Jakes
- Category
- Boutique/Small Hotels & Inns
- Island
- Jamaica
At a glance
Jakes is one of the coolest places to stay in the Caribbean. Set in fishing village of Treasure Beach, quite remote on the island’s southern shore, it is a series of suites in brightly coloured cottages scattered around dry tropical gardens and along the rocky shorefront. It is a superb escape, but it is the atmosphere – laid back almost to the point of sedation – that makes Jake’s the special place that it is. Easy Jamaican music plays in the background and life proceeds at a gentle pace under the vines at the dining room and around the pool and bar, which are set above a tiny cove. Jakes is not luxurious in the sense that the Caribbean has come to know recently. It is boho chic, styled with mosaics, exposed wood – quite rustic in places –brightly painted adobe walls and outdoor showers. It is extremely hip. And, for an easy-going independent traveller looking for a laid-back, island vibe, as near perfect as the Caribbean comes.
- Best for:
- Music, Nature, Single travel, Spa, Wedding & Romance
- Who for:
- Hip, stylish, independent travellers
- Not for:
- All-inclusive, resort types
- How to get there:
- Direct flights from Europe, UK, USA/Canada and Panama
Key features
Jakes Jamaica is part of the Island Outposts group, 2 restaurants, poolside bar, saltwater pool, swimming beach, kayaks and snorkelling (extra), Driftwood Spa, games room with cable TV, CD and DVD collection, book and video library, gift shop, all rooms with CD player, CD library, hairdryer, small fridge and ceiling fan; cooking classes and fishing available (extra).
Style:
Funky, boho chic and hip, stylised rusticity in brightly coloured cabins, some wood, others earthy render. Extremely laid-back atmosphere and cool hangout
Client Profile:
An international mix of creative types, some famous, the occasional supermodel and rock star wafts through
Journalist’s Review
In Depth
Jakes’ isolation gives it a good part of its character. It is calm and extremely low key, set at the heart of the simple settlement of Treasure Beach, in an area unaffected by large scale tourism development. It takes a while to reach, but the journey (most likely from Montego Bay) is through a very pretty part of Jamaica. You can relax as you make the drive. And if you don’t nod off there is pleasure in anticipation of arrival.
You will know you are nearly there as the road meanders through Treasure Beach, between low and often simple buildings set back in their own yards. Jakes appears on the sea side behind its own gravel car park and low picket fence. You will be struck by the attractive setting and jangle of colours. Behind the main house, its brightly painted cottages reveal themselves scattered around the garden and along the waterfront.
A path leads through a dry tropical garden to a simple but pretty creole house, which is painted dark red with pink, yellow and green louvers. You enter via an open-sided terrace with a tin roof, which is used as a dining room. The atmosphere of the place is set right here too. Easy Jamaican music pulses in the background and guests linger, reading and chatting, before they head off for the essential pursuits of the day. These are usually sunbathing and swimming, but if you are going off property then the taxi drivers will pick you up here. Sometimes villagers drop by to pass the time of day.
From the terrace you step through a doorway into the small main house, where you find the kitchen on the right and Reception on the left. Any formal procedure that is necessary at Jake’s (and there are not many of them), takes place here. Beyond, you re-emerge outside, into a courtyard set under vines and a large acacia tree. The floor is laid with tiles and coloured mosaic. This is the main dining room for lunch and dinner (you can also eat on the terrace) and it looks particularly pretty at night. The waves are often audible in the background and of course the easy reggae is constantly in the background here too.
Before you reach the sea you come to the pool, which is also laid with mosaics, brightly coloured in starburst and tentacle patterns, on the bottom and on the walls. The pool is surrounded by a deck of yellow ochre and orange and there are several areas in which you can sit out, eyes on the sea horizon and the sunset, on the Adirondack chairs. To the left of the pool is Duggie’s Bar, a small thatched and bamboo-fronted shed. This is a Caribbean classic and is often the centre of the activity at Jake’s.
