The Crane Ridge is actually my second stay this year, as the first time i wanted to experience staying at a hotel where you can have guests, treat your new local friends with decent hospitality, and have privacy on the balcony.

The Crane Ridge was recommended at that time by my fiance', now my husband. He is a local in Perry Town and the Crane Ridge is in the top 2 when the locals want to stay somewhere that feels like home. It is very hard to find the original web site for the Crane Ridge, as it seems the hotel owners has branched out to sell a few of its 3 story buildings. Must be nice....

I stayed in a one bedroom apartment towards the left side....i recomend the left side of the premises as there is much privacy and respect. All the buildings does not contain elevators, so i do not recommend anyone with serious disabilities to stay in the 1 or 2 bedoom apartments, as you would have to climb a minimum of 2 flights of stairs every moment to come and leave your temporary apartment. I also recommend that you bring a set of utinsels, some frying applications, your own seasoning, and snacks from home. The hotel usually offers(ask if they do not offer) a complimentary breakfast at the diner which consists of fruit(depends what is available each morning and what time you reach the buffet area), toast, danishes, and jucies. If you are on a budget, or you just want to enhance your breakfast in your room, the complimentary breakfast each morning is the way to go! You will get in shape, climbing the stairs and hauling the breakfast for 2 to the room.....
what i did not like was the issues with the water pressure and the coolness of the water in the shower...it did not spray like an upscale hotel in town.....so bear with it....the french doors that open from both the livingroom and your bedroom is impressive. The patios varies in size, but it is very roomy, with views of the ocean and property, and at night, oh at night i loved it! Bring candles baby, it is worth the calming of your soul!
Television is a challenge, although i saw some great local videos in the day and night....and you do get to catch up on the soaps at night on your down time.....and what else, oh, i caught some great scary movies on a saturday night.
I went down to Ocho Rios in August to get married...word to the wise, the hotel does not take care of business...i called for months, ran my phone bill up...the person who arranges weddings never responded to my calls or emails....so it worked out, i got married in a local church and the hotel did not know i had a small gathering of friends and had caker and ice cream. It was cool....thanks hotel for not helping me....i still got wed....and i am not recommending no one to use your property to wed either!
The hotel sits on a hill.....it is easy walking down, but difficult walking up if you are not used to walking. Right down the hill and across the street is where the fisherman have their resturants and you can get some great food, although the food at the hotel resturante is great....like the braised ox tails...however, they do not give change back in American....if i want change in Jamaican dollars, i should get that...and if i want my own monies, i should be able to get that too. That is a serious issue with the hotel.
....there are some cool neighbors who have purchased apartments on the premises......make friends. Speak to the lady and her husband who sell fresh coconuts and sugar canes, very nice folks.

Don't worry, if you meet a sexy guy, beleive me, they can get on the premises, they just need to know your name....and bam, you have company....if anyone knows the pricey hotels, it doesn't work that way. Trust me, if you want no one in your business and y you have a friend, stay at the Crane.

I've visited the 2 bedroom apartments when my friends stayed in March 2007....the upper floor once you get inside is like a club house in the attic, with everything open...no doors, so if there is another couple sharing the apt, you may opt for a 1 bedroom next time...but it is so cool, a tub in the middle of the room and you can kick it and just vibe to the music, the breeze, and the good foods....ahhhhhhhhhhhh.
Ok, this is my recommendation....stay at the Crane 1 or 2 times but no more than a few days, as anything beyond six days can get on your nerves....i want to try another local hotel as it reminds me of home too...but the Crane is really impressive...just minor issues thats all.

Hello
I have stayed at the Crane Ridge Resort three times and it was fine. It is nestled on top of hill, and you get a panoramic view of Ocho Rios and the Caribbean. The property is beautifully landscaped and the rooms are very nice. The first time I visited my room was facing a stream in the back and it was fine. The second time my room was in the back and facing the landscape, and I just loved it. It had a nice patio facing the gardens, but had to share it with my neighbors although not all rooms are like this. The rooms have a sliding glass door and shutters that open up.
There is one pool and bar and they are well kept. The resturant is very nice and it is all open and sits up high so you get a beautiful view of the caribbean when dining. When I was there, I don't think they offered an all inclusive plan, but you do get a continental breakfast of muffins, toast, cookies, fruit, coffee and juices. Prices for breakfast, lunch and dinner are reasonable. Beware, that this is not a compound, so you are not protected by security guards although workers do watch out . The location is very close to all the resturants in Ocho Rios (and a Jerk Chicken Hut is at the end of the hill.) Very good food.
This is a reasonable priced hotel with a gorgius view. If you don't mind not being on the beach.
I highly recommend.
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This hotel was very clean. Staff were very friendly. It was too quiet no friday night pool parties as indicated, too quiet but it was off season.
Beware of duty free shopping down town. I bought white rum and they boxed it up and when I got back to the states the seal was broken and it was not rum but indeed jamaican dirty water and I purchased 3 bottles, so don't be fooled check your bottles.

I stayed here 2 times. July of 05 and July of 06 - both for 1 week. In '05, I had a very pleasant experience. Good food. Polite workers. But I had one BIG problem. While sleeping on the first floor one night, I kept my window open. I woke up and my laptop, wallet and some clothes were gone. Filed a police report at the local OchoRios police station, and was told that I would be reimbursed for my losses. I have yet to see any form of payment. I've read other reviews, and have heard of similar instances of robberies at this hotel. So, in '06, I went back to get the money from the them, and meet with the 'new manager'. He told me that he would get me a check for $200US to reimburse me for my $2000 laptop, wallet, and clothes. He has not written me back or called me back, nor has he presented me with any payment.