GRAND LIDO BRACO
TRIP REPORT WEEK OF
JANUARY 24, 1998
Grand Lido Braco is going to be the all-inclusive jewel of the Caribbean. It is only a one
hour drive from Montego Bay and you're met with the Lido tradition of open arms, a big
smile, champagne and a cool scented face cloth to rejuvenate you from your trip. All this
as you sit in the reception area while the staff takes care of your paper work and has
your luggage delivered to your room.
The "village concept" is unique for a resort with its town square being the hub for dining, shopping, entertainment and guest gathering. The shops in the town square provide Jamaican crafts and souvenirs, clothing, an art gallery, liquor, tobacco, coffee, jewelry, water sports essentials, toiletry articles, candy, snack foods and post cards. It is to be noted that the prices in the shops at the resort are higher than in the shops at the airport so unless you need to make a purchase that you will be using during your stay wait and do your souvenir shopping at the airport before departure.
Also in the "village", you will find a piano bar which is open all day and late at night, a disco which is open late night, a small slot machine gambling casino ( payoffs appeared to be infrequent) , a television lounge, a resident band, a roasted peanut vendor, a coconut vendor, craftsmen making jewelry or making wood carvings, a game room, a temporary exercise room (the new area is under construction right on the beach overlooking the ocean) ,bicycles to rent, the biggest swimming pool and lounge area you've ever seen with a swim up bar, a "courthouse" which is used as a function facility, and the home of the water sport hut so you can sail, windsurf, kayak, snorkel or have diving instructions. Then again if that isn't enough you can play golf on the 9 hole golf course or play tennis on any of three courts (one on the au natural side - all you need is sneakers - equipment is provided by the resort.)
Fine dining is a trademark of a Lido resort and Braco is no exception. There is something to satisfy everyone. The La Pasta is a casual, outdoor sidewalk cafe with Italian or Mediterranean offerings and a salad bar. Attached but independent of the La Pasta is the bakery and ice cream shop for dessert or those needed daytime or late night snacks. The Piacere is the elegant French restaurant with formal atmosphere. Of course, the food is out of this world, the menu extensive and the white glove service impeccable. Normally there is a dress code requiring jackets for men, no shorts, no sandals etc. but since the resort is still under construction and reconstruction the jacket requirement has been waived temporarily. We had no difficulty getting a reservation for dinner here on this visit but if the resort had a higher rate of bookings , which will happen when all the guest rooms are completed , I can see that you might want to make your reservations for dinner here when you first arrive to be sure of obtaining a spot.
Victoria Market is the main dining facility and appears to be the location for special events, daytime funtime entertainment and evening entertainment . It is the location for expansive buffets for breakfast and lunch as well as full service dining for dinner with varied menus, wine service, bar service, beautifully appointed linen clad tables with padded wicker chairs overlooking the ocean and the main pool. The area was still under construction during our visit; the service bars for the buffets were just recently completed and the stage area looks like it is about ready to be used for the evening entertainment which at this time takes place outside in the village area near the bar with the band under a tent. There is entertainment every evening following dinner. There were vocalists, native dancers, an amateur talent night, a Jamaican night, a beach party, reggae dancing, a pajama party and a rock and roll night. The beach party was to have been set up on the main beach area with an expansive buffet and Caribbean entertainment but was held in Victoria Market because of rain- still wonderful, however. The same thing happened the night of the "street party" - rain prevented the expansive buffet and dining from being held in the street of the village but was held instead in Victoria Market. A break in the weather still allowed for the entertainment and "dancing in the street" to be held outdoors. Actually, the only thing we missed was a real dance floor so we could take advantage of the music provided us- the cobblestone street just was not adequate- with all the renovations going on this problem is probably being addressed. Granted there is a disco with a dance floor but that needs some work as well. It is small, has a full bar but no seating, is only open late night and was very warm and enclosed. The disco was too warm, too small and too loud for my enjoyment but the young folks were having a wonderful time.
The Japanese restaurant is still under construction but they are making headway. It is located between the au natural section and Victoria Market downtown. It is on the edge of the beach on the au natural side opening onto the ocean on one side and the garden path on the other side with access from the main pool and beach area as well as the garden path. They are also completing work on an additional set of restrooms between Victoria Market and the Japanese restaurant.