The bedrooms at Jakes, which are almost all in their own cottages, stretch in both directions along 150 yards of waterfront (just a few rooms sit in the gardens behind). If the main house is in fairly traditional Caribbean style, the rooms are definitely not. Instead they are built with adobe-style render in bright and earthy colours - yellow and red ochre, mustard, fuschia and royal blue. There are hints of Moroccan style – faintly Moorish domes, rounded arches and canopies held on posts – and there are many fun, eccentric touches, including coloured bottles built into the walls and bedheads. But there are also many Caribbean features too, in the pitched wooden ceilings, tin roofs and wooden louvered windows and doors. This area of Jamaica is quite dry and so the rooms are screened from one another by tall grasses as well as bushes and trees.
The rooms are comfortable and stylish but not extremely luxurious. Many are air-conditioned, but otherwise they can be opened out to get the best of the natural air and the sea breeze. They each have some outside space, usually in front of the cottage on a terrace surrounded by a wall, and most have outside showers or in some cases outside baths. Again these are eccentrically designed, sometimes made with old railway timbers inlaid with conch shells. Finally, it might be important to you to know that there are no in-room televisions or even phones at Jakes’s (though of course you can be in touch with the outside world in an emergency if you need to through reception). Each room does have a CD and cassette player however, so you can listen to music. Finally there are also two villas that share the facilities at Jakes, at Calabash Bay just north of the main property. There is a four-bedroom villa and a two bedroom cottage.
There are some ‘central’ facilities scattered around the grounds. At the northern end of the resort, beyond the Honeymoon Suites, is a thatched yoga deck. And beyond here, overlooking the longer beach, is the second dining room, Jack Sprat. This is set on a covered wooden deck and serves fish and local Jamaican fare. Other central facilities include the Games Room, which is just inland from Duggies Bar near the main house. Here you will find books, board games and a cable television (and a CD and DVD collection). At the front of the small resort you will find the shop, the Cashew Tree Shop, which you pass as you arrive. Set in a small pink creole house, it is left open during the day and sells a number of natural Jamaican products.
Jakes is owned by the Henzells, a long time Jamaican family. The rooms were designed by Sally Henzell, who is a theatre designer and the hotel is managed by son Jason Henzell. He is also the President of the Island Outpost group of which Jakes is a part. The hotel is also closely tied to the community of Treasure Beach in which it is situated. It supports Breds (short for Brethren), a non-profit organisation which promotes education, sports, cultural heritage and environmental awareness in Treasure Beach. They stage an annual triathlon, the Treasure Beach Triathlon in May.
Jakes is one of a kind - easy-going, extremely laid back and distinctly Jamaican – and certainly one of the coolest places to stay on the island.
Beach & Swimming
The beach at Jakes is not large. The hotel is strung along a low cliff and at its centre is the pool area, from which steps lead down to the sea. The level of the sand varies. Sometimes there is room to walk around and to put down parasols and loungers. At other times the sea comes quite close to the small cliff and exposes the bedrock underwater. There are sandy patches underfoot, so it is a popular spot to cool off in the water and have a chat. There is another beach to the north of the property which is larger and has better sand. There are other quite local and natural beaches in Treasure Beach to which you can get from Jakes.
The salt water pool is situated right above the beach. Its meandering sides give it a non-uniform shape, but like so much of the small resort the area is brightly painted and inviting. The pool itself is blue with inlaid mosaics, and it is surrounded by pink and yellow ochre render. There are sitting platforms looking out to sea, with pairs of Adirondack chairs.
Sports & Recreation
Watersports include snorkelling on the reefs offshore. Masks and fins are available, as are kayaks if you want to go a little further afield. Bicycles are available for hire from the resort if you want to explore inland. Jakes can put you in touch with a good hiking guide who will take you to explore the local area.
There is a Games Room at Jakes, which has a TV. You will also find a library and board games. At the northern end of the property is a yoga deck. A cookery course is available for a minimum of four people.
