Tingalayas Retreat — Attraction in Jamaica

In desperation, after checking in to a hotel room directly across the street from Rick's Cafe that smelled like feces, my husband and I called Tingalaya's Retreat in the middle of the night, begging for a last-minute reservation during their busy season (Christmas holiday). It was well after business hours when we called and a lovely woman answered, patiently listened to our nightmare situation, and kindly, yet hesitantly (because of her service standard) offered us a room that had yet to be "turned over" yet. This was in the time before 'Rona (Dec. 2019) and we were honeymooning. When we arrived at Tingalay's Retreat, even in the pitch-black middle of the night, we had stumbled on something special. Sophia or Maria (can't remember which one) had put fresh sheets on the bed & provided her towels. It had literally been 20 minutes between when we'd called and arrived & they'd hustled to get the room together. When we woke up, we meandered around the grounds, walked across the tiny, dirt road to discover the secret, oceanfront garden where more bungalows, a gazebo & private (sea-salt pool) were. ||After exploring the grounds, we sat down to freshly prepared, authentically Jamaican breakfast (that can be made to order with notice the day before) with the other guests and even the owner who engaged with all the guests in the morning. As a Jamaican American, I was really confused & bothered by all the other B&B non-Jamaican dining offerings. While staying at Tinagalya's, we were offered breakfast which was included within our rate & could request dinner if we did so by the morning. In terms of concierge, the women that fed us, also connected us with trusted vendors for day trips who were not egregiously priced. We rented mopeds for the time we were there and traveled far & wide on adventures. My only reason for not giving this TR a full five stars is that the "hot water situation". During our stay, hot or even warm water was scarce and the common & only complaint amongst guest. Because everything else was so nice, it was almost as if no one wanted to say anything, but when one hinted at it the floodgates of truth opened up and it seemed that everyone felt the same & that wa the only caveat of TR. Although this is not a Jamaican owned boutique, contrary to other places we stayed, it was obvious that the staff didn't feel undervalued or mistreated because of the genuine level of service they offered. Once they realized that the hot water was not an isolated issue, the men of the crew cute down the trees that were blocking the solar panels that were meant to heat the water. There was an issue and everyone worked expeditiously to resolve the matter and were apologetic. Tinagalay's staff, ambience and authentic vibe are why we reccommended our NY friends to stay there & why, after visiting, they chose to make it their wedding venue. When staying at TR, be sure to tip the staff directly & WELL because without them, the place would not be what it is. Their energy amplifies the ambience that the owner (an American man from DC) created & caused us to overlook any inconveniences like the lack of hot water or occasional mosquito. TR is less like a hotel and definitely a retreat that is equal parts romantic & equal...

Spectacular! If Disneyland had an area called "One World Jamaica Land" it would be Tingalaya's. The cottages and bungalows look very authentic but everything is pristine. Every building and all the landscaping is bright and fresh and beautiful. The cliffside pool is so perfect, you can just float in the saltwater for hours rocking with the waves. The staff are amazing. Really! Maria can cook anything and makes every effort to exceed your expectations. She brought me fresh pineapple from her mother's tree and made a magical curry like I've never tasted. Rochelle cleans every other day and even does some laundry if you wish. There are no windows, just screens so I don't know how she keeps the dust out but she does, not a speck on any windowsill and there are lots of windows (magic?). You get an ample stack of plush towels for bathing and big ones for the beach. Jubee is a national treasure and makes a fantastic jerk conch. Sophia and Boz and all the dogs are just as delightful. It really is a "magical kingdom"! Do rent a car or scooter though, a friend had a disturbing trip using a taxi (not at Tingalaya but on the beach end) so I wouldn't use one but the hired car services are an excellent option. Also, get a local cell phone and load on some minutes ($30-40 for the phone and plan) because despite my assurances from Verizon my phone never did work, not even at the airport when I really needed it. The car services I hired used whatsapp as a means of texting and Tingalaya has great wifi so that works too. There is a large ice machine and multiple fridges at the resort as well so you can keep your red stripe and snacks private. It's a very special place where you can meet some very intelligent and interesting people who will make time to talk about anything and everything. Anyone looking for some legit downtime and soul rejuvenation will be so very happy to have found Tingalaya's. I did visit friends at a resort on the 7-mile beach end, a nice one too, and it just seemed so cheap and taudry and ordinary in comparison. If you like that kind of thing please don't stay at Tingalaya's because I will be going back and I don't want you tainting the...

Everything about this place was incredible. The staff are attentive, kind, caring and extremely personable. They are present to help with your every need. The breakfast is delicious, cooked fresh every morning for every guest! Maureen/Mo is a gentle presence and cooks incredibly robust Jamaican meals. Moreover, she greets each guest every morning with warmth, taking time to learn everyone’s names (this goes for all the staff!). Eleanor/Elena manages thr property and goes out of her way to ensure all the guests are comfortable, know their way around and attended to every need. She organized sunset yoga for us and it was delightful. Jubi is the groundsman who looks after the guests, helping set up the chairs by the pool, provide area recommendations and more. He's gentle and his calm and friendly demeanor is refreshing and makes the environment even more luxe. David, the owner, is a generous and responsive host, and we are very grateful to him and his staff for all that they do to make this place as special as can be. On the amenities, I can only sing more praises. The rooms have been carefully curated and crafted by David, and it shows. The grounds are lush and gorgeous, with a little farm in the back, which is beautiful. The pool is to die for, on the side of cliffs bordering the gorgeous sea, filled with seawater from the little waves that jump over the edge. It's simply divine. Moreover, there's an expansive yoga/multi-purpose room that oozes with calm — also expertly crafted by David. Down by the pool, there are gardens that lead down to a deck, which is perfect for evening meditation of yoga, or even evening chats. If you're looking for quiet luxury surroudned by nature, brilliant people and comfortable abodes, there's no better place to be. I was so sad to leave! I hope to...