The glorious vistas capture you the moment you arrive. Strolling through the verdant gardens will keep flower lovers guessing and caressing the blooms. This very unique resort takes its name from a secluded half-moon bay on its 400 acres of manicured lawns. The ocean breezes carry the scent of bouquets around and follow the breeze to the resort green. Golf lovers will get their fill at one of Jamaica's oldest and finest courses--a par 72 championship course designed by the world-renowned Robert Trent Jones.

Everyone will find their natural niche at the Half Moon Resort. Settling in is a snap with the comfort that comes so easily here. If golf is not for you, there are many other activities available. This resort does not disappoint on environmental or aesthetic counts.

We found these first-class accommodations to suit our every need. There is such a variety of rooms to choose from?47 rooms, 174 suites or 32 villas, so feeling like you are at home is easy. After a day chocked full of fun in the sun, head back to your room for a siesta. Sink into the Queen Anne-inspired, four-poster mahogany bed. Switch on the radio to a local station and let the brightly-colored paintings depicting Jamaican life lull you to sleep. After your respite, check out the night sights and sounds of the area. The resort is only part of the beauty?venturing outside the resort grounds is where the real fun begins.

All accommodations feature AM/FM radio, color cable T.V., magnified shaving mirror, refrigerated mini-bar, individual air-conditioning, direct-dial telephone with voice mail, a writing desk, nightly turn down services, modern bathroom facilities, 110V electrical outlets, in-room safes, hair dryers, balconies or patios and ocean and/or garden view rooms.

For the most active body, sun, sand and sea are the words you want to hear. For sun, play a round of golf or relax on one of the beach or poolside lounge chairs. Burn off the breakfast calories with a game of tennis and match wits with the resident tennis pro. Next, take riding lessons at the fully equipped equestrian center. With a guide, you can ride along the Jamaican shores. When it is time to cool off, dip into the ocean for a swim or a snorkel--even take your waterproof camera. Sail in the aqua blue waters around the harbor, take the paddle boats out and tour the perimeter of the resort. The possibilities are endless.

Making the transition from day to late afternoon is seamless. Add a sauna and a top-notch fitness/health facility and your active body will become a peaceful soul.

Children are not left out, they too will love taking part in the sun, shore and sea activities. Kids can be kids at the children?s activity center here, and parents need not worry--the supervised and highly-trained staff at the center will insure the comfort and care of your youngster.

For the constantly-on-the-move young one, nature hikes, treasure hunts, and swimming pool games will keep them active. Also on the docket are talent shows and arts and crafts--the creative outlets kids crave. Whether they feel like swimming, horse back ridign, or settling into free time, your children will have a choice at Half Moon Bay.

The Half Moon Resort makes sure your discriminating tastebuds are satisfied with a range of restaurants. Dine with the bay breezes at your side in the open-air buffet at the Seagrape Terrace. For something cozier, try Il Giardino for a couple's intimate retreat. Sugar Mill Restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere for the casual diner. If you can not stay away from the beautiful shores, the beachside barbeques will be pleasant and flavorful endeavor. Slow cooked to perfection, the offerings only taste better while viewing the golden sunset on the horizon.

You can also venture outside the main resort to the Half Moon Shopping Village. Find the food of your choice. Feel like fish ?n? chips or a simple stir-fry? It is all there.

The resort even offers the Dine-Around program which allows guests to travel to other resorts to taste their culinary fare. Be sure to get to the Belfield 1794, an elegant and stately restaurant on the Barnett Sugar Plantation. We have discovered that getting to know historic Jamaica is all a part of the experience.

At Half Moon Bay, every day of your trip is as smooth as the sandy beaches. Personable and inviting, the staff is there to ensure your every comfort and quick to respond to your questions or anything else that comes to mind.

- The Sunrise Beach at the resort is a nesting site for the Hawksbill turtles and provides a safe environment for the female turtles seeking a place to lay their eggs. Hawksbills are endangered in large part because people kill them to get their beautiful shells, which are used to make jewelry and other products. The hawksbill is one of the smaller sea turtles and although they nest on beaches throughout the Caribbean, they are no longer found anywhere in large numbers. They have a strong site fidelity to specific nesting beach areas and are capable of returning to the same place season after season.
- On the morning of July 18, 2001 about thirty hatchlings emerged from their nests on the Sunrise Beach at Half Moon Golf, Tennis and Beach Club and made their way into the Caribbean Sea.