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Great Huts: Traveler Reviews

Great Huts
Average price*: $82 (year-round)
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4.5 based on 35 reviews 35 reviews
35 Reviews
5.0 of 5 stars
27
4.0 of 5 stars
6
3.0 of 5 stars
0
2.0 of 5 stars
2
1.0 of 5 stars
0
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #1 of 7 B&Bs in Port Antonio
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  • Rooms: 10
Description: Great Huts is a unique, beach front ecotourism destination near Port Antonio, Jamaica which was voted the best environment of any small Jamaican... This description is based on information provided by the B&B / inn.
Address:
Boston Bay
Portland
Port Antonio
Jamaica

TripAdvisor Traveler Reviews

Reviews of Great Huts

( 5-9 of 35 )
“Real Jamaica”

Great Huts

5 of 5 stars
Tallahassee, Florida
Mar 17, 2008

I just got back from a week long stay at Great Huts and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to relax in REAL Jamaica away from all the development of places like MoBay, etc.


Great Huts is located in Boston Bay near the Boston Bay Jerk Center, which is where Jerk Chicken originated. The compound is on about 4 acres of land right on the edge of the Bay and looks almost as if it was made for the spot it occupies. All of the different huts and rooms are located all along the property and to get to them you walk along well groomed paths through some small trails that go all over. Besides all the rooms, there's a main common area with wi-fi and a few benches and seats, etc. to relax at. This is also where their complimentary breakfast is served. The breakfast is awesome and consists of fresh fruit, fried egg, toast, fresh squeezed orange juice, and Jamaican coffee. I thought the dinners were a little pricey, so I didn't eat there much, but every time I had them prepare me dinner, it was delicious. So if you have the money, I'd highly recommend some of the dinners they can cook up for you there.

I stayed in the Akan tent, which was a nice small room with 2 twin beds, a cement floor, and a shared shower and sink. We didn't have any hot water, but that wasn't really an issue. It's pretty warm most of the time, so usually it was pretty nice to have a cold shower. There are quite a few other rooms that a pretty neat. Probably the coolest one was the tree house overlooking the bay. There's two beds, your own bathroom, a tub that you can sit in and watch the beach, and overall it's just a really neat room. There are pictures on the website, so I guess check those out.

If you end up staying here, I highly recommend Little David's. His is the first jerk stand on the right as you come out of Great Huts. You can get a 1/4 chicken with 2 pieces of festival (a sweet fried bread) for about $340 Jamaican (about $5 US). There's also a few guys that hang around the jerk center where you can get some really great juices (get the passion fruit), beer, or whatever other snacks you can think of. If you want to get groceries there are some stands in the area where you can get some vegetables, snacks, drinks, etc. If you want an actual grocery store, there are a couple in Port Antonio, which is about 10 minute ride in a route taxi and will cost you anywhere from $80 - 100 Jamaican.

As for the beach, you get to it through a path that runs down the hill and directly to the beach. The beach is gorgeous. The water is crystal clear and Great Huts has done an excellent job of keeping it as well as the rest of the compound really well groomed and clean. I think I saw groundskeepers working to keep the grounds clean just about every day. The beach has about 4-5 hammocks which always seemed to be in the perfect spot. There are also a few really nice tide pools that you can relax in and are fairly secluded if you want some privacy. One of the coolest things is there's a huge rock about 20 feet above the water with a cement platform you can jump off of into the bay. I highly recommend it.

There are also some locals that live on the other end of the beach and they're a pretty friendly bunch of guys. If you want some surf lessons, they can help you out and show you what to do. They've got a few boards you can rent too. If you surf, I'd highly recommend bringing some boards you can leave for them. There aren't any shapers in Jamaica and not too many people come there to surf, so boards are few and far between. So if you can, leave some boards.

