Powell's Guesthouse

The newly renovated look was a plus, and the bartender and a few front desk staff members were polite, responsive, and tried to help. The rest of our experience at The Garden Hotel was disappointing, and I wouldn’t spend my money here again. The room and bathroom both had a strong, unpleasant smell, and the beds were so hard and uncomfortable that it was difficult to rest. The security interaction also made us feel uncomfortable. A guard incorrectly told our group that taking photos on our iPhones was illegal. Front desk staff later clarified that the restriction applied only to professional photography. The guard came across as rude and confrontational, and the interaction felt like profiling toward our group. I’ve stayed at many hotels, and consistent customer service, cleanliness, and how guests are treated matter to me. We followed the rules we knew about, and nobody had told us at any point that phone photos were restricted. If some guests aren’t welcome or certain rules apply, that should be made clear before taking their money, not during their stay. I wouldn’t return, especially because security made the whole visit feel unwelcoming and uncomfortable.

The setting was welcoming and clean, and the gate security guard greeted us warmly and showed us where to park. A friendly young man named Carlton drove us to the restaurant area and seated us. The start was pleasant, but after that things dragged. I came with my two sisters, my cousin, and her daughter for my sister’s birthday. It took a while to place our order, and Kemar, our server, wasn’t friendly. Food arrived in pieces, and only then were we told one item was unavailable. The replacement took a while, too. After we finished eating, our plates sat on the table for over an hour until we asked another waitress to clear them. We waited another half hour for the receipts and had to tell him what we’d ordered. Another half hour later, he brought the receipts, and we had to ask Nadia to take payment to the cashier. When we asked about dessert, he seemed to dismiss us. Chelsea was warm and friendly, and she gave my sister a slice of cake with “happy birthday” written in the dish. That was what we had asked Kemar for, but he’d said we needed to reserve in advance to get a slice of cake. The food was a bit pricey, though I guess the environment is part of what we’re paying for. Big ups to Chelsea and Nadia, they made the experience a little better in the end.

The Orange Room banquet hall was beautifully set up for our group, with red decorations for Valentine’s Day. It felt elegant, warm, and just right for the event. I own FavourFound Kingdom Matchmaking Ministry, and we recently held our “Bring-A-Witness” Christian Singles Mixer there for Valentine’s Day. Hosting at The Mandeville Hotel, now beautifully refurbished as the Garden Hotel, was a wonderful experience. They called on the day to confirm the reservation, which I appreciated as a thoughtful bit of customer care. Anita was our personal server, and she was fantastic, cordial, attentive, and genuinely pleasant. Even with the hotel clearly busy on Valentine’s Day, service never felt rushed, and my food was excellent. The renovation has transformed the property. Anyone who remembers the old hotel will notice the change right away. It feels modern and chic, with flowers and landscaping throughout the pool area, restaurant, and other grounds, all true to the garden concept. There’s lots of parking, which made things easy for our guests. I was very impressed with the whole event.

Carlton, Janea, Abigail, and Sedeka helped make our recent stay unforgettable, and we’re already planning to return. My husband and I felt blessed to choose this beautiful hotel for my brother’s wedding celebrations. The staff were friendly and professional from the moment we arrived, and the food was delicious, with presentation that showed real care. We’ve been telling our friends and family about the wonderful service and facility. We relished every moment. Our room was spacious and impeccably clean, with a comfortable bed, two televisions, and a well-stocked fridge. We had hoped for a bathtub, and the team kindly helped us upgrade to a room with a romantic freestanding tub on the balcony. Soaking under the stars sounded lovely, but the water was disappointingly cold, so I couldn’t enjoy the bath I’d imagined. I was disappointed to have paid an extra $150 for an amenity I couldn’t use. Carlton especially won us over with his infectious smile and genuine effort to make sure we were comfortable. His customer service was outstanding, and other hotels could learn from it. The hotel is strictly non-smoking, so guests who want to smoke have to leave the grounds. That may not suit smokers. I hope management considers adding a discreet smoking area away from other guests. For non-smokers looking for a peaceful break, life’s finer pleasures, and delicious West Indian cuisine, this is a great destination. The stay was wonderful, but the unusable warm bath we’d expected and having to leave the grounds to smoke were our main disappointments. I feel we should have been compensated for the bath that couldn’t be used.