Bluefields Bay Villas

Upon arrival I knew I was about to experience something special. The winding path led us through a beautifully blooming jungle to our private suite, equipped with all the amenities needed to fully decompress. Special touches like fresh flowers throughout, magazines, drinks already in the fridge and aloe just in case. For me the it wasn’t the unbelievable view of the ocean from atop of our jungle Hideaway, it was the staff. Every morning, I woke to my coffee waiting just outside the door. Every meal was curated just for us, the chef greeted us with the most mouth watering creations, breakfast lunch and dinner all were amazing. We had the most attentive-butler who made sure our every need was met. Each excursion was planned without any effort on our part, right down to a linen tablecloth picnic at the YS waterfall. This place is truly what dreams are made of! This place truly blends beauty, relaxation and luxury all in one incredible place!

What a wonderful, relaxing, luxurious vacation. We had 3 generations pampered in our elegant house by a staff like no other! The attention to detail and personal touches made our stay comfortable and easy. The cook was wonderful, housekeeping and nanny all became part of our family - so sad we had to leave them behind! Hope to be going back again soon.

This was definitely a trip my family will always remember at the Providence House. Overall, we had a very relaxing time and felt pampered. The three family meals (sitting at a beautifully decorated table) is something we almost never get to do at home with our busy schedules, so it was a great treat. The beds were comfortable and the home was a perfect size for my family of 6. Make sure you research fully before booking this place- as you need to make sure you know what you are getting. Is is good service, really nice staff, delicious food, and an amazing view- yes, 100%. However there are some small negatives which could ruin an otherwise amazing time. The main issue would be the lack of AC in the main areas which are always open to the air, which also invites a good amount of bugs and mosquitos into the living spaces. If you are used to being one with nature, you probably wont be bothered, but for someone who is used to a 5 star resort resort experience, you might be frustrated at times with this. In the evenings after dinner we wanted to spend time as a family, but once the sun goes down its very hard to be in the main living areas as the bugs flock to any light that is on, and playing a family game became almost impossible as we were swarmed with bugs and were getting eaten alive by mosquitos. The good news is that forced us to go to bed early on most nights (the bedrooms have screens and AC units) and wake early in the mornings. We adjusted to this as the week went on and it became less of an issue, but something to consider. The staff generally tries hard to make your experience memorable. The first night we arrived was fathers day and my daughters birthday and they decorated the table and made her a birthday cake which was wonderful. Here are some other pros and cons: Pros: - AMAZING view from our Villa (Providence House) - Super friendly and kind staff (we loved our butler Jovanie) - Delicious and fresh food and drinks (planning meal options can be tricky) - Good overall service (not five star in my experience- had to ask for most things like clean pool towels, more toiletries when we were out, search for staff when we needed something, etc) - Very relaxing, as there isn't much to do there but RELAX - Amazing table settings (by our butler) and forced family meals- this was a real treat - Snorkeling offshore on the reef is beautiful and full of ocean life. The boat captain and staff was great. - Kayaks always available, and beautiful place to do that Cons: - Drive from Montego Bay airport. LONG (about 90 min) and windy and very bumpy. My youngest got very carsick both directions. - No AC in main areas of the house (heat and bugs can be an issue for some, but we got used to it an adapted) - Some furnishings inside the home need a real refresh (couch was broken, AC was leaking, games were old and missing pieces, etc). - Advertised equipment at beach was broken or missing. We were looking forward to trying the elliptical and it wasn't there and one hydrobike wasn't working. - Not great communication with the nanny/childcare help. We have three older kids and one younger, so it's a little tricky to engage them. Very sweet and kind, though. Overall we loved our trip, adapted to the things we needed to, and enjoyed the property. I am still reflecting on it all, but think I would stay there again.

