Ocho Rios Guest House
I’ve stayed at Little Shaw Park Guest house on several occasions and this is my rundown on it. Their website is pretty easy to find and I just want to clarify that it’s not “luxurious” as stated. Although I love staying there, this is the real deal. Its very basic and no frills. I’ve stayed right on the beach at Rooms on the Beach for cheaper, but there are some definite pro’s about this guest house.
I’m a simple traveler who doesn’t require much EXCEPT the freedom to travel how I want. This is one of the definite pro’s about this guest house. I’m free to invite any or all of my Jamaican friends over at any time, we can cook in a room with a kitchen, we can come and go at any hour without interference from staff. With the ability to cook our own meals it works out cheaper than a hotel in the long run because we save on eating out every day.
Like I said, the rooms at this guest house are very basic, no frills. For around $60 USD a night you will get a bed, a mini-fridge, a full bathroom and some rooms have A/C. For around $65 a night they’ll throw in a kitchen. For about $75 a night you can get a cottage with 2 full bathrooms, bedroom with double bed, kitchen, A/C and a hide-a-bed in the living room. They all have TV’s with cable and you can probably pick up the wireless internet on their unsecured network. I’ve stayed in 4 different rooms here and all were reasonable.
Another big plus, in MY opinion, is that the location is up in the hills, but not too far. I can walk into to downtown Ocho Rios in about 10 minutes at a Jamaican’s pace. Its such a short walk that it would be ridiculous to catch a taxi. Also being up the hill a little seems quieter and more quaint. Its set back from the road, which has barely any traffic anyways. And it is situated right next door to a primary school. This could be a pro or a con depending on if you like kids or not. I personally LOVE waking up to the sound of children singing.
The grounds are beautifully kept and you will see the groundskeeper out there every single day maintaining it. He’s the tall, slender guy who walks around with a machete all the time. But he only uses it to dig out anything that doesn’t resemble a blade of grass.
The property is a fair size with rooms and cottages scattered on it. My two favorite places on the property are the two covered gazebo areas – one in a courtyard and one out front. Both can be lit at night if you want to sit out after dark and hardly anyone uses them so its all yours!
My MOST favorite thing at Little Shaw Park are my 3 little doggies. They live there and are the friendliest pups EVER! For some reason they were always on our doorstep….maybe it was because we always fed them our leftovers LOL. They greet you at the gate, they see you off when you leave, they come and hang with you in the gazebo, etc. I miss them every time I look at my pictures.
Little Shaw Park guest house is run by a Jamaican man, Trevor and his Canadian wife, Debbie, hence the Canadian flags on the way in the gates. The cleaning staff and groundskeeper are awesome, always friendly but never intrusive. Trevor looks after a lot of the guest needs promptly and with a smile. Debbie pretty much runs the office but is seriously lacking in the personality department. Their grown daughter is sometimes around too and she’s super friendly and smiley.
Overall I don’t have any complaints about this guest house except (should I say it??), the occasional cockroach. BUT that’s to be expected in Jamaica! Its not just a problem with this guest house. Everyone who works here minds their own business and is laid back in typical Jamaican style. I recommend Little Shaw Park guest house.
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Comments
8 responses to “Little Shaw Park Guest House – Ocho Rios”
It’s great to get the low down on a low price guesthouse. My “googling” has been tortuous! My family, from Kingston originally, and now living in IReland want to have a 2 centre holiday in Jamaica (kingston and ocho rios) while my mum is still able to do it (!) and I keep being directed on my searches to the resort type hotels (so expensive!), so your in depth review is super! ANy other tips for a returning native??
I absolutely am loving this blog 😀 absolutely going to have to remember to add this to my blogroll.
I think visitors to this location need to exercise caution. I heard recently that men went in on visitors and raped and robbed them.
I only heard of one robbery there recently. It’s unfortunate but in reality, those things can happen anywhere. I’ve heard LOTS AND LOTS of stories from people at all-inclusive resorts being robbed and that’s even sadder because you KNOW it was the staff who did it. I even have a close friend who was staying at a resort and while she was in the pool another GUEST stole her shoes!! So it happens everywhere.
i just stayed there and these people are horrible. the maids made up lies about us and the entire staff was so unfriendly especially the owners wife. i have traveled the world and have stayed in many cheaper places, but this hotel was not only by far the worst, the pictures on the website are atleast 10 years old and the problems with staff did not help the experience.
Sorry you had that experience Mike. As I said in my review, it wasn’t the best place I’ve stayed either…nor the cheapest. But it all adds to our experience of travel.
I stayed at little shawpark twice the first time was so so!! the second time was a week or so ago, first the dogs bark all night long then OMG roaches, but the worst part is that (B****) THE WIFE…… She is yes a B****. First the we got locked in the bathroom and my friends had to use a butter knife to open it, this went on for a while, then her asshole husband tell us it was our fault!! 1 day later he had the lock guy came out and fix it, i ask the guy was it our fault? because all we did was shut the door, he laff at us and say no. Then the AC start to leak it leak so bad when we got back to the room the bed was wet and the water was all over the floor,i went outside and see the dumbass man and tell him what was going on!! He went to the office and tell that B**** whatever, she came to the room and accused me of braking the lock and the AC Telling me that it never happen before so why now!! How the hell should i know,,,,, i dont live there, Oh she made me so mad that i am telling you she is lucky she is OLD.
Yikes!! Must have been a crappy experience for such strong words (I edited out the full words)! Hope you have better luck with places to stay next time!