Moonlight Villa is a charming little place with just a few rooms and a yard that opens right over the sunset facing cliffs of the Caribbean. We couldn't have asked for anything better in the quality of the rooms or the location, but the real gem that makes Moonlight Villa the place we will recommend to everyone is the owner/manager Debbie. Debbie happily played tour guide and pointed us in the right direction for anything we needed! She knows great, honest people for whatever your looking for; fishing guides, snorkeling tours, the best restaurants (be sure to check out King Royal Kitchen just down the road), drivers, island tours, music shows, shopping... you name it. She made our Jamaica vacation something really special. We will absolutely be coming back.

Where to start? For 8 years my BFF Veronica and I have gone away for a well deserved week in the sun to relax and have some giggles. Usually Veronica is the "Camp Coordinator" and picks out a wonderful all inclusive, This year it was my job.

I stayed at Moonlight Villa 12 years ago when Mila (God rest your soul) owned it and had a wonderful time. I thought we should give this a try.

We landed at Mo Bay airport and were welcomed by sunshine! Debbie was there to pick us up and bought the first round. The road to Negril had been paved since I was last there and made for a smooth ride. Debbie had no problem stopping for us girls to get another Red Stripe to travel with along the way.

Upon getting to Moonlight Villa, we were then greeted by the "Security Team" of 6 dogs! What wonderful dogs they are! They did the usual sniff and were very polite and so well behaved. We got into our room and I noticed they had been repainted beautiful bright colours. I felt at home right away. We quickly unpacked a few things and headed out to the back yard for some sun.

Debbie was the perfect hostess. She gave us all kinds of ideas of things to do for our 8 day stay. We went everywhere from the 7 mile beach to the heart of the mountains. What a great way to see how the people really live.

Being used to the all inclusive style, this was a little different. We bought beer and a few groceries for our room. The kitchen upstairs is open to all. If you forgot something, ask Debbie if she might have it. Chances are she does!

Sundays and Mondays are Cesar days and Debbie makes the best ones! Drink Red Stripe Light and you wake up skinny in the morning!

The stairs that lead down to the sea are awesome with a little cave hidden there. Debbie has floaties and boards so if you are a little timid about swimming, just grab one of them! It's really something to see when she brings all the dogs to go for a swim!! Rebel is a fine teacher.

If you don't feel like cooking, go next door to Pee Wees where they always have a smile and breakfast ready for you. Feel like going out for a beer? No Limits across the road is a fine choice. RaggaBones has the best pork!!

All in all.....Veronica and I will go back next year,,,,,once in the spring and again in the fall to visit Debbie and the dogs. I have never felt so welcomed and relaxed during a vacation. No one to tell me that I had to get in line at the buffet for breakfast or dinner. I recommend Moonlight Villa to everyone.

Thank you again Debbie for the wonderful vacation.

Dear Trip Advisor

Every year my friend Angel who lives in Calgary and myself, from Hamilton go on a well deserved all girls week long vacation to party and get away from reality. This year it was Angels turn to pick our destination and take care of reservations and entertainment while we were away. She had always wanted to go back to Negril and visit a friend that she had not seen for years. A little hesitant I agreed to go as this would be the first year where we were not at an all inclusive and two girls travelling around Negril made me a little nervous?

We landed in Montego Bay and were welcomed by the beautiful weather and Debbie who was our guardian, tour guide, and party coordinator for the week.
The drive from the airport to Moonlight villa seemed to only take moments while I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and drank my first of many Red Stripe beers and listened to the two girls chat about old friends. This is where our fun began!!!

The villa, our room, the view, the dogs and Debbie was a wonderful welcome and was now our all inclusive with an at home laid back feeling for the week to come…My hesitation quickly faded as Debbie’s dogs also became our new friends and guardians.
Our room was large with two beds, couch, table, fridge, tv, coffee machine, dressers, closet, and large washrooms with lots of counter space for Angels makeup. The two big doors in the room open up onto the porch that has a wicker love seat, chair and table which leads into the yard. The steps from the yard down to the sea is amazing!!!

We enjoyed relaxing mornings/afternoons in the yard working on our tans, testing the Red Stripe, lying in the hammock, meeting all kinds of people and catching as many sunset photos as we could. Our frequent walks next door to PeeWees for more beer and to get something to eat was also an added bonus. We met a lot of people and enjoyed a lot of laughs with the staff, the food was wonderful!

Debbie and our new friends took us everywhere. We really did have the royal treatment. Our trip up into the mountains for the day with Wayne, the daytrips to the beach, the Jungle nightlife, Pineapple Margaritas at Sea Star, Negril Escapes for One Lover Concerts, Ricks to watch the divers, shopping in town and the many little bars we stopped at was amazing!

This trip was an experience I will never forget. Not going to an all inclusive was wonderful. To see the way others live, eat there foods, experience there cultures, meet all kinds of people is what I now call all inclusive. I will encourage everyone to go to Negril, stay at Moonlight villa with Debbie and enjoy a real vacation. All you need to pack is a different bathing suit for each day.

Thanks Angel and Debbie my BFF’s!

We experienced so much, I don't know where I should start.

Moonlight Villa in Negril and it's wonderful owner, Debbie Lightheart, became my home away from home the second we opened up the gate and were greeted by 6 of the most beautiful and fun dogs on the planet.

Debbie showed us that first night what Jamaica was really about. We had barely unpacked and Debbie took us down the street (in Negril, everything is just down the street!!) to Canoe, this brightly coloured restaurant on the first bit of sand when you get out of the cliffs. It was run by one of the many Canadians we met in Jamaica (Debbie herself is included in that list) and was having a St. Patrick's Day dinner & drinks when we got there. We sat and drank loads of green rum punch and ate our first bit of Jamaican food. The view of the sunset while we were eating was phenomenal.

That first night Debbie made us realize that all of the bad things they tell you about Jamaica are wrong. The people are beautiful, warm, kind and happy. They welcome you with open arms and open hearts. They make you feel like you're a member of the family and don't ostracize you or frighten you. The streets (although plagued with crazy driving, some monster pot holes, and no sidewalks) are safe to walk down even after dark.

If you can't decide what to do, just ask Debbie. During the week, we went out to Little Bay and had the opportunity to see one of Bob Marley's houses - one that is little known to tourists and was blown down during Hurricane Ivan and has yet to be repaired. If you're lucky, you'll be able to swim in the blue hole cave. I warn you on this one - wear shoes, not sandals as there is a trek through some rocky forest to get there. And please make a small donation to help with the repairs.

If you're looking to experience the real Jamaica, Debbie can help you with that too! We were fortunate enough to be taken on a trip through the mountains as well. The temperature is a bit cooler than it is down on the coast, which is a nice break from the heat, and there are fruit trees and bright flowers everywhere. If you can be as lucky as we were, you may just be able to get fresh picked mangoes, fresh cut sugar cane and giant coconuts picked from the top of 40 foot tree by someone in barefeet.

Debbie is incredible. Any time we were wondering where to eat or what activities we should do, she was right there with suggestions - every one of her suggestions that we took created an unforgettable memory (no matter what it was).

Click over to Debbie's site, drop her a line, tell her Angela & Joey sent you and head down to experience what the real Jamaica has to offer.
For pictures to accompany this description - go to www.moonlightvilla.com or morethanaspoonful.wordpress.com & search for Jamaica