Half Moon Resort Is For Jamaican Dreamin’

Horses in crystal blue water, white sand seashores, rum and sugar served in a coconut: that is the idyllic promise of Jamaica, the third largest island within the Caribbean and one frequented by greater than 4 million vacationers a 12 months. It’s a promise actually delivered when you keep at Half Moon, the 400 acre resort that lays declare to just about two miles of Montego Bay’s shimmering sands and water. I visited Jamaica this spring to absorb your complete island, and 70 12 months outdated Half Moon is a well-known must-stay on the island for a handful of causes.

The sheer dimension of Half Moon and its amenities is purpose sufficient many {couples} and households don’t enterprise a lot from the property. With two miles of a non-public white sand seashore, an equestrian middle, 11 flood-lit tennis courts, and an 18-hole championship golf course, most friends keep lively proper on website. I used to be most impressed by the big, fashionable health club, full with a spin room and pleasant attendants who supplied water refills and wholesome snacks. A “youngsters’s village,” tucked neatly behind the health club, offers even the little ones (ages 3-12 years outdated) a spot to play.

I used to be happy so many actions have been inside Half Moon because the 4 eating places at Half Moon, significantly two, are glorious and price build up a robust urge for food for. The primary restaurant, Delmare, blends Jamaican delicacies with traditional Italian dishes and received a “restaurant of the 12 months” award final 12 months from a neighborhood newspaper. Government Chef Claudio Facchinetti, an Italian who fell in love with Jamaica years in the past, desires to additional elevate the restaurant, in addition to Jamaican and Italian delicacies, past that of jerk hen and pasta, respectively. Since arriving 4 years in the past to Half Moon, Facchinetti appears nicely on his approach in making Delmare a “high 5 restaurant within the Caribbean.” A standout function of the dinner menu is the Jasper oven (a half grill, half oven) that serves up domestically caught snapper, monk fish, and different meats all served with Panzanella salad, a traditional, mild Tuscan chopped salad that Facchinetti has perfected. One other standout by itself is the Spaghetti Neri Alla Scogliera, a visually charming pasta dish with squid ink “spaghetti” and a cornucopia of seafood with vibrant pink tomatoes.

Along with Delmare, Half Moon boasts one other must-do restaurant, Sugar Mill Restaurant. It takes a 5 minute experience from the principle foyer to cross the busy avenue to reach at Sugar Mill Restaurant, however as soon as you recognize the restaurant’s origin, the “off property” location makes absolute sense. The restaurant, now greater than 50 years outdated, hugs an precise sugar mill that also stands from 1676. Within the night, the mill turns water and gives a complementary soundtrack to the crickets and frogs that dwell within the thick mountainside close by. Together with numerous candles and strings of sunshine, the entire setting on the Sugar Mill Restaurant is completely enchanting. However not like “vacationer” eating places that depend on visible spectacles at the price of serving respectable, good meals, the delicacies at Sugar Mill Restaurant is notably elevated. The pumpkin and white bean soup in addition to the jerk hen rolls filled with Cho Cho and Papaya slaw are glorious as was the breadfish gnocchi and filling “yardman” (slang for Jamaican) stew with golden plantain fritters and stuffed jalapeño peppers. Christopher Golding, Chef de Delicacies of Sugar Mill for greater than 13 years, is as a lot on his recreation as Chef Facchinetti throughout the road.

When not eating or enjoying, Half Moon gives quite a lot of impressed areas to savor. My room, one of many Hibiscus rooms positioned straight on the seashore, was superbly appointed with whimsical work by West Indian (Jamaican born) artist Shane Aquart and straw hats and items made by Jamaican ladies from Beenybud. Outdoors, I may take within the practically neon blue, shimmering water or duck again in for an out of doors bathe, shaded by huge palms and ferns straight from the lavatory. There’s one thing indulgent a couple of tropical out of doors bathe. One approach to high such a bathe at Half Moon is by an overwater therapeutic massage in one of many two Jatoba wooden bungalows, a part of the resort’s Fern Spa.

After a therapeutic massage one afternoon, I joined Half Moon’s Normal Supervisor, Shernette Crichton, for an ice tea. Heat and stylish, Crichton radiates the aura of a restorative, luxurious trip. She desires Half Moon to be, “the FINEST Resort within the Caribbean.” With such a lineup of facilities, cuisines by devoted cooks, and a pristine piece of actual property, Half Moon may very nicely personal such a title.