Frenchman's Cove Resort

This property could be a gold mine but it is extremelg outdated; the roads to get to some of the villa are not good. The staff didnt intrifuce themswlves and were not friendly on our first intwraction with us. Im glad it was only one night, becauss there will not be any more or reccomendations.

We chose this resort due to word of mouth from friends and family who remembered it from years before as an amazing family-friendly place. We went on line and chose the “great house” option, since a villa seemed large for 2 people. On arrival, the grounds are exceptionally kept, and I will leave the one star in this review for that and also the friendliness of the staff. But that’s where the good aspects end. The “great house” was about a mile drive through the extensive grounds to a pretty remote area of the estate, to a building that looked like a dilapidated motel 6. We were literally the only people there-2 females, the only car, no land phones, and no evidence of recent upkeep. There was a dead grasshopper in front of the stairwell to the second floor where our room was located. There was mold and peeling paint in the common areas. We were afraid to turn on the AC in the room for fear of breathing dust or mold. The beds looked like they had been made months before and then never changed or aired. It was extremely stressful while we tried to decide to stay or not, but we decided decided in less than minutes of checking in that we would not be staying. We went back to the front desk to explain the concerns, and they were kind and apologetic, but did not offer any alternative for us. We thus decided to seek another place, and ended going to Geejam. Coincidentally, another family arrived almost at the same time as we did, and less than an hour later, we were checking in together at Geejam, which was a lovely experience from start to finish. We contacted the resort management who denied us any refunds or other offers of compensation, which we thought may happen, but wanted them to be aware nonetheless. It is a shame because the grounds, preservation And beach are spectacular and wasted by lack of upkeep of the living quarters. areas and beach

I stayed at this hotel in the 1970s when it was at its peak. The resort is now under new ownership but hasn’t been updated since that time owing to Jamaica’s disastrous experiment with “democratic socialism” which created social instability and the flight of capital and tourists. It is sad to see the resort in disrepair, such as patio doors that must be jerry-rigged with bolts and a two by four to lock. But there is a wild beauty to the place, like waves crashing up on the rocks below the villa, and the encroaching jungle all around. There is a creek alongside the beach that empties into the sea. I learned that tourists share the beach with hawksbill turtles. The Cove’s beach is a designated nesting ground for these endangered animals. We were privileged to witness the hatchlings from one nest begin their improbable odds of survival at sea. They will stay at sea for life but in 20 years the females released that day will return to the beach at Frenchman’s Cove to lay their first clutch of eggs. Kudos to the Alligator Head Foundation for their conservation work.