My family and I have just returned from a wonderful week at the Retreat Plantation House, where we went to celebrate my Mother's birthday.
We'd been to an all-inclusive hotel last November, and unfortunately, we had found it difficult to accommodate everyone's needs, particularly with two babies who are up at the crack of dawn and then go to sleep around 6 pm. It seemed like we were always stuck in the room, and couldn't even leave to grab a cup of coffee, etc. As such, I'd been looking for vacation rentals online and was excited when I came across the Plantation House. I contacted the owner, Robin, and knew immediately from his rapid response and friendly tone that this would be the right place for my family.
When we arrived at the Montego Bay airport, Robin had kindly arranged for a driver to pick us up in a van large enough to accommodate our group. The drive to Negril took about an hour along the coast road, and then another 15 minutes or so past Sheffield to the Plantation House. Robin was there to meet us at the house, and helped us bring our luggage in and get settled. He showed us around the house, and answered any questions we had about the property and getting around Negril.
The house has three bedrooms, which comfortably accommodated our a group of 6 adults and 2 infants (11-month-old twins). Robin made a special arrangement to have an extra crib brought into the house (we needed 2), which we greatly appreciated!
The house has a full kitchen with a large refrigerator (which takes a long time to cool things down, but they do get nice and cold), a coffee maker and grinder, a toaster, a toaster oven, and a microwave. We bought groceries from local markets, and had no trouble preparing our own meals and snacks throughout the day. The entire house is completely screened, which was fantastic because we were able to walk around at dawn and dusk without bugs bothering us.
The housekeepers, Marcia and Edna, are lovely ladies, and did a wonderful job keeping the house neat and tidy throughout our stay. We enjoyed chatting with them when they were in the house, and we certainly didn't find them intrusive in any way. The gardener, 'G', is also lovely, and brought us fresh coconuts and roasted breadfruit. What a treat!
In sum, we had an excellent week, and wouldn't hesitate to return to the Plantation House. Robin is a lovely host, and works with a number of very reliable, honest, and overall special people to make your stay as comfortable as possible. We miss you all, and look forward to keeping in touch!