We stayed at the Bluefields Bay from Thursday through Monday for both Mother’s Day and my birthday. We were there with our two kids aged 4.5 and 2. Lodging We stayed at the Cottonwood which had its own private pool with a waterfall and access to the beach (via a lot of steep stairs). The beds were very comfortable and we were quite happy with the bedrooms. They were spacious and beautiful with serene views. Both bathrooms were stocked well with basic toiletries and plenty of storage and closet space. The living room was okay - I would have liked to have air conditioning (it was only in the bedrooms so at night with the windows closed it was hard to sit in the living room) and a bit more comfortable lounge seating but wasn’t a big deal as we didn’t spend much time in the living room. Mosquitos were a problem but the staff tried their best. We also loved the separate private dining area, it felt like a treat to walk there for dinner. There was also a crib and high chair provided though no step stool for the bathroom sink (we asked). We enjoyed 3 meals a day in the private dining area, detached from the main house. It was fun getting out of the house to go to eat but then also a great experience to dine privately and quietly! Staff We had more staff than people in our family, an experience for us and made us feel royal! We loved the housekeeper, Tracy, who was extremely friendly and very quick with service. Made us feel comfortable. The chef made great food, and they were all happy to tailor the menu to my older son, a picky eater. We were given options the day before to pick what we wanted to eat and it was well organized. We also got snacks by the pool in the afternoons and could order any drinks we want while in the pool. The staff went above and beyond to decorate the dining area and make a cake for my birthday. The nanny was okay - she would probably have been better with older kids than ours. She would play well with my 4 year old with bricks in the living room and with the kids in the sand, and she helped to carry beach toys and change the kids if we asked. But at other times with the family, I felt that she could have done more to talk to the kids and to make them feel more comfortable with her such that we could then leave her with the kids more, which makes me think she may not have enough experience with little kids. She would ask me what’s wrong with him when our two year old had tantrums or was crying, instead of talking to him directly. She also didn’t smile much in our presence, which felt strange as if she didn’t want to be there. Water activities The private pool we had was great for lounging and had a very large shallow area for our 2 year old to safely play while someone watched. There was a waterfall in the pool which was wonderful and a really nice touch. It was small and shaded, with no lounge chairs next to the pool (required a very short walk down stairs to another close by area). You can’t do laps in the pool. The shade in the trees was good in that we didn’t risk sunburn but then also didn’t allow me to swim in the sun as I wanted. There is another pool on the premises that’s larger and sunnier but when asked if we could use it, I was told it’s only for the suites. The beach was small given that there were storms recently. So you can’t really walk in the sand by the water much. Parts of it are taken over by kayaks. Lots of seaweed but they do clean it - when we went right after they cleaned it was beautiful. Since we went right after a storm, none of the boat rides were available. We asked if there were any boat ride options nearby. To our surprise and delight, they were able to arrange a boat ride from the hotel itself. The resort is intentionally small - the main activities here are the pool and the beach. It’s quiet, which we liked as it was relaxing. All in all a nice getaway!

If you are looking for a quiet, serene island environment....with world class Jamaican cuisine and impeccable service....this is the resort for you. A truly authentic "white table cloth" Jamaican experience. My wife and I recently stayed in one of the recently built Suites for our 27th Anniversary. Our experience could not have been better. The staff are so personable, after a couple of days, they feel like family. Sweet people. You will walk the grounds and be amazed by the variety of foliage...always perfectly manicured. All of your food is locally procured...and most is produced at their onsite farm. Highly recommend a hike up the mountain with a "true Rasta guide", supplied by the resort. You'll learn about dozens of leaves and fruits that are just growing wild as you make you way up the mountain. If you're lucky, you'll get to meet the legendary Jamaican, "Bob", who lives at the top of the mountain. Go to YS Falls, the largest waterfall on the island, and swim in the Falls. Also, there are numerous other activities and excursions their concierge can arrange for you. The owners, the Moncures, have run Bluefields Bay for over 30yrs. Their children grew up on the resort and are now involved in managing it. No doubt they have perfected the "Jamaican experience." Book it, if you can get a spot.