Breaking Travel News investigates: Half Moon, Jamaica | Focus
The to start with matter you notice as you arrive at 50 percent Moon, driving via the manicured lawns and effectively-preserved tropical gardens, is the remarkable ocean look at. This is a delight which will constantly meet you throughout your go to to the venerable vacation resort in Montego Bay. As you enter reception by means of the pavilion-design foyer, you are granted the luxurious of checking-in when seeing the ocean slowly and gradually welcome you not only to the resort, but Jamaica too. After a very long flight, it is usually a satisfaction to be met not only with the views above the ocean and the humbling Blue Mountains in the history, but also a rum cocktail, placing the tone for a remarkably pleasant vacation.
I stayed in 1 of the Ocean Perspective rooms at Eclipse, located ideal on the beach front with a panorama that I could take pleasure in from my wrap-all-around balcony. The decor was simple, but chic and classy. The look at from my king size mattress was 1 of palm trees overlooking the ocean, and that was all the decoration I desired.
The vacation resort provides a range of lodging to suit a selection of groups. Rooms are split across the Eclipse at 50 {2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} Moon, Founders Cove at 50 {2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} Moon and Rose Hall Villas at 50 {2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} Moon. In complete there are 210 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, as perfectly as 27 villas, all with straightforward entry to resort facilities along a private beachfront. The villas go up to 7-bedrooms, and are ideal for households, groups and golfers, with each and every showcasing a dwelling and dining space, outside dwelling house and personal pool. Each and every villa will come with a butler, housekeeper and a cook dinner. So appealing have they been in excess of the yrs that Half Moon is in a position to boast previous guests this sort of as HRH Queen Elizabeth II, as well as other members of the British royal family.
One of the highlights of Fifty percent Moon, and any visit to Jamaica, is the beach front. The vacation resort lays assert to a personal two-mile stretch, all of which is established up for your energetic enjoyment (bikes are also obtainable to retain the services of to investigate the seaside, resort and surroundings). It was right here that I achieved some regional suppliers who have as a great deal longevity and price as the vacation resort itself, obtaining taken care of a existence and marriage with their stalls on the beach front for over 17 many years. Chatting will remind you of why you enjoy Jamaica long into the foreseeable future when you reflect again on the state and your vacations right here. 50 percent Moon also features beachside company and eating at their BBQ Grill, offering common Jamaican fare.
For evening meal and beverages I dined at the North Pointe restaurant. Below the sunset sights give you an remarkable vista, and, if you’re lucky, which you generally are here in Jamaica, a breath-taking sunset. As the endless levels of golden pink drinking water merged with the infinity pool, you can rather conveniently get rid of oneself in the perspective. I started with the 50 {2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} Moon’s signature cocktail – the ‘Legacy 65’ – which is made with traditional Blackwell rum. It was designed by the workers as an homage to Jamaica’s heritage of sugarcane production, honouring and elevating a glass to all those people who worked, and proceed to function, in the quite a few sugar cane plantations on the island. The drink by itself was sweet, fruity, boozy and delectable.
Ordinarily at household I consume a vegan diet program, so it was refreshing and unforeseen to see a vast array of vegan possibilities on the menu (I later on discovered there is also a vegan cafe located in the onsite spa). In spite of these scrumptious choices, I experienced earlier decided that when in Jamaica I would try to eat as Jamaicans do (sorry veganism!). As I had anticipated there had been numerous jerk products on the menu, but just after a lot of suggestions from many users of the workforce I opted for the sticky ribs as my main dish. By no means would I consider that I could describe ribs as decadent, but the reason for their many recommendations became very clear. Falling aside from the bone they ended up the epitome of juicy, sticky and completely delectable. I also had the popcorn shrimp, served with a spicy chutney, leaving me way too full for dessert.
Rather I retired to watch a neighborhood jazz band perform on the veranda of Lester’s Bar, which neglected (you guessed it) the ocean, as nicely as diners in the Haywards cafe. As I relished the songs along with the nightly seem of crickets and tree frogs, I admired the breathtaking gardens all-around me. Jamaica is a fruitful land which 50 percent Moon celebrates with their onsite banana, apple, coconut and mango trees. Constantly during the vacation resort it is evident they often try to emulate the experience of becoming exterior when you are within.
The next morning I ate at the Haywards cafe where I was able to delight in a common breakfast of ackee saltfish and dumplings. Breakfast was served buffet model, so I further more indulged with a aspect of bacon, fried plantain, boiled green banana as perfectly as a side plate of fruit. When I enjoyed the offerings of fruit juice, I was advised by a server that “coconut drinking water is the only juice to quench your coronary heart,” which means this was all I drank for the remainder of my keep.
There are a extensive assortment of functions available onsite, ranging from horse riding on the seashore, golfing, tennis or ocean see yoga. My preferred sort of training was to simply swim in the infinity pool, which was generous more than enough in sizing for lengths. For a further sense of entire rest and retreat, there are three more pools in the resorts’ Salamander Spa to indulge in. Notice to element does not go amiss here, furnishing an opportunity to even further retreat inside a retreat. You can also delight in the personal gardens, wherever all herbs utilized in products and services and cooking are grown on-web site.
Even though unfortunate, it is difficult to not point out that we are residing in a time of Covid-19. 50 {2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} Moon went higher than and beyond my anticipations never as soon as did I see a workers member with no a mask, while hand sanitizer was offered during the vacation resort and cleanliness was preserved to the optimum benchmarks. But what impressed me the most was that in the midst of obtaining to adapt to this new way of living and performing in hospitality, what I was achieved with by personnel and locals alike was a Jamaican’s normal aptitude for warmth and friendliness. The capacity to keep that human link in a time like this is laudable. When I spoke to Laura Redpath, the resort’s manufacturer and communications director, about my experience, she stated: “Since we opened in 1954 our variety one priority has always been to make sure that our visitors truly feel welcomed, snug and safe and sound. And we do not want this to adjust because of Covid-19.”
This sentiment was evident all over my time with Fifty percent Moon.
As an additional bonus, the 50 percent Moon procuring village which neighbours the vacation resort, have converted their after grocery keep into a hospital where by fast Covid-19 antigen and antibody testing is obtainable onsite for visitors. This proved to be remarkably handy, this means I could get analyzed just hours just before my flight household. On my vacation back to the airport, talking to the driver and presently reminiscing about my before long to be above continue to be, he reported: “You can go everywhere in the planet, but you will in no way locate a nicer set of people than in Jamaica.” Just after my stay at Half Moon Vacation resort I would be inclined to concur.
Extra Details
Situated just 15 minutes from Montego Bay airport, attendees at 50 {2e54b6599e2852fcddcb96c51aef71201c0435684ebd8fbda55b4c693aab2644} Moon appreciate a triumvirate of lodging selections along two miles of private seaside: the high-class Eclipse, the iconic Founders Cove and private households at Rose Hall Villas.
The vacation resort is managed by Salamander Inns & Resorts, while a few of the original founding family members nevertheless keep on being as owners.
Locate out a lot more on the official internet site.
Emily Clark