melissa

Hi my husband and I are planning a trip to Jamaica in April and are planning on staying at The Jamaica Inn and at Round Hill. Has anyone stayed at either of these hotels/resorts? Any thoughts about them? Any must-do side trips-- I hear rafting is fun there. Also should I be worried about safety- we are generally adventurous travellers.

ohliz

If you saw the movie How Stella got her Groove Back, you saw a lot of Round Hill already, a lot of it was filmed there.

I find travelling around in JA to be very safe, particularly with a local driver/guide. Actually that's not for safety as much as it is not having to drive on the left, avoid potholes, try to figure out what road is what in the absence of good signage and car rental rates are very high there.

Rafting is a good thing to do, I think when you stay at the Jamaica Inn in Ochi you'll be closer to good rafting (Rio Grande) then when you are at Round Hill.
Liz

mike

Melissa,

I'm biased, but my wife and I love The Jamaica Inn. Been there three times and it's just outstanding. If you are upstairs in the main wing, you get a balcony of about 140 sq ft +/-. If downstairs or in the east wing, the balcony/veranda is about 220 sq ft +/-.

Upstairs has a couch, coffee table (maybe it's a tea table), chair, ottoman, writing desk and chair, plus a table and 2 chairs for room service meals. Downstairs has the same, plus a second chair and ottoman. Up or down makes little difference, as the view from upstairs is a little better than downstairs, where downstairs has a little more room. Bedroom, bath and closet space is the same up or down.
Make sure you have room service breakfast at least once. If you have it early in the week, I'll bet you have it every day after that.
If you are lounging on the beach (very nice beach, by the way) at 11 AM, you will delight to the sight of Rodney or Peter going from lounge chair to lounge chair delivering a refreshing rum punch as a restorative (compliments of the management).
Dinner is preceeded by cocktails and hors d'ourve on the verandah by the (open air) restaurant. Music is provided by a local musician who may have been on hand when Port Royal suffered the earthquake of 1625. Age hasn't slowed him a bit.
Dinner is served at 7:30 and the maitre de will escort you to your table. Long pants for men - jackets and ties are no longer required.
You'll choose from appetizers, soups, salads and at least 5 entrees. Excellent food, by the way.
Music for dancing continues during dinner as more musicians swell the band to 4 or 5, depending on the night.
There is river rafting available no more than a mile from JI. All manner of water activities are avialable at JI - kayaks, sunfish, snorkel gear.
Golf can be arranged at a discounted rate at Upton Country Club, nearby.
I can't offer more activity, because when we've been there, walking down to the beach after breakfast has always served as sufficient exercise for my wife and I ;>).
You are going to LLLOOOOVVVVEEEEE the Jamaica Inn.

Joanie

Hello: I read your Fodor's post a msg. on the Jamaica Inn. We were there 17
years ago and loved it. We are planning
to go this year, and hope it has not changed too much. By what you wrote it
has not. It is still family run I see,
but read it is German managed. I hope it is not getting German charters coming
in, but a lot of the repeat guests through the years. Do you know? We are
also staying at Strawberry Hill in the blue mts. which is suppose to be great.
When are you going to Jamaica Inn? This year? We are going April 25.
Thanks, joanie

mike

Joanie,

Someone gave you some incorrect info. The Morrows still own Jamaica Inn, and one of them is on site almost all the time. They have hired a great young couple (he has some big time experience at some other first rate resorts and it shows in the way he deals with the guests and staff -- really a talented and capable guy) to handle day to day management, but they aren't German, and there are no arrangements for any kind of tour groups to come in.
We first were at JI in 1983, then again in 1985, and when we came back this year everything was the same as it had been in '83. Even 5 or 6 staff members still there after all that time. They pretended to remember me, and I let them pretend.
The ambiance is unchanged --- it's still wonderful. Service is just as good as it was then.

Ya mon, everyting Irie. You'll love it.

pam

i can't speak for Jamaica Inn, but we stayed at Round Hill in october. it was a first class resort. we didn't do any side trips - just relaxed at Round Hill. i felt very safe- we stepped out of customs, and someone was there to meet us and drive us to round hill.
the private villas there are amazing- that is the way to go. food and service top notch. its pricey, but worth it! if you are looking for a resort with tons of action and excitement, this isn't for you. its very low key.