Unique, eclectic and luxurious, Jamaica's seductive properties must be experienced to be fully appreciated.
A sizable island chockablock with alluring resort areas, Jamaica is ever-ready to delight sand-and-sea-loving vacationers. But what about those seeking a bit more style and a bit of quirk in their choice of lodgings? They too are covered, thanks to a collection of unique resorts that both blend and bend tradition in consort with modish design and funky, one-of-a-kind statements of individuality. On an island already noted for original styles, these five properties stand out, delivering ambiance and amenities rolled into an extra helping of style.
Trident, Port Antonio
Trident’s modernist design and sculptures complement the luxurious rooms’ contemporary style. Photo: Trident Hotel
Ceramic sheep on an electric-green lawn? Bright orange pillows as a dash of color in a minimalist, all-white villa? Welcome to Trident: an always-whimsical collection of villas that’s part retro-trendy, part contemporary chic. There’s an antique billiards table and an uber-sleek infinity pool. There’s Mike’s Supper Club, modeled after a 1920s-style speakeasy, and a private beach with its own bar—so very 2014. The hotel’s modish style is that much more inimitable on account of its location: the sleepy parish of Portland, known more for rustic cottages than this sort of SoHo-style fabulosity.
Goldeneye, Oracabessa Bay
Begin each evening with cocktails at the Bizot Bar overlooking the pool. Photo: Goldeneye
In Oracabessa, on Jamaica’s northeast coast, the one-time home of James Bond creator Ian Fleming is now a sublime Goldeneye beachfront resort owned by former Island Records impresario Chris Blackwell—aka the man who introduced Bob Marley. It would certainly be excellent enough for 007 himself. By day, the place abounds in barefoot-friendly funkiness: album-art walls, a soundtrack that veers from Bob Marley to U2, a lazy seaside lagoon adorned by flying fish and electric-bright butterflies. By night, elegance takes over: the swinging footbridge over the lagoon is torch-lit, guiding you to some of the best locally-sourced fine dining in Jamaica. Later, just try to drag yourself from the massive outdoor bathroom in your beachfront cottage: That tree really is a shower, and that bathtub looks even better under the moonlight.
Jakes, Treasure Beach
Book this tropical ocean-view room and drift off to the sounds of lapping waves. Photo: Jakes
It’s tough to nail down the coolest thing about Jakes. The location, Treasure Beach? It’s a rural, delightfully sleepy slice of Jamaica’s south coast, where tourism doesn’t consist of all-inclusive resorts and fruity drinks. Or maybe it’s the hotel’s cultural history: Jake’s is owned by the family of Perry Henzell, director of the classic Jamaican film The Harder They Come; it was designed by Perry’s wife Sally, set director on that film. Ah, no—it’s probably that design: the whimsical cottages—with names like “Cockles” and “Octopussy”—are individually crafted, incorporating the unexpected: sticks and stones, old bottles, seashells embedded in the walls. It’s wonderfully unpretentious, yet supremely luxurious.
Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Montego Bay
Originally opened in 1953, Round Hill is steeped in tradition, yet contemporary in design. Photo: Round Hill Hotel & Villas
61 never looked so good. As one of Jamaica’s oldest hotels, Round Hill—just outside of Montego Bay—has more than an air of sophistication about it; it’s old-world elegance personified, complete with rooms designed by Ralph Lauren and a hyper-professional staff who treat guests like old friends—which many are. Repeat visitors have claimed Round Hill as their ultra-classy home-away-from home for decades. The oceanfront spa boasts some of most experienced masseuses on the island; many of the restaurant’s spices are sourced from the new onsite garden. And for a dose of the contemporary, there’s a modish infinity pool—though dragging yourself away from that lavish beach is a chore.
Strawberry Hill, Irish Town
Strawberry Hill feels like a magical village full of luxurious details. Photo: Island Outpost
Location, location, location. Strawberry Hill has it, in spades: gloriously perched 3100 feet above sea level, boasting surreally beautiful panoramas of the Blue Mountains. The hotel also gets points for its colonial elegance and illustrious history: an 18th-century-coffee-plantation-turned-vacation-home-turned-hotel, once frequented by the likes of Bob Marley and Mick Jagger. Handcrafted, uniquely appointed Georgian-style cottages feel like tree houses ensconced in the Blue Mountains; the restaurant menu showcases “New Jamaican Cuisine,” made from locally sourced, organic meats and produce and fusing international recipes with Jamaican classics like conch fritters and callalloo soup. And the Living Spa focuses on organic healing, customized treatments and Ayurvedic practices. Try the Blue Mountain Body Elixir, which combines massage, hydrotherapy and exfoliation using a natural Blue Mountain Coffee scrub.
