Reviews of Property: Caribbean Dawn - Mountainside Guesthouse

Come to the real Jamaica. To a guest house on the side of a mountain above the best jerk center on the island and a great surf spot there as well. All kinds of fish in any touraine without regulation...paradise. Wonderful touring in area that can keep you busy forever from lighthouses to waterfalls, castles to mountain trails.
The IRIE alone is worthy of the trip...and then theres the waves.

We've been to the guesthouse twice now, and we loved our experience. The view is breathtaking. The tropical breezes are wonderful. The room was light and airy. We especially enjoyed Boston Bay and having lunch at Miss Ivys at the beach. The goat path is a must on the way down to the beach.

I can't even find the right words to express how wonderful it is to stay here. The view is unlike anything i have ever seen. The rooms are so big and spacious. The hammock is a perfect touch. Dread is the BEST cook , NO QUESTION! The dogs are so sweet. I love the town and the people. I have stayed in this town nine times and have felt nothing but warmth and kindness EVERY time.

.....even i was hoping for some more SUNSHINE......well nothing we can do with that.
But when u r living in Norway...sunshine is what we need at this time :-)

A nice peacefull place.........will recommend it for friends or couples.....as a single traveller...may be a bit too quiet.....
Wonderfull place - clean and nice...and with Dread as a good Housekeeper and the dogs always welcoming me ...

The pictures on the site just don’t do it justice. There’ll have to add lotsss more to even try. And the place isn’t even done yet. I imagine when it is my 5/5 review will be just an ok review. Really it’s a great place. It’s in the beautiful countryside of Jamaica. The rooms are nice, open airy, clean & comfortable you have everything you need. Dread the caretaker a mellow cool guy will take care of anything else if there is any. And he defiantly cook’s up some tasty meals. I ate there most night’s. The property is beautiful plants & flowers all over and even has a goat’s path you can hike to the main road. And the view from the balcony (Forget about it) the sunset & rise are incredible. You’re over looking the whole area as far as you can see. One of my farvite spots.

We hung out mostly in the Portland area looking for surf and there’s plenty. I say that because we ran into a surfer dude from C.A. and he said he didn’t bring his Bd. Because everyone told him there no surf in Jamaica (Wrong) He ended up renting a Bd. From are place for the next week of his stay. I will say (I ain’t never had to much fun) but this was up there. There lots to do even if you don’t want to drive somewhere. Beaches, market, April bar some shopping & more. Or just mellow out and get a good meal with Dread or down by Boston beach. Go to Aprils have a few beers and lots of laughs, we had a great time. Just take it all in and relax. A real good place to shop is Kuumba Ujamaa little yellow shop right on the main road can’t miss it you’ll see a guy with a big hello & smile offering you a coconut drink. They have nice stuff and not the same things you see all over. The Caribbean Dawn is unreal, the Jamaican people here are wonderful, the beaches all of it. There’s lots to do or nothing to do. I did some of both and it was sweet. You’ll see what I mean when you get there.

Enjoy

The property is AMAZING!! Even if you were to never leave the guesthouse, you would go home with the 180 degree waterview forever in your mind and the relaxing vibe forever in your soul. My ears were blessed Sunday morning with the voices of worship and praise coming from the three churches scattered in view below the guesthouse. Now that I am back home,I miss waking up to the roosters crowing. The guesthouse property and rooms are kept spotless. Dread does it all! He is a FANTASTIC cook!! The BEST food you will ever eat anywhere, and lots of it! The grounds are loaded with fruit trees, herbs, flowers, etc The customer service was great. I mentioned to Mr. Dread I wanted to try sugar cane at dinner one night and the next morning outside my door was a big stalk of sugar cane. We wound up making Jamaican mohitos with the sugar cane, AppletonEstate Rum and mint leaves from the garden. Miss Ivy's at Boston Beach is the place to have lunch and a cold Red Stripe or juice drink while you are at the beach and at Winnifred Beach a couple of miles up the road the food is equally good.the Jerk Center is always open, go to Little David's a few stands in for the best jerk pork. You are never far from a cold drink, refreshing water for a swim, and a friendly smile from a stranger. A note to the ladies, bathroom facilities are limited when you are out traveling around, pack some basics for your day travels and enjoy the adventure! I am happy to report NO MOSQUITO BITES or any bug bites. I do recommend this property. You can check the surf at Boston from the balcony to determine if it is a snorkeling or surfing day. The goat path to the beach is challenging but alot of fun and great exercise. Make sure you say hello to Rigley the Boston Beach lifeguard and Alton at the surfshack and pick up your souveniers from the yellow shack at the bottom of the hill.

We headed for Jamaica, just 4 days after Tropical Storm Gustav hit the island. Landed in Montego Bay, rented a car, and headed east towards Boston Bay and the Caribbean Dawn Guesthouse. After a night in Ocho Rios, and a second day on the road (which was not in bad condition, considering!) we arrived.

Note: the drive up the mountain is really scary, the drive down the driveway even more so - however, the more times you do it, the easier it gets! ;)

The description of the guesthouse is perfectly accurate - clean, nicely furnished, the dogs are friendly. Dread seems like a kind soul and we had the BEST view around!!! We didn't have a chance to sample Dread's cooking, since we were only there to sleep, but next time we'll be sure to have him put something together for us.

Now, remember we arrived just 4 days after a terrible storm, so there were a few small things (not in anyone's control really) that made me select "good" instead of excellent.

The power was on low voltage, so the fan and fridge did not work. And it was hot, so we had the door open to try to feel a bit of a breeze. Well, having the door open in the Caribbean is not a good idea unless you like critters! In particular, we had a rat visit, which I'm sure Dread and the dogs will be taking care of. If the door had been closed, this would not have been an issue. Also, there were a ton of mosquitoes which was likely due to standing water from the storm.

Regardless, we had a wonderful stay and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to our friends and family, as long as they had a car or were in good shape and sure footed. The Boston Beach was lovely, the locals were super friendly. I would also recommend the trip to Bath River and Reach Falls, as well as wandering around the Jamaican Palace if you're an art lover. Tuesday is Fish Party, so prepare to party (not sleep) on Tuesdays.

We are a couple of Canadian women, traveling on our own, in a rental car, and not once did we feel uncomfortable, unsafe or unwelcome in Jamaica. It was a great adventure that we will be sure to repeat!!

What an awesome view! Though I have been to Jamaica several times, this is the first time I have stayed in the Portland area. This is the place to come to if you want to relax, party, whatever. There is something for everyone. Let the balmy breezes of the Caribbean Sea lull you to sleep at nights and wake up to the best breakfast you have ever had, cooked, of course, by Mister Dread. He knows how to make your tastebuds tingle! I very much enjoyed my stay and would definitely come back when I am next in the area. Everyone was super friendly, the place was clean, and the view was out of this world. Try to do some sightseeing as well because there are a lot of interesting places to visit.