Looking at different places for my weddingmoon in February 2004. Has anyone been to: Verana - Mexico, Xaloc - Mexico, Jakes - Jamaica or Compass Point in Bahamas? Love to hear some feedback. Also a good place to look at in Belize. We have 16 adults and 5 children coming from Australia, UK and Canada and want something on the beach.

Been to Jake's for drinks and dinner, not stayed there. We were at Mar Blue, a short walk down the beach...a little fancier, more amenities, better food and cheaper

..however, for interesting people to hang out with, Jake's may have it locked up. A diverse group of artists, actors, Europeans, Jamaicans, Americans...and a really funky, interesting-looking place with a great vibe.

The beaches in Treasure Beach are brown sand, not white like Negril or any other part of Jamaica, but the water is lovely and Jake's also has a pool. Tourist hassle is about zero in Treasure Beach, it's a very relaxing place...we're planning a return next year.

Weddingmoon,
I've stayed at Jakes and what can I say but... >< Love it!! I stay there at least once per year for the Calabash Literary Festival held there every May.
Some points to note:
1. It's in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth...i.e. it's in very rural Jamaica. Not a Burger King or Macdonald's in site. Which is very good for me, but my not be so good for other people who crave that kind of stuff. Jakes does have a restaurant on property and there are a couple of other cafes/restaurants in the area, but no great and fabulous gourmet restaurants in Treasure Beach. The food in that area is just down to earth, regular Jamaican fare. Which is good if you're interested in trying the native foods. The restaurant at Jakes is pretty decent, by the way. Haven't tried Mar Blue but will do so next time I'm in the area.
There's a restaurant outside of Treasure Beach in a community called "White House". The restaurant is Culloden Cafe. Their soursop ice cream and their chocolate cake is soooooo worth the drive out there! It's right on the main road and EVERY one knows where it is. The food is to die for...but that Chocolate cake is absolute heaven The setting is also just beautiful. You won't want to leave!
2. Jakes is not an all inclusive, everything-is included-huge resort. It's a "small" hotel. I say "small" because they're constantly expanding...because the demand for more rooms is so great!!! The rooms are laid out across the property. They're all charming and individual and unique...beautifully decorated. Not teh ordinary run of the mill hotel room. I've stayed in all the rooms except one. ANd I've loved every single one of them! Make sure to try and get "Sea Puss" IF you can! For some reason that room is just ALWAYS booked! I've never had the fortune to stay in tht one!
It's important to know the size of the hotel if you're planning to book your friends and family at Jakes. You'll need to call or e-mail them WELL ahead of time to see if they can accommodate you all. If you really do end up deciding that Jakes is for you, then you can check out the other Villas and hotels in the area to accommodate your friends and family if they can't all fit into Jakes...like the Treasure Beach Hotel, also on the beach, or Mar Blue as Liza suggested.
3. Jakes is right by the ocean. Jakes is also on the south coast. What does this mean? It means that if you're a very light sleeper and will be bothered by the sound of the ocean at night, then Jakes is not for you. Because the ocean can get pretty loud at night when it's crashing on the rocks. I personally love that sound, so I'll always choose Jakes. quot;>
4. As Liza said, the beaches in Treasure Beach are not as pretty as they are in Negril or Mobay or Ochie. The "beach" at Jakes does have white/whiteish sand though. But the water is much rougher than in Mobay or Negril or Ochie-which are all on the north coast - Mobay is about 2 hours away by car.
Jakes does have a sea water pool right by the bar.
Over all Jakes is a beautiful, chrming, quiet hotel which attracts all sorts of celebrities and very interesting people. Treasure Beach is not filled with all the hassles of Mobay or Ochie or Negril. It's a peaceful "get away" romantic spot. The moon seems a little bit closer and the charm of Jamaica just hits you!
It is rural though, so you have to prepare for what that means. The staff at Jakes is very helpful. There is a massage "parlor"/ hut thing and the masseuse is one of the best I've ever been to.
Hope you have fun wherever you decide to go ...and congratulations! =D> \/

Thanks for that. What was Mar Blue like. I was trying to look it up and couldn't find it? Is it a small resort?

Did Jakes have some pretty spots to get married on/in. A nice hillside or vantage point of some sort?

Are you returning to Mar Blue or Jakes?

Jakes has several small spots to get married in/on. The best thing to do is to call them or e-mail them- I assume you have their website- and ask them to send you pictures or what have you. Jakes is in a very beautiful setting so anywhere on the cliffs or on the grounds would be beautiful.
Have you considered getting married at Tryall? It's just outside of Hopewell, Hanover and man what a beautiful setting!!! I've never stayed there though so can't comment on the rooms.

Look at www.treasurebeach.net and click on "where to stay." You'll see an interactive map with links to each hotel - you can get to Mar Blue's website there and also take a look at the other choices.

treasurebeach.net is definitely the best web site I've seen for the area.

I have a lot of photos of Mar Blue and TB in a trip report I wrote, we were there in April.

http://www.alink.com/personal/liz/negril/2003trip.htm

Mar Blue doesn't have a restaurant, they only cook for their guests, B&B style. They also only have 4 rooms. The owner is a chef and his food was AMAZING.

Your family could easily spread out around Treasure Beach so be close but not TOO close (this is a honeymoon, right?). Plenty of villas and such in the area, easy to walk around there too, along the beach or road.

I agree on the country stuff JAGirl said, and would add that when we were there, the sea was very calm. Some parts of the beaches were sandy, some rocky or even cliff-like, it just depends. Lots of tidal pools and such. I really enjoyed walking along the beach there...no one ever approached me to buy anything on those walks either, which is a definite plus if you're used to Ocho Rios, MoBay or Negril.

There's a lot to do within 2 hours of there...Negril if you get the party bug, Lovers Leap, swimming with manatees in Alligator Hole, going by boat along the sea to the Black River, plenty of gorgeous beach and mountain scenery.....just a totally different Jamaica than the north coast resort areas. But only 2 hours from the airport, straight south.

Wow,

Thank you so much. You are really making Jakes sound wonderful. No word on Verana? That looks spectacular...

ttt

For info on Jake's ...