Recommended Hotels

In both style and price, there is a wide choice of accommodation in Jamaica. At the upper end of the scale are the large, expensive luxury resorts and boutique hotels offering exclusivity, which are popular with honeymooners and celebrities. There is also a range of standard hotels at all levels. More modest accommodation can be found in small guesthouses and family-run hotels that offer clean rooms but few other facilities. A few historic plantation houses have been converted into hotels for a ‘colonial feel’. Whatever your budget and taste, there will be something on the island to suit you.

Jamaica pioneered the all-inclusive hotel, where all your meals, drinks, sporting activities and other services are included in the price. This is the bedrock of mass market tourism on the island. Most of the resorts are in the north coast beach areas of Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. Some specialise in family holidays, others are for couples only. The resort chains have locations across the island, check their websites for details: Couples, www.couples.com; Decameron, www.decameron.com; Iberostar, www.iberostar.com; Riu, www.riu.com; Sandals, www.sandals.com; Sunset Resorts, www.sunsetresortsjamaica.com; SuperClubs, www.superclubs.com.

The following selection of hotels covers a variety of accommodation options. The categories below indicate prices in US dollars per room, based on double occupancy.

$$$$ over $200

$$$ $150–200

$$ $100–150

$ under $100

Montego Bay

Coyaba Beach Resort and Club $$$$ Little River, Ironshore (8km/5 miles east of Montego Bay at Mahoe Bay), tel: 953-9150, 877-232-3224 (toll-free from US and Canada), www.coyabaresortjamaica.com. Family-owned, 50-room hotel with good facilities and understated traditional elegance on a private, white-sand beach. The large rooms all have balconies with either garden or sea view ‘silent’ air conditioning, ceiling fans, hairdryers, in-room safes. Private dock with pick-up for fishing and diving charters. Complimentary water sports including kayaking and snorkelling. Land-based activities include a children’s playground, tennis courts with visiting professional coach, gym and massage. The restaurant is run by an award-winning chef.

Toby’s Resort $$ 1 Kent Avenue, Montego Bay, tel: 952-4370, www.tobyresorts.com. At the end of the ‘Hip Strip’, this small hotel is convenient for the airport, bars, restaurants and beaches, all within walking distance. The staff are helpful and friendly, the rooms are simple but clean and comfortable with a balcony. There’s a good restaurant, bar and pool.

Half Moon, A RockResort $$$$ Rose Hall, Montego Bay, tel: 800-438-7241, 888-830-5974, http://halfmoon.rockresorts.com. Beautifully landscaped gardens and a private bay giving the resort its name. Set in 160 hectares (400 acres) of grounds, with 33 villas, 152 suites and 45 rooms, the hotel has been a luxury destination since 1954. Mahogany furniture, Jamaican paintings, cable TV, air conditioning, mini-bars, hair dryers and in-room safes. The resort has four restaurants, a variety of snack bars, a spa and a shopping village. Land and water sports facilities include squash, tennis, health and fitness centre, equestrian centre and a par-72 championship golf course.

Ridgeway Guest House $ 34 Queen’s Drive, Montego Bay, tel: 952-2709, www.ridgewayguesthouse.com. A small, family-run inn with 10 simple rooms in a modern block, built in the garden of the original guest house and within walking distance of the airport. The staff are friendly and can help to arrange excursions, car hire is available on site. Good value accommodation.

Round Hill Hotel and Villas $$$$ John Pringle Drive, Montego Bay, tel: 956-7050, 800-972-2159, www.roundhill.com. A casually elegant hotel set in a former pineapple plantation at the edge of the crystal clear waters of a private white-sand beach. There is a lovely infinity pool, watersports centre with some complimentary activities, diving, deep-sea fishing and yachting can be arranged, tennis with resident pro, spa with fitness centre, jogging/walking path, boutique and shop, free shuttle to main shops. 36 ocean-front rooms designed by Ralph Lauren and 27 individually owned villas with 2–5 bedrooms. The cuisine is international with Jamaican touches.