If you are still looking for food you still have Nanny's Jerk Pit downtown where you can dine outside and sample local cuisine in a casual yet well appointed atmosphere. Don't want to come to the village to eat you say- OK- you can have 24 hour room service for light meals and bar service or you can wander to the end of both the main and the au natural beaches where you will find a "club house" open 24 hours a day with a full sit down bar, tables and chairs on a patio overlooking the ocean and on the au natural side a ping pong table for your enjoyment. The club house can provide you with bar service and light meals anytime of the day or night. On the au natural side the swim up bar can also provide you with hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled lamb chops and jerk chicken that you can eat at the swim up bar, the covered main bar area with its tables and chairs or at poolside at any of the umbrella covered tables and chairs. Of course if you can't move that body of yours the waitstaff on the beach and around the pool will provide you with meals and drinks wherever your location, beach, pool, Jacuzzi or anywhere in between. Then you have the "fruit lady" who stops by everyone poolside or on the beach offering pleasant conversation and a variety of freshly prepared fruits from her basket. The only thing we missed if comparing Braco to Lido Negril, was the early morning self help coffee urns at the beach bar for coffee and tea. We had the capability of making coffee or tea in our room and of course there is always room service but the availability of the coffee urns at Negril was really a nice touch and as I remember , well used early morning before the bar opened.
Let's talk about the au natural section of the resort. This place is a little bit of heaven- actually a large bit of heaven. Two buildings for accommodations are located on this side of the resort at this time. The rooms are large and beautifully appointed. We had accommodations on the ground level of a three level building. We entered our room from the garden side to find a living room, half bath, TV, radio, telephone, refrigerator ( stocked and restocked with whatever you desire), sink, stove top, coffee maker and assorted teas and coffee. A closing door separates this room from the bedroom with the king size bed, full bath, TV, radio and telephone. No clocks- so bring your own if you want to get somewhere on time- actually I don't remember seeing any clocks anywhere at the resort or at the Lido Negril either - most of the vacation you could care less about the time but once in a while you needed to be at an event at a certain time . If you are interested in the events for each day as well as the times and offerings of the restaurants and bars, the television has one station that is programmed with Braco information. Both of the rooms in the suite have ceiling fans as well as remote control air conditioning units on the wall just below the ceiling but the weather was so lovely during January that the cross ventilation with open windows and doors was all we really needed. Some folks said sleeping at night with the windows open allowed for bites from a small black fly similar to our midges - I only noticed them at dusk at the ocean edge. The rooms were perfectly serviced complete with mints on your pillow and flower petals in the bathroom. The bathroom is outfitted with a hair dryer for your convenience and shampoo, soaps etc.. in a wall dispenser in the tub. The closet in the bedroom is equipped with a safe compartment that you can use by obtaining a lock and key from the reservations office.
The double doors in the bedroom opened to a "private" ( due to architectural design) patio with table and chairs overlooking a grass gardened area and an expansive beach with lounge chairs , floatable pads ( they need a few more of these) and huts for shade. If you are worried about swimming in the windy, rough ocean-don't. They have sculptured out the beach and swimming area so you have a coral and rock barrier that separates your lagoon from the open sea. The ocean water flows freely in and out of the lagoon so the water is fresh and clean and the groundskeepers keep the beach manicured both in and out of the water at the ocean edge so you don't have to deal with rocks, seaweed or sea urchins. Get a mask and snorkel from the water sport hut- there are many, many varieties of small colorful fish that you can see swimming near the rocks of your lagoon.
