TAKUMA BOUTIQUE HOTEL REVIEWS
5 STAR REVIEWS
ANTHONY TURNER | RECENT VISITOR
I had an opportunity to stay at the Takuma Boutique Hotel in Mt Zion/Rosehall, Montego Bay while I was on vacation in Jamaica to attended Rebel Salute 2019 in January. Ended up staying at the villa for four nights and had a whale of a time. My day was started each morning with a delicious Jamaican style breakfast with my favorite ackee, picked on site and saltfish. The national dish was topped off with roasted breadfruit that was also picked on the property.
Takima Boutique is nestled in the pristine hills of the Mt Zion community in Montego Bay which overlooks the Rosehall great house and the Caribbean sea which is just a stone throw away. The villa is next door to a local church which has great tradition and history and a primary school which is about 150 yards away. The villa is newly built so all the rooms and facilities are in great condition. I had free WIFI so I was able to check my emails and WhatsApp messages. My room had a safety deposit box so I could store my passport, money and other valuables until needed. The bar on the 4th floor is still under construction but when completed it will be an excellent place to dine with friends while you sip on a cold Red Stripe beer and some jerk chicken once it is completed. The view from this floor was breathtaking.
The best part of staying at Takuma Hotel was that it was very quiet so if I wanted to sleep late and just relax I had the option to. Oraine who oversees the property was the perfect host. He is on the property and was just a phone call away if I ever needed anything to make our stay complete. All in all, I had a great vacation and would recommend this location for anyone looking for a great place to stay in Montego Bay that is affordable and has great modern amenities.
CHRISTINA GLEN | RECENT VISITOR
When my good friend and former tennis coach Delroy Allen invited me to join a few tennis comrades from the Boston area at the end of January, I said, “why not”. Having never ventured south of the Carribean Island of St. John, I did what any other New Englander would do but packed my bags, booked my flights and headed to Logan for some sun and fun. Having made my decision to go with my typical little amount of research, I embarked upon my journey with my eyes wide open. Little did I know, however, was that the journey I was about to embark upon would be a game changer for me and make me realize that what made this place and trip so special, was the cultural immersion I was about to experience.
I connected with my fellow travelers in Charlotte, SC and was pleasantly surprised that I did know one of the fellow travel mates, not that it mattered! From there we boarded our flight to Montego Bay. Upon arriving, we were greeted by our host and hotel proprietor Delroy Allen, and our private driver. Bags loaded, we traveled just a short distance from the hotel to our destination, the Takuma Boutique Hotel.
As we climbed into the hills, we came upon an amazing five-story structure that is indeed nestled in the “Biblical Hills of Mt. Zion”. As Delroy explained to us, he built his hotel on the grounds that his ancestors inhabited. Perched on top of a hill, and rising 5 stories into the air, the views from each window and particularly the roof deck are unapparelled. Gazing off to one side, there are breathtaking views of Montego Bay. From the other, stunning views of the rolling mountainside that rises above and on the other, you can see a church that was built in 1838 by Delroy’s great-great-grandfather who was a slave on the Rose Hall Sugar Plantation.
The hotel itself has seventeen individual suites and if tastefully furnished with a real Jamaican sensibility. Temperate breezes circulate throughout bringing in the sounds of the local people as well and on occasion some of the best local music you’ll hear.
We were fortunate to have a most wonderful local chef and lovely person cook for us our entire stay. All meals were of authentic Jamaican foods and served most beautifully. As of my travel mates suggested, a cooking school will hopefully be in the offering in the future.
Each day offered us a unique taste of the local culture and experience. Since we are all tennis players, our first evening there involved mini-tennis on the roof deck ala Roger Federer in Dubai!! We played our hearts out until we couldn’t see any more.
Since our host Delroy is truly an incredible tennis coach, he lobbed each of us some helpful hints as well.
Other experiences we experienced included a tour of the local grounds and vegetation that grows there naturally. Attending Sunday Church Services at the Mt. Zion United Church and experienced such spirituality and phenomenal music that I too would attend services more often!
We also visited the local school, building built in the 1800s as well, bringing gifts and school supplies.
I children returned our visit with such an outpouring of thanks and gratitude that it makes me smile to this day. Another day we went river rafting with a colorful local guide named Rowland on a most beautiful local river. My raft mate Chris, a self-confirmed Rasta-woman even had it in herself to climb up a tree with steps that hung over the river for just that purpose and jump into the river from great heights. My heroine indeed.
All I can say is that my visit to the Takuma Boutique Hotel in Mt. Zion, Montego Bay left me with dance steps in my feet, countless smiles on my face and countless adventures to speak about. If you want such a vacation and cultural experience, then book now and we can compare notes later. Jamaica the true “Yard Man Style”.