Jakes also offers a number of good excursions off property, including boat-borne trips to the Pelican Bar. You can also visit the Black River Morass and YS Falls.
Spa
A range of signature spa and beauty treatments are available in the Driftwood Spa, which is located on a deck just above the sea. Jakes ortho-bionomy therapist, Joshua Lee Stein offers a number of different massages including reflexology, Tai Chi, Reiki and cranial-sacral therapy. He is also available for private consultations to alleviate postural imbalances.
The Rooms
The 35 rooms at Jakes, most of which stand along the waterfront, are very much the key of the small resorts architectural style. They are painted in bright but earthy render with some touches of Moroccan style in the arches and domes. The colour scheme continues inside, with the same bright render and extra stained glass colours in the bottles that are inlaid into the walls and bed heads.
The rooms are mostly one-bedroom suites, each occupying their own cottage (though some have unconnected rooms up and downstairs). The majority of them are air-conditioned, but some depend on the natural air, which is coaxed through louvered windows and doors by ceiling fans. Rooms have four poster beds and mosquito nets (often with brightly painted, arched bed heads).
They each have outside space and most have outside showers or baths. Rooms do not have self catering facilities. They do not have telephones, but they all contain a CD/cassette player and a fridge.
There are also two villas at Calabash Bay (a two-bedroom cottage, and a four bedroom villa with freshwater swimming pool, satellite TV, DVD and WiFi), which can be taken separately or together. They have their own staff (the villa comes with a butler, cook and housekeeper) but guests can also use the facilities of the hotel itself.
Dining
There are two dining rooms at Jakes. The main one, which serves lunch and dinner, is outdoors, between the main house and the pool area, set in the shade of a vine-arbour and under the branches of an acacia tree. It has a very attractive, informal air that is typical of the small resort. You can also choose to eat on the terrace at the front of the main house. Room service is also available for all meals.
For dinner (after a drink at Duggies Bar, perhaps) there is a set menu of a starter, a soup, a main course and a dessert. The food is fairly simple but nicely cooked Jamaican and international fare made with fresh ingredients sourced largely on Jamaica itself, including locally caught fish and lobster (landed by fishermen who work from the nearby bays).
Jack Sprat is set on the beach at the northern limit of the property, overlooking the next beach. Here you can eat simple fish and seafood dishes cooked to order. It is set on a simple deck with a tin roof. It has a classic Caribbean setting.
It is possible to take a cooking lesson with Jakes chef (for a minimum of four people).
Weddings
Jakes is happy to arrange a wedding. They have a suggested package but they are happy to customize it for you, so as to accommodate any ideas of yours that they can, in several locations around the small resort. They can provide a minister, cake, flowers and photography and other options on request.
They offer a handful of honeymoon packages which include trips to explore the area.
Children
Children are welcome at Jakes. There is often quite an adult atmosphere there, but it is easy-going and anyway you can be quite independent and self-contained around the property. There are also plenty of places to hide away if you want to. Jakes can provide high chairs, cots and baby-sitters if you need them.
Useful Hints
Jakes is extremely atmospheric, but it is quite a simple hotel and so it is not right for everyone, particularly if they have high expectations of comfort and snap-finger service. It is cooler than that. The fact that there are no televisions or even phones in the rooms is key to the atmosphere. Televisions just dont fit with Jakes style and atmosphere. If youre desperate, there is one in the Games Room. Internet access is available in the main areas around the small resort.
Practical Facts
Annual Closure Dates: open year round
Dress Code: informal
Facilities: Saltwater swimming pool. Two restaurants, Jakes and Jack Sprat. Dougies Bar. Driftwood Spa. Games room with satellite TV, DVD player and music collection. Cassia Tree gift shop. DVD and book library
Complimentary: DVD and book library.
Other Services: Front Desk will arrange tours and activities, including fishing trips. Room Service available for selected cottages. WiFi in main areas. Kayaks and snorkelling gear available for rental. Cooking classes available.
