We have just returned (June 25th) from a week's stay at Hermitage. Although there is much to love about this resort there are still some problems that need to be sorted out - not that these should necessarily deter you from booking.

If you book a Hillside Suite you need to be prepared to walk/climb back and forth to your suite since the buggies used to carry guests are not always availalbe and seem to have trouble getting beyond the second level. We stayed at the third level and if you have problems walking and so on it can be a challenge - particularly since it is very hot and humid at this time of year. The plunge pool is the reward for making it up the hill!!


The resort has just opened officially (June 26th) but there is still a lot of work to be done in the gardens and landscaping in general. There was some machinary noise (we had two days of plant machinary to contend with) and there is likely to be more since they intend to build a further 5 suites to the 27 they already have.

The iPod station is an interesting extra but it can be very irritating to listen to your neighbours choice of music or their TV as the speakers are efficient - and neighbours not always considerate of others.

There is a mosquito problem at the resort and although it is clear that they are dealing with it we did suffer from an alarming number of bites.

This isn't meant to be a negative report since we enjoyed our time there very much, but you might want/need to take these points into account.

The staff are very friendly and helpful and the food good. Diner improved day by day, so much so that we wondered if a new chef had been employed. Our final evening meal there was of a different standard altogether but this may have been due to the fact that there was a celebrity wedding being catered for.

As a previous reveiwer commented the dining room is hot and humid but being open on several sides it is difficult to see what can be done.

If you love hummingbirds you will be enchanted - they are many and beautiful and I think that when the gardens are finished they will provide a beautiful backdrop to the many varities of bird life.

All in all we had a good visit and were not tempted at all to explore the island - which is unusual for us and says a lot!

First the service is the best you could expect for on the island. When I contacted them about the resort, I received prompt replies via e-mail and booking was a breeze.
The resort is beautiful. We were in a Hillside with the pool, which is great. I could not get my new bride away from it, which I must say I felt the same way. I had really planed to do a lot of excursions and visit all I could on the island, but with this resort you really don’t want to leave, so for the most part, we didn’t.
The staff is very friendly and tries to accommodate all your needs, although some times on “island time” but “no worries”, they were great.
Hints for couples going, ask for and you should receive, I should have requested a cooler of beer and drinks to take up to our pool, but instead went back and forth to the bar for a couple at a time, as the stocked bar will only hold a limited amount of “cold” ones.
Also we didn’t find out until too late that the water sports included being taken to a secluded beach for awhile and picked up later by power boat.
All in all this place will shoot to the best of the best.

My wife and I could not decide what to do for our honeymoon. We debated a safari then the Seychelles, Sonoma and napa then Hawaii. and then we realized we didn't want to spend our time flying and all we wanted to do was relax. we didn't want to do anything because our days are filled with nothing but stress and hecticness. We found Hermitage Bay!

We watched it's progress on Trip Advisor for about three months before we arrived and we could not have been more excited. We could not have been more please with our experience. Starting with our airport transfer to the hotel. Kemba drove us and helped us get acquainted with local customs. He warned us about "the road". I have to tell you it is fine. you shouldn't leave the resort anyway.

We were given two virgin Mojitos upon arrival and were told where things were and then we were taken to our villa. We got the complimentary upgrade to a hillside villa because it was our honeymoon. If you are debating whether or not it is worth it to spend the extra money for the hillside villa the answer is a definite yes. The plunge pool makes the experience perfect. (except maybe the 117 steps to get to our villa) . The ipod dock is so nice and the fact that it is connected through out the villa is wonderful. Our biggest disappointment was that we didn't really get a room ambassador. everyone talked about theirs but we fell through the cracks.

The food is very good. The breakfast and lunch menus stay the same everyday but there is enough to pick and choose that you can stay for a week and not get bored with the selections. Dinner is very good too the menu changes nightly. The biggest issue in the dining room is temperature. It is hot and there is no cooling. Management needs to address this, especially as July and August approach. The bar was great good drinks, good house wines, and good house champagne.

The only "construction" that is happening right now is landscaping they are really trying to get everything planted and in place and they are doing a wonderful job.

We set up a private sunset cruise through Judith at the front desk. She set us up with Shaun and we had a great time for two hours on a sail boat on the open water. It was a highlight for sure.

We succeeded to relax for sure. Our day came down to one choice; plunge pool or beach, if life was only as simple as that one choice.

Hermitage Bay is by far the best resort in the Caribbean. My sister and I visited with my parents for their 50th wedding anniversary and all we can say is WOW! Firstly, the service is impeccable. Nothing is overlooked and the staff and management team goes above and beyond to make your stay exquisite. In all my travels to the Caribbean, I have never experienced so much attention from the staff.

FOOD: The food and drinks were fantastic. We are from Boston and have high expectations when dining - the chef was by far on par with any of our high end restaurants in Boston. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all excellent.

ROOM: Absolutely gorgeous and of very high standard. We stayed in an oceanfront beach suite and an oceanview suite. The decor is simple yet elegant and evokes a very serene tone. The mini-bar was stocked daily or as needed and our room ambassador, Jerrylynn, ensured that the room was always impeccable.

BEACH: The bay is extremely private with plenty of umbrellas and beach chairs. Each day your "space" is arranged by the beach staff and you are able to take advantage of beach service throughout the day - drinks, water, whatever! Again, the staff is at your beckon call!

BOUTIQUE: For those women who like to shop, the boutique was stocked with beautiful high end clothing and accessories. Our friend, Keysha, was an excellent sales person who went out of her way to ensure that we had the opportunity to linger for hours to enjoy and then purchase a myriad of one of a kind pieces!

All in all, a very special resort, particularly for couples. Since the resort only opened in November, we were able to secure special rates, which I did not know at the time. Rates for 2008 are very high but for those who can afford it, you will not be disappointed, Hermitage Bay is a very special destination.