Splurging on a trip to Jamaica? Whether you’re celebrating something special or just the seeking a rarefied retreat, the land of wood and water offers plenty of high-end hotels where you can combine luxury and languor. Here are the top seven luxury hotels in Jamaica (for the full list see our rankings of the best Jamaica hotels. (Note: this list only covers EP properties – see here for the best all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica.)
Half Moon For more than 60 years this 400-acre Montego Bay hotel has endured as one of Jamaica’s finest, delivering a raft of exceptional features that include its own stables; shopping village; 13 tennis courts; and a championship golf course – not to mention 31 serviced villas and almost 200 elegant rooms.
Round Hill Hotel & Villas Old-school and elegant yet un-stuffy and unpretentious, this Mo’ Bay mainstay (another favorite with families and honeymooners) combines a private-club ambience with classic Ralph Lauren-styled villas and rooms spread over stunning beachfront acreage.
Jamaica Inn A classic since 1950, this beachfront retreat has welcomed Winston Churchill and Marilyn Monroe, and today enjoys equal popularity with millenials, who appreciate the pairing of old-school refinement and modern conveniences this Ochi resort delivers.
Goldeneye Author Ian Fleming wrote all 14 James Bond novels at his home on this Oracabessa property. Today, celebs including Naomi Campbell, Sting and Bono have stayed in the villa that was once his (check out the outdoor bathtub), and several lagoon- and beach-facing cottages and beach huts offer sweet retreat.
The Cliff You’ll feel like you’re staying at the home of a gracious (and wealthy!) Jamaican friend at this Negril villa hotel that combines spacious suites; incredible cuisine; and myriad waterfront perches for surveying the town’s awe-inspiring sunsets.
Geejam Heading to increasingly hip Port Antonio? Head for the hills, where this hipster hangout offers a clutch of intimate villas and cabins (and a recording studio where Gwen Stefani has laid tracks) that are just minutes from one of Jamaica’s finest beaches, Frenchman’s cove.
The Tryall Club A favorite with families, this sprawling resort compound just outside Montego Bay has everything multigenerational groups need, from staffed private villas to childcare; a championship golf course; beach club; and nine tennis courts.