Sometimes you don't want to tell anyone about a special place because you are afraid it will become too popular...we have been coming to the Treasure Beach Hotel for over 20 years and it is my favorite place to be in Jamaica. The hotel was built in the '30's and has been owned by Dr. Brown since the mid-80's, so it's landscaping has had the time to age into some of the most serene and beautiful vistas you will see anywhere. The hotel has large hillside grounds with pathways, benches, pavilions and two pools. You eat breakfast on the hilltop terrace overlooking an exuberant garden. You can sit under the trees in the patio or in a covered area indoors to enjoy a leisurely breakfast (served from 7:30-11:00) of a fruit plate, eggs and toasst, a continental breakfast or a traditional Jamaican breakfast with juice and coffee, which comes with the price of the room. Over the years we have enjoyed ordering dinner by room service, which comes in several courses and while the prices for this have gone up, I recommend trying it at least once for a feeling of relaxed decadence. In 2007 there Hurricane Ivan took the tops off the highest palms and eroded the beach terribly. Thankfully the beach has now come back. Everyone who works at the hotel is gracious and friendly, Lorna and others make us feel like family. Rooms have the necessary amenities, ac and ceiling fans, comfortable beds, solar heated showers, and are kept very clean. You can go many places in Treasure Beach, such as the hip Jakes, or the less expensive Jack Spratt, to eat. I find so much to do on the property, that I often just like to hang out there. Take my long walk on the beach, surf the waves (the sea is usually pretty rough in this area) or choose which of the two large pools to take my swim. Nearby day trips are Lover's Leap, the lovely Wyes Falls, the Black River river boat trip, massages, a boat trip to see the Dolphins and visit the Pelican Bar (an offshore atoll), horseback riding at the Cove (another lovely landscaped place to go for lunch). If you want to have the feel of a real Jamaica visit-forget Sandals and the all-inclusives and take a chance on the lovely community of Treasure Beach. Sure the roads are a bit testy, but nearby you can swim at Great Bay, Calabash Bay, Billie's Bay, Fort Charles beach. Every two years in late May there is the Calabash Poetry festival at Jakes, which attracts Caribbean and famous poets from the states to read in a seaside tent. We stayed this time in Room 55 which is usually reserved for honeymooners--we had a king size bed, flat screen tv, sofa, terrace with an amazing view of Frenchman's Beach, and a refrigerator. Windows have screens and you sleep with the sound of the waves. Idyllic.