Children: Welcome.
Weddings: A basic wedding package is available from US$1,495. Each wedding can be customised.
Accommodation: 35 rooms in 18 cottages and 1 villa (3 are off property)
Rooms: All rooms are individually furnished, have ceiling fans, either veranda, garden patio or sea front deck, CD player, CD library, safe, hairdryer, mini fridge. Most bathrooms have an outdoor shower or bath tub. 3 x One-Bedroom Garden View: Blue Room (Conch Room) has a double bed, air-conditioning, an outside sitting area and is nearest to the pool. Brown Room (Coral Room) has a queen-size bed, air-conditioning, a secluded sitting area and garden view. Tiki Tiki 1 is air-conditioned, has a dining/sitting area, patio and garden views. Maximum occupancy 2 persons. 3 x One-Bedroom Ocean View: Starfish and Jellyfish both have covered patio and sitting out area by the sea, and a queen-size bed. *Abalone 2 is air-conditioned, has a queen-size bed and outside deck. Maximum occupancy 2 persons. 2 x Deluxe 1-Bedroom Garden View: Sea Horses Up & Down is a two storey cottage. Sea Horses Up has a veranda with sea views, a daybed and a hammock, a four-poster queen-size bed and bathroom with bath tub. Sea Horses Down has a patio with sea views, a private rear garden with seating and a lily pond, queen-size bed and bathroom bath tub. Maximum occupancy 2 persons. 4 x Deluxe 1-Bedroom Ocean View: Abalone and Cockles are two-storey cottages overlooking the sea. Abalone Up on the first floor has an outside sitting area, rooftop sundeck, double bed and air-conditioning. Abalone 1 is downstairs and has an outside deck, bathroom with outdoor shower, a queen-size bed and is air-conditioned. *Abalone 2 is next door. Cockles Up on the first floor has a veranda, air-conditioning, a queen-size four-poster bed, fridge and bathroom with bath tub and a shower. Cockles Down has a patio, air-conditioning, bathroom with bath tub and a shower, fridge and queen-size bed. Maximum occupancy 2 persons. 3 x Deluxe 1-Bedroom Ocean Front: Sea Puss 1, 2 & 3 are separate cottages built right on the waters edge. Each has a veranda overhanging the sea, queen-size bed and bathroom with private outdoor shower. Maximum occupancy 2 persons. 3 x Honeymoon Cottage Suite: Octopussy 1, 2 & 3 are separate cottages built along the waters edge, each with sea front decks, air-conditioned bedroom with queen-size bed, phone line, outdoor showers and bath tubs, and large Moroccan inspired roof decks with day bed, table and lounging area. Room service is available for these cottages. Maximum occupancy 2 persons. 2 x 2-Bedroom Ocean View Cottage: Jack Sprat is located above the beach and has a sitting area with kitchen, outside sitting area, one bathroom with an outdoor shower and two bedrooms, one with a queen-size bed and the other with two twins. Tiki Tiki 2 is located next door and has a living/dining area with kitchenette, one bathroom with an outdoor shower, veranda and two bedrooms, one with queen-size bed and the other with two twins. Maximum occupancy 4 persons. 2 x Deluxe 2-Bedroom Ocean View Cottage: Sweet Lip has a private garden, a sitting room, dining area with full kitchen, small covered patio, terrace with two outside beds for sunbathing, two air-conditioned bedrooms, the master bedroom with queen-size bed and the other with two twins, and one bathroom with a bath tub. Treasure Cottage is located off property and has a living area, full kitchen, two air-conditioned bedrooms, two bathrooms and a housekeeper. It is where Alex Haley wrote the novel Roots. Maximum occupancy 4 persons. 1 x 3-Bedroom Ocean View Cottage: Mussels is a sea front house with air-conditioning, a large veranda, sitting room, full kitchen, a roof deck and three en suite bedrooms, two with queen-size beds and one with two twins. Maximum occupancy 6 persons. Calabash Bay is located next door to sister property Jakes where guests have access to all resort facilities: 1 x 2-Bedroom Calabash Cottage is located by the sea with private beach access, a wooden lounging/dining deck, tree hammock, an outdoor wash-off shower, dining area with a small kitchen, two air-conditioned bedrooms, one with two twins and a garden view and the other with partial sea views and a queen-size bed. A shared bathroom has a tub/shower. There is a housekeeper who provides a daily maid-style service. Laundry and provisioning services are available for an additional charge. Maximum occupancy 4 persons suitable for 2 adults & 2 children. 