We just returned from a stay for 3 nights in a cottage, then 5 nights in the seaside villa. Both experiences were incredible! The cottages are quaint and the pool and bar area are lovely. The seaside villa, however, is magical - we literally could not believe our eyes when we first walked in. We did a couple of off property day trips, but spent most of our time swimming in the pool and the ocean, snorkeling, and relaxing.

For clarification for future travelers, when you stay at the villa you have a staff of three dedicated to taking care of your group. The staff is wonderful and works very hard to make sure your stay is perfect. At the end of the stay, most visitors tip the house staff, and it is best to do this in cash (US or Jamaican dollars are fine). The recommended amount is 10%. We did not realize this ahead of time. We were able to withdraw cash from the ATM in town, but of course the fees to do this are expensive. Also, most of the larger restaurants accept credit cards, but the smaller restaurants and bars, shops, and vendors do not; Jamaican and US dollars are both fine. It is helpful to have cash in small bills ($1 and $5s) for taxi rides, buying souvenirs, etc, and larger amounts for tipping the house staff and paying for activities which cannot be paid for with cash (boat rides, snorkel trips, etc). Cassandra, the manager at Villas Sur Mer, is extremely helpful and can tell you ahead of time what you will need cash for.

The snorkel equipment provided by the resort was of good quality, so no need to bring your own. There is no restaurant or food on property, but there are several good restaurants within walking distance. However, service in Jamaica is very relaxed/ slow (everything is prepared fresh from scratch), so if you don't want to spend a lot of time waiting in restaurants, it's helpful to bring snacks and breakfast options with you.

If you need transportation including to or from the airport, use the resort's preferred drivers. They are trustworthy, reliable, and appreciate the work.

My family much preferred this trip to an all inclusive experience. We feel that we got to know the staff and Cassandra and came away with an understanding of what Jamaica is really about.