We were originally booked at Breezes Runaway Bay but found out when we arrived at Montego Bay airport that we were 'upgraded'! At first we were a bit concerned because we'd researched BRB and knew what to expect but realized when we arrived that this was extremely wonderful!

Everything was perfect - food, drinks, pool, beach, the ocean view from the room. We moved our wedding too (just the two of us) and the wedding planner was excellent and took care of our arrangements in just 1 day. We enjoyed 4 fabulous nights there and couldn't have asked for a better place to get married and enjoy a honeymoon. We can't wait to go back!! We enjoyed the hair and nail salon, met people from everywhere, and relaxed more than we ever had. The service was top notch and every need was met. No complaints whatsoever!!

We stayed at Grand Lido Braco a few years ago and although we had a wonderful time, we had arrived a couple of days after Hurricane Ivan had visited and he had - so to speak - spoiled some of the facilities! We decided to re-visit and booked for the first two weeks in December 2007, interested to see what the resort was like, in a complete condition so to speak.
This was an inspired decision as the welcome was even better and the staff even more attentive than they were last time.
We could not fault the service and the food was very good. The resort is beautiful, with stunning grounds and with the availability of the Au Natural side, there are options for everyone.
I have to admit that the bathroom in our suite was a little tired and could have done with updating, but that certainly did nothing to spoil the enjoyment of our stay.
The Staff are superb and nothing was too much trouble, they always served us with a smile and with a politeness that seems a Jamaican speciality.
In seemingly no time at all, we were being called by our names and were treated as friends - it was simply superb to be greeted by bar staff, pool attendants and waiters with a personal recognition and looked after in a manner that couldn't be beaten.
There were the inevitable "Moaning Minnies" who did not seem happy unless they could find something to complain about - seeming unable to realise that a resort holiday is not the same as a cruise! Let them moan if it keeps them happy!
If you are considering this venue, then book without worry - in our experience, you will be looked after superbly well, at a beautiful resort and I suspect that you will return again, having experienced Jamaican hospitality, par excellence!

As a frequent Christmas and New Years repeat customer of Grand Lido Braco I am giving you as honest an assessment as possible.
If we ask ourselves having the experience of being seasoned world travellers why we and so many others return to this resort every year?
It is not because of the rooms which are in dire need of renovation with most things not working properly; not because of the decor which is extremely out of date or because of the superior attention to detail in every way.
It is not because of the many tourists who keep getting bumped to Braco from other lower end all-inclusives which always seem to be overbooked.
Not because of the invasion of private corporate groups who come in and takeover half the resort and banning all other guests from nearing their section of the resort even though we have paid for use of the full facility.
Not because they openly feel it is their right to bump you out of your room as the rooms are needed for larger more powerful groups.

The reason we return to Grand Lido Braco is because of ;
1) Jamaica and it's warmth and beauty,
2) The loving lovely staff who work their hearts out and for the most part try their best to please everyone in so many ways. Who welcome you home everytime you come to the front door and give you a big hug.
3) The wonderful rustic elegance of being able to have a short walk to the beach bar and watch the sun go down in a peaceful intimate setting.
4)The social directors who become like your family - Richard, Kemar, Carl and so many others.
5) Lester who is so gracious and helps us try to stay fit and look as good as he does by the time we go home. Who diligently and efficiently always shows up to give his daily aquasize class and personal training sessions with total passion and fun.
6) The steamed callaloo and all the other Jamaican delicacies we so look forward to after surviving a frigid winter in the depths of a city moving far to fast.
7) The Beautiful Au Naturel like none-other - a beach and pool - which allows us to feel comfortable with our ever aging bodies and actually feel like hey we don't look so bad. Being naked is beautiful and the bonus is we get to play with people who are beautiful from the inside and out.

That is why we return to Braco.

Hopefully someone of assigned importance will truly understand what we are trying to say and perhaps not take away this indulgence that we all pay dearly so dearly for by allowing this resort to continue to be mismanaged.

Enclosed is a self-explanatory letter sent to Superclubs. If a confirmed reservation means nothing, no matter how nice the resort undoubtedly is, nothing means anything any more.

Dear Sirs/Madams

My family and I have just returned from a vacation in Jamaica and here are our impressions:

If you take the time to peruse your files you will see that we have been regulars at either Breezes or Grand Lido Braco these many years. We appreciate the au naturel aspect especially of Grand Lido Braco which became (past tense) our favorite winter vacation resort.

This last March (2007) we booked two suites on the au naturel side of Grand Lido Braco through our travel agent, Castaways Travel in Austin TX for the period December 26 2007 through January 6 2008. However, we were informed by the latter travel agent a few weeks before our departure that we were being asked to vacate our rooms on the au naturel side from January 3-6 and move to the clothed side. My first response was a negative one since we had (at least on paper) a confirmed booking in writing, made in good faith many months ago.

Further correspondence which indeed had to be squeezed unwillingly from Ms Carol Walker-Davis at Grand Lido Braco revealed that we were going to be ejected from the rooms no matter what we said or did because a “large group had block-booked the au naturel side.” Ms Walker-Davis originally gave me three choices: i) An earlier return home on the 3rd (which was and is none of her business); ii) Vouchers for future trips (out of the question because we will not be visiting Superclubs again); iii) A refund for the cost differential of the rooms.

At first I agreed to a refund between costs of two suites at the au naturel and clothed portions, respectively, together with a few small incentives at the resort, in the mistaken belief that we could at least, from 1/3 through 1/6, use the au naturel beach. I called up the toll-free number of Superclubs in Florida and explained the situation to them. One the telephone personnel then called up Ms Walker-Davis and was told that we could definitely use the au naturel beach although having to stay on the clothed side. This was communicated to us in the form of a return telephone call (which you may find in your logs at 717-533-8817).

It took several days of aggressive questioning of Ms Walker-Davis upon our arrival at the resort to elicit the information that the entire au naturel side, beach and all, were locked up for the period 1/3-1/6 because they had been block booked out by Champion Windows. Our travel agent had the good sense and efficiency to explain the beginnings of this problem ahead of time (see above) but most people were told of this one day before we were all ejected. I have never been thrown out of a resort for which I had a confirmed reservation before and you may be sure that this will not occur again. Caveat emptor.

As a further compromise, most au naturel visitors who were ejected from Grand Lido Braco were bussed (a waste of 2 vacation hours) to Grand Lido Negril. Although the rooms and food were superior to those at Grand Lido Braco the au naturel facilities were lousy and the service surly and unfriendly.

No one could tell me when Champion Windows made their block booking but it is possible (although none of you will confirm it) that this had already been made by the time we made our own reservations in March. Whatever happened, Superclubs were jinn clear breach of contract. If the amount of money was not so small you would be hearing from my lawyers.

Our feeling on January 2 prior to our forcible ejection was that the management of Grand Lido Braco wanted to g=et rid of us as soon as possible, so as to prepare properly for their VIP Guests at Champion Windows. It may also be added that the latter looked upon us at the au naturel side with a maximum of sneering and supercilious behavior just prior to our departure.

There were many, many complaints of this nature from other guests, many whom we have known for years, coming as we all did at the same time each year. I believe that you may hear from them as well.

The upshot of the above is that we intend to spread the contents of this letter as widely as possible on the web, also to as many travel agencies as possible. You will never see us again at any of your resorts. When a confirmed reservation is not a confirmed reservation you have forgotten the essence of good business practice. We will take our money as well as our business elsewhere.