Port Antonio, place to stay, Jamaica

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kit_cat2
kit_cat2

Hi!

My boyfriend and I are planning a 2 week trip to Jamaica at the end of March. We're planning to spend half in Port Antonio area and half in Treasure Beach area (with a couple of detours - Blue Mountains included).

We're doing loads of research but it's impossible to know how it all works until you get out there, so I thought you guys might be able to help us!

In Port Antonio, we're looking at Great Huts, Zion Country Cabin and Blue Heaven Cottages. Anyone know these, or have any other budget suggestions? We want to be near the beaches - particularly frenchman;s cove or winnifreds, and then we want to move on to Long Bay.

So two questions really... 1. If you have any tips on the guest houses I've mentioned or other suggestions
2. Can we leave it until we get there (except for the first couple of nights), or do you expect these places get full up and we should plan the whole holiday?

Thank you very much in advance.

Katy

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ohliz
ohliz

Great Huts is pretty popular with people I know personally, and it may be full. Also consider Ivanhoes in Port Antonio - it's in town but a lovely beach is just 5 minutes walk away and being in town it's handy to market taxis, etc.

And yes, you can probably leave it until you get there. Maybe book Ivanhoes for your first night and go from there.....

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weaver
weaver

Zion Country is wonderful but is east of Long Bay (Definitely NOT in Port Antonio.) About a 15 min taxi ride to Long Bay; and they have their own tiny beach, too.

Forget Blue Heaven Cottages. The security is non-existent and there have been problems ( unless there have been major changes since last May.) There are a couple of other places in Long Bay but the names escape me... Paradise house maybe? and Fisherman's Park.

Ivanhoe is excellent and the the best price for the Port Antonio area. And it's a short, cheap public taxi ride to any of the beaches. ( I do it on a daily basis most years.) plus you'll get a taste of Porti and the market, as mentioned, and the Marina beach is 5 min. walk away.

There are also a couple of houses in Drapers -- Draper San and Search-Me- Heart --. Noise can be an issue.Great Huts is popular with many but is more expensive than the others.

I'll be at Ivanhoe starting 26 Feb. ( Yessss....!) so you can PM me any time for more info. And, as ohliz says, it's unlikely you'l need a reservation for Ivanhoe but it can't hurt.

And a note to all: when you make a reservation it is common courtesy to call and cancel it if you go to another place because of time, cost or plan changes. This is another issue, I know...

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49reasons
49reasons

I stayed at Great Huts and thought it was wonderful. HOWEVER, I was in the treehouse-type units (I stayed in two of them because neither one was available for my entire stay.) I didn't like the tent huts at all - the floors are nothing but big, sharp rocks, and the huts are very hot besides. Another consideration is that Great Huts isn't very close to a sandy beach. It has a beach area, but it consists of the same sharp rocks as in the tent huts. So, if you're looking for a location near a nice, sandy beach, keep looking.

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cure4folly
cure4folly

I strongly recommend Ivanhoe's also. Great breakfast and great folks! Frenchman's cove is beautiful and Winnifred Beach good for the local atmosphere.

Treasure Beach is a great choice. We stayed at the Golden Sands (correct name?). We ate several times at the wonderful food shack just outside the hotel entrance - I've forgotten the name. Lots of empty or near empty beaches nearby. Try renting bicycles for a day. If you snorkel, bring your own and your mask - They're not easy to find.

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kit_cat2
kit_cat2

Thanks to all for the advice - thankfully I didn't book Blue Heaven as after hearing what Weaver had to say, I looked on trip advisor and one review said they'd been ripped off... Ripped off and not secure!

The more you talk about Ivanhoe's, the better it sounds. I had originally thought I wanted to be directly on one of the main beaches, like Winnifred's or Frenchman's Cove. But now I think staying in town might be a better option.

We're then going to move on to Likkle Paradise in Long Bay which sounds lovely.

Thanks for the advice about calling ahead and cancelling if I decide to book in advance.

This is a great forum - I hope people don't mind if I drop back in to ask a couple more questions before my trip!

K

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ohliz
ohliz

I wasn't really sure about Ivanhoes either, but MikeyMike and Weaver so highly recommended it, as did a few other people I know and trust, finally the photos of the views and the price sealed the deal for me. I'll definitely stay there again.

i'm really glad too because the marina beach is very nice and really only a 5 minute walk.

http://worldstogethertravel.com/jamaica/lodging-ivanhoes.htm

My photos from that trip are here, several of and around Ivanhoes about midway down the page:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ohliza/JamaicaMarch2009

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weaver
weaver

Aaah, "Likke Paradise"; that's it! I haven't stayed there but met a few people who did and all said it was ok. When you get to Ivanhoe's, if you do, ask for "Weaver". We'll be down in the garden-level flat. We'll be happy to share notes, make suggestions and help in whatever way we can. ( We've been going to Port Antonio since 1990..) Hope to see you.

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kit_cat2
kit_cat2

Will do! Thank you all very much.

Only other thing, is there any way of going from MoBay airport to Port Antonio without spending $200?! And do you know how long it takes?

And should we use route taxis when we make the move from PA to Treasure Beach? Thanks!

K

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ohliz
ohliz

If go DO look up weaver - I did and she showed me right around the neighborhood, beach, market, etc...very helpful. She left for town the next day and I got to show some new people around as she had done for me :)

I just submitted my review to trip advisor from last March:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147314-d948678-r55573540-Ivanhoe_s_Guest_House-Port_Antonio_Jamaica.html

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