While I didn't really do anything but surf and hangout with the guys on the beach, there are quite a few really great excursions and activities you can do. Peter can help you out with some of those. One that I really wish I would've done that I heard nothing but good things about is their excursion to Charlestown which is a Maroon settlement back in the mountains. Reach falls is close, and everyone who went loved it. The only excursion I did was my friend and I took a taxi to the marina in Port Antonio to Lady G'Diver Dive Shop and did their snorkeling trip. It was about a $25 US trip and they take you out in a boat to some really neat reefs where you can swim around. I wish I would've done the diving, but I didn't really feel comfortable doing that without my certification. They'll let you dive as there aren't any licensing requirements to dive as there are in the states, I just didn't feel too comfortable doing that.

All in all, a great trip, and really neat if you want to see real Jamaica and get away from all the tourists and development of places like MoBay. Stay at Great Huts!

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — The location was perfect! Great Huts also has quite a better service attitude and is much more helpful than a lot of places in Jamaica.
    • Disliked — The food was a little expensive for someone on a budget.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
newamerclassic's Summary
Date of Stay: March 2008
Traveled with: Friends
Visit was for: Hobbies / interest / culture
Age group: 18-24
Member since: December 03, 2007
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Families with teenagers
I do not recommend this hotel for:
People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Tourists
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun, Museums / Cultural / Historical sites, Outdoor / Adventure, Great food / Wine, Concerts / Music festival, Other
Was this review helpful? Yes No
“Fabulous!!!”

Great Huts

5 of 5 stars
San Antonio, TX.
Feb 10, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

This property was the most laid back place on earth! The property and the staff, especially Cynthia, were so efficient and made our stay here one that we will never forget. The serene, naturalism of the property was most relaxing and the sounds of the ocean at night were both soothing and romantic. The ocean views were connected to the property and we LOVED watching the ocean from over the cliffs as the sun began to rise. We stayed in the Gate House suite and just loved this so much, that we want to go back to Port Antonio just to try out one of the other tents or treehouses available. The jerk stands are a 1 minute walk away from the property and we really enjoyed having a late night dinner at one of the stands while mingling with the locals. If you have kids, this would be a great experience for them to actually feel as if they are "away" in a foreign place while on vacation.
We give the Great Huts an A+!!!!!!

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — The staff!
    • Disliked — Nothing!!
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
onesuperstew's Summary
Date of Stay: February 2008
Traveled with: Spouse / significant other
Visit was for: Romantic getaway
Age group: 35-49
Member since: February 03, 2008
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Tourists
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun
Was this review helpful? Yes No
“Paradise on the Edge”

Great Huts

Feb 10, 2008

Our stay at Great Huts was both adventurous and relaxing at the same time. We stayed here the longest on our trip, and we're really glad we did at this super laid-back spot. The property is beautiful with several secluded areas to just sit and watch the ocean in peace. The staff and manager are incredibly friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Breakfasts were delicious! We stayed at two different spots - the Almond Tree House & the Gate House - but we also checked out the other accomodations, which were all unique & cozy. Waking up to sunrises and hearing the waves crashing is especially memorable.

Portland is a gorgeous parish, and Great Huts is located very close to some amazing spots by route taxi - Port Antonio, Winnifred Beach, Reach Falls, Blue Lagoon, Long Bay. Most of the folks just outside the gate are respectful and friendly. You don't have to fight the hustlers off like in MoBay. The food's good at the Jerk Centre, but beware of the stand closest to Great Huts (David's). We felt like they were overcharging & shortchanging us. The chefs at Great Huts are excellent too --- but we think the biggest bang for your buck is at Chill Out in Long Bay. Although when occupancy reaches a certain limit, Great Huts will have a celebration with music and an affordable delicious dinner buffet.

If you're an outdoorsy person, this is the place to come to. We can't wait to come back! We're very interested in participating in some of the philanthropic efforts in the community too.

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — Super Laid Back Atmosphere & Location, Location, Location!
    • Disliked — Jerk Centre Stand (David's) outside
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
SamKeya's Summary
Date of Stay: January 2008
Traveled with: Spouse / significant other
Visit was for: Hobbies / interest / culture
Age group: 25-34
Member since: February 10, 2008
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Pet owners, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Tourists
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun, Museums / Cultural / Historical sites, Outdoor / Adventure, Great food / Wine
Was this review helpful? Yes No
“A great place”

Great Huts

5 of 5 stars
Rochester, MN
Jan 17, 2008

The Good - We stayed in the Bamboo Treehouse with comfrtable king bed, excellent mosquito net, huge windows on two sides with great views and ventilation. The property is clean and well-maintained. Free wireless internet in the communal area that's reasonably fast. Good pizza. Nice, secluded beach. Jerk centre a block away.

