Couples Tower Isle All Inclusive

What People are saying

Amazing Honeymoon Option for first-timers

jessica son 22/08/2017 01:08

We have rarely gone out of the state together, let alone out of the country, so I booked Couples Tower Isle through Costco Travel (Great rates!) for our honeymoon destination in August. I read the reviews on TripAdvisor before we departed and they seriously do no justice to this place! First thing, you should do your research on what's free and what excursions are extra. While there are plenty of free water sport activities (snorkeling, scuba diving with lessons in the morning, SUP, Hobie Cat Sailing, windsurfing with lessons, kayaking, etc.) there are also free shopping pickup and dropoff services and an excursion to Dunn's River where you will need water shoes with grip (they stop by a place if you need shoes). Dunn's River is a 960 foot man-made river that you climb via human handheld chain. It was an adventure and really fun! Super doable and they almost baby you with how safe you need to be. I sort of wish they let us play around more and let us climb, but I understand the liability and safety issues.
There is a small nude island a few hundred yards from the resort with ferries that pick up and drop off on command until 5pm, weather permitting, nakedness not optional. I convinced my husband to go, because where else will we have this sort of experience?? and he actually loved it! He even wanted to go again the next day! You should try out the nude island just because there is a more calm private area to the right of the island where you can just lounge as a couple or by yourself or you can go to the swim-up bar to gain some liquid courage and chat with many of the repeat vacationers who spend almost all their time there (mostly older but very welcoming and nice!). If you don't feel like staying you can talk a walk around, scope the scene, and leave right away without taking your clothes off, but you must be nude if you stay.
At night, there are several shows like the steel drum bands, singers, beach parties, and acrobats (monday), small disco, casino night, piano singalong, etc. that were sufficiently entertaining. They rotate the activities every day and night. Chatting with all the other couples everywhere we went was helpful in being entertained the whole honeymoon. If you stay to yourselves, you probably won't have much fun. If you interact more during activities, pool games, shows, and sports, you will have a BLAST like we did. We met some wonderful people from all over the U.S. as well as some memorable staff of the island like Luke, Tanesha, Taneya, Edward, Candine, Howayne, and others I'm sorry I cannot remember names of. All of the staff are super-friendly, helpful, and fun if you let them! Make sure you're nice to the staff! We never tipped, we were just very polite and fun with them and they gave us the time of our lives! Every time we passed them they fist-bumped us and asked us how we were doing.
Overall, WONDERFUL resort, would do it again, but we want to travel to other places before we come back here probably in a few years. Highly recommend!!

Great Views, but Food is Below Average

ttumaddawgon 21/08/2017 17:53

Hotel, Beach, Pools and Staff: 4-5 stars
Food: 2 stars if that
Total Rating: 3 stars or Just Average after factoring in the food.

Everything about this place was excellent, except the food. The beach was great, the pools were nice and large enough, the Island was incredible. The staff were very nice and accommodating as well.

We had a great time relaxing, swimming and snorkeling for 7 days, but came home craving so many appetizing meals it was ridiculous. We actually planned our stop for food when we landed back in Dallas because the food was that terrible. It's pretty sad when you're laying in paradise, but day-dreaming of eating a Whataburger at the end of the week.

It wasn't just us that didn't like the food. We talked to several other couples that didn't like it either. I was also confused because so many people on here and other sites rated the food as good, but let me tell you it was far from it. We're not foodies either and are not picky about food, but the quality of their food is pathetic for the price you pay to stay here. In comparison, we stayed at a Sandal's resort in Jamaica before and the food was excellent. I know Couples is a cheaper price point, but give me a break on that food quality.

Let's just say for 7 days we ate bacon covered in maple syrup for breakfast, some pizza every day for lunch and tried to piece together meals each night for dinner since the buffet wasn't an option.

One of the problems with the food is they seemed to put ginger in EVERYTHING. I couldn't even eat a brownie or chocolate ice cream because it had ginger in it. Also, we tried to have the "Fillet" for dinner two different times...the first time (ordered medium) it was as if they just chopped it off the cow and set it on our plate without cooking it...the next time, we asked them to make sure it was medium or medium-well because of our previous experience and it came out tough as nails. Needless to say 0 for 2.

It'll be easier for me to list the food that was edible, rather than list off what was terrible. So, here's your short list - The shrimp dish and snapper dish at Bayside was good. The crab cakes were decent at Eight Rivers...decent. The side salad at Eight Rivers was good, but c'mon...side salad?? The pizza at The Patio is decent, along with their good bacon and fresh fruit for breakfast. If you can believe it though, and hang on to your hats, the best food at the entire resort is the Pool Grill's french fries and soft-serve ice cream...though only the vanilla because the chocolate has ginger in it! Unreal!

