back a card system where you have to trade a card to get a towel? Also, the room service either needs to be completely eliminated or a lot more effort needs to be put into it. We ordered room service through the app twice and never received it either time. When calling room service, at least three out of four times the phone just kept ringing without anyone answering, so we just didn’t get anything at all. That definitely needs to be improved or eliminated; there’s no point in offering it if you’re not going to actually expedite the orders. Again, none of this made or broke our vacation at all, but it's just an observation! The transfer company that has all uses, Errol Flynn was excellent. I highly recommend booking transfer company to the resort. It was seamless. Our driver nicknamed Baller, was awesome. He definitely will be the person we will request from here on out. We will be back!