The Tryall Club $$$$ 20km (12 miles) west of Montego Bay, tel: 956-5660, 800-259-8017 (toll-free from US), www.tryallclub.com. A luxurious seaside villa hideaway with a championship golf course on a 890-hectare (2,200-acre) tropical estate, originally a sugar plantation until 1918 when coconut palms were planted. Presided over by a Georgian great house and situated in manicured gardens and rolling hills, with 2.5km (11⁄2 miles) of coastline and a palm-dotted white sand beach. Privately owned villas with 2–8 bedrooms.

Wexford $$–$$$ 39 Gloucester Avenue, Montego Bay, tel: 952-2854, www.thewexfordhotel.com. Convenient for nightlife and the ‘Hip Strip’, just across the road from the public beach. 60 rooms and one-bedroom apartments, sea view or garden view overlooking the pool. Tiled floors, air conditioning, TV, phone, balconies, a good option if you want to be in town. Shuttle service and free entry to Aquasol Beach. Dine in Rosella’s for Jamaican cuisine.

runaway bay

Club Ambiance $$$$ Main Road, St Ann, Runaway Bay, tel: 973-7795, www.clubambiance.com. Large all-inclusive resort with 100 rooms in five blocks. All rooms have air conditioning and a sea view. There is also a refurbished three-bedroom, private beachfront villa available to rent. Three beaches, one is clothes optional. Nightclub and restaurant on the complex. No guests under 18 years old.

Piper’s Cove Resort $–$$ Salem, Runaway Bay, tel: 973-7156. 14 one-bedroom apartments, some with sea view, and six studio apartments with kitchenette, bathroom, private balcony, safety deposit box, cable TV, air-conditioning. There are pleasant gardens and it is popular for weddings. It has a private beach, pool, restaurant and games room.

Ocho Rios and environs

Goldeneye $$$$ Oracabessa, St Mary, tel: 622-9007, 800-OUTPOST, www.goldeneye.com. An exclusive and luxurious retreat created around the former home of James Bond author, Ian Fleming. The resort, which is part of the Island Outpost boutique hotel chain, has 11 beach or lagoon cottages including the Ian Fleming villa, secluded in lush gardens with private coves and beaches. Modern decor as befits a hotel in the Island Outpost chain, with state-of-the-art amenities. All have access to the James Bond Beach Club alongside, with three beaches, a two-storey, open-air restaurant and watersports.

Hibiscus Lodge $$–$$$ 83–87 Main Street, Ocho Rios, tel: 974-2676, 974-2813; www.hibiscusjamaica.com. Rooms perched on top of cliffs surrounded by gardens, with paths and stairways down to the sea, but no beach. The reef just offshore is good for snorkelling. Located a short way out of the centre of Ocho Rios, but within walking distance of the shops and nightlife. The hotel has a good restaurant on site and a bar overlooking the water. Good-sized swimming pool and cliff-top jacuzzi. 26 simple rooms with air conditioning and fans, balconies have a sea view; you pay for the pretty setting rather than the amenities, but good value for Ocho Rios.

Jamaica Inn $$$$ Main Street, Ocho Rios, tel: 974-2514, 800-837-4608, www.jamaicainn.com. This has been one of the island’s best hotels since the 1950s, with 47 suites in pretty gardens overlooking a lovely, private beach. This award-winning hotel offers excellent amenities and personal service; it is beautifully designed and maintained. Luxury facilities include spa treatments and delicious gourmet local cuisine.

Rooms on the Beach $$ Main Street, Ocho Rios, tel: 1-877-467-8737, www.roomsresorts.com. A budget option from the SuperClubs chain. 99 rooms in a three-storey beachfront block near the centre of Ocho Rios. Simple air-conditioned rooms. Facilities include kayaking, windsurfing, snorkelling and scuba diving, and there is a pool on the property and a free Wi-Fi internet. Four meal plans to choose from. There is also a branch in Negril.

