Hi,
I am planning a stay of about 2 months in the hopes of finishing writing my new novel. I'm hoping to travel in April and May. A friend suggested Treasure Beach, so I've been checking out the "where to stay" section. Everything looks lovely, which makes choosing difficult, so I thought I'd come to the forum and ask for suggestions/reviews.

What I'm looking for:
- Quiet space with writing table or desk inside and comfortable outdoor sitting space, a little off the main path so there aren't many distractions (I'll want/need to be writing at least four hours every morning).
- Lots of direct sunlight in the morning
- Would love something on the water, but I know that might be asking a lot for what I can afford
- Maybe with someone to prepare late breakfast and dinner?
- Can't afford more than $125/night. My wallet would be so much more comfortable paying less, of course, and paying less would mean staying longer.

I'll be up front and say that I'm looking at other locations, including an apartment swap for a place in Mexico that looks promising. But my friend has been to Treasure Beach a few times and insists the community is exactly what I need, and I'll admit that what I've found on the web makes me think she may be right. I welcome any and all suggestions.

Thank you all so much for reading and for any comments.

Anna

Anna...By the way, did you know that the original Henzell family beach house (Treasure Cot), integrated into its own garden fronting the sea, is where Alex Haley wrote much of his novel Roots-The Saga of an American Family?
Perry Henzell (deceased husband of Sally Densham Henzell, designer of the famed Jakes medley of cottages/spa and their interiors within a variegated tropical xeriscape-d landscaping) was himself an novelist (Power Game) & mentor to many writers wishing to deepen their experience of the Jamaican Yard.

Also, if you timed your 2-month writing stay to include the last weekend of May, you'd be in for a treat of a lifetime, when the Calabash International Literary Festival will occur, with opportunities to rub shoulders world-renowned poets, novelists, essayists, to have enlightened conversations by a seaside pavilion (2 Nobel Prize winners in Literature, Derek Walcott & Wole Soyinka have read there)
Readings, open mike poetry, concerts, beach party and film screening are free and open to the public.

First launched in 2000 by co-founders poet Kwame Dawes, writer Colin Channer and film producer Justine Henzell, Calabash (now a biennial event) is no ordinary literary festival. Designed to be a free 3-day event with a vibrant yet laid-back vibe, it’s a rootsy lit fest that embraces storytelling and words – whether they be spoken or sung to music. From the outset the professionalism of the founders has set the standards, their aim to bring in as wide a range of writers as possible, mixing race, nationality, gender and sexual orientation; attracting authors such as Junot Diaz (The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao), Michael Ondaatje, Derek Walcott and many others. In recent years they have also included films by local producers and directors.

Held in a gorgeous rural part of Jamaica at the quirky Jake’s Hotel, Calabash raises the bar – literary greats speak with the ocean as both a backdrop and a soundtrack, famous authors mingle with enthusiastic audience members and attendees are encouraged to bring their families and spend the day with the Calabash community. And it doesn’t stop at night, with reggae performances and DJ sets to keep the flow going.

Calabash has a loyal following not only in Jamaica but from around the region and the world as praise for this outstanding event shows...From The Calabash Lit Fest Website

AMPR's Unofficial Guide to the Top Literary Escapes
Head to resorts in The Bahamas, Jamaica and Dominican Republic to inspire the writer, or reader, in you

Jake's (Treasure Beach, Jamaica): Alex Haley, author of Roots, used Jamaica's tranquil Treasure Cot to pen the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Haley's pick, now available to book through Jake's in Treasure Beach, is a two-bed, two-bath oceanfront suite with living room, separate from Jake's cluster of colourful cottages, offering utmost privacy.

This is not to say that this is an endorsement of Treasure Cot, whose posted price range, is beyond your stated budget, but there are a wide range of very reasonable accommodations in Treasure Beach from its eastern reach at tranquil Great Bay to ruggedly scenic Ft Charles with its long, dune-fringed beach with hardly a soul in site, except a few folk netting fish...there, a bicycle or scooter comes in handy.

Link: Jakes' Jamaica
www.islands.com/article/Jakes-Jamaica

Treasure Cot: www.jakeshotel.com/stay/cottages/treasure-cot.html

Urbanette Magazine Travel:
www.urbanette.com/jakes-resort-review

anna
during the entire month i spent at mer's perch in billy's bay i kept thinking what a perfect place for writing
it was without distraction perched up high on a hill, with a million dollar sea view

ac is available and you may find that you need in may/june
the sea is about a 10 min walk or less
morning sun on the side porch if you can stand the heat
later you can watch the sun set in the sea from the front porch

it would be no problem to arrange breakfast and dinner to be prepared for you
there is a desk in the house and i know that it would be no problem for miss mer to have it moved into any room for you

an important fact is to know that miss mer is one of the most caring and concerned hosts i have ever met in my travels
and she keeps one of the cleanest guest houses in all of treasure beach
it is very important to miss mer to ensure that you will be comfortable and she will do whatever she can to make that happen for you

also you will find mers perch easy on the pocketbook

some reviews
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g147309-d148169-r123034439-Treasure_Be ach-Jamaica.html

and some pictures
http://treasuretoursjamaica.com/montage.cfm?type=accommodation&id=103

at this time the images have not been updated, miss mer has added a second level and the house is now painted a mango colour

i guess that i have said nuff for now

Anna...Rebecca, one of the moderators of this Forum, may feel too conflicted to recommend Treasure Tours (her business) with a nice overview of some of the best, well tended rental properties in the area, but we, who honour her graceful concern for this community, have no such restraint....Manages, she does, and devotedly suh!

Treasure Tours Rooming Options:
http://treasuretoursjamaica.com/accommodations_menu.cfm

Thank you Z for your kind words. Treasure Tours has emailed Anna with a few suggestions.

Thanks for these suggestions, and for your email, Rebecca! Z, my friend told me about the Calabash festival and how much she has always wanted to go. Maybe I'll get there first! Thanks for all the info! Twisted Sista, Mer's Perch looks lovely, too! I will be checking out all of these options!

Definitely starting to feel strongly about Treasure Beach!
Anna

miss mur in billys bay perfect

Sigh. It's nice to see that Anna has finally listened to my years of going on and on about Treasure Beach and is thinking about making a trip ... but talking with her about TB this week is making me homesick for a trip of my own! I can't believe it's already 3 years since I was last in Jamaica, but there's no way to do anything about it just now. I'll have to live vicariously though Anna until my budget is a little more forgiving.

~Stacie