More

The grounds of Everton House, located in Newland, Yallahs, in St Thomas.

The grounds of Golden Shore Resort in Lyssons, St Thomas.

Whispering Bamboo Cove in Retreat, St Thomas

The grounds of Golden Shore Resort in Lyssons, St Thomas.

Among the best

Annmarie Nicely, Contributor

Let me demystify one of the many views on St Thomas. The parish has hotels and some fairly good ones. St Thomas is home to more than 10 small hotels, the two most popular ones being the 15-room Whispering Bamboo Cove in Retreat and the 27-room Golden Shore Resort in Lyssons.

Both resorts are located on the golden-sand belt of the parish. The sand along the parish's coastline, heading easterly, changes from grey to golden brown and when you get to Pera, beautiful light silver and finally white in the Holland Bay area.

well maintained

The two are among the best in the parish as their grounds are usually well maintained, rooms clean and spacious, bathrooms fairly modern and their staff country, nice. Scheduled entertainment is virtually non-existent, which makes the properties quiet and suitable for book and nature lovers, or persons wanting to escape the hectic lifestyle. But their menu tends to be limited and selections have to be made prior to meal time.

However, two pleasant surprises in this area are Brown's Guest House and Everton House. The 10-room Brown's Guest House is a seaside property located in Prospect. The view of the hotel from the main road is no reflection of what will greet you when you enter. Their carefully manicured lawn/garden is simply beautiful. There are two sections to the property, the main house and a two-storey block close to the sea. Entering the front door of the main house is like walking into a warm and inviting Jamaican home. The living room or main area is clean, neat, spacious, unostentatious, traditional but comfortable. The guest rooms are clean and traditionally decorated. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning and cable television but no Internet access. Guests also have the option of preparing meals in their accommodations or have them catered.

breathtaking view

Perched on a hill with a breathtaking view of the Yallahs Pond is the four-room guest house, Everton House. The property is located in the Newland area of Yallahs on the small campus of Eastern College of Hospitality Management. Also located on the property is a great house which, according to the proprietor, Paulette Henry-Williams, was built by the Bogle brothers in 1764. The guest rooms are actually the old stables of the great house. Because the property is fairly new, its bathrooms and other fixtures are also new. The rooms have cable television and fans. Internet access is available on the property but not in the guest rooms. Guests also have the option of preparing their own meals in the great house or having their meals prepared for them. But pork lovers beware, this is one item not prepared at this facility. This guest house is definitely for persons who want to immerse themselves in the St Thomas lifestyle. There is no prearranged entertainment, guests simply select the tune and the staff and students make it happen, from camp fires, to sing-a-longs. Tours to surrounding areas can also be arranged.

Feedback: annjanicely@yahoo.com.