Now, we didn't come to Jamaica to eat (thank God), but are you kidding me??
We will certainly never stay here again, which is a shame because as I stated, the grounds and staff were great, but to know that other places (Sandals) have much better food, there is no way we could justify staying here again...it would have to be much cheaper in price for us to believe it would be worth it again (and the price we paid wasn't cheap).

The Dunn's River Falls tour was great, the snorkeling excursion and the water sports staff was great. The piano bar was fun, the local entertainment was good.

All in all it was a good vacation, but it couldn't be great because of the food quality. Luckily, we still had a great anniversary trip because we just quickly figured out we would have to ride out the food quality until we could get home to some of our favorite food.

We did meet several couples that had been coming back for 25 years, 20 years, 13 years, etc...all we could think of when they were telling us is "you must literally have no taste buds."

As much as we loved all other aspects of the place, there is no way we could come back and stay here.

And to all the posters claiming the food is excellent or even good, shame on you. There is no way in anyone's right mind that they could rate the food excellent, much less good. I'm fair in my reviews and the food here is well below average.

The only way I know to fairly compare what I'm trying to describe is this...my folks, God-love them, love Golden Corral. They are in their late sixties now. In their 30's, 40's, maybe even 50's, they would not dare to eat there. Now, somehow, it's one of their favorite places to eat. If you like Golden Corral, you'll probably like the food here at CTI. But, let me have you think about something else...this food is a notch below Golden Corral. And there you have it.

Relaxation and Romance

Courtnee Con 17/08/2017 00:08

We spent 8 days at Couples TI and it was amazing. We had a top floor ocean front suite that was well worth the extra cost. The room was big and comfortable, and the view was priceless.
The food was delicious everywhere we went, but our favorite was our private dinner out on the island. A little bit pricey but well worth it for a special occasion.
The beach was beautiful and clean, the pools were fantastic. It's not a long beach, but it's very private and free of vendors. We basically just rotated between beach and pool chairs all week.
Dunn's River Falls was great, definitely worth doing. The hotel makes it easy. Just pick the day you want to go and they shuttle you right from the front door.
The resort is about a two hour drive from MBJ, but it was worth it to be away from the noise of airplanes and city noise.
Overall we loved this resort and would return in a heartbeat.

Third visit with each one better than before

witneytravelleron 14/08/2017 16:56

What can be added to what has already been said about this place being superb. Rooms clean, well serviced, comfortable beds, large balcony.

Food...excellent. Each restaurant has there unique aspects, great menus, and something for every palate. I find it incredulous that anyone can find fault with the food. Breakfast is also superb with a huge array of choices, hot and cold. The onky difference this year was that the Patio restaurant was no longer fully buffet, with entrees being chosen off a menu. This was fine, but the buffet was missed :)

Staff...you can't find better! Everyone is so friendly and does their best to make sure everything is done to make you happy. What we find unacceptable though is the way some guests treat the staff and talk to them. Yes, they are there to do a job, but they aren't servants. Words such as please and thank you seem to be alien to some people! There are too many people to mention by name that deserve recognition.

Entertainment, top shelf and far better than anywhere else we've been to. The silver bird steel band on a Wednesday are not to be missed. Also, don't miss the bi weekly martini bar on the roof. It isn't well advertised so some people miss it. The only slight negative is that the piano bar can be too loud, and one of the pianists is not very tuneful, but still seems to go down well. Maybe because guests are well oiled by the time he plays lol.

If you're looking for relaxation, with good food, activities provided and amazing staff, don't look anywhere else.

Now planning our fourth visit. Two weeks of just not long enough though!

Spa villas for the win!

MrsSoniaon 14/08/2017 03:47

Spent five days in the signature spa villas the first week of August for our 18th anniversary and had an amazing time, can't imagine staying anywhere else! The first two days were high occupancy due to Jamaican Independence Day festivities, but the remainder of the week was extremely low occupancy and it was so wonderful not dealing with crowds.

CLUB MOBAY--Totally worth the money! Arrival was flawless and fast, despite me being in an aircast recovering from a broken ankle. We got through customs so fast, had someone by our side the entire time, and then spent a few minutes in the lounge with cool drinks and light treats. Deparature was even better, we were in the departure lounge within 45 minutes of arriving at the airport. The lounge was beyond fabulous and the drinks were delicious. Be sure to visit the Adult/Family/Quiet lounges rather than staying in the Sky lounge.

SHUTTLE TO/FROM AIRPORT--Because we were in the villas we had a private transport so we didn't have to deal with stops along the way, making the trip just over 90 minutes. Our driver from the airport, Omar, was like a personal tour guide. He filled us in on what we were seeing along the way, including Osain Bolt's high school, and Independence Day celebrations, which was our arrival date. We tipped the drivers $20 each way.

CHECK IN--Not really sure what happened here but I believe we got the in-villa check in after sitting at the front desk for what seemed quite a bit of time. We were asked what we would like to drink as we got off the shuttle van. The rum punch was ok and the Jamaica Smile was yummy. Marlon did a fabulous job of orienting us to the property and villa and answered all our questions quickly and easily.

