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Half Moon Resort, Rose Hall Jamaica
by Sierra McCleary-Harris
There are family resorts, golf resorts, golf academies and spas. But very few luxury vacation spots can boast that they are all of these and more. Half Moon Resort in Rose Hall, Jamaica is one of these places. Located a mere 15 minutes from Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport, this resort and its awaiting luxury are closer than you think.
For more than 50 years, Half Moon’s 400 acres have lured travelers from around the world. With such an immense variety of adventures to choose from, it’s hard to decide where to begin. In addition to the resort’s two miles of white, sandy beaches—which include Sunset and Sunrise beaches—guests can arrange to go snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, water skiing, sailing, deep sea fishing, parasailing and more. Not to mention a remarkable Dolphin Lagoon, where guests are able to meet, play and swim with dolphins. If frolicking around in the ocean isn’t quite your thing, the resort has three notable pools: a Hibiscus Pool and Swim-up Pool Bar, an Olympic Lap Pool and the Oleander Pool. The Hibiscus Pool offers a swim-up pool bar, allowing guest to enjoy some rum punch without ever leaving the water. If you can manage to tear yourself away from the resort, the Half Moon Shopping Village and Arcade contain a large enough variety to keep anyone busy for an afternoon. Don’t forget to check out the fine art gallery either. Other activities at the resort include tennis, cycling, a Hype Zone activity center—for your teenagers who can’t live without the internet, air hockey and karaoke—a horseback riding and equestrian center, glass-bottom boat rides and Anancy Children’s Village, an entire village based on the Jamaican folklore character Anancy. The resort is more than willing to cater to you and your children, offering V.I.L.P. (very important little persons) and a nighttime Sleepy Treat upon request. Speaking of sleep, Half Moon offers a multiplicity of accommodations, ensuring that the size of your wallet won’t affect your stay or comfort level. Half Moon offers rooms, suites, cottages and two types of villas, each combining tradition, luxury and modern comfort
Golfing
Half-Moon’s 7,000-plus yards, Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed course is undoubtedly one of the best walking courses in the Caribbean. This par-72, award-winning course features a resident golf pro and expert caddies to help you hone your strokes and improve your game. Ewan Peebles is also around—as the Golf Director. Recently, the Half Moon Golf Course was named the Best Caribbean Golf Resort by Caribbean World Magazine, and the 2009 Golf Resort of the Year by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators. As a result of the most recent renovation, which occurred in 2005 by Roger Rulewich, the course now features greenside bunkers and newly-aligned multiple tee complexes.The course features a clubhouse with two meeting rooms, shuttle bus service to the pro shop, direct access to the course from the Royal Villas via a tunnel and the 19th Hole Bar. The course is no stranger to tournament play either. International tournaments such as the Celebrity Players Tour Jamaica Classic, European PGA Seniors Tournament, Jamaica Open Golf Championship, National Matchplay Tournament Finals, Dunhill Cup Final of the Americas, JACI Golf Tournament and Red Stripe Pro-Am have all been held there recently. Men wanting to get away from it all—including the family vacation dynamic—can book a special “Guys on the Green” package. With two rounds of golf and a spa treatment, this package is male bonding with a twist. The package ranges from $1,290 to $2,280 for a three-night stay and includes five-star dining, an Up to Par massage, premium drinks at hotel bars, two rounds of golf, chilled beer upon arrival, a mini-bar, unlimited tennis court and fitness center usage,round trip airport transfers andlilos, paddle boats and kayaks. The resort also offers a Ladies Golf Getaway. Similar to the Guys on the Green package, this option offers a bit more finesse: Champagne instead of beer and a Swedish massage. Otherwise, this package includes the same accommodations as the other. Again, prices range from $1,290 to $2,280 for a three-night stay.
Fern Tree Spa
Half Moon’s new spa, the Fern Tree Spa, is more than 68,000 square feet of pools, gardens and treatment rooms. If you’re looking for full immersion, the Spa Elder program is the way to go. This treatment features a blend of herbal remedies with roots in indigenous Caribbean ingredients and healing practices. “Traditionally, healing medicines using local indigenous ingredients such as fruits, herbs, flowers, bark and roots have been used. The Spa Elder is a natural extension of this healing tradition and this has become the foundation for spa therapies and philosophy at Fern Tree. The Spa Elder is part healer and part herbalist and has created a unique custom program to reflect both traditional remedies and the present day spa experience,” according to Half Moon. Fern Tree offers more than 50 unique, signature treatments at a variety of prices. If your body is in need of more personal attention, try the personalized massage. Preceded by a consult in which you and your massage therapist discuss your problem areas or areas that need special attention, this head-to-toe massage includes a combination of techniques, both Eastern and Western, intended to cater to your needs. A personalized massage ranges from $125 for 50 minutes or $200 for 80 minutes.
Particularly notable is the “Up to Par” massage. Perfect for before and after a round of golf, this massage targets muscles of particular importance to golfers by combining passive stretching, deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, heated golf balls and cross-fiber massage. The massage ranges in price from $120-$190, depending on its duration.
Dining:
You almost have all the details you need to run off and explore Half Moon Resort. However, the proverbial cherry-on-top has yet to come. The resort boasts that its six restaurants and six bars offer something for everyone, literally: “Whether a casual Continental breakfast under fragrant almond trees, a barbecue on Sunrise Beach, a journebean fusion, gastronomic specialties from the shores of Italy, or a four-course meal in your room or suite, Half Moon accommodates the dining preferences of its discerning guests.” Restaurant options include the Seagrape Terrace, Il Giardino, The Sugar Mill, The Prince of Wales, Akbar/Thai Garden and La Baguette. The Sugar Mill stands out here, and not only for the Maitre d’ who has been there for 47 years. Delectable dishes include the Trio of Conch, Pumpkin Soup, King of the West Indies and fresh seafood. Also, Half Moon hosts a Beach Barbecue for its guests at Sunset Beach each Friday.Whether you want to relax, golf, be adventurous or a combination of the three, there is no doubt that Half Moon is the perfect place for you. Bring the family or fly solo with your friends; either way, you are sure to have an exceptional experience at this Caribbean result that offers a little bit of everything, and excels at it all.
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