My wife and I stayed there for three nights in early January, and they advertise that you will have a very serene experience, and I must say, the beauty of the place was diminished by the obvious problems the staff and management were in the middle of...

First, we were handed a list of things to expect when we arrived. This included complimentary morning coffee and an afternoon drink. The staff seemed totally unaware that this was the case when we went looking for their supposed complimentary Blue Mountain Jamaican morning coffee. Same case with the afternoon drink. Also, there were two charges on the bill for morning coffee when we checked out (which they did remove after a not-so-friendly confrontation with a staff member (that is not too harsh a word).

Also, and perhaps most disturbing, we heard the management arguing with (or yelling at) the staff a few times as we approached the main building and this certainly disrupted the serene environment.

One of the staff members did confide in us that there had been a major staff turnover the 1st of the year and that this could possibly be a cause of our problems.

Finally, there was an extra charge on our bill for a fee that had been added after we made our reservation, and the staff member we dealt with had a hard time believing that we should not be charged for it.

Call me crazy, but I believe that in the service/hotel industry, the customer is always right, and a customer should not be treated with a snooty attitude.

All in all, the place was indeed beautiful (but you definitely need a rental car if you want to explore the surrounding area), the views are top-notch, but with all of these problems that made us increasingly uncomfortable, unless they do a major staff training and learn to hide moments that break the serenity of the environment, we will not be going back to a place that was quite expensive.

One should take the negative reviews seriously. I had a hotel voucher for a four night stay at Mockingbird Hill. With the full agreement of the hotel owner, I submitted the voucher to the hotel in advance of my planned vacation with the understanding, verified by numerous e mails, that I or a friend could use the voucher on a later date based on availability. Mockingbird Hill acknowleged the receipt of the voucher and thanked me via e mail. I first booked an early December date but cancelled due to the heavy rains and mosquito problem at the time. This was done with the approval of Mockingbird Hill. In late February 2008, I attempted to have a friend s name substituted on the voucher as had been agreeded upon. I asked a staff member if there were available dates in April 2008 and was told that there were dates available. I then asked if my friend could call to confirm the dates-my friend was very open as to the dates. The hotel would not agree nor refuse to make a reservation. They would claim that the responsible person was in a staff meeting all day or some other excuse. My e mails, faxes and telephone calls were ignored. I filed a complaint with the Jamaican Tourist Board.The owners of Mockingbird Hill sent the Tourist Board fabricated e mails that they said were from me. The emails, it seems ,had no date or time of delivery. I was eventually refunded the cost of the voucher minus a service charge.As I received the voucher though a travel auction site, I could not replace the vacation at another resort-I had wanted friends to celebrate their anniversary at the hotel. I found the owners of Mockingbird Hill to be very deceptive to say the least.

We spent 13 blissful days at the Mockingbird Hill Hotel. The ambience is tranquil but far from stuffy, the staff friendly and helpful, and the rooms bright, airy and cool. The owners were extremely knowlegable and helpful in arranging excurtions, as well as being a mine of information on the locality.
The Restaurant is one of the best I've had the pleasure of eating in-the menu changed daily, and none of the choices was repeated during our 13 day stay.
Highly recommended!

This was our first trip to Jamaica, and our stay at the Mocking Bird Hill made it completely worthwhile. The quite ambiance and lush vegetation surrounding the hotel created a relaxing, serene environment. If you’re seeking a hotel that is warm, friendly, luxurious, personal, and comfortable, then Hotel Mocking Bird Hill is the place for you.

The drive from the Kingston Airport was quite long, so expect a good 3-4 hour drive on very bad roads. We arrived at the hotel very late at night, and were immediately greeted by hotel staff, and Shireen, one of the owners. She accompanied us to our room and served us with fish soup and fresh fruit, the perfect snack before a good nights sleep. The next morning, after soaking in the view and the natural beauty around us, the long drive was forgotten.

The hotel is very sophisticated and has a very romantic, detailed, and charming feeling. The rooms are very spacious and breezy, and lounging outside on the porch hammock forces you to be in a very relaxed and positive state of mind. The hotel staff was extremely friendly, professional, and very accommodating, and the owners, Shireen and Barbara, make it very easy for their guests to feel at home. The fact that the hotel is eco-friendly really makes it easier for the guests to enjoy their surroundings and appreciate this earth for all its natural beauty.

The food at the Mille Fleurs restaurant was excellent. Everything was made with high quality, local fresh food(even the fruit punch!), and the menu was very versatile. The dishes were delicious; some of the best meals I’ve ever had. There is nothing like having a delicious meal while enjoying the quiet and peaceful views of Port Antonio.

The hotel has many activities to offer, raft rides down the Rio Grande, hiking up the Blue Mountains, bird watching, horse-back riding, but for us, the most relaxing place to be was a day at the Frenchman’s Cove private beach. It is a 30 minute walk from the hotel, or a 5 minute car ride away. Walking on the roads in Port Antonio was very nice. The locals are very friendly and eager to talk to you. I recommend taking a trip to Boston, the local Jerk center, to try all the food.

I recommend this hotel to anyone who is seeking a quiet and peaceful hotel with a luxurious local charm to it. Coming from a big bustling city, this was the perfect getaway. We had an amazing 5 day stay, and look forward to visiting again next year.