GoldenEye

Visited for 5 nights with my family. The thing that stays with you about goldeneye is the grounds and sense of space. You are amongst around 40 other villas/huts and although it was virtually full when we stayed you always have space to yourself, be that one of the white sand beaches, the sea or one of the casual areas located around the resort. The grounds are impeccable, yet someone manage to look natural. Kudos to the ground staff that work there. We stayed in a 2 bedroom hut, which worked well for my wife and I and our 2 teenage children. The beds are ridiculously good (please tell us the mattress make?) and large (we are British so don’t get this size in the UK) and the rooms stay cool whether you use the Louvres or the AC. Food and drink is relaxed with a Jamaican accent on everything, we particularly enjoyed the beach bar at lunch and breakfast. There is only one main restaurant the Bizot for dinners but they do offer a feature cooking option elsewhere on most nights (steak, curry, bbq etc), however we found that these were overpriced for what you got ($90 a head for a basic bbq with 2 meat choices only of pork and jerk chicken needs a rethink in our opinion), so we left the hotel on occasion (local shacks are cheap and plentiful and the hotel provides a list for you to try). Food and drink is pricey ( it’s a top hotel) so we did make use of the odd supermarket (a drive away)although the hotel will provide plenty of water (water stations exist as well). Cleaners spend a huge amount of time cleaner your room everyday, which is fantastic. Do get the turn down service! Thank you to everyone at Goldeneye for a wonderful holiday.

As others have said this place is heaven on earth. A focus on natural beauty rather than gimmicks. I loved our authentic beach house nestled in trees with a stunning view. Pure Class. The menu is limited but that suited me well as often on vacation its easy to over eat! The ackee and saltfish at breakfast was just perfect. All the staff from the moment you enter the premises are wonderful, kind and welcoming. I always dreamed to stay here and I am so glad I experienced the beauty of this resort. Its easy to feel like your the only one’s here. Theres no rush for breakfast, no rush to get a lounger in your preferred spot as you generally can have a whole pool to yourself!!! This is what I call luxury!! I also like the authentic music played at bizot bar which adds to the ambience and is soothing, typically Jamaican and not trying to be American like some other Jamaican resorts!! Thank you #GoldenEye

This place is heaven on earth! It wasn’t completely perfect, but it’s about as close as it gets. We stayed in a lagoon villa, which was spotless and well appointed. Sea turtles greeted us every morning! The staff was all so kind and attentive. Ken greeted us everyday with “hello, my family!” Service all around was solid. Our driver, Lauren, made it possible for us to beat the traffic and make our flights AND she was an absolute delight! You really need to go!!!

We recently stayed at GoldenEye Resort in one of the most luxurious beach "huts" I have ever imagined. My hut (#47) had two floors with an open-air kitchen / entertaining / sitting area and outdoor shower downstairs, and an airy upstairs with comfortable bed, a second bathroom, and an outdoor veranda with partial ocean view and leafy green trees, shrubs and flowering bushes everywhere. At night, the cacophony of crickets and tiny tree frogs filled the air and although the huts were screened, the hardwood louvers you could open or close as you liked made it feel like you were in the jungle but in the most comfortable bed ever. The wall A/C unit was positioned to keep you cool while sleeping and there was mosquito netting over the bed (mostly for effect - there were very few mosquitos) that added to the luxurious, exotic feel. We flew into Kingston and took the new-ish highway through the centre of the island, which takes about the same time as driving from Montego Bay. The drive through Kingston was a bit of a grind but once we got on the highway it was quick and smooth. Our driver, Frank Ottar, who is a resident of Oracabessa near GoldenEye, struck exactly the right balance between speed and safety and was knowledgeable about the history of Jamaica. He navigated Kingston like a local. I would not recommend renting a car in Jamaica, by the way. The majority of drivers are maniacs, speeding excessively and changing lanes recklessly, the roads are bumpy, windy, and the signage is non-existent at times (even to the airport!). They also drive on the left, which can be an added challenge if you drive on the right in your home country. We went for a long weekend so the cost was not a huge factor but had we stayed longer, we would definitely have brought some of our own food and drinks. Your driver would probably not mind stopping at the grocery store on the way to the resort or after an excursion if you asked. There really was only one option for a restaurant there and, although the staff was lovely and we looked forward to each meal (they remembered us, our room numbers, and little details, which we thought was kind), after three days it might have gotten a bit old. Also, the food was great quality but the meals were very pricey. US$30 for breakfast of eggs benedict and a coffee, and the BBQ on our last night was US$78, for example - it was a buffet and there was a great reggae band performing but two women on a healthy girls' getaway weren't really going to eat that much BBQ! My friend was vegetarian and they gave her a decent reduction on her meal, so that might be something to try. The watersports (snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding) were free of charge and there was always someone nearby to help you with the equipment. The reef in Snorkeler's Cove was a bit beat up (not unlike a lot of places in the Caribbean, unfortunately) but we were amazed to see a spotted eagle ray and turtle within minutes of being in the water. We also saw a turtle when we were paddleboarding. Just a note about tipping too, as I had read somewhere online that it's difficult / expensive for Jamaicans to exchange US dollars. We were told after we arrived it's absolutely no problem so I'd recommend bringing a good amount of smaller US bills ($1s and $5s) for wait staff, bellmen, drivers, watersports crew, housekeeping, and others making a low wage. They really made us feel like royalty at GoldenEye and it would have been nice to show more personal appreciation to the many who went above and beyond. I do regret not having brought more small US bills as I ended up using my credit card almost exclusively out of convenience. We are definitely going back. Next time with our husbands - we may try the lagoon cottages, although the huts were amazing and felt like being in a tree house - being able to snorkel and swim right off your own dock into the mangroves also looked fantastic. I'd recommend GoldenEye to anyone who enjoys barefoot luxury and wants to be in a serene part of the island where they have made an effort to blend into nature. Not to mention James Bond and Bob Marley fans! There is just enough paraphernalia around to remind you of the history of the place but not be tacky.

Goldeneye is the type of place you miss before you even leave and long to come back to as many times as you are able to, if you are lucky enough to visit more than once. Whether staying by the lagoon or beach, in a hut, cottage, or villa; you are sure to have a unique and special experience at this unique and special place about 2 hours from Montego Bay. From the wonderful staff (Special shoutout to Glen at Shabeen!), to the delicious food (The beach bar at button beach for lunch CANNOT be missed!), to the many different ways to enjoy your day (Kayaking on the lagoon with sea turtles, snorkeling in the cove, relaxing by the pool or on button beach, enjoying a break from the heat in your comfortable room, etc.); Goldeneye is a one of a kind place for those looking to experience Jamaica beyond the inauthentic all inclusive resorts you will pass by on your way to paradise. We look forward to returning to this magical place again soon!