JAMAICA INN

P. O. BOX 1 OCHO RIOS,

HOTEL AMENITIES

HOTEL FEATURES

What to expect: Winston Churchill came and loved the light for watercolor painting. Actress Marilyn Monroe and husband/playwright Arthur Miller, playwright Noel Coward, and novelist Ian Fleming also visited. What they found at this hotel, and what still attracts an international clientele today, is spiritual refreshment far from the madding world. Sea, beach, gardens, tropical air, and the attentions of staff members each averaging 25 to 30 years' experience, recall the grace of the pre-electronic era. The resort, opened in 1950, has been family-owned for two generations.

Amenity highlights: The resort's 213-meter (700-foot) private beach fronting a little cove of calm water and snorkeling sites offers thatch shades, cushioned lounge chairs, and ample room for tranquil sunbathing. A few yards from the beach adjacent to a croquet lawn and a thatch-shaded bar, a 15-meter (50-foot) oval pool surrounded by a sundeck with cushioned lounge chairs provides freshwater swimming.

Insider tip: Although it goes largely unused, tucked away on the second floor of a building in the rear is a television room with overstuffed seating.