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To start you off, we invite you to read our personal review of this charming little gem at TripAdvisor.com. This is a perfect example of a great little vacation spot, about a 30 minute drive east of Port Antonio, Jamaica, with accommodating owners, all the amenities (pool, jacuzzi, food, drinks, hot water!), located in an area which is often missed by tourists but has so many things to do and can rightfully lay claim to Jamaica's most beautiful beaches! These are the cutest private bungalows overlooking the spectacular Caribbean. Do yourself a favor and go now! Phone: 876.893.5185 or 876.913.7716. Visit them on the web.

If you want to wake up to beautiful sunrises in your own little rustic cabin on the beach, consider Blue Heaven. The structures sit on a rock plateau right at the waterline and they have their own small beach. Wonderful Long Bay Beach is just a few minutes walk away. There are 3 simple cottages; the largest has a full kitchen, private bathroom, and its own private patio overlooking the Caribbean. Another also has a private bath and the third shares a bathroom a few steps away. A continental breakfast is included in the rate and will be prepared at their on-site cookshop/bar along with any other meals you desire. Phone: 876.715.4336 or 876.448.9605. Visit them on the web.

Check out this brand-new-for-2010 accommodation on the hillside in Long Bay, about 30 minutes from Port Antonio. There are four 2-story buildings and each floor is a separate unit – 5 are standard and 3 are suites. The rooms are all spacious, airy and beautifully furnished with 4-poster beds, cane furniture and large, modern private bathrooms. Amenities include a coffee machine, mini fridge, mosquito nets, and each has a verandah with a wonderful view of the Caribbean. The swimming pool is under construction and there will eventually be a restaurant. Pimento Lodge is in a beautiful, secluded location yet close enough to everything you may want to see in Portland. And Jamaica’s most beautiful beach (Long Bay) is only a 10 minute walk. Phone: 876.882.5068 or 876.756.1737. Visit them on the web.

This unique, beachfront eco-tourism destination near Port Antonio, Jamaica, was voted the best environment of any small Jamaican resort by the London Observer in 2003. Consisting of African-style huts and tree houses, the jungle landscape is perched upon cliffs on the lush north-east point of the island, overlooking Boston Bay and the Caribbean. Very much in the elements, the huts are open to the air, equipped with comfortable beds, fans and mosquito nets, and are available at very reasonable rates. The unique huts are well-spaced out amid the lush, well-groomed grounds to make you feel like you’re in your own private paradise. Has a small, somewhat rocky but warm and inviting stretch of beach with hammocks for relaxation. Very friendly and professional staff. Phone: 876.353.3388 or 876.993.8888. Visit them on the web.

The garden rooms and three cottages are very colorful and cozy, if pretty basic. But you really can’t beat the price & location of these budget accommodations – US$50-$70 for a 1-bedroom cottage, US$100 for a 2-bedroom. The cottages have interior bathrooms, well-equipped kitchenettes, and cable TV. Mikuzi is situated in a lush area just at the top of the road leading down to beautiful Winnifred Beach (where Club Paradise with Robin Williams and Jimmy Cliff was filmed), so a 5 minute walk gets you to this lovely beach, one of the few the locals are still able to enjoy for free. It’s also within walking distance from Boston Jerk Centre. Phone: 876.978.4859 or 876.813.0098. Visit them on the web.

In the Anchovy hills overlooking Turtle Crawle Harbour, you will find Bay View Villas nestled in the Blue Mountain foothills. There are three main “villas”, offering single, double and triple occupancy. Bay View’s 30 rooms are spacious, comfortably furnished and include private bathrooms, ceiling fans, A/C, cable TV, and are well-suited for the budget-minded traveler. The older villa (Main House) offers a sitting/recreation area and also contains the office/lobby. There is a swimming pool and the area's lovely beaches are minutes away. The on-site restaurant and bar offer Jamaican country cuisine. Phone: 876.993.3118 or 876.531.8857. Visit them on the web.

If you’re looking to be 5 minutes from the center of Port Antonio and absorb a dose of the town’s old-world colonial charm, this budget guesthouse may be the place. Built in 1881, DeMontevin Lodge has recently been refurbished and is now a Jamaica National Heritage site. It has a charming Victorian style with lots of gingerbread and an attractive brick exterior. Built by Hon. David Gideon, then Custos of Portland who helped to establish the United Fruit Company in Jamaica, the hotel sits on Titchfield Hill, once a neighborhood for the wealthy. Among other notable visitors to the hotel, Queen Elizabeth I stayed here in 1923 and her daughter in 1953 and 1966. DeMontevin offers 13 simple, clean and comfortable rooms with private or shared bathrooms, some with views of Folly Point. Internet access is available in the lobby. The restaurant and bar were closed for some time but have now reopened, hopefully to continue the DeMontevin’s long-time culinary reputation! Continental or Jamaican style breakfast is served between 8:00am and 10:30am and dinner is served between 7:00pm and 10:00pm. Their "Tiki Sports Bar & Lounge" hosts a karaoke night (Wednesdays) and live music (Fridays). Phone: 876.993.2604 or email demontevin@cwjamaica.com. Visit them on the web.

