Check into one of the airy beach or lagoon cottages at “Golden Eye” on the island of Jamaica and you will never want to leave! Each of them has been very carefully refitted with love – not from Russia though! One of many amazing conservatories (a small wooded pavilion shaped one) even houses a wonderful library just a few yards from the beach where you can find books about and by the wonderful Ian Fleming of “007 repute”.
The original “Golden Eye” you see, was the home of Ian Fleming himself. There’s a small wooden bridge that leads from his house to the new lagoon-edge villas and cottage guest rooms.
The whole place is now owned by music mogul Christ Blackwell. He has carefully updated the rooms including a fridge in the kitchen area, a high bed draped by a mosquito net and a fantastic bathroom which opens up into a second bathroom al fresco with a shower under an almond tree: Amazing.
All the food served is local, fresh and full of flavour – especially the grilled fish which is prepared by local chef Conroy Arnold who learned to cook, as a boy, thanks to his grandmother. Some say that “Golden Eye” is the most idyllic spot in the Caribbean. You can get to Jamaica for around £600 if you shop around and a room at Golden Eye will set you back £340 a night.
Sometimes you have to go for the quality and forget the quantity. Perhaps two nights at Golden Eye will offer more memories than a couple of weeks on a European beach … worth thinking about …?
