Half Moon is a one-of-a-kind fifty year old luxury property with 400 acres and 2 mile beachfront property. It is an independently-managed five-star resort with an award-winning spa, 18-hole golf course and even an equestrian centre with “turf and surf” excursions available where you can go horseback riding on the beach turf and even swim with horses! There is no shortage of dining options including Sugar Mill, which was awarded as Jamaica’s best restaurants. The resort is currently undergoing the second phase of a $75 million expansion project which will provide 57 new rooms by October 2018.
I had the pleasure of staying two nights here thanks to the Jamaica Tourism Board but as always all opinions are my own.
Getting There: The resort is a convenient 10-minute drive from Montego Bay Airport (MBJ).
Location: This Montego Bay resort expands from Sunrise Beach to Sunset Beach with gorgeous views over the water.
Check in: Upon arrival, we received colorful rum drinks, were provided our room keycards and personally shuttled to our rooms on golf carts. We were assigned blue bikes, helmets and bike locks to better explore the expansive property. The room’s gifts waiting for us in the room included a coffee rum cake and gift basket with local spices and coffee.
The Room: The Hibiscus junior suite was a large modern room with a private outdoor entrance and amenities that went above and beyond. There were two large flat screen TVs, one in the living space and one in the bedroom area. Request a Hibiscus junior suite on the 2nd floor with a terrace for the best views or for larger groups connecting rooms or personal villas are available.
Bathroom: The spacious bathroom was bigger than most NYC studio apartments, with a large tub and two walk-in closets. An iron and ironing board were provided along with a hairdryer and locally sourced line of shampoo and conditioner.
Bathrobes and slippers: The bathrobe was a light towel material. The flip flop style slippers were incredibly comfortable and perfectly designed for the warm Caribbean climate! The slippers were laid out during turn down service on a custom towel embroidered with the “Half Moon” logo.
WiFi: The WiFi was very fast with a modem in most rooms and accessible all over the property, even on the beach!
Water: Each room was stocked with four bottles of water and refreshed daily.
Coffee/Tea: There was a large mini-bar with coffee, tea and even apple juice, soft drinks and red stipe beers and spirits. The snacks available were also locally sourced and delicious including a coffee rum cake and plantain chips.
Power Plugs: There were a myriad of plugs around the space including plugs near the bed and 110V electric outlets.
Pool: There are two pools just across from the Hibiscus junior suites an Olympic Lap Pool and the beautifully landscaped Hibiscus family-friendly pool complete with a swim up bar. Some villas have private pools.
Beach: From the crescent-shaped Sunset Beach to the expansive Sunrise Beach guests have plenty of room to lay out on beach chairs or walk along the 2 miles of white sand beaches.
Dining: There are a plethora of dining options so you never have to leave the resort from modern Jamaican cuisine to Italian cuisine there is something for everyone. Sugar Mill is the most famous elegant restaurant, voted the best restaurant in Jamaica, where the chef personally visited our table to discuss his recommended dishes. Try the smoked pumpkin soup, jerk chicken spring rolls and the oxtail ravioli. Dine at Seagrape terrace for breakfast omelets made to order and an impressive lunch buffet options for every diet and even a dessert and ice cream sundae bar perfect for any sweet tooth! Try the fresh guava ice cream!
Mosquitoes: Each room provided bug spray. There were very minimal bug bites.
Fitness: If biking, swimming, tennis and golf doesn’t satisfy your workout needs there are private yoga houses and a fitness center with cardio machines, free weights and more.
The Verdict: I have stayed at Half Moon twice during two trips to Jamaica and I would absolutely stay there again and recommend it to friends, couples and families alike! It is especially great for large families with plenty of activities and even a children’s village to keep kids busy. Couples and friends would also love the customizable activities, various bar and dining options and beautiful beaches. The resort is a destination in itself so you don’t even need to leave!
Additional Info:
Style: Modern plantation resort
Atmosphere: Vibrant fun in the sun
Amenities:
Equestrian Centre
18-hole golf course
Water sports
Tennis and Squash
Fitness center
Kid and family friendly with a children’s village of supervised activities
Iron and full-size ironing board
Hairdryer
Note: no drones allowed
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