Sandals Royal Plantation $$$$ Main Street, Ocho Rios, tel: 888-726-3257, in the UK tel: 0800-022-3030, 207-582-9895, www.sandals.co.uk. Seafront resort in operation since the 1950s, with 74 ocean view suites and one exclusive villa, three gourmet restaurants, spa, watersports, scuba diving and little luxuries such as 24-hour room service, beach butler and afternoon tea on the terrace. Bedrooms have comfortable down mattresses and Italian sheets on the mahogany beds. Guests also have access to the Sandals Golf and Country Club, with complimentary green fees and transport to and from the 18-hole championship course.

Port Antonio and the east

Great Huts $–$$$$ Boston Bay, tel: 353-3388, www.greathuts.com. Located on the cliffs of Boston Bay this seafront eco-resort is perfect for a romantic weekend or a holiday with the whole family. Accommodation is in rustic African-style bamboo huts, treehouses and tents furnished with exotic textiles, paintings and carvings, and comfortable bamboo and driftwood beds. Some units have hot water, some share bathrooms and all have electricity. Surfing, snorkelling and yoga facilities. The price includes breakfast and Wi-Fi internet access; restaurant on the property. The Boston Jerk Centre is nearby.

Frenchman’s Cove Bed & Breakfast $–$$$$ Frenchman’s Cove, Portland, tel: 993-7270, 564-9779, www.frenchmanscove.com. In a beautiful location on an 18-hectare (45-acre) private estate outside Port Antonio, with a white sand beach and freshwater stream. Simply decorated villas of varying sizes nestled on the cliff sides, or rooms and suites in the main house. This long-established resort is slightly dated but quiet and relaxing. Facilities include a beachfront grill-style restaurant and two bars.

Goblin Hill Villas at San San $$$–$$$$ San San, tel: 925-8108, www.goblinhill.com. A lush site set high on a hillside with excellent views over the sea. Self-contained villas of one or two bedrooms with fully equipped kitchens staffed with cook/housekeeper. Freshwater swimming pool and two tennis courts. Complimentary access to Frenchman’s Cove; nature trails lead through the gardens with extensive lawns and woods.

Jamaica Palace Hotel $$$–$$$$ Williamsfield, tel: 993-7720, www.jamaica-palacehotel.com. Large comfortable hotel with 80 suites and rooms with round beds, colourful floral furnishings, air conditioning and bath/shower. Also on the property are an art gallery, a swimming pool and a good restaurant.

Mocking Bird Hill Hotel $$$–$$$$ Port Antonio, tel: 993-7267, www.hotelmockingbirdhill.com. On a hilltop above the town, five minutes’ drive from Frenchman’s Cove beach. A tranquil hideaway nestled in the verdant foothills of the Blue Mountains, decorated throughout with original art and with an art gallery attached. The hotel promotes environmental awareness, encouraging sustainable development at all levels. The hotel is popular with birdwatchers. Fine restaurant serving nouvelle Caribbean cuisine. Ten white-tiled rooms, with Jamaican hand-crafted bamboo furniture and locally printed fabrics, offer a garden view downstairs; superior rooms upstairs with views of the hillside and the sea beyond.

Strawberry Fields Together! $–$$$$ Robin’s Bay, St Mary, tel: 655-0136, in the UK tel: 203-3183-784, www.strawberryfieldstogether.com. Secluded and rustic standard or deluxe cottages sleep 25 dorm-style or 7 couples. There is also a camping area where you can pitch your tent for $15 per night per person. Quiet during the week but busy at weekends with Jamaican families staying over or just here for the day. Private beach with life guard, snorkelling, volleyball, trampoline, table tennis and organised excursions. Large nature reserve. Meal plans available; local cuisine.

