We stumbled upon the High Hope Estates entirely by accident. My wife and I were unexpectedly bound for Jamaica to visit her father who was staying at the Couples Tower Isle in Ochos Rios, unable to find a room there, we thought we were booking an affordable room that would allow us to visit for his 71st birthday. We followed the road up through the town and to the top of the hill down a long dirt road and started to second guess ourselves, What we found was probably one of the best hidden gems in Jamaica. It is like staying at a wealthy friends villa over looking St. Ann's Bay. The grounds are manicured and immaculate. The gardens and pool are top notch and the view is world class. The owner Dennis and his wife were more than hospitable. The staff was 5 star. The Jamaican breakfast on Sundays was a great Jamaican experience, akee and saltfish. We ate our meals elegantly around the grounds and we were not want for anything. It was full service and classy at a bargain price. We felt like movie stars.

Getting there involved negotiating the bustling little town above St. Ann's Bay and following the winding road climbing up to the long tree-lined drive that leads to High Hope. It was absolutely worth the journey ! The informal, peaceful ambience ; the friendly owners and their team of staff ; and the lovely food, all go to make it a very special experience. The beautiful grounds, humming birds near the blossom and the fireflies at night even more so ! And not forgetting the swim before breakfast in the lovely pool.

I spent two nights at High Hope in November 2010, staying in the twin bedded Rasta room. Everything about it surpassed my expectations, from the beautiful grounds to the welcoming owners, to the comfortable room, to the magically starry night sky.

Food is not included in the rates, but the kitchen was very accommodating to my dietary requests, producing excellent meals every time. I must single out the delicious Jamaican breakfast on sundays, the French bread rolls at dinner time and the exquisite lobster salad for lunch or dinner.

I was a woman travelling alone and appreciated being able to sunbathe undisturbed, by the pool overlooking the sea. I also felt very safe walking down to town to shop at the market and catch a taxi to Dunn's River Falls and back, and didn't experience any hassle in the bustling town of St Ann's Bay. There are lovely walks in the area but I was quite content to enjoy my time doing very little. Highly recommended.

High Hope Estate sits on a hill overlooking the beautiful blue ocean. The hosts are attentive, generous and full of useful information that will make your stay in Jamaica even more enjoyable. The staff attends to every little detail in subtle yet meaningful ways. You can purchase meals on site and the food is delectable - a true sample of real Jamaican cuisine. We rented a car (Island Rental is the best!) at the airport so getting around for us was easy and driving on the "wrong side of the road" is easily adjustable. Basically, we felt like we were home "away from home" throughout the entire stay - and that is really important to me when I go on vacation. BTW - the rooms are really spacious with lovely decor and comfortable beds - a must!!! All in all - stay at the High Hope Estate - it was amazing!