The Bad - Rock, gravel floor in the lower level requiring shoes at all times. Not enough hot water to fill the two-person, whirlpool tub all at once.

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — Large windows and ocen breeze
    • Disliked — Rock-gravel floor on lower level
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
RedHare's Summary
Date of Stay: January 2008
Member since: December 24, 2007
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun, Outdoor / Adventure
Was this review helpful? Yes No
“Cultural Tourism in Jamaica at Great Huts!!!”

Great Huts

5 of 5 stars
greengirltravel
Dec 22, 2007
4/4 found this review helpful

We arrived vary late, but we were greeted by the security guard, and he was very informed of who we were, and was able to get us straight into our room. When I awoke in the morning, the sun was peeking through the flaps of the Tabernacle tent. I was out of bed at 6am, and grabbed my camera to check out my surroundings. I only had images in my head of the photos on their website, and you know that places always look different than what you were expecting. I was very awestruck at how beautiful and quiet Boston Bay was. I was up early enough to catch 3 small fishing boats as they headed out into the sunrise for their catch. That is the cool thing about this side of the island; if you are used to amazing sunsets in Negril, get ready for the flipside-amazing sunrizes from Boston Bay.
The tents are Great Huts are very cool. I stayed in two different tents. I prefered the Cherry Goat over the Tabernacle as the Tabernacle had a sand floor. It was tricky at night to maneuver without a flashlight in the Tabernacle, as there is coral jutting up from the floor in various spots, but the Tabernacle would be perfect for the budget traveler. The tabernacle has its own shower, and it also has 2 very large King-sized beds, with a platform for resting your luggage or backpacks.
The Cherry Goat sleeps 3 comfortably with a queen and a single bed. The floor is concrete, and I should mention that all of the accommodations do have fans and lights. The Cherry Goat is situated close to the restrooms and showers, which is very convenient . Simple and rustic, with natural charm is exactly what you need for travel to Jamaica. Great Huts is very clean, and the best part is showering outdoors by candlelight, and brushing your teeth with the peepers (tree frogs) at night! There is pretty cool snorkeling from Great Huts. It is much deeper at the base of these cliffs than those in Negril, but there is still plenty to see. Lots of sea urchins when you enter, so be careful and watch your step. The hammocks at the beach area are a lovely place to spend your afternoon sipping a RedStripe! The breakfast begins around 8am when guests start wandering down to the Great Room for breakfast. The architecture is wonderful, and it is decorated with comfortable sitting spots on curved walls, amongst African wood carvings and bamboo features. In the center of the room is a computer station with a couple of computers for guests to check their email. The center island gives you a front row seat to the ladies Cynthia and Margaret preparing your breakfast. Hot tea and coffee are available around 8am with breakfast served betwee 8:30 and 10:00. Dinners at Great Huts can be available with advanced notice for their visiting chef, Skanka. Skanka has a talent for creating wonderful blends of native foods and spices, and it is obvious that he enjoys being creative in the kitchen. He also has good taste in reggae, as he and my Jamaican travel companion shared CDs. For convenience, the Boston Bay jerk chicken pits are located immediately outside of the property. They cook long into the night for those late night cravings, and they are some of the best on the entire island. My Jamaican friend said it best, "these people must really love working here and they also must love the person that they work for, because it is evident in everything they do, as they do it with a smile!"

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — The setting is unmatched and the service is some of the best in Jamaica
    • Disliked — Tabernacle tent can be made better!
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
greengirltravel's Summary
Date of Stay: October 2007
Traveled with: Friends
Visit was for: Quality time with friends
Age group: 35-49
Member since: November 09, 2007
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Pet owners
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun, Outdoor / Adventure
Was this review helpful? Yes No

Reviews of Great Huts

( 5-9 of 35 )
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Great Huts Address

Boston Bay | Portland, Port Antonio, Jamaica