Parish of Saint Thomas
Bath Fountain Hotel & Spa - Bath, Jamaica
If only Jamaica would see the wisdom of spending a few tourist dollars to spruce up this place, they could transform it into one of the world’s premier spa facilities, attracting local and foreign patrons for the healing properties of its mineral springs! Six miles north of Port Morant in the foothills of Saint Thomas where the John Crow and Blue Mountain ranges run into each other, the hotel sits amid breathtaking scenery - crystal-clear streams, majestic mountains, and lush green vegetation. It’s the only building in the area. This pink colonial hotel dating to 1747 has 16 plain & sparsely furnished yet clean rooms; no A/C, but they now offer cable TV! Built originally as an infirmary for the mineral baths, it was run rather poorly by the Jamaican Tourist Board but seems to be making a welcome comeback. A bit old-fashioned, the hotel is utterly quiet and secluded, with just the hum of the nearby Sulphur River. The road getting there can be bumpy and rough due to all the rainfall in the area. But the rates include free 20-minute access daily to the recently renovated ceramic tile baths on the ground floor and, YES, they are wonderfully relaxing! They serve tasty Jamaican breakfast, lunch and dinner in the dining room. The property is gated with 24-hour security. All of the rooms have therapeutic hot and cold mineral water pumped in for private soaking and relaxation! Phone: 876.703.4345 or 876.703.4154. Visit them on the web.
Golden Shore Resort – Winward Drive, Lyssons
, Jamaica
I would describe this more like a motel than a “resort”. This affordable beach-front property in Saint Thomas has 27 rooms in condo-style units. Rooms are clean with contemporary furnishings; most have A/C, cable TV and hot & cold running water. All rooms face the ocean and the 2nd story rooms have balconies. The resort is located in a quiet, residential area and boasts an essentially private one-mile-long beach, Golden Shore Beach, right outside its doors, a friendly staff and delicious island food cooked to order in its restaurant. Phone: 876.982.9657, 876.734.0923 or 876.734.0924. Visit them on the web.
Morant Villas Hotel & Conference Center – 1 Wharf Road, Morant Bay, Jamaica
On a bluff on the coast road just east of town, this native Jamaican hotel sits amid tall palms and landscaped gardens overlooking the sea. They offer 22 simple, clean rooms with a variety of choices from standard rooms to bungalows to suites to villas with kitchens. Most have A/C and all feature fans, cable TV, private bathrooms with hot water, and pool access. The property is gated for added security. Reasonably priced meals and drinks are available at the large and airy on-site restaurant (specialty: seafood) and bar. Their conference center is available for weddings and seminars. Phone: 876.982-2422. Visit them on the web.
Real Jamaica Guest House - Albion Estate (Yallahs area), Jamaica
Want to experience the culture and lifestyle of the real Jamaica? Consider Real Jamaica Guest House where you can stay with Aunty Faye and Cousin Julie, a warm and welcoming Jamaican family. Real Jamaica is located in Albion Estate, a quiet residential neighborhood about 10 minutes west of Yallahs, one of St. Thomas’ primary towns, and about 30 minutes west of Morant Bay, the Parish capital. The clean 2-story guest house offers two deluxe rooms with private bathrooms and one standard room with shared bath. As in many parts of the real Jamaica, there is limited TV reception here and no hot running water (plans are underway to install a solar water heater). Guests may use the kitchen for coffee-making or to make light meals. Aunty Faye’s famous Jamaican breakfasts and suppers are available for purchase (discount if purchased in advance of your trip). They will also arrange a driver for airport transfers, shopping, sightseeing, etc., if you need one. Smoking is permitted outside or on verandahs. Real Jamaica is less than a mile from the beach but you’ll find better swimming beaches a few minutes drive away. You’ll also enjoy nearby Yallahs where the streets are lined with pan-chicken stalls and, trust me, it is delicious. Yah, mon! At night the town has a mellow yet lively vibe with reggae music overflowing from the small pubs onto the streets. Phone: 613.823.6878. Visit them on the web.
Whispering Bamboo Cove – 105 Crystal Drive, Retreat (Morant Bay), Jamaica
These affordable accommodations are more like a guest house. Located on the south coast of Morant Bay in Saint Thomas, it is very close to the candy-cane-striped Morant Point Lighthouse, Jamaica’s oldest, built in 1841. There are 15 above average, airy, comfortable rooms equipped with modern tropical furnishings, cable TV, in-room refrigerators, and some have A/C. The friendly staff serves a delicious Jamaican breakfast with lunch or dinner to order. The neglected balconies could use some refurbishment. Rooms either face the sea or the majestic Blue Mountains, but the views can be obscured by trees. This is a beach-front property; the water tends to attract seagrass but swimming is good. Phone: 876.982.2912. Visit them on the web.
Whitfield Hall - Abbey Green (Blue Mountains National Park), Jamaica
At the 4,000 foot elevation on the main trail to Blue Mountain Peak which, at 7,402 feet, is the highest point on the island, you will find this hostel-like accommodation catering primarily to hikers. Directly on the road to Penlyne Castle where the climb begins, it’s the perfect spot for a base camp. In this almost magical part of Jamaica, Whitfield Hall is a working coffee plantation dating from 1776, the last inhabited house from the colonial period. There are a variety of room options - from a private, 2BR cottage, to a small suite, to 8 very rustic dormitory-style rooms with shared bath, and the new Colonel Whitfield Room, dedicated to the original proprietor. The family-run inn is far from luxurious; no hot water and no electricity (lighting is by kerosene lamps called tilleys), but they have a large fireplace in a nice common area to fend off the night chill and a warm, peaceful atmosphere. Home-cooked meals are available. Enjoy hikes or mule rides to the peak or, if you don’t want anything strenuous, learn how coffee beans are cultivated and processed and enjoy your tropical surroundings. The roads are steep and rutted and you cannot drive beyond Mavis Bank without a 4x4. Most guests request a pickup from the inn. Phone: 876.927.0986. Visit them on the web.
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