Jamaica Resorts Restart in Phases Through Mid November

Published on Nov 3, 2025, 8:48 am CST

5 min read

Key points

Limited flights have resumed at Norman Manley in Kingston and Sangster in Montego Bay with constrained gate capacity
Hotels on the north coast are staging phased reopenings, with some brands targeting mid December and others later
Travelers should confirm their specific hotel's status, gate availability at MBJ, and flexible change policies before travel
Hyatt's eight Jamaica resorts have paused new reservations until January 31, 2026 while assessments continue

Impact

Confirm Reservations Directly: Contact your hotel for its projected reopening date and any relocation options or fee waivers
Check Airport Ops Before You Go: Verify flight status for Kingston and Montego Bay because metering and reduced gates may affect connections
Build Longer Connections: Leave extra time when connecting through hubs due to rolling delays from limited Jamaica capacity
Use Flexible Policies: Leverage airline and hotel waivers where offered for changes, credits, or refunds
Monitor Brand Updates: Sandals, Couples, Half Moon, Round Hill, and Hyatt are posting rolling advisories with date changes

Jamaica's tourism restart is moving from relief to recovery. After Hurricane Melissa forced a full stop, limited commercial flights have now resumed into Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston and Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, though operations remain constrained. Along the north coast, hotels are reopening in phases, with several independent resorts publishing target dates and larger brands updating advisories as assessments conclude. Travelers with near term plans should verify hotel status, gate availability at MBJ, and flexibility policies before they fly.

What changed and why it matters

Authorities and airlines have begun restoring scheduled service. American Airlines operated an initial round trip between Miami and Montego Bay, a signal that regular flights are possible as infrastructure stabilizes. At the same time, MBJ is operating with a reduced number of usable gates while repairs proceed, a constraint that can ripple into longer taxi-in times, hard-stand busing, and missed connections for tight itineraries. Kingston has resumed commercial operations as well, but published schedules remain fluid as carriers match capacity to the available facilities.

Resort status, by popular names

Half Moon, Montego Bay, has published a target date to welcome guests again on December 15, 2025, aligning with the government's stated goal for a broad tourism restart. Round Hill, near Montego Bay, is aiming to resume guest arrivals on Monday, December 8, 2025, with the caveat that local infrastructure and services must support a safe reopening. Couples Resorts reports only minimal impact and says it looks forward to welcoming guests "very soon," with formal dates to follow. Sandals Resorts International has confirmed guest and staff safety and is conducting property by property assessments before announcing phased reopening timelines.

Hyatt's eight Jamaica properties, including Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall and Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall in Montego Bay, have suspended normal hotel operations. Trade advisories say they have paused accepting new reservations through January 31, 2026, while the brand's storm policy outlines interim waivers and refunds for directly booked stays through November 30, 2025. If you are booked at a Hyatt Inclusive Collection resort, you should plan for relocation or rebooking with your travel advisor or the supplier.

Estimated reopen dates for high demand resorts

Instead of island-wide guesses, here are the best on-record target windows from first-party pages or trade advisories. Dates remain subject to change as utilities, staffing, and airport capacity stabilize.

Half Moon, Montego Bay, is targeting December 15, 2025, to resume guest stays, with an earlier opening possible if conditions permit. Round Hill Hotel and Villas is targeting Monday, December 8, 2025, with email support for guests holding arrivals before that date. Couples Resorts, including Tower Isle, Sans Souci, Negril, and Swept Away, reports minimal impact and expects near term reopenings, though it has not posted fixed dates. Sandals Resorts and Beaches Negril are conducting detailed assessments and will announce property specific timelines, with reopenings expected to cluster around the government's December 15 objective. Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall and Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, plus six sister properties managed within the Inclusive Collection portfolio, are not accepting new reservations before January 31, 2026, and have suspended operations while recovery work proceeds.

Flights and airports, what to expect

Even with flights operating, be ready for atypical patterns. MBJ has fewer available gates than usual while repairs are completed. That can trigger arrival metering and ground holds upstream when banks of aircraft converge on limited gate space. Airlines may favor daylight operations at first to simplify logistics. Build generous connection buffers in Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta, or New York if you must connect, and avoid last-flight-of-the-day options until on-time performance improves. Confirm by app before leaving for the airport, and do not proceed to Kingston until you have a rebooked, confirmed itinerary in hand, per the latest guidance to travelers.

Background, how the phased restart works

Tourism restarts after a major storm depend on synchronized progress across four elements, airports, utilities, roads, and hotels. Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism has set a target to be fully operational by December 15, 2025, and has activated a recovery task force to coordinate public and private action. Hotels time their reopenings to actual conditions on the ground, not just building repairs. When power, water, staffing, and transport reach safe levels, individual properties move from caretaker status to limited inventory, then to full operations, often with select restaurants, pools, or beach areas opening before others.

Final thoughts

For November travelers, Jamaica is open in a limited way, with resorts coming back online in waves and airlines adding flights as MBJ and KIN stabilize. If your plans hinge on a specific property, verify the date and the amenities that will be available on arrival. If you can shift to mid December, you will align with the national restart target and a broader set of hotel options. That is the surest path to a smoother experience as Jamaica's resort reopenings continue.