We recently spent a few days in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. It was my first visit, and it was a very special trip. We visited my boyfriend’s family, but we decided to stay at a hotel to be more central and also make the most of exploring Kingston. In this article, I’m sharing my review of the AC Hotel by Marriott in Kingston.
Before I go any further, don’t forget to find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Youtube. You can also check my vlog in Kingston here..
The location
The AC Hotel Kingston is located in New Kingston, the city’s financial district. It’s fairly central if you want to get around town. Situated north of the historic downtown, you’ll find plenty of hotels, banks, and government offices nearby. Pretty convenient too, only a 25-minute drive from the airport.
Check-in and staff
Check-in was great, the staff was really lovely. We were able to have our room were earlier than we thought which made our lives easier.
The room
We’d booked the “Guest room, 1 King, Sofa bed” option. The room was spacious, super clean, with a view of the pool. We didn’t have a balcony, but the windows were big enough to keep the room really bright. I appreciated having the sofa to sit on without being stuck on the bed, a small touch that makes a difference. The bathroom was large, with a huge mirror.
The room was really quiet, we didn’t hear a thing, not from outside, not from the hallway, not from above us. And we definitely took advantage of that to sleep in a bit in the mornings!
There wasn’t much storage space for clothes if you’re staying several nights and, like me, you like to fully unpack your suitcase. That said, there was a huge bench to lay out your things, and a large mirror behind the door to check your outfit before heading out.
The safe was big enough to fit all our electronics (as a content creator, that’s a really important detail, we need a good-sized safe).
Breakfast / Restaurant
We hadn’t included breakfast in our reservation, but we still tried it one morning. We had the ackee and saltfish, and it was really good, and quite generous in portion. The dining room is really spacious, so you’re not squeezed in next to other guests, which is nice when you want to enjoy some one-on-one time.
As for the bar, we tried a few cocktails and mocktails by the pool: service was a bit slow, but we were there during high season, so it wasn’t too dramatic. The drinks were good, the staff was super friendly, and the bar has several seating options: indoors, on the terrace tables, on the loungers, or under the cabanas by the pool. Something for everyone.
We also ordered off the main menu for a 5pm snack, wings and ribs, it was really good.
Amenities
Obviously, the big highlight of the AC Hotel Kingston is the beautiful pool: perfect given how hot it was in August! We took advantage of it almost every day. Between quick dips, tanning sessions in the cabanas or on the loungers set right in the water (I love that concept!), the pool is a solid 10/10 for both of us.
We also tried the gym several times. We love staying active, we walk a ton when we’re in Toronto, and we appreciated all the equipment the gym offered. Treadmills, bikes, weights, weight benches. Towels and water are also available on site. Plus, the view of the palm trees (even though there’s a car dealership behind them) is pretty pleasant. As a yoga teacher, I would have appreciated having a separate space away from the machines to practice.
A few things we didn’t use but are worth mentioning: there’s a laundry room with washing machines, several desks in the lobby for working, and multiple rooms available to rent, we saw several events happening during our stay, including a beauty pageant.
Things I would have liked to see among the amenities (and maybe I missed them, or they simply weren’t available during our stay): an airport shuttle service. We took an Uber, but having that option would have helped. Also, when we travel, we usually book a day excursion through Viator, like we did in Mexico or Greece, but there weren’t many options departing from Kingston. If the hotel had a list of recommended local guides, it could probably help encourage guests to explore more during their stay.
Vibe
The hotel is really lively, there was always music playing. Every evening, there was a DJ in the restaurant’s common area. If you like staying at the hotel and making the most of the space, you’ll be well served.
Value for money
Prices vary a lot depending on the season. We were there during the busiest period, since we arrived just a few days after Independence celebrations. As always, value is subjective, but personally, I think the hotel delivers on its promise.
Who is it for?
It’s clearly a very business-oriented hotel. But we also saw plenty of couples and a few families. So I’d say it’s a fairly versatile hotel.
What I wish I’d known beforehand
To be completely honest, this has nothing to do with the hotel itself, so I’ll go into more detail in my upcoming guide on things to do in Kingston, but the neighborhood isn’t very walkable. We still walked around, but for example, traveling with family, that could be more complicated.
When I visited the hotel
Right in the middle of August 2026.
My overall review of the hotel
I loved the hotel! I didn’t want to leave. The room was spacious, so we never got that uncomfortable feeling of being on top of each other. Which can sometimes happen in certain hotels. It was easy to get around. Since it wasn’t a huge hotel in terms of floors, it was quick to head back up to the room whenever we needed something. I also really appreciated the lobby décor, lots of musical references throughout. It was a nice touch. I would book here again without any hesitation.
You can find all the booking information for the AC Hotel by Marriott in Kingston here. I hope my review of the AC Hotel in Kingston helps you plan your next trip. If you ever stay there, feel free to leave me a little note here or on Instagram to let me know. And if you’re passing through Kingston, you can check out my article on Jamaican specialties to try during your stay. Bon appétit!
