If you ever need reminding what a beautiful world we live in,
head to Port Antonio, Jamaica.
A ramshackle-chic coastal town, with an infectious Caribbean-bustle
vibe, Portie has a grand church, clapboard gingerbreads and smart marina. It’s
also the gateway to glorious beaches and blessed with a backdrop of rainforest-clad
mountains that could be likened to the Garden of Eden.
Errol Flynn, his harem of Hollywood belles, Ian Fleming and
Noel Coward gave the town a touch of glamour when they made it their hang out
in the 1950s. Their jet-set legacy is apparent in the swagger of the townsfolk,
which says: ‘Our resort is a cut above the rest’. And Portie is still frequented
by the discerning, independent traveller rather than the mass-market tourist.
But where to stay? That was a tricky one for the luxury
market before the new Trident opened. I just got to try it and was suitable
impressed. Here, colonial-design villas dressed with plush, Scandinavian-style retro
furnishings sit right on the ocean with large private terraces and plunge
pools. Seclusion with views, comfort without pretention.
The kitchen completes the escape-from-it-all potential of
this pad on a peninsula. The herb-marinated beef fillet is one of the best
steaks I have had in Jamaica, and the Trident Chocolate Dream, a sweet potato
pudding with mango and scotch-bonnet spiked compote, is a foodie’s delight.
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