Jamaica Inn

Decades ago Jamaica was a high-class affair, with pronounced British overtones; Noël Coward and Ian Fleming lived here, and Winston Churchill and TS Eliot were known to visit. Parts of Jamaica have since moved on, and taken on a decidedly less stylish approach to anything-goes relaxation — which makes Jamaica Inn all the more remarkable for the way it balances its exceedingly casual atmosphere with a certain classic elegance.

It may as well still be the Fifties here, and that's a good thing; this is a traditional and slightly retro resort, an homage to classic resort hospitality. Guest rooms are smart and well-groomed, but never stuffy or old-fashioned, and a look at the guestbook will confirm that while the resort may be a bit of a throwback, the clientele isn't — the current guests are quite a bit younger than Churchill, and they're a globally diverse lot.

The retro atmosphere may be down to the fact that it's a family operation — the owners run the hotel with the kind of love that is sorely lacking in Jamaica's bigger, louder resorts. Rooms lack televisions, as well as alarm clocks, for that matter. Spa treatments are a perennial favorite, and the calm Caribbean is a primary draw, offering everything from kayaking and snorkeling to deep-sea fishing expeditions. It's as calm as you want it to be, but if it's activity you're after, there's seemingly nothing your concierge can't arrange. And in the evening the entertainment comes to you, with live reggae under the stars most nights till around eleven — eleven, not coincidentally, being the moment you start to seriously consider living in Jamaica full-time.

Please note: During the summer season, children 10 and older are welcome at the hotel.

How to get there: The hotel is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes drive from Montego Bay airport; the cost by hotel car is $135 USD for 2 each way.