Originally, I was looking for a friendly, low-key place to holiday with my grandmother. In the end she was unable to accompany me, but the room we booked would have been suitable for her needs: accessible bathroom, no stairs, helpful staff and the like.
It worked well for my needs also.
As it turned out, this was one of my most relaxing home-away- from-home experiences. It is necessary to leave the hustle and bustle of Kingston every now and then and to get to know a different part of the island. Getting to the hotel was a mixed bag. The sights along the way got me in the mood for the beautiful experience that awaited me, but the terrible road conditions reminded me that efforts to boost tourism notwithstanding, I live in a poor country.
At Hotel Mockingbird Hill I did absolutely nothing each day except read, write, nap and eat wonderfully delicious meals. My laundry was done for me at no extra charge and my room was always clean and my requests fulfilled. I had access to the internet and the chance to feel at home by engaging with the dogs that lived on property. However, The best part of my stay was the meals.
In the mornings I had a Jamaican breakfast and in the evenings I had internationally inspired meals made with fresh, local ingredients and the imagination of Elmar, a very creative chef. Seafood predominated at dinner and each night the menu changed. I had delicious local goat cheese, fresh salads with dressings that were new to my tastebuds and side dishes I would have never dreamed of preparing myself. My most memorable meal was a breakfast of cassava pancakes served with a mango compote. I had never had pancakes like that before! Most Jamaicans use cassava to make bammy which usually accompanies escoveitched fish. Meals were served on a terrace with good views of the Caribbean Sea and the nearby mountains. Beautiful flowers and birds were welcome distractions wlhile I ate. Afternoon tea offerings varied but Opal, a very cheerful, caring waitress, always reminded me that it was tea time.
Service was fair to good. The innkeepers are not only environmentally conscious, but they are committed to help raise the standard of living in the surrounding area, so they have some staff who are interns from the national training institution. Occasionally, I had to remind the morning waitress of something I had asked her to get. Fortunately, the staff's friendliness made it easy to forgive these sorts of shortcomings.
Day trips to sights in the region and to have a variety of experiences were possible by arrangement with the innkeepers, but I only took advantage of the trip to the nearby Frenchman's Cove. I wasn't here to run around. I was here to rest and relax which I did. The property bhas a pool and each of the ten rooms has a verandah with a hammock.
Certainly, I would return to visit and in fact I have noted Hotel Mockingbird Hill as one of the places to visit when I want to get away without feeling as if I am on vacation.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Families with young children, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, Great pool scene, Pet owners
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Other