Strawberry Hill
Irishtown, Jamaica

Perched 3,100 feet above sea level, the sprawling resort looks down on the lights of Kingston but the atmosphere here is pure nature. Jamaica's doctor bird, a hummingbird with an unbelievable plume tail, flits through the trees. A morning mist hangs over the mahogany trees. The sound of life in small neighboring villages wafts up from the surrounding valleys.

This resort is one of the Island Outpost properties owned by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, the record label of the late Bob Marley (the reggae singer recuperated at this site after he was once shot in 1976), as well as Melissa Manchester and Robert Palmer. Like other Island Outposts, this property is exclusive and unique, drawing many celebrities. (During our stay, models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell were also guests.)

The resort is composed of wooden villas, each filled with antique Jamaican decor. The villas look out on the Blue Mountains from bedrooms, living rooms, and expansive porches. We spent part of our time just lazing about on an oversized hammock on our porch.

Every room includes electric mattress pads to warm up the bed on chilly evenings, mosquito netted mahogany four-poster beds, stocked kitchenettes, coffee makers, televisions,DVDs (movies are available for loan), and even CD players with a full array of CDs (OK, some of them are Island Record productions, but they fit the tone of the place.)

The resort includes an Aveda Spa; massage, hydrotherapy, facials, and body care pamper guests. We enjoyed massages, pedicures, manicures, and a splendid facial in the newly constructed spa. And, at the end of the day, guests can enjoy a spa cuisine or Jamaican dishes with a light touch in the resort restaurant.

The property has 40 acres of lawns and forests. The grounds were once part of one of the first coffee plantations in the Blue Mountains. Today over 350 species still grace these grounds, including some species first planted centuries ago such as Juniperus, Virginiana, Eucalyptus Nicolae, Cedrela Odoratissimia and Mangifera Indica (blackie mangoe).

Clientele: Well-heeled travelers looking for unique, pampering accommodations

Good Choice If:

you'd like a luxurious property from which to explore the Blue Mountains--or do business down in Kingston
you'd like a truly quiet getaway
you'd like a spa getaway (this resort has the only full Aveda concept spa in the Caribbean)

Bad Choice If:

you really want to stay on the beach
you want a large number of restaurants on property
you're on a budget