Late October 2016, I took a memorable trip to the Caribbean island of Jamaica. Hosted by British Airways and the Jamaican Tourist Board, my adventure took us around some of the most wonderful hotels and resorts in Jamaica.
We visited a selection of beautiful resort but the two that stood out in the family market we’re Half Moon and Round Hill.
The first we visited was Half Moon, a spectacular resort that sits amidst a 400-acre private estate. The 197 room and suites and 31 private villas are each beautifully appointed accommodating families of different sizes and ages. Most suites have breathtaking ocean views and the villas are ideal hideaways for bigger families with the largest sleeping up to 14 people.
On arrival, the check in process was prompt and I was quickly shown my room for the night. I was lucky enough to have the divine Hibiscus Suite that backs directly onto the beach. However, there wasn’t much time to take in the panoramic views are we were off to explore the island with a pre-dinner ghost hunt at the Rose Hall Great House. Only 10 minutes away from Half Moon, this is an excellent trip for older families, offering up a slice of history alongside some small thrills. Our guide took us around the house whilst explaining the history of Rose Hall and the eerie story of Annie Palme (we won’t ruin it for you).
We headed back to Half Moon for our dinner reservation at Sugar Mill. The restaurant oozes history with the existing walls that once served as the foundation of a sugar cane plantation dating back to 1676. The food was delicious with a refined and complex menu that has a suitable offering for each guest. Following dinner, we were told there was a surprise in store for us in the morning. There is so much to do and see here couples and families, our guesses were endless.
Waking up in the beautiful suite was idyllic and it was my birthday which was an added bonus. We we’re on a tight schedule as we had the site tour followed by our surprise. We were picked up outside reception with golf carts to begin the tours. We covered a lot of group across the 400 acres, viewing the 2 miles of private beach, the 18-hole championship golf course, 13 tennis courts, an Olympic size swimming pool, an equestrian centre and a private dolphin lagoon.
This is where our journey finished as we were dropped at the Dolphin Lagoon. What a treat! We spent an hour enjoying a private session with these elegant creatures, creating memories that will last a lifetime. This is one of the biggest highlights of the resort, making it a superb selection for families.
Following the excitement, our time at Half Moon had come to an end and it was onto the last stay at Round Hill. This gorgeous boutique hotel is located in downtown Montego Bay and consists of just 36 oceanfront rooms and 27 private villas, each designed by Ralph Lauren.
Following the swift check in to my Oceanfront guestroom, we had some free time on our hands, so I chose to enjoy some sun on the floating platform above the hotel’s reef. 5pm quickly came around and it was time for my scheduled visit to the spa. This gorgeous location is tranquil and calming and the treatments are exquisite.
In the evening, we enjoyed some mojitos before gathering for dinner at the rooftop restaurant and grill. Our dinner was a unique experience of ‘Farm to Table’ referring to a movement concerning producing local food for it be enjoy by local consumers. The food was delicious, with wholesome flavours and extraordinary fresh produce that really lifted each dish.
As the saying goes, unfortunately all good things must come to an end, so the following day we checked out of Round Hill and started the journey back to Kingston Airport. Our final treat was a surprise lunch at Scotchies, an authentic restaurant specialising in jerk chicken/pork and fried dumplings. We enjoyed our final meal washed down with a can of Red Stripe.
It was a wonderful way to end our trip to Jamaica. The excellent hospitality and warmth of the Jamaican people will stay with me for a very long time.
– Sue Preston
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