Forres Park Resort & Spa

The Jamaican food is hard to beat, and I loved it. The owners were lovely to talk with when I stopped in and got a tour. It’s cool, quiet, and secluded, with a beautiful garden and mountain views. The rooms feel small but spacious, with an antique forest feel and a few modern touches. I’m looking forward to staying there.

Dinner and breakfast together cost J$3,700, which felt very reasonable. Dinner was cooked to order and delicious, and breakfast in the forest came with a specially made juice. They also switched on a water feature that sounded like a little forest waterfall. I saw a hummingbird. The staff were friendly and said renovations were underway, with plans for a pool and bar. It could be fabulous once that work is done. At first I wondered what on earth I’d got myself into. The place looked like a rundown building site, the bathroom was awful, the shower barely worked, and the TV had no channels. My room key had a grubby piece of masking tape on it, and Wi-Fi only worked in certain parts of the building. The room was hot, though the mountain air was cool. There were lots of mosquitoes, but a fan and mosquito net were provided. I slept just about OK. The forest was wonderful at sunrise. I went outside at 5 a.m. to listen to it and watch the sun come up over the mountain. That peace was broken at 6:30 by American guests playing very loud music, and they’d disturbed the quiet before too. The place would get five stars from me if it weren’t for the inconsiderate guests and terrible bathroom. It’s truly a nature retreat, and there isn’t much else to do. But if you’re there to be with nature, what more do you need?

The only real bright spots were all the birds around and Shanique, who was very welcoming and nice as host, cook, and housekeeper. Otherwise, this place is worn out and neglected. Motorcycles from the busy street nearby went past day and night, which made the idea of a retreat hard to believe. The rooms were old, hot, and damp, and the floors sloped because the house is sinking. The upstairs game room had rusty darts, a ping-pong table with no balls, and a pool table missing balls. The house is tilted, so the balls kept rolling into the pockets. There’s no spa, and you pay separately for everything, including water, meals, and housekeeping. It was way overpriced, and I honestly felt scammed. We arrived at noon and left at 8 the next morning. Please save your money. The owner should be ashamed. I’ve stayed in grass huts in better shape.

The air is so clean and the place feels cool, even cold, with a really relaxing vibe. Hot water and breakfast are available as add-ons. I’d definitely recommend it for a weekend getaway.