The View Guest House

The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the rooms were comfortable, which helped make our stay at The View Guesthouse, now known as the Balfour Guesthouse in Montego Bay, Jamaica, a pleasant one. The property was well maintained, from the landscaping to the common areas, and the thoughtful design added to its appeal. What stood out most was the setting. The guesthouse sits on a hillside with wide views over Montego Bay and the Caribbean Sea. We could take in the city and blue water from the terrace and balconies, and sunrise and sunset were especially mesmerizing. It felt peaceful up there, away from the bustle, while still being within reasonable distance of Montego Bay attractions. For me, this is more than just a place to sleep. The natural scenery, gracious hospitality, and comfortable surroundings made the stay feel special. It could suit a romantic getaway or a quiet escape, and I found it a memorable way to experience Jamaica's beauty.

The guesthouse was a terrible experience for me. The sheets had lots of holes, the bed was noisy and far too soft, and the tub was a mess. They need new pillows, too. The A/C was the worst, making a loud noise like a drill. I paid for comfort and got a waste of money. They had WiFi, but didn't give guests the password. I came here to do maintenance work for some peace of mind, and this is the worst guesthouse I've ever stayed in.

We had a lovely view of town from our balcony, and there’s a bar on site. Our room stayed fairly cool even in summer without needing an air conditioner, and there’s a swimming pool too. But there were some problems during our 3 days and 2 nights: the cable was out for about an hour, and we didn't get fresh towels. After the rain, water stayed on our balcony all weekend. No one came to dry it up, and it was a safety risk.

There was no microwave or refrigerator anywhere. The pool also needs more frequent cleaning. Particles were floating on top, and the water was so cloudy I could hardly see the bottom, even though it was shallow enough that I should have been able to.