Jamaica Hostels

Homerscove Bungalow in Negril … We Spent ten wonderful days at Homers Cove in November 2007 (off season). We ate fun new foods and laughed, laughed, and laughed with Dillo and his soon to be wife in his yard. Dillo was everything the website said he was, but more. He watched over us at all times, I felt so safe. If you want to be treated like a king and queen, go stay at Homers Cove.

Errols Sunset Cafe & Guesthouse on the Beach in Negril … this is a very nice place right on the ocean. andre is very accommodating.

Negril Yoga Centre in Negril … I stayed there for eight days in January 2007 in their cheapest accommodation. I found the center to be very unique and fun, the other guests who were there when I was there were great, the staff and management were most helpful and caring about their guests, security was fine, and location was great. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the yoga centre to anybody contemplating staying there.

Seascape Hostel by the Sea in Priory … I visited this hostel a couple of years ago. It is nice and private and a little secluded. It's great for a family with a car on tour of the North Coast. I would like to visit again, maybe with a small group. I like the fact that guests can do their own cooking. Laundry I am not sure about. I do not remember seeing any washing machines. The Super Clubs are close by, so I could always visit them. The price is reasonable. The grounds were well kept. I think Priory Gardens is one of the North Coast's best-kept secrets. I want to visit again, only this time I want to stay for more than two days.

Villa Mora in Negril … It should be made known that this is an estate/hotel, not a hostel. They have wonderful accommodations and chefs on site. Yes, it is affordable due to the kind nature of the few family-owned properties left in Negril. I have stayed in youth hostels in Europe and Villa Mora is the Taj Mahal compared to them.

Mount Edge Guest House in Kingston … This hostel is beautiful and pristine, just as it appears in the photos. The staff is fun and obliging. The food was excellent and authentic. Some rooms were phenomenal, I suggest booking the roost, but even the room I stayed in with two bunk beds and no bathroom was cheap and comfortable. The shared bathroom was outdoors but very nice and clean. If you are looking for a quiet relaxing time, this may not be the place for you, but if you want to meet interesting travelers and locals and have a good time, while enjoying some of the most spectacular vistas around Mount Edge is the place.

Tamarind Great House in St. Mary … While living in Jamaica, I spent many a weekend at Tamarind House - it was my favourite place on the Island!

4 Sunrise Apartments Jamaica in Port Maria … I stayed at the Sunrise whilst carrying out some personal business in Jamaica. A stay at the Sunrise is a must if you want to see the "Real Jamaica." It's not a large, faceless, over-sanitized hotel like the ones you find in Negril or Ochi Rios, it's Jamaica for someone who likes to travel and likes to partake in local culture. Fidel looks after the place and nothing is too much trouble for him. For those worried about safety, the gates are very secure, and the locals respect the fact that you're staying at Sunrise and nobody hassles you. Two mins from the bus terminus, three mins from the beach and the same to the shops and cafes. The appartment is well equipped, a real home from home. A perfect base for touring as there is secure parking with your vehicle visible from your room at all times. A trip to Firefly in the late afternoon is must -- seeing Port Maria as the sun is setting is priceless and a memory that will stay with you forever.

Club Ambiance in St. Ann … I had a wonderful vacation here. The staff are very accommodating. The locals made it an extra special stay. This place has very clean, comfortable and delightful accommodations. I can't wait to return.

Leighton House in Kingston … Personnel like to harass guests -- ten dollars for internet, when calling a taxi give you higher price than you call it by yourself (twenty dollars to go there from the airport, thirty dollars to go to the airport). If you pay some deposit during booking they say that they don't get it and ask for full price (so you pay more than you expected). It is easy to get a bus and go wherever you want, but there are big jams after eleven so don't expect to be at the Bob Marley museum in thirty minuts. Problems with water (I confirmed with other guests) I had water in shower (lucky one) but didn't have in a sink, other persons didn't have at all. But this hostel was the only thing I didn't like on Jamaica. Reply from the Hostel: Staff are very welcoming for a start, they don't harass anybody, and the hotel charges are well listed throughout the building with room tariffs roughly less than a third of those for others in Kingston and both times I stayed there, the deposit was noted and taken…

Search-me-Heart in Port Antonio … I'll start with the positives. The guesthouse is nicely kept, with an attractive garden, as advertised on the Search-Me-Heart web site. It is also quite secure. we always felt quite safe in terms of intruders being kept out. The nearby beaches are indeed beautiful, as are the mountains. Those excursions are highly recommended if you travel to the area. Having said that, here are the negatives. Rosanna (the Italian owner) was in Italy during our stay, leaving Yellow Culture to run the operation. His knowledge of the area was helpful, but the guests were often treated with rudeness and bullying. As the site conveys, Culture is a DJ. During our stay, he blasted music at all hours of the day and night with no consideration for guests. This is in spite of the fact that one of the rooms actually shares a common wall with the studio. Even when Culture would leave the guesthouse on errands, the music was most often left blasting in his locked studio. The food was consistently poor…