CASTLES ON THE SEA IN OCHO RIOS JAMAICA

On Monday February 08, 04:21 PM, John and Saundra Quick, Costello "CP" and Lorraine Wilson, Wil and Tonya Jones, and Ron and Gloria Henderson said,

One word . . . FABULOUS!!! Magnificent, and all the other adjectives!!! (oops, I did say one word)

We all had a wonderful time. Curlene, Warren, Beverly, and Sylvan were so attentive and made our stay so enjoyable. We have already shared our pictures with family and friends. I guess you could say that we have not come down from the clouds just yet. My family and "Quick" and I (that's how folks address John) have vacationed in Ocho Rios several times before and have never experienced such a great appreciation for the island.

Warren cooked the best meals ever and Quick has already duplicated one of the meals with all the trimmings (tomatoes, peppers, etc.). The staff attended to our every wish. My cousins' husbands even tagged along with Warren on one of the grocery shopping trips.

Upon our arrival, all tired, hot, and hungry, Sylvan and Curlene greeted us with cool drinks and, of course, lunch was instantly available. It was GREAT! From that point on, we all were just like family. To say the least, our experience was unforgettable.

The pool, hot tub, ocean, accommodations, scenic views, flowers, trees, birds, and even the little critters all contributed to the pleasure of our visit.

The day of our departure, we all gave a special presentation and thank you to Sylvan, Curlene, Beverly, and Warren. In the guest register, my brother drew a picture of a palm tree and I wrote a poem; just a little something special so that they could remember who we were in the months to come. We conducted our little program out on the mosaic patio and took pictures of the staff. Needless to say, most everyone was in tears.

My family and I will never forget the graciousness and hospitality that was extended. You are to be commended in the selection of staff attending to guests. It was great working with you and yes, we do plan to visit the Castles again.

On Monday February 08, 04:19 PM, Dale & Pam said,

Our family of seven (six adults and one baby) just returned from the vacation of our lifetime at Castles. The beautiful pictures cannot begin to describe how truly gorgeous and relaxing this property is. Imagine sleeping in heavenly beds, listening to the waves rocking up into the cliffside, a light Caribbean breeze blowing through the room. We awoke to the delicious scents coming from the kitchen..fresh fruit platters, pancakes cooked to perfection, platters of bacon and eggs, even ackee and saltfish!
The grounds are impeccably kept by Sylvan. He is a super snorkeling guide or spearfishing expert. He'll eagerly give a tour of the estate, pointing out the different fruit trees and plants. You'll want to stop for a croquet tournament or a little basketball. Carlene and Beverly kept the houses so perfect, it was as if we were royalty. The fresh flower arrangements nightly on the tables are breathtaking! In fact, our daughter had so much faith in these wonderful ladies that she entrusted them to watch her baby for an afternooon so that we could ride horseback through the plantations and the ocean. The little guy loved the spoiling, too!
Warren is magic in the kitchen. We requested Jamaican specialties and fell in love with the brown stew chicken and lobster dishes. The rum bread pudding with hot caramel sauce is a must! We believe that was the best key lime pie we have had in our lives!
Oftentimes, vacations can be hectic, but here, there was no fighting for lounge chairs, no standing in line for food, no noise or loudness from other visitors, just our own family laughter as we sat in the hot tub enjoying rum punch (mmmm...) or playing card games late into the night.
We had heard some interesting comments on the city of Ocho Rios prior to our arrrival. However, we never ran into any disagreeable characters, only friendly, hospitable Jamaicans who are proud of their island and heritage. Always a smiling, friendly face. The city was quite safe and clean.
The owner did call us several times throughout the week, just to make sure that all was well. Of course it was! Not one thing to bring to his attention.
All agreed that this was the best vacation ever. There is really nothing to compare. Thank you to all that made it possible and we truly hope to see you again. May God bless you all.

On Monday February 08, 04:19 PM, Ginny S said,

I led my family of 14 (5 adults, 9 teenagers) on what turned out to be the vacation of a lifetime at Joyce and Henri Verne's magnificent Castles on the Sea. I barely have the words to describe how perfect this "double" villa is for a relaxing vacation.

First of all, the gorgeous pictures on the internet are all true, but of course, what makes this place better than the internet is the incredible, doting, lovely staff: Warren--a world class chef, Sylvan--the hardworking houseman who keeps the grounds perfect and Curlene and Beverly who keep the villas spotless and do your clothes as well!

The nice thing about the grounds is that there are so many places to gather to be together--and to be alone if you wish to quietly read or nap. My teenagers took to croquet as if they had played their entire lives and by the end of the week as if their lives depended on it. We had a serious croquet tournament! Being able to swim in the gorgeous water right off the villa was heavenly and actually, far better than going in off a beach where you ended up full of sand. Waking up each morning, we would swim, eat a fabulous breakfast and then lounge. We never had to worry about getting a chair, or crowds or lines. "No worries, mon"--it is true.

The owners, Henri and Joyce are lovely, so pleasant to deal with and are happy to answer any questions and make suggestions about things to do. It is also very nice to have 2 villas--versus one big house, because our group sort of split up into the early to bed crowd and those who stay up until 2 am. We could have killer scrabble games going on and not disturb the others in the other villa. The villa is comfortable, not so fancy that you feel like you're afraid to relax and put your feet up.

The food was spectacular and we all enjoyed gathering every night to whatever Warren made--lobster, fresh fish, chicken and oh, those desserts. Yes, as others have indicated, the key lime pie is the best and this from a lifelong pie baker.

The home is always kept immaculate by Beverly and Curlene--they are like church mice, you don't see them--they just stealthily kept our messes under control. Your privacy is never compromised by the large staff that maintains this home.

I saw a case of Red Stripe on sale today in the grocery store and my heart went pitter-pat--not for my love of beer, which I don't even drink, but for my fond memories of Jamaica and Castles on the Sea.

I feel lucky to have stayed there.
Recommended for: Girls Getaway, Tourists without a Car, Families with Teenagers, Romantic Getaway