Geejam

Pure light, sand, and water - and access to the throbbing nightlife of Kingston - are just a few delights of Jamaica's Geejam, where island-style relaxation acquires fresh meaning.

Nestled in Portland parish, on a flawless elbow of Caribbean coast, Geejam is what you'd get if you shook together private rainforest, luxury hotel, and Jamaican flair - then poured them into a frosted glass. It's the very recipe for relaxation: few people, a healing spa, and some of the Caribbean's premier beaches. Of course, if you're feeling industrious, you can saunter down to Geejam's state-of-the-art recording studio to cut an album. That, or go swimming, snorkeling, or deep-sea fishing.

Geejam's rooms effect an elegant balance of modern technology and grassroots luxury. The hotel rests on six lush acres, extending from the foothills of the John Crow and Blue Mountain ranges down to the sea. The nearby Frenchman's Cove is regarded as one of the world's top five beaches.

Morning at Geejam: the scent of coffee and fresh baking from the in-house pastry chef. And later: savory Asian-accented Jamaican cuisine, conversation, and the crash of distant surf.