If you prefer a pool- boy is there a pool. The au natural side has the biggest, most beautiful pool we've ever seen. The pool is complete with a swim up bar with food service. A water volleyball area is set to one side of the pool so it can be in use and not interfere with other pool users. The floating lounge chairs and chaise pads make sunning yourself a treat. You might arrive looking like a white tailed deer but there is no need to go home looking like one. There is also a walk-in section to the pool ( like walking into the water at the beach) if you are not comfortable with the steps entering the pool and a perfect access for anyone with a handicap. The pool apron is mammoth with umbrella tables, chairs, loungers and wooden chaise loungers with built in pull out shelves for drinks, books etc. ( the wooden chaises were not outfitted with pads when we were there so nobody used them- something guests suggested to the management) There also was no shower available at either near the beach or pool so you didn't have the option of rinsing off sand, saltwater or dirt on your feet before entering the pool ( this also was suggested to the management so who knows, maybe there is one there by now). Food and drink is offered from the bar as well as the clubhouse which is located at the further end of the pool by the meandering waitstaff. The waitstaff is being trained in the Lido tradition and they try very hard to please you.
The two Jacuzzis available to the au natural guests are another story. One is very small and set back into the landscaping for privacy and the other is big enough to swim in complete with a deck with umbrella tables and chairs. This was the perfect place for everyone to gather at the end of the afternoon, after a volleyball game, in the rain and again late night after dinner and entertainment are over in the village. Of course there is still food and bar service available from the clubhouse so having champagne, etc. in the Jacuzzi all night long is possible. Also make a note that the huge wrap around towels are found in the pool area both day and night and are in abundance always.
The au natural side of this resort is set up in such a way that you could leave your clothes in your room when you arrive and never don them again until you depart. This section is completely private from the rest of the resort and all services are available to you ( food, drink, game areas, restrooms and accommodations that can be entered and departed within the privacy of the au natural section) Other than the staff, the only clothed people you might run into are folks bicycling or walking through the property-- neither of these types of people stay around long-- it is possible that we all make them feel uncomfortable since they get our undivided attention during their brief visit and they don't exactly fit in since they are not appropriately dressed.
If you want to save some money you can book your accommodations on the textile side and walk over to the au natural side each day. Since food, drink, toilet facilities, water activities and towels are available you never have to return to your room for anything. Many of the folks we met and socialized with on the au natural side had accommodations on the textile side. We preferred staying on the au natural side of the resort probably because we were lazy and didn't care to dress ever but after having breakfast on our patio we really did not return to our room for anything until it was time to dress for dinner in the evening. Late night when we met people at the pool and Jacuzzi on the au natural side we did not have to dress again to return to our room but the folks staying on the textile side did since they had to walk through the village to get back to their accommodations.
The social directors came to the au natural side in the afternoon for fun and games. This is a routine thing at the main pool on the textile side but during the week we were there they started the same activities at the au natural pool. If you want to be involved you can participate in pool volleyball, bocce, bingo, dominos, mixology , pool exercises etc. organized by the staff but you can also organize your own games with friends since the bar is equipped with tables and chairs, board games, equipment for bocce, volleyball and tennis ( don't forget- the au natural side has its own tennis court). The social directors have endless energy and make every effort to get to know you and have you enjoy yourself. They are also the same group who organize and present much of the evening dancing and entertainment in the village. We participated in most of the activities offered but the most memorable and funniest night was the pajama party held at the disco late night. None of us were planning to attend but one of the social directors prevailed upon us to go since the attendance was very low from the textile side. We went back to our rooms and came up with some interesting outfits for the pajama party. Do I need to tell you that the folks from the au natural side won all the prizes and the folks from the textile side had something to talk about long after the night was over. That was one of the funniest nights I've ever experienced.
The property on the au natural side is spacious. To some this might be
considered a plus, however If you want to meet people you need to make an effort to do so
since it is possible to spend your vacation in total privacy at this resort. There is much
to do and see or nothing at all depending on your idea of a vacation. The grounds are
beautifully manicured and new plantings are a daily routine on the new au natural side. We
saw improvements everyday. The property is not fenced in but security is everywhere day
and night, even in the rain, so not to worry. In case of emergency there is a nurse on
duty all day and on call at night- a clinic with physicians is located at a mine only
15-20 minutes away. The staff are plentiful, courteous and are being trained in the Lido
fashion- to pamper their guests and ensure them a dream vacation. We thought nothing could
compare to Grand Lido Negril but we were wrong-- this place will. We would go back in a
flash. Try it - you can't help but like it.
The author wishes to remain anonymous. I thank
him/her for their submission.- Denny