1 x 4-Bedroom Calabash Villa is fully staffed private villa with freshwater swimming pool. It has a gazebo overlooking the beach, large veranda with dining and sitting areas, living room with satellite TV, DVD and CD player, complimentary WiFi service, dining room, full kitchen, outdoor barbeque grill, snorkelling gear and boogie boards, a tree hammock and a Jakes signature outdoor shower and soaking tub, The four air-conditioned bedrooms include Bamboo One, the master bedroom has sea views, a king-size bamboo four-poster bed, sitting area with rattan sofa and chairs, and en suite bathroom with tiled walk-in shower with rain head and a corner Jacuzzi. Bamboo Two with sea views, a queen-size bamboo four-poster bed, rattan armchair and table, and en suite bathroom with tub/shower (Jakes signature outdoor shower/bath). Queen Two is a garden view with queen-size bed and en suite bathroom with walk-in shower. The Childrens Room is a garden view with TV & DVD player, two twin beds and an en suite bathroom with a large mosaic tiled walk-in shower and bath tub. Villa staff includes a chef, a housekeeper, a maid and a resident butler/caretaker. Personal laundry and provisioning services are available for an extra charge. Maximum occupancy 6 persons suitable for 4 adults and 2 children. The cottage and villa can be rented together when additional staff are available.
Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover
Locality
Treasure Beach is a simple Jamaican settlement, the sort of place that the Jamaicans have always come on holiday to escape the hustle of Kingston. There are a few private villas and a couple of other hotels, though development has begun now with the popularity of Jakes. However, it still retains its friendly feel and you will feel a though you are in a community rather than in a hotel. There is a handful of local bars and small restaurants in the settlement at which you would be welcome.
There are not that many sights in the area and those that there are tend to be quite a drive away. Lovers Leap is at the top of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the large range above the town. It has an impressive view. Black River is pleasant enough, a Jamaican town with just a few remaining traditional buildings. It is best known for its morass or swamp, in which it is possible to see alligators and excellent birdlife. If you are interested in rum, then the Appleton factory is a way further north. There are some attractive waterfalls at YS, but tours are by trolley bus.
You will find one of the most original bars in the whole of the Caribbean not far from Jakes. The Pelican Bar is more than a mile offshore, set on stilts on a sandbar in the middle of the sea farther north (closer to Black River). Jakes can arrange for a boat to take you out there (it is about 30 minutes ride).
Meet & Greet
Montego Bay airport is around 2 hours away from Treasure Beach and Kingston airport is over three hours away, so if possible it is better to head for Montego Bay (the drive is prettier too). Jakes is happy to send a taxi driver to the airport to pick you up and bring you to the hotel. You pay the driver locally and the ride costs around US$115 for up to three people. The ride from Kingston costs $180.
There are no active airstrips in the area to enable you to fly nearer to Jakes.
Getting Around
Hiring a car to explore Jamaica, which is exceptionally beautiful, is easily arranged. You can book via your tour operator or through the hotel. A popular alternative in Jamaica is to hire a car with a chauffeur. Taxis can also be arranged through Jakes for local tours to places of interest.
Jakes offers bookings via the following tour operators:
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Tropic Breeze
A small and knowledgeable UK tour operator with a good depth of accommodation in the Eastern Caribbean, from the BVI down to Tobago.
See details for this property on the Tour Operator’s web site