ACCOMMODATIONS--The signature villa is huge but perfectly sized. Bright, light, and airy with comfy furniture and top shelf liquors that only the villa guests could have in their rooms. Wish Rum Cream was included in that list but overall great selection. Had plenty of juices and soft drinks in the mini fridge but no snacks, which would have been a nice touch. The bathroom is gigantic but the toilet lacks any privacy. Your significant other can see everything...everything. There is a vinyl privacy fence around the villa and pool but the bottom slat is so high off the ground that you can see your neighbors while lounging in the pool, which can put a damper on amore. We hung up the complimentary beach towels from 2nd and 3rd bottom slats and it made it feel so much more private. The pool is cleaned every morning but becomes filled with plant and bug life by late afternoon. A pool skimmer for guests would be handy but we just spent extra time moving the debris into pool filter when we would use it. The in-pool loungers are a nice addition and the view of the stars is top notch. The pool can be heated by alerting the spa each morning. They heated the pool 4 out of the 5 times we asked. Overall, these rooms are definitely worth the price.

SPA--Villa guests are provided with a higher thread count robe in their room to use when visiting the spa, do not go there in plainclothes. These robes are the stuff of dreams, I would've purchased mine if it were possible. We arrived on a very busy day and were barely able to get a 25 minute massage scheduled. Same for the next day, barely able to get a short massage scheduled. When you are paying for unlimited spa treatments, this can be a problem. We scheduled the whole week's services on the first day at the spa and no problems for the remainder of the week when occupancy was incredibly low. I think booking the first 1-2 days of services in advance of your arrival is a wise move. If you only get one treatment at the spa, make it the Deluxe/Four Hands Massage, utterly fabulous. The hot stone massage was the best I've ever had and we enjoyed that everything was a couples treatment if desired, even if it wasn't listed as such in the brochure.

CONDITION--We didn't stay in the hotel rooms but the rest of the hotel did not seem old, dated, or in need of repair. No, it is not a new feeling hotel, but it felt very retro glamorous, was extremely clean, and had excellent decor, with the exception of the velvet bed in the lobby.

NUDE ISLAND--My husband convinced me to try the private island and it was nice. The views of the water are wonderful, the gazebos give some shade and semi-privacy, and the lunch buffet was top notch. We visitied three times and each lunch had grilled steaks, fish, veggies, and jerk chicken, as well as salads, meat & cheese tray, and light dessert. I never saw a single sandwich. The bar was wonderful thanks to the marvel that is Kenrick, bartender extraordinare!

FOOD--I thought the food was delicious all the way around. Room service was fast, breakfast is a must-do. The breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets had upscale and local choices with cool sea breezes and pretty views. The Patio had dinner ala carte once the crowds left and that was not bad at all, plenty of choices and still had a few buffet options, especially dessert. The pool grill was a nice change of pace and offers nachos, popcorn, and ice cream 24/7. Add ice cream to your rum cream, trust me! We opted to skip 8 Rivers and The Verandah as the menus didn't seem that great and mimicked what was being served at The Patio without the dress code. We ate at Bayside and don't understand the rave reviews. It was delicious but the portions are so small you are left hungry and end up at the Patio anyway. The view can't be beat and the romance factor is off the charts.

DRINKS--If you are a rum fan then the Hummingbird (dessert in a glass!) and Rum Cream on the Rocks is a must, but ONLY if you can find Kenrick to whip them up. Seriously, he is the best bartender on the property! He needs to teach the others how to make those two drinks, as well as how to interact with guests, because no one else could do either as well as Kenrick. If you are looking for a non-alcoholic fix then head to the juice bar in the spa area. Those juice baristas are magicians, hands down!

ACTIVITIES--My ankle injury kept us from taking advantage of all the activities offered, and there are so many. We took the glass bottom boat cruise and it was an 85 minute sightseeing cruise of the island with tons of facts and awesome views of the reef, shipwreck, and more. I could do that every day! The steel drum band performance was high energy and jaw dropping, a definite must-see. Casino hour was so much fun thanks to the hilarious antics of Luke, the activities director with no shortage of personality. No trip to CTI is complete without meeting him! We tried to go to the piano bar sing-along twice but no one was singing along so we left. The patrons were having a great time in there every time we walked by!

HIDDEN GEMS--There is a beach bed off to the side behind the swim up bar. It is private and offers panoramic views. There are numerous hammocks and swings scattered throughout the property, especially in the garden area between the hotel main building and spa villas. Two very beautiful parrots/macaws have an open cage with blue top hidden in the path between the main building and spa, be sure to check them out. Mike, a man on a surfboard filled with seashells on the beach, may approach you in the water to sell his wares but he isn't pushy at all; bring cash with you to the beach to make a purchase and send the shells home in your checked baggage.

STAFF--So friendly and helpful, they went out of their way to make it a wonderful experience. They were the best!