From Ochi to Portland...?

[Bandana]

Hello

How long of a drive is it from Ochi to Frenchmans Cove in Portland?

I can't get OLiz's pictures out of my head...


a tief, mi tief ie



I keep hearing all the people over the years telling me how much I would LOVE Portland... from oliz's picture above I think they are right!


So, if I stay in Ochi, can I do a day trip to Frenchmans Cove easy?
Is there somewhere closer/better to stay in Portland instead?
Mind I am flying into MoBay...

[RichD]

Re: From Ochi to Portland...?

about 2 hours

[ohliz]

Re: From Ochi to Portland...?

So glad you enjoyed them!

Yes, about 2 hours. The road is very nice now though you do slow down in the towns...Boscobel, Annotto Bay, etc., it's much smoother going than it used to be.

Frenchmans is only about 10 minutes past Port Antonio.

Personally I wouldn't stay at Frenchmans Cove....last time I saw their rooms they were really funky (by which I mean moldy, dirty, outdated...all that) and quite overpriced if you aren't local - like over $100 a night.

Instead I'd choose Fern Hill Club which is on the mountainside just opposite Frenchmans - nice rooms for $95 and up, amazing views. A good mile up the hill though, so maybe best if you have wheels. http://www.fernhillclubhotel.com/

Budget places -

Villa Paola - closer to the road (and taxis) but same general area, $40 a night:

http://www.villapaola.de/

Or right in Port Antonio, Ivanhoes - clean, lovely rooms, close to the marina beach and town:

http://worldstogethertravel.com/jamaica/lodging-ivanhoes.htm

[Bandana]

Re: From Ochi to Portland...?

[SandiF]

Re: From Ochi to Portland...?

I've stayed at both places couple times in the past and preferred Frenchman's Cove.

The up and down Fern Hill Club is very nice, great exerciser. Didn't like the room... no hot water... and mosquito laden.

[ohliz]

Re: From Ochi to Portland...?

Has Frenchman's redone the rooms in "The Great House", Sandi? I just about ran screaming from the one we were shown in 2003 and I saw no sign last year that they'd done anything but start adding restaurant, etc down on the beach.

I will say that year Libby and Chef referred us to it, but they paid $50 a night whereas we were asked for $120 or so. For $50 it might have been OK for me.

I did stay at Fern Hill just a few months ago (last April) and though the decor is still dated, our water was hot, our A/C cold, our service friendly and efficient, all the pools open and clean and there weren't any mosquitoes in our room. Walk-in rate was $6,000J for a deluxe suite, about half what it is if you book ahead.