My wife and I stayed ay Hide Awhile last February and enjoyed it very much. We have stayed at the Caves 3 times and Samsara Pillar Houses twice. We have never stayed at the beach, because we just love the Cliffs and it would be hard to change. In fact I was just trolling the forum trying to plan our 2013 trip when I came across your posts.
We stayed in one of the ocean villas. We would have not enjoyed it as much if we were in the Garden Villas. The room was great with plenty of space. A/C in the Bedroom was nice and the internet worked well, which we never experienced in Jamaica before.
The Breakfast was very good. They would deliver to the room if preferred. We tried the in-room chef one night and it was disappointing. Lunch was pretty weak, just a choice of a couple of basic sandwiches. We enjoy the local Cliff Restaurants so this was not a problem. The fresh food at the local restaurants is hard to beat. We hate to travel and end up eating Sysco Institutional food. We have a Jamaica SIM card that made coordinating with a route taxi driver very easy.
I would plan on eating breakfast at the resort, go out for lunch or purchase it at a local store or have it delivered, which most places can accommodate. I think they just send a route driver with your food. I would plan on eating out for dinner. Moondance is right next store, easy walk for lunch or drinks but you get the big resort feel which is why we like Hide Aawhile.
I did not hear any rumors back in February about a new restaurant but you never know. The pool was about 5 ft deep which is perfect for floating. The ocean seemed a bit rougher than we experienced at the Caves and Samsara. I am not sure if was just the days we were there or the fact that it is farther west and where the island turns.
Positives:
View
Ocean
No sand (or sand fleas)
Very nice room, even nicer than the Caves
Took private plane from MBay to Negril (our first time, but loved it and would only fly in the future)
Ordered Flowers from local florist, which worked out great
Did night of 100 Candles dinner at Catch a falling star
Bar is open until about 7 at Hide Awhile
Negatives:
Service could be better at lunch
Private Chef should be better
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Large 1GB Video of Flyby of Cliffs. The Caves and Hide Awhile are at aboyr the 3 minute mark
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
