Frommer's Review
Established in 1995, this is one of the most historically evocative all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, mimicking as it does the design and layout of a 19th-century, fretwork-studded colonial English village in the tropics. It lies beside a prime stretch of sandy, 319m (1,050-ft.) beachfront. Set on 34 hectares (85 acres) of land near Buena Vista, a 15-minute drive west of Runaway Bay, it's a re-creation of a 19th-century Jamaican Victorian village, with charming gingerbread architecture. A copy of a courthouse is the site for after-dark bouts of live entertainment, and benches line the borders of the town square, where artisans display their handiwork. The old Jamaica that's portrayed here is a rather sanitized, Disney-esque version. Yet this is not a place for children; it is a primarily adult retreat.
Accommodations are in 12 blocks of three-story buildings, each trimmed in colonial-style gingerbread and filled with wicker furniture. Each of the spacious units has a private patio or veranda and faces the ocean; blocks one through six are closer to the beachfront, and blocks five and six face a strip of sand designated as a "clothing-optional" area. Beds are very comfortable, with fine linen; the bathrooms are well maintained and have showers. Of the accommodations, a relatively high number of them (73 in all) are suites.
Separate dining areas serve tasty Jamaican cuisine, pizza and pasta, and blander international fare; the Piacere Restaurant offers upscale dinners and has a dress code. For variety, Munahana serves Japanese sushi and teppanyaki cuisine. Golfers especially appreciate the fact that greens fees are included in the rates. Patrons can use, without extra charge, either a 9-hole golf course immediately on-site, or either of two 18-hole golf courses within a reasonably close transfer.
Facilities: 5 restaurants; 8 bars; 2 pools; 9-hole golf course; 3 tennis courts; health club and spa; 4 Jacuzzis; sauna; steam room; bikes; business center; 24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; disco; squash; kayaks; scuba diving; snorkeling; Sunfish sailboats; water-skiing; windsurfing.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