Trident Hotel $$$$ Anchovy, Port Antonio, tel: 633-7000, 888-433-526; www.tridentportantonio.com. Luxurious sophistication on the northeast shore. Thirteen glamorous oceanfront villas with modernist interior, terrace, private pool, and broadband internet access. Located on site, Mike’s Supper Club is a smart music and dining venue where you can revel in both jazz and Japanese-Jamaican cuisine. The resort amenities also include a private beach, gym and spa.

the Blue Mountains

Forres Park Guest House $–$$$$ Mavis Bank, tel: 927-8275, www.forrespark.com. Entrance on the main road by the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory, rooms are available in the Swiss chalet-style main house or in nearby cosy cabins on the working coffee farm. Trails for hiking and birdwatching, although most of the birds can be seen at daybreak from the balcony. Guides can be arranged for a trip to Blue Mountain Peak. Customised spa treatments will rejuvenate you after your excursions.

Lime Tree Farm $$$$ Tower Hill, Mavis Bank, tel: 446-0230; www.limetreefarm.com. Three cottages on a working coffee farm with views of the Blue Mountains and surrounding valleys. Large bedrooms, bathroom and terrace, spacious enough for a small family. Price includes transfers from Kingston and all meals with a bottle of wine at dinner. Delicious food using local ingredients and herbs. Good hiking and birdwatching.

Kingston Area

Courtleigh Hotel and Suites $$$–$$$$ 85 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, tel: 936-3570, www.courtleigh.com. In the financial district of New Kingston, convenient for shopping and eating. Rooms have tea/coffee maker, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, dataport, cable TV, hairdryer, with an outdoor swimming pool and fitness room, restaurant and bar.

Grand Port Royal Hotel $$$–$$$$ Port Royal, tel: 967-8494. Situated in Port Royal at the entrance to Kingston Harbour, this hotel offers commanding views of the city skyline and the Blue Mountains. Spacious accommodation in 60 rooms and suites. Facilities include a freshwater swimming pool, gaming lounge, pub and two restaurants, including the acclaimed restaurant next to the marina, which is lovely at night

Indies Hotel $ 5 Holborn Road, Kingston 10, tel: 926-2952, www.indieshotel.com. 15 rather small rooms in two wings overlooking a patio garden. Single, double and triple rooms available, all with bathroom, air conditioning, cable TV and phone. Simple but adequate with good, budget-priced restaurant and bar. Convenient for shops, restaurants, entertainment and sightseeing.

The Jamaica Pegasus $$$$ 81 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, tel: 926-3691, www.jamaicapegasus.com. Situated in the financial and business district, close to many of the area’s foremost attractions. All 300 rooms and suites are equipped with high-speed internet access, satellite TV, hair dryers, safes, complimentary coffee- and tea-making facilities, and balconies with either mountain or pool/ocean view. Non-smoking floors. Restaurants and cafés offer a variety of fare, plus there are bars and evening entertainment.

Strawberry Hill Hotel $$$$ New Castle Road, Irish Town, St Andrew, tel: 944-8400, 800-OUTPOST, www.strawberryhillhotel.com. Romantic, delightful cottages feature traditional 19th-century Jamaican architecture for an authentic colonial atmosphere. Near Kingston and surrounded by the Blue Mountains and extensive gardens, with exceptional panoramic views (including Kingston) and an infinity pool, small but perfect. In-room CD and DVD players with selection of music. Excellent fusion cuisine. Spa treatments, yoga pavilion, plunge pool and sauna encourage health and well-being. The hotel, part of the Island Outpost chain, has won many awards for its architecture and design, and is one of the best places to stay in the whole of the Caribbean.

treasure beach (south coast)

Ital-Rest Cottages $ Treasure Beach, tel: 421-8909. Two simple, rustic, thatched cottages with a mountain or sea view, each with two bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen. The café in the garden has vegan and vegetarian food, music, dominoes and table tennis. Local restaurant close by. Friendly and helpful, 100m/yds to the sea, this is genuine laid-back Jamaica.

