I have never felt compelled to write a review before but I can't resist with Tensing Pen. This is a beautiful location for those who don't want a generic Jamaica experience and want to see some gorgeous sunsets.

We had an unexpected possibility of a vacation in late February of this year and so my boyfriend and I booked at Tensing Pen, Rockhouse, and Round Hill. To be honest, we were thinking that Tensing Pen would be great but our least favorite of the bunch. We were completely wrong.

The cliffs are gorgeous, the staff is very nice, and the couples massage by the ocean was the best we've had. Everyone was friendly and didn't seem to be trying too hard.

Definitely eat at Ros Rudy's food stand across the street. I'm totally OCD about germs, but Ros Rudy was some fantastic veg food. Ask him to make you some Aki with a scotch bonnet pepper, if you can handle the spice.

While Rockhouse was nice in a trendy, hipster sort of way and Round Hill was fancy, we both just wished we could have spent our entire time at Tensing Pen. We can't wait to go back.

As experienced travelers always seeking unique, small-scale, and discerning places, Tensing Pen is truly an oasis among the crazy, yet beautiful side of Negril.

The instant feeling is that you have arrived at your own home with an old world feel of elegant yet rustic charm. Each room (we stayed in South Pillar) is quite unique. The property is very cool, with great little trails leading to the cliffs and water's edge or a awesome small pool. Bottom line: TP is a quaint, authentic and comfortable hideaway .

The people are amazing from Razor (young and edgy bartender) to Malcomb (an old world gentleman bartender) to Owen (GM). Their genuine approach to service was world class.

Food was delicious and authentic, yet a little limited, cocktails were good as usual, and the options for venturing out for other food are plenty. Our recommendations are Catch A Falling Star (favorite), Rockhouse, LTU Pub, Westender Inn, Three Dives Jerk, and Sweet Spice in town. All of these are wonderful.

To those of you thinking of staying on the beach, we think it's a tourist trap with plenty of hagglers and too many obvious trappings consistent with resort travel. Not very unique or interesting.

In the end, the cliffs are the last bastion of Negril that are truly local and welcoming. Tensing Pen is the pinnacle of that experience. (We also stayed at Rockhouse one night. It was nice but nowhere close to the laidback and sublime nature of Tensing Pen)

Good luck, safe travels!

We have just spent 4 nights at Tensing Pen over Easter - and we were delighted with our choice. It's not cheap, but it's worth the money to stay in such a tranquil and beautiful spot, with comfortable and attractive accommodation. It's a great place to spend quality time with loved ones, so look elsewhere if you want somewhere lively. The liveliest if gets is when someone jumps off the bridge to cool off!
We stayed in Cove Cottage, with the sound of the waves crashing in the cove below drowning out any other distractions! We had a sumptuous 4 poster bed, and the room was cooled by both an old fashioned ceiling fan and a modern standalone fan. There was a large shower area (though sadly not enough water pressure to enjoy a shared shower!!), and a storage area with plenty of shelving and hanging space, plus a fridge (useful for storing a bottle of wine/beer to drink on your terrace at sunset). There were also plenty of good quality white towels of all sizes. These could therefore be taken out for use as beach towels, although the sunloungers by the pool were supplied daily with beach towels anyway. The only thing missing was a hairdryer, although in the heat hair dried quickly naturally.
We arrived late at 8pm so we ate in the restaurant on our first night (they serve til 9pm) and enjoyed our meal. They have a daily set menu, with a set starter and salad, then only a choice of 2 main courses and 2 desserts, so some might find this a little limited. The other nights we ate at Rockhouse which is a 10-15min walk (beautiful spot - but ask for a waterside table - we reserved but still had to wait 15mins and then were given an inside table), Xtabi which is a bit further down so we drove (very friendly and nice food and cocktails, plus similar views to Rockhouse from the terrace), and then Norma's at Seasplash, down on the beach on our last night, where we had beautifully styled and very tasty dishes. LTU is a good spot for lunch, a 10 min walk past Ricks Cafe. Ricks itself is only a few doors up and is a must-see. We enjoyed watching the divers/jumpers and also had a nice lunch there another afternoon, however service was very slow even though it was very quiet at that time.
Continental breakfast at TP was included in the rate (serve yourself cereal, toast, juice, tea/coffee) and for an additional 4USD, you could order omelettes, bacon or pancakes.
At TP we spent our time relaxing on the loungers on the cliffs or by the infinity pool, and then cooling off by snorkelling via the ladders into the sea. We were also impressed to find freshwater shower points at the top of the ladders so you could rinse off afterwards. For those who enjoy snorkelling, there isn't a great diversity or number of fish compared to other places we've been in the world, but enough to provide interest. We saw a few small moray eels poking out from rocks, a couple of small rays, 2 sea snakes and a flat fish and a large puffer fish. Also lots of anemones and urchins around the steps, along with a large red crab suitable for a dinner party! Another highlight was a small pod of dolphins frolicking just out from TP one lunchtime - but sadly not whilst we were snorkelling!
Our overall impression was of a tranquil, beautifully laid out resort, with unique accommodation. TP gives the best of both worlds, with easy access to Negril beach (5-10 mins drive), while being away from the hustle and bustle of the main resort.

After exploring many reviews and website for hotels in Negril, I finally settled on Tensing Pen. My only real requirement was that I didn't want to stay somewhere all-inclusive and I wanted an outdoor shower. Tensing Pen was much a better experience then I expected. And it started by being greeted by the beautiful Rhodesian ridgeback, Tensing.
The Positives: We stayed in one of the pillar rooms (with outdoor shower underneath) and had a beautiful view of the ocean over the cliffs. The outdoor shower was wonderful, although it might not be for the modest since you have to climb the stairs in your towel to reach the shower.
The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. They not only managed to cancel some of the tours I had previously booked, but they also maintain relationships with several cab drivers who can be booked for day-long excursions anywhere you want to go. The cab drivers even recommended some non-touristy spots to take us to have a 'real' jamaican experience.
We ate at the hotel restaurant one night and the food was excellent; we also ate breakfast there every morning which consists of local fruit, breads, coffee, cereal, juices, etc.
The location of the hotel is also nice- close to other restaurants (within walking distance), but not near anything noisy. It's also extremely safe, with a gate and men who stand outside on the road. The staff asks that you check in/out with them so that they can be sure of your safety and call you a reputable cab if you want one (although we had no problem walking to local areas).
They also feature nice amentities like: a lending library, cozy hammocks spread throughout the hotel, snorkel gear, and of course, the hotel dog.
Be sure to go across the street and have breakfast with the local woman who has a stand there. She made us ackee and saltfish on the morning we left and it was delicious. I wish I had known sooner and I would've eaten there every day.
The Negatives: If you're looking for a big room with lots of space to spread out, this is not the place. The rooms are cozy and perfect for a couple.
While this is a boutique hotel, and by no means crowded, we went at a time when there was a large family group staying there. They were noisy and filled up the whole pool area when they were around.
Even though there are some things nearby, prepare yourself to go to bed early if you're not big into partying. We didn't mind going to bed early because we got to enjoy more of the morning.