Sandals Whitehouse
Where is it? This faux European village, in shades of muted ochre, burned orange and pale blue, is in Whitehouse, on the unspoiled southwest coast of Jamaica. The high-end luxury lodgings, which are surrounded by 16 hectares of lush poinciana and flamboyant trees, overlook the longest stretch of beach on the south coast.
Luxurious or basic? This is the most luxurious of the larger all-inclusive resorts on the island. Choose one of the elegant suites on the beach and with it comes a personal butler trained by the Guild of Professional English Butlers. The care lavished on guests is impeccable and imbued with characteristic Jamaican warmth. Even snacks on the beach are delivered on fine china and when you come 'home' after a hard day at the beach, expect a candlelit bubble bath adorned with floating bougainvillea petals.
Who should visit? The resort is for adults; couples who want tranquillity, understatement and the convenience of an all-inclusive holiday without the tackiness that often goes along with that. Fret not; there are no hair beads and no limbo contests.
What's on the menu? The cuisine at the resort's Bluefield restaurant is authentic Jamaican and makes use of local ingredients. In fact, the hotel helps out small local operations by buying their produce and assisting with farming. There are also Asian-, Italian- and French-themed eateries on the property. Morning coffee and pastry on the terrace of Cafe de Paris can be enjoyed with a view of the cerulean Caribbean Sea.
What else is there to do? Lounge in the resort's Red Lane Spa and soak up a range of treatments. Diving, fishing and sailing excursions are available and music lovers should not miss afternoon performances of mento, an all-but-extinct form of Jamaican music. Whitehouse offers guests the opportunity to visit and contribute to some of its community projects, including a small school, a hillside farm and a home for abandoned boys.
What's the bottom line? Rates are seasonal. Standard room rates for this month begin at US$465 a night.
Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa is in Whitehouse, Westmoreland parish, Jamaica, tel: 876 640 3000; www.sandals.com/main/whitehouse/wh-home.cfm.