Jamaica Inn

My wife and i had a spectacular weeklong vacation at the Jamaica Inn. So as to not bury the lead, there was no noticeable damage or effects from Hurricane Melissa at the resort - and there was no problem getting from Montego Bay airport with a driver arranged through the resort. The resort is beautiful- a self-contained resort with a property much larger than you would expect for 52 rooms. Very secure. It faces a beautiful sand beach of about 150 yeads that is entirely private - it has the clearest water you have ever seen. It has a huge variety of plants and is beautifully landscaped - we took the Wednesday garden tour and learned a great deal. We had the least expensive room - a second-floor balcony room- and it was great. A balcony the size of a room, complete with table, couch, and refrigerator - with a full view of the spectacular beach. A luxurious bathroom and a large walk-in closet. Everywhere you look at the resort has an amazing view of the water. Unlike most beach resorts, there are enough covered beach chairs for everyone - all no farther than 15 yards from the water. The have free paddleboards, sunfish, a hobie cat and snorkeling gear. Albert helped me (a 66 year old man) try the paddleboard - which was great fun. There are at least three or four staff manning the beach every day and they do a great job. The resort will arrange fishing for you - the boat picks you up right at the beach and you fish offshore in 150 feet of water - i did a 2 hour fishing trip. Tony and Gary did a great job putting the two of us on fish - we had five strikes, got a barracuda in the boat and I got a large yellow fin tuna within 10 feet of the boat before it came off - all in all it was great fun, a very authentic local fishing experience and an amazing bargain - $100 an hour for the boat. Every morning at 11 am the beach bar servers bring your choice of a complementary planters punch or fresh fruit smoothie. The beach bar serves great drinks throughout the day. Our beach server most often was Ash, who does a great job, has a great sense of humor and is a great ambassador for the hotel. On Fridays around noon the resort has a free rhumology class, where you taste 6 rums and learn a great deal about Jamaican rums. Patrick does a great job with that. The food is very good - the resort has 4 restaurants. Breakfast is at the sea shanty, which is on one end of the resort with beautiful views of the water. The menu is on the website - and it is great. You can try very authentic local Jamaican breakfasts or more traditional fare, always accompanied by a plate of Jamaican fruit (mango, Papaya, watermelon, cantaloupe, green melon and two varieties of pineapple), a pastry basket and fresh orange juice. We always ate lunch at Teddy's beach bar - on the beach - with its own wood burning pizza oven. Cocktails are in an open-air area and then Dinner can be a five-course affair - held outside on the terrace unless the weather requires going into the formal dining room (which is beautiful yet seldom used). My wife is vegetarian, and she always had multiple options at all meals. There is a local 3-piece band every evening from 7 to 10 that will range from 70's hits to reggae (as the night goes on). Three of the nights the band featured a vocalist, Marick, who was just out of this world - extremely talented. Once night, he asked us where we were from - when we said Minnesota, he said "I have something for you" - and went into a great rendition of Purple Rain. He is not to be missed. The restaurant and bar staff all are great - Carter, Gerry, Stephanie and Patrice all were wonderful. You really get to know the staff over the course of the week. In fact, what really elevates this resort from every other Caribbean and Mexican beach vacation we have taken was the warmth and authenticity of all of the staff - from housekeeping to the managers. Although it is a self-contained luxury beach resort and we only left the property twice - once to the fruit market and once to the craft market - I think we got a good sense of Jamaica through everything offered at the resort and through interactions with all of the staff. When you arrive, you are greeted with "Welcome Home", whether you are first timers as we were or have been going there over the past 30-40 years (as many guests have). Over the course of the week, "welcome home" made sense - there is an amazing warmth to the place. My wife and I have been to a number of great beach resorts but have never gone back to any of them because there are so many places to go - but we most definitely will return to the Jamaica Inn. It is a beautiful place with beautiful people that makes for a wonderful vacation.

We chose the Jamaica Inn for our honeymoon after being married in October. We had high expectations for the hotel after poring through reviews and photographs, so excited about our trip - and we are thrilled to say that the hotel exceeded our expectations in every way. It is a stunning property managed in a way that has become increasingly rare - it is quiet, intimate, slow-paced and nurturing. The room (and its views) was exceptional; the beach clean and the water crystal-clear; the food wholesome and tasty; and the entertainment, like croquet lessons from Asha, a trip on the sailboat or the manager's cocktail reception, was top-notch. We cannot wait to return. Thank you everyone at the JI for making our trip unforgettable! Jack & Gentry

The experience was wonderful. I enjoyed every minute of it. The property so quiet and relaxing. Great ambiance and scenery. A little hide away from the hustle and bustle. And my 2 hosts Kenneth and Azeeza who gave us the massages were top tier!! So professional. Thanks also to Sherice who was so helpful and accommodating. Ocean Spa is definitely in the books for another visit.

We just got back from our latest trip to the Jamaica Inn and it was amazing. We've been going to the Jamaica Inn for over 20 years, and have loved the resort, staff, and attention to detail. The property is always beautiful and luxurious, but what sets Jamaica Inn apart is the people. Many staff have been there as long as my wife and I have visited. They are kind, thoughtful, generous, and take clear pride in the Inn. Post-Melissa, my wife and I were concerned about visiting the island too soon. However, people we know and trust convinced how important it was to keep our trip. We're so glad we did. The Ocho Rios area of Jamaica was not badly hit by the hurricane -- and really needs the tourism. We honestly felt little or no difference with our prior visits. The beauty of Jamaica Inn, the quality of service, the level of relaxation all felt the same. The beach is amazing. The spa is fantastic. The food at both the terrace and Teddy's Grill is great. We consider the Jamaica Inn our second home, and we're thrilled that they are in such great shape. I cannot recommend it enough.

Wonderful setting and super friendly Staff, namely Ashalene, Patrick, Williams, Jerry etc… Will definitely consider coming back to enjoy the crystal clear sea and pristine beach.