Citronella

Built in the '70s, Citronella has been an on-again, off-again guest property. With only six cottages covering easily enough space for two or three times as many, the property delivers natural surrounds, space, and privacy. There's no lobby or reception desk; instead, the breezy check-ins are done inside the rustic cottages. A small gated entrance off of West End Road leads to a tiny paved parking lot for about three cars. Citronella's grounds are full of sea grape trees, palms, hibiscus flowers, and small lizards. Pathways laid out in individual stone tiles lead to guesthouses and the hotel's limited public spaces -- namely, The Great Room, Peninsula outlook point, and the spa palapa. The only real space for interaction with other guests is The Great Room, a large palapa outfitted with a small (non-staffed, non-functioning) bar, cafe communal-style restaurant, and lounge area with books, board games, and dart board. There are no TVs on the property, in the cottages or otherwise. Instead, guests are left to relax, unplug, focus on the insane cliffside views extending off their private patios, and swim (at their own risk) in the warm waters, home to coral reefs and explorable caves. The best part is, while this natural retreat may seem miles away from civilization, it's not. Citronella is smack in the center of West End hubbub, allowing your holiday to be as private or social as you want. 

Located off of the winding West End Road, Citronella is close to a good chunk of the area's action. Markets, restaurants, bars, and roadside stalls are all within easy walking distance from the property, including the award-winning tourist spot Rick's Cafe, just two doors down. Negril's town center -- where you can find banks, pharmacies, a grocery store, and a few other conveniences -- is just a 10-minute drive. Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport is about an an hour and 45 minutes from the property. 

Citronella's six rustic Jamaican cottages are surprisingly spotless and comfortable. Apart from the double-bungalow Conch House (which can also be rented as one large unit), all houses are standalone properties on hefty chunks of personal garden grounds. Although these traditional spaces lack air-conditioning, the heavy-duty fans and built-in wall slats do a remarkable job at keeping everything cool. Each cottage comes with high ceilings, a mosquito net around the bed, at least one full-sized bathroom, a private outdoor veranda (or verandas), beautiful and private cliffside sea access, and a personal swimming cove. Decor and design vary with the Cave House and Round House being the smallest, respectively. Most cottages come with cliffside DIY pipe showers, private garden areas, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and traditional oil lamps; some have full-sized kitchens. While the cottages are certainly rustic, the feeling of roughing it will depending on how familiar each guest is with similar arrangements. 

With its lack of creature comforts, many guests may feel like they are roughing it at Citronella. Some families have complained of children (and some adults) being bored thanks to the lack of activities and entertainment on-site. While standard hotel features are slim here, the hotel serves as an ideal spot to unplug and escape. The Great Room is an open-air palapa with a bohemian beach style, and is where you can find the restaurant serving tasty home-cooked dishes, small (non-functioning) bar, and game room lounge with books, board games, and dart board. The lounge is always accessible, but the restaurant opens on an per-interest basis meaning that guests must inform the manager in advance of which meals they would like to have and when. There isn't really any alcohol on the menu, but the chef just may have a few Red Stripes on hand if you ask nicely. Otherwise, the only other public spaces are the Peninsula vista point (a romantic place to watch the sunset) and the small, hammock-friendly relaxation/spa hut. The office has free snorkel equipment for guests to use (although you may want to give it a quick wash) along their private coral reef swimming coves. Wi-Fi is free, but only strong around The Great Room.