Frenchman's Cove Resort

Great location and beautiful beach, but rustic and not updated. If you go not expecting luxury, you will like it very much.

We spent a week in the Cinnamon Hall Villa. We chose FRENCHMAN'S COVE after visiting the beach as guests many years back. We loved our stay here. The villas are clean and very comfortable. While they have not been updated and are instead a time capsule of their era, they are comfortable and beautiful. if you are looking for a very special place to stay this is absolutely it. The entire property is so thoughtful, each villa situated for complete privacy and maximum views of the gardens and sea. The linens and towels are fresh and clean, AC works well, and villas are tidy and well cleaned. If you are looking for a unique place to stay, with an amazing beach nearby, this is it. All of the staff are friendly and helpful. Such a special place!

This is my second trip to Frenchman's cove resort, the last trip being in 2011 and it was just as amazing as I remembered. The beach at Frenchman's Cove is still one of the most beautiful I have ever experienced and I would stay here just for the beach alone. You will see many reviews complaining about the dated decor and maintainence of the rooms and all of it is true but they are perfectly serviceable and fit for purpose. We stayed in one of the cottages at the top of the cliff and had spectacular views of the sea from the cliff. Air conditioning could be slightly stronger. I think the trick to having a great time at this resort is to read the reviews thoroughly and adjust your expectations. You come here for the beautiful beach and the peace and seclusion of Port Antonio. This is not one of the glitzy all heaving party Jamaican resorts. There are several other resorts in Jamaica which have that vibe if you are looking for it. In fact, be prepared to have a hire car or pay for taxis to go into town for dinner as they do not serve dinner on the premises. They do have a beach bar that serves lunch and the food portions are large and delicious but make sure that you order your lunch immediately when they open at 10am as they do take about 2-3 hours to prepare the food and bring it to you. Do not make the mistake of ordering only at lunchtime as it will be about 4pm before your food reaches you. The resort also sells day passes to the beach to locals and guests from nearby villas so the beach is not exclusively private. This does not bother me although it may be slightly crowded on the weekend however some guests have felt dissatisfied if they have expected a fully private beach. Again, it's about expectations and knowing what to expect before you go. This resort is truly a gem and the beach location is just one of a kind in this world. I was lucky enough to witness a conaervation group do a baby turtle hatching and release on one of the days on the beach and that was truly special. Perhaps the rooms could benefit from some updating (more modern showers would be nice) but I think that may just detract from it's charms. I look forward to making my third trip hopefully with a shorter gap from my last visit.