Tensing Pen

Rooms

There are 23 rooms, suites and stone-and-thatch cottages, nicely spread out amongst tropical gardens. Most have an ocean view, and a private sunbathing deck or terrace. There are no TVs; instead they are packed with simple detail - mahogany four-poster beds, chunky waffle covers, bamboo tables, carved wooden pineapple lamps, slatted shutters, terracotta floors, and local oil paintings on the walls. Eight rooms have air-conditioning, but all have ceiling fans and are breeze cooled. It’s a simple style, well done, that needs nothing more.

The cheapest offerings are Garden A and B, the Bungalow and the Patio cottage. We stayed in the latter and enjoyed sitting out on our veranda at night. The Pillar treehouses were our favourite; 2-storey properties with an outdoor (private) shower on the ground level, and bedroom on the first floor. Their sea views are magnificent, and their clever design allows natural ventilation so there's no need for air-conditioning.

Honeymooners and those wanting extra waterfront privacy should book a remote Rock Cottage, or one of the Seagrape suites, which sit in their own private cove (be sure to ask if you prefer to be 'up' or 'down').

The Long House is the largest offering, with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a kitchen and sitting room. It is closer to the road than the sea, but great for bunch of friends. Most rooms have showers only, although they are generously sized. Our bathroom (in Patio) was open to the bedroom, so be sure to know your sharer quite well!

Features include:

• Fan
• In-room treatments available
• Iron
• Minibar
• WiFi

Eating

Meals are taken in the open-air restaurant that overlooks the pool and shoreline. Menus change daily but feature modern Jamaican food and use seasonal local ingredients.

Breakfast consists of a complimentary continental breakfast of fresh seasonal fruit, cereals, jams, breads, bakery juice, coffee, tea, with possibility of ordering a la carte eggs, pancakes, waffles, omelettes, ackee and salt fish, and Jamaican sides such as Calalloo, plantain and bammy. Lunch is an a la carte menu - maybe Escoveitched Chicken Salad, Smoked Marlin Salad or Curried Pumpkin Roti, though we recommend the Tensing Burger if you are hungry!

Have a pre-dinner drink in the colourful bar; perch on high wooden stools, or comfy bamboo sofas as you soak up the spectacular sunsets. The tablecloths come out for dinner, but it’s still an informal atmosphere and there's no need to get too dressed up. Try the grilled lobster, freshly caught fish and traditional jerk chicken; all are delicious.

Refreshingly, the hotel encourages guests to go beyond the confines of the hotel to experience local life, and there are some good local restaurants for a change of scene. Ras Rody's is an excellent organic vegetarian roadside stand; Shark's is tops for seafood. Rick's Cafe is the famous one - worth it to watch the cliff divers, though the food is generally considered to be overpriced.

If you're staying in Long House you get a kitchen that's well equipped for self-catering, should you wish to cook for yourselves; there are supermarkets in Negril plus some small grocery shops opposite the hotel. Alternatively, you can ask for hotel staff to cook for you in your house. As Tensing Pen is so intimate, friendships easily form so people staying in these cottages sometimes invite other guests to dine with them.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Enjoy an early-morning jump off the bridge to swim and snorkel in the clear sea below, or just enjoy a peaceful float – it’s a simple pleasure, and so refreshing
  
• There is a special yoga space, and classes can be arranged on request (minimum 2 people)
  
• Have a massage or beauty treatment in the massage hut or in the privacy of your own room. Most use local products such as sea salt, cocoa butter and plants
  
• Take a guided tour of nearby attractions: Mayfield Falls and River Falls (mini waterfalls and pools for swimming), the Appleton Rum tour (a visit to the distillery and tasting session) and the Black River Safari (a tour of the Black River to see wildlife including crocodiles)
  
• The front desk can book deep-sea fishing trips; cast your hook for mahi mahi, wahoo, blue and white marlin, sailfish, tarpon, and barracuda
  
• Various watersports can be arranged at Negril's famous 7-Mile beach: windsurfing, sailing, waterskiing, surfing, parasailing, boat trips to the reef and kayaking
  
• Tensing Pen works with 3 PADI scuba centres
  
• Rusty's X-cellent Adventures nearby offers mountain biking adventures through tropical, hilly countryside and along undeveloped Caribbean coastline
  
• The Negril Hills Golf Club is a short drive away

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Fishing
• Golf
• Kayaking
• Mountain biking
• Nightlife
• Parasailing
• Private guided tours
• Sailing
• Scuba diving
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Waterskiing
• Well being
• Windsurfing
• Yoga

Kids

Children are allowed, but not encouraged. The only children who stay are usually the kids of repeat guests, who are aware of the property's dangers – there is plenty of scope to fall off the cliffside and straight into the sea. Baby cots (free of charge) and extra beds (surcharge) are available and can be added to certain cottages.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

As far west as you can get in Jamaica - Tensing Pen sits on the western tip of Negril, on the west coast of the island. From the hotel, it's a 5-minute walk into central Negril, which is around 1.5 hours south of Montego Bay, and a 3.5-hour drive from Ocho Rios on the North Coast.

By Air
Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston (south) and Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay (west, the nearest to Tensing Pen), are both served by many airlines from the US mainland, Europe and the Caribbean. Other smaller airfields around the island can accommodate helicopters and smaller domestic flights. (Ken Jones Aerodrome near Port Antonio on the east, Norman Manley Boulevard on west coast near Negril).

From the Airport
Montego Bay is a 90-minute drive from Tensing Pen. The hotel is easy to find on the coast road out of town. Tensing Pen can arrange a transfer, see Rates

By Car
You don't need to hire a car if you intend to take it easy, and the hotel can arrange taxis or car hire for day trips you may take. If you do want to hire a car be aware that the minimum age of driver is 23, and companies often require a $1500 deposit (that may max out your card). Some roads are still closed due to damage caused by the last hurricane several years ago, and the eastern coast road from Kingston is badly eroded by landslides, so a 4x4 is advisable if you are going to explore. See our car rental recommendations.

Jamaican Taxis
There are 2 official types of taxis in Jamaica: Charter Taxis (officially licensed and insured, for sole use of passenger) and Route Taxis (a collective taxi, with red license plates). Robots are also collective taxis, but are often not licensed / insured and therefore not recommended.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.