Wellness Getaway in Montego Bay

By Michele Peterson

My adult daughter and I were on a five-day mother-daughter getaway to Montego Bay, visiting two new adults-only luxury resorts in the AMResorts collection. Each of AMResorts’ brands have distinct differences and I’d chosen Zoëtry and Breathless Resorts hoping the distinctions would be a harmonious mix for our respective personalities.

At boutique-sized Zoëtry Wellness & Spa, the holistic vibe would suit boomer-aged me while the younger demographic of sprawling Breathless with its party-sized Bali beds would appeal to my Millennial daughter. The all-inclusive, unlimited luxury amenities would allow us to unplug and reconnect with each other in a beautiful tropical setting.

Our first stop was Zoëtry Montego Bay, a 49-room hideaway tucked in a quiet cove in the Ironshore neighbourhood. The three main buildings – Wood & Water, Bamboo and Blue Mountain – channel Jamaica’s natural landscapes in a kind-to-the-planet way with energy-saving conservation practices. After an effortless check-in, enhanced by a complimentary massage, fresh tropical fruit basket and bottle of sparkling wine, my daughter browsed the 24-hour room service menu while I checked out the Bvlgari bath amenities.

Our first day passed in peaceful bliss with morning yoga, floating in the infinity pool and soaking up sunshine. Choosing between the tea featuring live plant infusions or the immune-boosting juice was the only decision needed. Beyond its wellness philosophy, Zoëtry offers opportunities for guests to participate in enrichment experiences such as Jamaican dance classes, cooking demos and nature excursions. We opted for the guided snorkelling excursion to Montego Bay Marine Park, a protected area of coral reefs, shoreline and mangroves.

The excursion featured a glass-bottom boat where we could see blue tang and other tropical fish below. Everyone quickly leaped in the azure water. I joined my daughter near a coral reef. “We just swam above a giant manta ray sleeping beneath the sand,” she beamed, surfacing to share a discovery. “I didn’t even know what it was until it moved.”

We wrapped up our day at Coyaba restaurant, where the à la carte menu identified vegan, gluten-free and other dietary indicators making dining hassle-free for my daughter, a vegetarian since childhood. I appreciated the indulgence without the guilt thanks to low-calorie options.

The next morning, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, thanks to Zoëtry’s no fixed check-in or check-out times before our driver transferred us to Breathless Resort & Spa, located on a peninsula west of Montego Bay.

Our regrets at leaving Zoëtry evaporated upon arrival at 150-room Breathless Resort for our final two-night stay. The sophisticated lobby with soaring ceilings buzzed with activity, as though we’d arrived at a party in full swing. Violet-hued cocktails in hand, we met our butler David (butler service is complimentary for xhale club Ocean View categories) and after a peek at the rooftop pool, settled into our suite overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

While David introduced my daughter to the room’s high-tech system that controlled everything from mood lighting to the freestanding glass shower, I lounged on the spacious outdoor terrace.

It was tempting to order room service, but in addition to its own seven dining options, Breathless guests enjoy access to Secrets St. James and Secrets Wild Orchid next door, so we made the rounds of the Asian, Italian, French and more, all no-reservations needed.

Other pleasures included unwinding in the hydrotherapy circuit at Spa by Pevonia where we sipped chlorophyll juice while plunging into hot and cool pools designed to stimulate blood circulation. A moment of hilarity ensued as a water jet nearly blasted our bathing suit bottoms off, but we relaxed with purifying eucalyptus steam followed by pineapple-papaya massage treatments. It turns out that a few doses of healthy laughter can make a mother-daughter wellness getaway all the more memorable.