Our recent holiday at the Half Moon was sadly quite disappointing as we were expecting much higher standards after reading all the 'rave' reviews on Tripadvisor. We were staying in a Beach Front Villa, firstly there was NO beach, just a shingle and rock beach full of sea urchins that you are not even allowed onto even if you are wearing shoes! If you are going there, stay in the Hibiscus Suites, they ARE on the beach.
Its not the hotels fault that Hurricane Sandy had just devastated part of the island and even though the North West part of the Island had escaped the full force of the storm the beaches and sea had still been battered by the wind and waves, but our experience was not dampened by these factors, it was the general service and amenities of the hotel that let it down.
The hotel looks tired, the rooms we had at our villa were spacious but doors stuck, the bathrooms needed a refit and during one particularly bad rain fall water was dripping down the bedroom wall. Lunchtimes are limited, if you don't eat room service/in your villa you can only eat at the main hotel restaurant where the quality of food is pretty average, why don't they serve lunch by the pool? or have a lunchtime BBQ at sunset beach?
The staff who looked after us at our villa were kind and sweet but you have to buy all foodstuffs from the commissary, the standard of meat is poor, everything was frozen and the choice of veg/fruit got tiresome after a couple of days.
One night we decided to venture out to a local restaurant and sat waiting to be collected only to be told (after we had called the front desk) that no-one had confirmed the booking and would have to wait a further 30 mins to be collected, its just not good enough.
Maybe this place is too big, maybe they were all fed up with the rain, sadly we will not be returning.

We stayed in a ocean-front Royal Villa and it was truly amazing! The Villa itself was stunning, with your own private pool and relaxing verandas to enjoy the awesome view! The villa had a common area sitting room, outdoor dining area, separate TV room complete with DVD player and private pool. Our bedroom was extremely well appointed: welcome bottle of champagne, high quality bedding, ceiling fan, air conditioning, wall safe, two huge closets, large dresser, huge veranda & an amazing bathroom with double vanities!

Each villa is staffed by a housekeeper, cook & butler who cater to your every wish & truly make your stay exceptional!!! There was a made to order breakfast every morning, which was amazing. Along with cleaning your room, the housekeeper also does your laundry...that was a first for us! The staff's impeccable attention to detail truly made our stay splendid!

The private pool was wonderful to relax in. It was surrounded by comfortable padded lounge chairs & plenty of fresh towels. The villa also had 2 golf carts to use to explore this massive property. We could either take them ourselves to explore, or our butler would drive us where ever we cared to go.

This is truly an amazing property! Unfortunately, we were there on business and with only 4 days, didn't have enough time to take in everything this 400 acre property had to offer. Some of the many activities were a dolphin encounter, equestrian center, where you could actually swim with horses, golf course, shopping village, numerous restaurants and huge spa. I did have the opportunity to visit the Fern Tree Spa. It was truly an amazing experience.

I think one of the best ways to get to know a resort is how they handle bad situations. Well, we arrived right when hurricane Sandy was making it's way across the island. Despite this, the staff went out of their way to make us happy and comfortable in spite of the weather. They were organized, they comp'd some meals, and handled it incredibly well. After the storm, the water had caused some problems with the fire alarm/detector going off in our building. It was a minor inconvenience, but they moved us to a suite that looked like something suitable for royalty. It literally looked like something fit for celebrities. This resort and its staff work very hard to make this the best vacation you'll ever have.

The food was excellent, but one of our best experiences was having room service setup a candlelight dinner on our patio. They literally can transform your patio or room into an elegant dining experience. You absolutely need to do this if you go.

The property is gorgeous. The beaches and property look like a sight out of a movie or a magazine. They are absolutely meticulous in maintaining the property. Buildings are extremely clean, very well-maintained. This was the most beautiful resort I've ever seen.

Every member of the staff was outstanding at his or her job. Front desk staff is friendly and eager to accomodate. Front desk, bellmen, food service staff, bartenders, spa staff, housekeeping are all super friendly, kind, and very service-oriented. We even befriended a landscaper named Keith who would go out of his way to deliver us fresh coconuts to drink and eat. When we would walk between locations on property, staff would stop by on golf carts to offer us rides (we liked to walk).

My wife loved the spa. We also hung out in the spa area which was also one of the prettiest things I've ever seen. Check out the spa - it's well worth it.

One thing to understand about Half Moon is that this is a place to go for some relaxation, quiet, and chill-out time. They do have activities, but I felt it important to mention because some people might find it too quiet. Also, if you like to swim, be advised there are some sea urchins in the water that like to hang out in the seaweed, so bring some crocs or heavier swimming shoes/covers just in case (I didn't have any issues).

Bottom line: this place is absolutely top notch, first class. We read all of the stellar reviews, too, and they are spot on. This was the best vacation we ever had and I'm still dreaming of Half Moon, Jamaica. I also wanted to mention that the Jamaican people were warm, kind, friendly, and eager to make us comfortable in their home country. Half Moon - we will see you soon!

-Jackie and Eric F.

always wanted to visit this resort and it lived up to my expectations..the history of half moon makes you feel as if you are a celebrity as so many have stayed here. the staff made you feel like a star catering to your every wish. my daughters loved the luxury of the accomodations and the swim up bar. my grandson adored the kayak, the snorkeling, the pool, the paddleboats and the banana spilts we loved every minute of it and would love to return. we even got to swim with the dolphins, a dream come true.. ,in season there are so many activities for kids of all ages. we experienced a nanny one day and she was fabulous.