When I won a trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica from Sundance Vacations with free airfare and accommodations, I was unsure what the hotel situation would be. Since I did not have the option of picking where I was going to stay, I was slightly nervous to see what a ‘free' vacation hotel looked like. I was pleasantly surprised, therefore, when I pulled up to the Emerald View Resort Villa located just 20 minutes from the airport. The owner of the family owned Inn, Jennifer, greeted us warmly upon arrival and promptly showed us to our room.
The Room
Our room at the Emerald View Resort Villa was cozy and quaint. Though it was not fancy by any means, it served its purpose perfectly. A bed to lay my head, a clean bathroom with a shower and hot water, and even a television with over 100 channels. Each room at the Emerald View Resort Villa comes with the following amenities:
- Complementary wireless internet
- Television with cable
- Air conditioning unit with individual remote control
- Ceiling fan
- Iron and ironing board
- A Mini fridge and safe are available upon request as well.
The Grounds
The Emerald View Resort Villa is located up on a hill overlooking the ocean. It's position provides excellent panoramic views of the houses dotting the hill below and the turquoise ocean just beyond. The property around the inn is just as beautiful as the view surrounding it. The gardens are excellently tended with colorful caribbean flowers that never failed to brighten my day. The hotel has a 24 hour salt water pool, several hammocks overlooking the ocean view, and a front room with a piano – if you are musically inclined, you are more than welcome to perform for the other guests.
The hotel also has a dining room where they serve breakfast and lunch for $15 US. They offer traditional Jamaican meals as well as the breakfast favorites of omelettes and pancakes. I tried the Jamaican breakfast of ackee and salt fish with fried dumplings which was not only delicious but looked beautiful.
The Staff
What makes the Emerald View Resort Villa so special, aside from the spectacular views, is the staff. They truly go above and beyond to make sure that your vacation is one you will never forget. Jennifer, the owner, shared a myriad of fun options for us to possibly partake in when we first arrived. One morning, having slept in more than we had planned, she cut up fruit and provided us with a ‘to-go' bag for breakfast in order to ensure our stomachs were full for our day trip. Her driver, Duran, was more than willing to transport us to any place we had out minds set on visiting – for a price of course. To give you a sense of cost, I paid $20 round trip to get into downtown Montego Bay, $20 round trip to the Luminous Lagoon, and $50 round trip to Nine Mile, the village where Bob Marley was born and grew up. These prices are cheaper than what a taxi driver would charge. In the evenings, the hotel provides free shuttles to local restaurants with excellent food! My favorite was the Chill Out Hut, located just a 3 minute drive away, where I enjoyed more than one delicious dinner on the beach.
Final Verdict
For those interested in a real local look at Jamaica, the Emerald View Resort Villa is the best place to stay. While it is not fancy, the beautiful views and accommodating staff make it an excellent pick for your visit to Montego Bay.
Hotel Info
261 Poinciana Drive
Greenwood, Montego Bay, Jamaica
876-465-2054