On the hillside in San San, El Cielo’s villas have a wonderful view of the Blue Lagoon, the Caribbean, and are a few minutes’ walk from Frenchman’s Cove. There are two villas here: villa #1 has 5 bedrooms and is rented as a complete villa; villa #2 has 4 bedrooms and is rented as a complete villa or as individual rooms. Amenities include private bathrooms, ceiling fans, A/C, mini fridge, CD/DVD player, wireless internet access and satellite TV. There is also a swimming pool. Packages are available for The Spa Palace’s variety of services including the new fitness center, sauna, steam showers, hot tubs, along with massage, facials, etc. Or play darts or ping pong (table tennis) instead! El Cielo has a restaurant which boasts great Jamaican and international food. Guests are not allowed to cook meals but a chef will be provided at additional cost. Phone: 876.993.7224, 876.383.9761 or 973.296.7752. Visit them on the web.

Ranked #1 of the Port Antonio area hotels by travelers at TripAdvisor.com, Geejam, 10 minutes east in San San, is Island Outpost’s latest contribution to the island’s small, intimate and very hip luxury accommodations. They describe themselves as “an ‘über luxury’ insider escape”. Overlooking Mack Bay and the beautiful Caribbean, you will find posh lodging here in the lush rain forest. There are 3 cabins, one suite and a 3-bedroom villa (Sanwood).The cabins and suite have musical names (Ska, Rocksteady, etc.) because Geejam was first, and still is, a state-of-the-art recording studio for well-known worldwide recording artists. (You can also arrange for your own personal recording session, if desired.) Prices are definitely upscale but you get what you pay for. Enjoy the 500-count sheets, hardwood floors, custom-made blackout blinds, mini-bar, flat-screen TVs, Apple TV, wireless internet router, and iPod station in your room, along with the cellphone they give you to use throughout your stay. There are also a spa, gym, hot tub, and a newly opened small & secluded private beach. Or walk 10 minutes to spectacular Frenchman’s Cove. Visitors say the food at the Bushbar is “amazing”, the staff “exceptional” and Geejam is “worth the cost”. Phone: 876.993.7000 or 888.4GEEJAM (US & Canada). Visit them on the web.

This is an older villa complex situated on 12 beautifully-maintained tropical acres atop a hill overlooking San San Beach. Each of the 20 two-story villas has one or two air-conditioned bedrooms, fully-equipped kitchens, and terraces or balconies overlooking the bay. You will have your own housekeeper to clean, shop and cook for you, catering to your personal requests. Check out the Tree bar, built around a huge wicker tree. The complex is very close to San San Beach, Frenchman’s Cove Beach and the Blue Lagoon. Enjoy tennis on their two courts or snorkel at nearby Princess Nina’s Island. Phone: 876.925.8108 or 876.993.7443 or 876.993.7537. Visit them on the web.

Jamaica Heights Resort – Spring Bank Rd., southwest of Boundbrook

This funky, mellow Port Antonio mountain-top guest house, popular with European travelers, is an affordable yet sophisticated retreat. The eight rooms are scattered amid six acres high in the hills at the top of a bumpy, potholed and very steep road. Spotlessly clean with comfortable rooms, the buildings are white-washed with blue shutters. The owner, Helmut Steiner (Germany) and his wife, Charmaine, do little advertising, getting most of their business from returning guests and word-of-mouth. With stunning views of Port Antonio’s twin harbors, the property is lush with tropical vegetation, its own private stream and waterfall, and even a small pool. This would be a great choice if you wanted to rent the whole compound for a fabulous family reunion or party! Phone: 876.993.3305. Visit them on the web.

Ocean Crest Guest House (B&B) – Titchfield Hill, Port Antonio

Rio Vista Resort – St. Margaret’s Bay

Located on a 10-acre estate just west of Port Antonio, Rio Vista sits on the hillside overlooking the Rio Grande River and the Caribbean. In fact, the rafting tour on the Rio Grande ends very near to the resort. In the midst of the lushly landscaped property are 1, 2 and 3-bedroom cottages and a honeymoon cottage, all with attractive modern furnishings, vaulted ceiling, verandah, private bathroom, mini fridge or kitchen, A/C, satellite TV and wireless internet service. There are also standard and deluxe rooms available in the main house. From the breakfast verandah, there are spectacular views of the Rio Grande and the misty mountains. There is an inviting figure-8 swimming pool on the property as well. Meals are available on request and guests report that the food is delicious! Enjoy the friendly, helpful staff and the beautiful gardens in a peaceful spot. Phone: 876.993.5444. Visit them on the web.

Spring Garden Bed & Breakfast - St. Margaret's Bay

Built between 1992 and 1993 on a deserted beach near St. Margaret's Bay, Spring Garden B & B offers 3 double/triple rooms and 3 bathrooms in its lush, green surroundings of Portland Parish. This eco-tourism property has won various environmental awards and has 100% solar and wind-generated energy! They prepare your Jamaican breakfast daily and will prepare dinner for you as well, on demand. Nearby attractions include beautiful Somerset Falls and Port Antonio. Phone: 876.358.8727. Or contact the owner, Lothar Schlegel, directly via e-mail at info@spring-garden.de for more information. Visit them on the web.

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