Jakes $–$$$$ Calabash Bay, Treasure Beach, tel: 965-3000, www.jakeshotel.com. An eclectic collection of colourful cottages set atop low cliffs in a secluded bay, and a truly special place to stay. Created by painter-photographer-art director Sally Henzell and part of the Island Outpost chain. Each room has a different theme, from Jamaican shack to Mexican pueblo and they vary in size from a single room with a garden view to a 4-bedroom cottage, including delightful, romantic honeymoon suites. All have in-room music equipment and free use of the hotel’s extensive music collection. Tropical ceiling fans and mosquito nets maintain the traditional feel. Rooms also in the Henzell’s historic home. Two excellent restaurants with the freshest of seafood and other local specialities. Media room with Wi-Fi and computer for guests’ use, spa and yoga retreats. Swim at Jack Sprat Beach or in the seawater swimming pool.

Sunset Resort $–$$$$ Calabash Bay, Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, tel: 965-0143, www.sunsetresort.com. 14 rooms and suites overlook Calabash bay and beach where there are fishing boats pulled up on the sand. American and Jamaican-owned, it is good for family groups as suites can become apartments, and large parties can rent the entire villa. Staff can arrange deep-sea fishing in traditional boats or motor cruisers. Rather odd green astroturf around the pool. Satellite TV, air conditioning, coffee makers, flowery wall decorations, restaurant and lounge.

Negril

The Caves $$$$ Lighthouse Road, West End, tel: 957-0270, www.islandoutpost.com. Part of the Island Outpost hotel chain, this award-winning romantic hotel is perched on the cliffs above the sea. Luxury cottages of thatched wood and stone. Inside the caves are an intimate dining room and part of the spa. Steps lead down to the water where you can snorkel in more caves. Relax with a yoga class or explore the area on bicycles, kayaks or rafts. Several dining options and the Blackwell Rum Bar. No children under 16.

Charela Inn $$–$$$$ Norman Manley Boulevard, Negril, tel: 957-4277, www.charela.com. Rooms on the beach in a long-established, family-run hotel with Jamaican-French owners and French chef, so food is a priority. There is a bakery in the hotel and they have one of the best wine lists on the island. Rooms vary in size and amenities but are well-equipped and three are adapted for wheelchair users.

Rockhouse Hotel $$–$$$ West End, Negril, tel: 957-4373, www.rockhousehotel.com. Commanding a rocky promontory in West End with views of spectacular sunsets, this collection of thatch-roofed villas has a tranquil setting. Cliff-top pool, spa and access to swimming and snorkelling in Pristine Cove more than make up for the lack of a sandy beach. Not suitable for children under 12. 34 rooms, studios and villas.

Seasplash Resort $$–$$$$ Norman Manley Boulevard, tel: 957-4041, in the UK tel 0800-7297-2900, www.seasplash.com. On the narrow part of Negril’s 11-km (7-mile) sandy beach, within walking distance of beach bars and restaurants. Rooms and suites are spacious and comfortable, with good fittings and furnishings, all well equipped. Low-season prices drop by one-third from high-season rates and are excellent value. Very good restaurant on site, Norma’s (for more information, click here), with steps down to the sea.

Tensing Pen $$$–$$$$ West End, Negril, tel: 957-0387, http://tensingpen.com. 16 luxurious rooms in cottages perched on cliffs with hammocks and lots of private areas for quiet sunbathing and relaxation around the property. Laid back, unpretentious and sociable. Yoga and massage facilities on site, lots of activities offered. Breakfast is included and dinner is served daily using fresh local produce.

Xtabi Resort $–$$$$ Lighthouse Road, West End, Negril, tel: 957-0121, www.xtabi-negril.com. Seafront, poolside or garden cottages, rooms or a suite, on the cliffs offer a choice of simple or luxury accommodation, all with balcony or verandah, some with air conditioning. Steps lead down to caves for snorkelling. Native wood floors and rustic furnishings, outside showers with privacy walls. All rooms have safes, some have kitchenettes and many have refrigerators; the garden rooms are more modern, with tiled floors and air-conditioning. Cliffside bar and restaurant.