Frenchman's Cove, Port Antonio

Ahhh, Frenchman's Cove Hotel is the perfect place to decompress from whatever your cares may be. If that's your goal, good--there are no TVs or radios in the villas. The rooms in the Great House, where you take breakfast, do have TVs. Note to self: check with your cellular provider to see if you can get service before you leave. If not, spend the money and get a throwaway phone at the airport. Make sure to buy more minutes than what comes with the package! Remember, the minutes you buy will be quoted in Jamaican dollars so it will sound like a lot, but will go really, really fast. You will use the phone for everything, even calling the front desk. The private villas have floor to ceiling windows on all four sides. They are sparsely furnished and feature twin beds, a coffeemaker, celing fans, refrigerator and cofee and cream-- but are spacious enough for a couple or a family. The bathroom is huge and I really dug the sunken shower. A major attraction is Frenchman's Cove's private beach. You can swim, sunbathe, party or read with a cool drink or a jerked lunch by your side. But get to the beach early because it fills up on the days that the Hotel allows cruise ship guests to visit. It is very easy to get to downtown Port Antonio via public transportation. But do complete your traveling before dusk unless you have arranged for transportation because that's when the buses stop running. And you aren't guaranteed to catch a taxi. Be sure to plan a ride to the Boston Jerk Centre (about 25 minutes via taxi--don't try to walk like we did!) and to the Port Antonio Marina. Also, you can take a taxi to St. Margaret's Bay and go rafting on the Rio Grande river.