Hilton hotel, Kingston,
Jamaica.
by planxtyJamaica.
The lifts in the hotel are a law unto themselves. On the ground floor, only press the call button very lightly or it will not work at all. Once inside the lift, you must swipe your key card to alight at one of the upper floors. This can be temperamental in the extreme, and you can find yourself going absolutely nowhere as you repeatedly swipe your card.
There is a large swimming pool with a nearby pool bar. The pool bar doubles as the area for early evening entertainment (see separate nightlife tip). A mezzanine level restaurant / bar seems popular with local business people. There is a gym for the use of guests, and there are organised activities there.
Breakfast is a buffet affair with all “Western” dishes as well as a good selection of fruit and freshly prepared omelettes. There is also a selection of Jamaican breakfast dishes. Every evening, by the pool bar (weather permitting) there is a themed buffet. The Jamaican night is good, but the fish night less so. A limited selection of bar snacks is available at the pool bar until about midnight (burgers, jerk chicken etc.). The pool bar closes at 0200.
If possible, get a room overlooking the pool (rear of the building) as there is much less traffic noise than at the front.
The best part about the Hilton is undoubtedly the staff. They are extremely friendly and helpful, even beyond what you would expect in a hotel of this standard.
