We had friends who travelled from Dubai, London and the USA to celebrate Mike's 60th birthday. We stayed at the Royal Villa 83 and had the most amazing staff. Derrick the Buttler, Agnes the housekeeper and Venetta the cook made our visitor's experience of Jamaica an unforgettable one.

If you like elegance, sophistication, peace and quiet, then Half Moon Resort might be your cup of tea and is highly recommended.

Moya

I traveled to Half Moon for a wedding where the guests stayed in villas. The villas were perfect for large groups and each villa had a staff (butler, cook, and maid), its own pool, and two golf carts . I stayed in villa 89 along with 12 other guests with Cecil, Paula and Joy as our fantastic staff. The service throughout Half Moon was outstanding. I would definitely stay here again especially with groups in the villas.

We ate breakfast every morning on our terrace and enjoyed the pool. The food/supplies are very reasonably priced at the commissary which is stocked with everything you need for a wonderful vacation. We spent afternoons at the swim-up bar or/and the beach, and also took advantage of the tennis, golf and spa at the resort. This was an ideal place to have a wedding weekend.

The food at the ocean terrace restaurant is ok but not spectacular (we only had lunch there), though we dined at the Sugar Mill restaurant on our last evening which was excellent but a bit pricey considering the quality.

Half Moon Resort made the biggest difference for our stay in Jamaica. April 2009

We've been to Jamaica in Jan. 2007 and rented private villa at Discovery Bay with family. It was lovely and fully staff and affordable ( only in Jamaica is this affordable). The people were great and Jamaica is the "raw Caribbean"..........not the 'manicured' safe like St John USVI or Turks or Glitzy, all-White St Barts...........We been all to these and BVI and out islands in Bahamas twice. Been to St Lucia, Curacao and St Vincent's too........ We love them all. Each has its pros and cons depending on your preference.

But Jamaica has the natural beauty and the PEOPLE. It cannot compare to the beaches of Eleuthera or the snorkeling and beaches of St John USVI or Turks..........but Jamaica has others - the rainforests, the rivers, the waterfalls, the Blue Mts.........and the People.

Staying at the Royal Villas for 5 days was grand. We stayed as a part of business conferenece. Everything was perfect and elegant and relaxing. PROBLEM - NO INTERNET ACCESS for 3 of the 5days and TV did not ever work. We did not care about the TV but we were concerned and upset about the INTERNET NOT WORKING since they advertised having WIFI and we stayed in ROYAL VILlAS as a part of a business conference.


When we stayed on our own for 3 days afterwards, we chose the BEACHFRONT COTTAGES right on SUNSET BEACH and this was PERFECT for us....we love to be on the beach and see sunsets. The Royal Villas might be elegant and fully staffed but NO BEACH only pool. Why go all the way to the Caribbean to sit by a pool? We can do this in the US.

The Beachfront Cottages were ON THE LOVELY CALM CRESCENT SUNSET BEACH. And if you wanted to have a pool also, you can have your friends or other fmaily members rent the "Cottages Behind the Beachfront Cottages' - garden view and then you can also use their pool.............the best of all worlds. Be beachfront and have pool in your :"backyard".

The staff ,the accommodatsions from Royal Villas to BeachFront Cottages were GREAT! The Restaurants and service were fine.

We did have one problem and PLS BEWARE - WHEN CHECK COMES for your dinners at The pretty SeaGrape Terrace Restaurant. We ate their all the time but noticed on TWO OCCASIONS that they tried to SLIP IN A MUCH HIGHER RATE for THEIR SPECiAL ENTREES. And if you did not take careful notice you could end paying over $12 per Entree. THiS HAPPENED TWICE so I dont think this was "AN ACCIDENT".

The "Special " we ordered was listed at $32.50. Then the bill came to $43.50 for this entree. Then for my husband;'s "Special", the listed price was $28>50 and his charge was $38.50. When we brought this to their attention, they claim it was the machine...............but HUMANS TYPE THE NUMBERS INTO THE MACHINE........and if one does not look at the final bill after 2 drinks. this "ADDITION" can be considerable after a few times.

And who ever looks that carefully especially if you add on drinks. We don't drink but our friends did and noted that there were DIFFERENT PRICES when the bill arrive than what was listed on the menu.

This was the only complaint but DINERS BE WARY AND CHECK YOUR FINAL BILL AGAINST THE MENU PRICES!

Outside of this problem, HALF MOON IS FANTASTIC PLACE TO BE IN JAMAICA but NOT have to deal with the 'issues' that others complain about when in Jamaica...............WE LOVED HALF MOON AND PLAN TO RETURN TO THE BEACHFRONT COTTAGES WITH OUR FAMILY.

my partner and i went here for a week in april. it was fantastic!! It is a 400 acres private resort and the beach front is 7 miles long?? not sure its that long but its close. plus each villa has its own pool. because the resort is so big you get a golf cart to drive around in.The architechture of this place is fantastic. no high rise in sight.
Go all inclusive or you'll never afford to eat here.The place is as safe and relaxed and gaurded at the gates.
Outside the resort is a different story. The land is beautiful and the people are friendly and amusing as long as you are in a large party and you tip them.........sometimes for nothing, but it keeps them smiling and i suspect they could change to snarling all too quickly if you dont tip them.
Book excursions in large groups ......never go out on your own.....Dont let me put you off as this is the same with a lot of paradise islands and we cant wait to go back to this one.......just one other thing...its very hot so make sure you have a base tan or are extremely carefull. p.s fantastic golf course!!