Absolutely wonderful!

I just returned from a fantastic 5 day stay at Jungle Bay Resort & Spa. We paid for the jungle spa package, which I think is definitely the best way to go. The food was great, the excursions were fun and exciting, the cottages were charming, and best of all the staff was amazing. It was a perfect vacation. Thank you Sam, for a wonderful stay. We will definitely plan to make a trip back to Jungle Bay... 5 days were not enough!!!

I also just read that the Pirates of the Caribbean parts 2 & 3 was mostly filmed on Dominica. How cool is that! I hope this exposure brings more tourists to this beautiful "nature" island. FYI - the island of Dominica is also featured in the book "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" by Patricia Schultz. Dominica and Jungle Bay resort are a must do!!!

A Great place to stay

The Spa Package is great. The local people and the staff at Jungle Bay is very friendly and the service is great. The rooms are very clean, and the organic food is good and healthy. I highly recommend Jungle Bay. I spent 6 nights there on my honeymoon and we want to go back. My wife and I have both traveled quite a bit and this is one of the best and most unique places we have ever been.

Most Amazing Trip I Have Ever Been On!

Jungle Bay Resort & Spa is the most amazing place. It is perfect for the adventure traveller or anyone just wanting a relaxing get-away. The staff at the resort were so friendly and made us feel so welcome. The meals were great. The accomodations are truly unique - beautiful handcrafted cottages amongst the jungle. The day trips that the resort has to offer are not to pass up. The boiling lake hike was tough but well worth the burn. I loved the adventure aspect of the trip. Dominica has strived to keep its reputation up as the nature island. they have done that. The island is unspoiled and beautiful. It is not a tourist trap where you are fighting crowds and pushing through line ups. We really enjoyed meeting some locals. They are so proud of their island and they love to share it with guests. We had a great time exploring by day and relaxing by night. I think this would be the perfect spot for a wedding. It was very romantic - like a second honeymoon for us. I really can't think of anything bad to say about this place. They have it all; a apa, a yoga studio, excellent food, great staff, super day trips/ tours clean beautiful private cottages.

Stunning scenery and friendly and professioanl service..amazing

We stayed at Jungle Bay this past december for a family trip and had an absolutely wonderful time. Sam (the owner and manager) was extremely helpful and saw to our every need. He even went so far as to take us personally to a Jazz club in downtown Roseau - a very cool experience. The resort itself is remote with only the sounds of the ocean to lull you to sleep. The bungalows are bright and open, made of local hardwood. Sam employed all local laborers to build the place. The outdoor showers in the bungalows are AMAZING. The resturant was very good - I espescially enjoyed the bannana pancakes with honey for breakfast. The island itself is fantastic, with many stunning hikes nearby (dont miss the hike up a blue-lagoon color river to Victoria falls). While we were there Sam was expecting a shipment of kayaks, something that would make the experience there that much more enjoyable. Jungle bay is a special place, with good people. You wont be dissapointed. If I take a trip with my girlfriend in the future, Jungle Bay will be in our plans. Thanks Sam, and everyone else at the resort for a wonderful vacation!

Jon W

Excellent - amazing

Why would anyone go to Dominica and stay anywhere else? We paid for the package with excursions, transportation, yoga and spa treatments. You couldn't get a better deal. Sam and Glenda have a good thing going. I hope commerce and popularity never destroy the charm. Everyone stops and introduces themselves. Sam walks around morning and night chatting with you. The cook comes to tell you goodbye because she knows its your last day before you even tell her. The guides are terrific and take you everyone you want to see. They have daily excursions and yoga scheduled. I hope they move past beginners yoga and they are able to have the lower bar staffed. When we were there, the hotel was not full so we didn't get to see the bars up and running. We got to know other guests and the whole staff. We stayed 10 days. I think 8 would have been perfect, as the excursions and menu start to become repetitive. Luckily, we were able to find plenty of excursions to keep us busy and sore. We will never forget this vacation!

A few things you should know:

1. Roads - if you get motion sickness at all, you need to be prepared. The roads are all in the mountains and you go up and down, around and around like you wouldn't believe. Even those with a tough stomach should be prepared.

2. A carry-on - Our majority of our luggage didn't make it with us on the plane. Bring a carry on. Many people indicated it was pretty common for lost luggage. The hotel is quite a distance from the airport. Luckily, our luggage arrive the next morning with the next guests. The hotel brought them to our rooms. It didn't appear the aiport was terribly concerned with our loss. I think we got lucky.

3. "Carribean time" - Please remember you are not in the states - and be glad of it. But, remember, everything is not a rush and everything isn't urgent. So what if they forget your drink order, or dinner takes a bit longer than expected? You are in paradise.

4. Shoes - Don't bother with heels or flip flops. You will be hiking at all times. We had one of the lower cottages and we had 94 steps to our room. They get easy! But, you should be prepared.

5. Tipping - you can tip at the end with envelopes provided in the office area. We chose to give tips throughout our stay to the staff so they know how much they are appreciated. Some places you are treated different if you tip - not here, everyone is treated equal, making the desire to tip even greater.

6. No TV - we brought a DVD to watch movies before bed. We were, however, asleep by 10:00 each night from exhaustion and the desire to be up at dawn.

7. Rocky beach - the pool is great. We had it to ourselves nearly every day we wanted. The sun is strong and hot.

I really cannot express the beauty of the island. It's fascinating and everyone is so proud and respectful of where they live. It was hard coming back to reality. We wish Jungle Bay great success and we really do miss our hosts.

