Fermain Valley

We stayed in the treehouse and loved it. We also did the cliff walk nearby. The hot tub and indoor pool were both out of order, but we were able to use the indoor pool and sauna at their sister hotel. Its hot tub was out of action too.

We only stayed a short time, which was my one regret. The hotel is in a gorgeous valley, and a winding walk through green woodland leads to a tiny, sheltered, stony cove that almost feels like a private beach. The views are knock-out. We’d happily recommend the place. What stayed with me most was the staff. Every person we met was relaxed, cheerful, helpful and scrupulously polite. When our journey was badly delayed and the kitchen had closed, they brought toast to our room at 23:00. The food was delicious, too. The décor does feel a little dated, with an early 2000s look in the rooms, but everything was clean and the furnishings were good quality. The hotel has real charm and character. I also had a wonderfully calming massage in the secluded woodland treetop spa. The masseuse was lovely and shared some useful local tips about island life.

Breakfast was lovely, the staff were great, and we enjoyed the Mexican food at Buho. We stayed four nights. It’s a good walk into town, though the hotel does have a shuttle service. My one gripe was being charged a service fee for having two beers poured at the bar.

The food was excellent, and the staff were genuinely friendly and helpful. It’s such a comfortable, relaxing place that I’m making an exception to my usual rule about not returning to places I’ve visited. I’d definitely recommend it.