Sangster/Montego Bay International Airport (MBJ): Approximate driving time is 2 hours and distance is 67 miles.

Since driving is British-style (on the left), few visitors to Jamaica rent cars. Most take taxis to their hotels and use taxis and tour buses to get around.

Designed for relaxed, open-air living, all suites feature fresh flower bouquets, high ceilings; ceiling fans to supplement or substitute for air conditioning; louvered windows that open to sea breezes and louvered doors leading to verandahs or balconies; barefoot-friendly terrazzo floors; tropical wood furniture and colonial-Jamaica antiques; walk-in closets; tub/shower combinations in tile bathrooms; and historical West Indian prints on walls. Bedrooms are all white except for a pale-pastel accent wall. The resort's signature blue-and-white motif extends to verandahs and balconies.

Large balustraded verandahs and somewhat smaller balconies function as open-air living rooms. They're furnished with overstuffed couches and wing chairs covered in white duck and include two-chair white-wood dining sets. Room service is complimentary.

Amenity highlights: The resort's 700-foot private beach fronting a little cove of calm water and snorkeling sites offers thatch shades, cushioned lounge chairs, and ample room for tranquil sunbathing. A few yards from the beach adjacent to a croquet lawn and a thatch-shaded bar, a 50-foot-long oval pool surrounded by a sundeck with cushioned lounge chairs provides freshwater swimming.

Insider tip: Although the resort doesn't make special mention of its existence and it goes largely unused, tucked away on the second floor of a building in the rear is a television room with overstuffed seating.

Couples massage takes place on a terrace just above the sea, with candlelit night sessions available. A higher terrace fronting the spa furnished with thickly cushioned ocean-view lounge chairs serves as the site for yoga. Massage options include one employing warm, smooth river stones. Body treatments include Piña Colada Body Polish, Caribbean Cooler (aloe blend), East Meets West (Ayurvedic herbs, local ingredients, rain shower), and Roots Renewal (aromatic Jamaican herbal roots). Facials include Tahitian (noni fruit) and aromatherapy.

A library graced by owners' family photographs offers a communal puzzle, board games, books, and complimentary use of a Internet-connected computer. A fitness center contains cardio equipment.