Great time at Jungle Bay

I just returned from a relaxing and fun week at beautiful Jungle Bay Resort & Spa on the lush island of Dominica. My cottage/tree house was simple and well-designed for the tropics with cross breezes and small porch. The people at Jungle Bay were very hospitable and knowledgeable about the island. Food was good and the service friendly, if a bit on the slow side. Went on several hikes with local guides who knew the area like the backs of their hands. I went with a group that had yoga classes every day in the beautiful yoga center. If you want to vacation in a non-commercial, lush tropical setting and to get out into nature, this is a great place!

For the Adventous Soul - Paradise

Jungle Bay combines the greenery of the forest, hospitable engaging staff, and truly memorable experiences.

This is some place you'll be telling stories about for years to come. See our image library to get a sense of the wonder of this place.

Thanks Sam and Glenda for a truly inspiring getaway.

PS. Don't eat on the plane, if you are lucky enough to be picked up at the airport by one of the Jungle Bay guides you'll probably be stopping along the road to dine on all kinds of fresh fruit - for certain there will be fresh juice awaiting you in the car.

Paradise!

What a perfect vacation! Jungle Bay is special for so many reasons...

...the astoundingly beautiful tropical environment that balances nature with pampered luxury

...the private, hand-crafted cottages perched on the hillside with ocean views, the outdoor shower an especially refreshing treat

...the great guides wanting you to fully experience their magical island -- now where can you get chocolates for Valentine's day, straight from the cocoa tree?

...the fantastic yoga classes and spa treatments to soothe sore muscles after mountain treks

...the sumptuous organic dinners (all ingredients locally grown) as the full moon rises over the Atlantic

...the breaking waves and spring peepers singing you to sleep .... I could go on and on.

But most of all this unique ecotourism resort is about the people who treat you like a guest in their home. Sam, Glenda and all the Jungle Bay family are there to please. As Anthea said, we want you to leave with Dominica in your bones. We did... and we'll be back! Thank you!!!!

Exotic Pleasure

A week on the island of Dominica in the care of the remarkably friendly and caring staff at Jungle Bay Resort should be prescribed to anyone forced to endure a New England winter. I now use the memory as my meditation focus when I need to find a peaceful retreat in the midst of my hectic schedule.

Here's the images I cycle in my mind: Beginning the day with a mild Yoga session while enjoying the sweet breeze off the deep blue Atlantic Ocean. Enjoying an excellent breakfast of the most amazing banana pancakes with raw bush honey and rich, dark, local coffee. Exploring the wild jungle depths with a local guide who knows the fauna and can provide a history of the island trade routes and agricultural endeavors. Swimming on a beautiful reef with sea turtles and a brilliant collection of salt reef creatures. Finding utter relaxation under the guidance of a talented massage therapist. Collapsing into a huge elegant bed with windows and doors thrown open and tiny nocturnal frogs singing merrily as I pass into the most restful sleep.

Two notes for twitchy travelers: remember island time is a different time zone from any other (thank goodness!) and this resort is newly opened and is still working out a few kinks in the restaurant. Otherwise, a very well run establishment and the on site GM Sam Raphael is a most excellent character. Worth the trip just to get a game of table tennis with him and hear his stories.

Very unique vacation

Jungle Bay is a beautiful new resort located on the southeast corner of Dominica.

When you arrive in Dominica, a representative from Jungle Bay will be waiting (with fresh passion-fruit juice) to drive you to the hotel. Within moments you will realize the lush and undeveloped nature of Dominica as you wind the costal mountains en route to Jungle Bay. If you get carsick, be sure to ride in the front with the driver, as the roads in Dominica are very curvy. (Only rent a car if you're brave!)

The photos on Jungle bay's website are legit, perhaps even too humble. Jungle Bay is a gorgeous minimalist facility. The entire property runs along the rocky ocean, no matter where you are on the property, you will hear the gentle sounds of waves crashing into the rocks. All of the "buildings" are made from wood, and all have an elegant interior.

A few things to note:

·Dominica is a very rugged place. It helps to be in decent shape if you plan on really experiencing the island. You don't need to be an Olympic athlete, but people with disabilities, the elderly, and young children will be very limited in Dominica.

·The Jungle Bay staff is local, most of them come from the surrounding villages. This has a number of implications for the guests. For starters, the staff will treat you like gold; these people are thrilled to be working for Jungle Bay. They may move a bit slower than you are accustomed to, but all service is done with grace. The tour guides (Brother & Irving) are amazing people, be sure to ask them lots of questions as they know everything about Dominica. The head of Jungle Bay (Sam), will do whatever he can to make your stay enjoyable. If there is a part of the island you'd like to see or an activity you'd like to do, just let him know. The food is excellent, but they have what the have. All the ingredients are fresh, thus the menu is usually limited to a few things. There is always, poultry, vegetarian cuisine, and fish. I highly recommend trying the eggs with fresh vegetables, chicken in white wine sauce, and callaloo soup. They always have fresh juice.

·It really makes sense to do the Jungle Bay "package." This includes all of your meals, your transportation, a spa treatment every day, and at least one activity every day.

·The spa @ Jungle Bay is amazing. They offer a range of treatments and massages, all of which were great. I fell asleep during almost all of the treatments as the sounds of the waves and the massages melted my brain. Overall a very romantic spa experience.

·As far as the Jungle Bay tours are concerned, I recommend: Victoria Falls (amazing!), Boiling Lake (rewarding, but difficult hike), and the tour of the marketplace on Saturday.

·Try and eat in the wild as much as possible. The good harvest seasons are March and April. But year-round you can eat off of trees in Dominica. Its like living in a giant salad. The healthiness of islanders is evident - people routinely live to be 100 years old, and everyone looks younger than they actually are.

·Engage the locals as much as possible... the people there are really laid back and very interesting.

Overall I strongly endorse Jungle Bay. It's a perfect resort for young couples who want to do more than just sit on a beech. The beauty of Dominica, and the warmth of its people make for a rewarding an adventurous vacation.