My wife and I spent our honeymoon there and the subsequent three trips afterwards. It will always hold a special place in my heart. There's something about the white sands and the gently piped-in reggee (sic) music in the background.
Old Port Royal offers a wide variety of food and has really improved over the last couple of years. The pizza there is garlic-laden and heavenly compared to the rest of the chow. Mornings and nights tend to really get crowded even during the off-season- so make sure to bring a machete to cut through the throngs of people.
The pools are kept a bit too cool for my tastes, except for the main central pool which sports a waterslide and waterfalls. This area can get congested, so if you wish to avoid kids- this may be a bad idea.
The rooms have been refurbished over the years, offering meager comfort that I long to have again. They have a certain smell about them, partly a humid smell mixed with freshly washed towels. It is comforting. The beds are comfy, although be warned that there are bedposts. Not used to them (they are small, but very wood...) I wreaked my knees several times. The colors used around the rooms are tropical in nature. Colorful and laden with hidden mickeys...
Two sinks make bunking with someone else a little easier, important for couples just starting out. The water tastes funny for some reason, and could never quite quench my thirst no matter how much I drank. Water from the parks was fine, but the resort water... Hmmm.
The local around the resort is lovely, although if you are an arachnophobe, stay off the bridges. The lights are webbed heavily and giant golf-ball sized spiders make this the perfect feeding ground. Still, the walkways at night are extremely romantic. This coming from a cold-hearted coot like me- should say quite a bit.
Bus service is efficient, but in the mornings- they tend to fill up at the earlier stops. Avoid boarding from Old Porte Royale as the bustling can be a pain. Most people eat and head right out to the parks. Try to book a room in a location before that stop and you'll have an easier time finding a seat.
I love the 'Beach, but after four trips the wife wants us to try Coronado. It will be interesting to stay at a new place, but I don't think it will ever replace it.
