We cannot say enough wonderful words about Stonefield. We spent our week-long honeymoon at this romantic resort and highly recommend it for anyone wanting a tropical "escape from it all" vacation.
Accomodations: We had the Manchineel villa, which we quickly decided was THE BEST! The privacy was supurb, the views breathtaking. Our bed looked straight out to the caribbean where we could watch the sun set at precisely 6 every evening. The veranda had amazing views of both the sea and the Petit Piton. Our patio was framed by both views as well. The veranda was wonderful, as we could be outside all day with no worries of the tropical sun (fair skin that burns too easily!).
The room was clean and well cared for every day by staff. The bed was extremely comfortable, and well outfitted.
The entire resort is so private, it is hard to describe it. We tried to walk around one afternoon and check out all the other villas, but they are well hidden and tucked into the hillside. We did not see them all! In fact, we never saw another person unless we went to the reception house or the restaurant.
Restaurant: The food was wonderful at the Mango Tree. It had a very local feel, was extremely fresh, and presented well. Dishes, plates, glasses, flatware were all very contemporary and helped set a beautiful table at all three meals. The prices were extremely reasonable. Our first dinner included cocktails, appetizer and two full entrees for only $54 US! The quantities of food were so sufficient, that we ate only lunch OR dinner at the restaurant; we did not need both. The small fridge/sink area in the villa allowed us to keep snacks and drinks for lighter meals.
Staff: This is where Stonefield truly surpasses the other resorts we came in contact with. The staff is so friendly, helpful, knowledgable about their island, and just pleasant to deal with. They always seemed to be right on top of anything we wanted to do, making all sorts of arrangements for us. We never had to handle a thing. Prices for tours or rentals are publicized well, and we had no surprises on our bill when we checked out. The staff arranged for us to tour the rainforest, got a rental car for us, a taxi for one evening, and provided timely shuttle service to town and the beach.
We went for dinner at Dasheen one night (Ladera Resort) and while the food was wonderful, the staff was quite different than Stonefield's...not nearly as helpful or engaging. We also went to the beach at Jalousie and ate at their beach restaurant. The staff there was "ok"....but they too seemed distant and not to care about us as people. So unlike what we had gotten used to at Stonefield.
Side trips: We went up into the rainforest one morning. Amazing! We had a tour guide for just the two of us, and no one else was in the forest the entire two hours we were there. We went to beach as I said. It was ok...I would say the beaches up north are better than this part of the island. We rented a car one day and drove up the coast. This was great! It did not take too long to get used to driving on the left, you just have to go slow and take it easy. The other drivers for the most part were very accomodating. Don't let the left side of the road scare you from going off on your own. This was a great day; we got to see some very local aspects of the island (small fishing villages) as well as the more commercialized tourist centers up north. We stopped at Pigeon Island National Park and climbed to the top of that. Incredible views. We left Stonefield around 9 am, made many stops along the way, and were back in time to watch the sun set....again!
Cautions: This is a true GET AWAY vacation. No TV, phone or computer hook up in the room. We loved it! Our villa did have an air conditioner, but we cannot imagine anyone ever turning it on!
If you are looking for a beach scene, night life, constant technology, or people everywhere, this is not the place for you! BUT, if you want to really be in the most beautiful setting, with a fabulous staff, and unwind from the craziness of the world, this IS the place for you. Oh, and the outdoor shower, plunge pool, and hammock were fabulous. What a treat!