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 Imagine what it must have been like for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Paradise...peace, tranquility, lush vegetation and
everything they could have wanted at their fingertips. A stay at Half Moon Golf, Tennis and Beach Club is probably as close as you can get to finding out just what that paradise would have
been like.
 There appears to be nothing you could want for there....accommodations range from luxurious 5,6 and 7 bedroom Royal
Villas each with a maid, cook and butler included in the cost to lavishly decorated Superior rooms. The over 400 acre complex contains an 18-hole, par 72 Robert Trent Jones designed golf
course, David Leadbetter Golf Academy, beautifully landscaped 18 hole putting green, 4 lit squash courts, 13 tennis courts (9 lit), a
croquet court, 53 swimming pools (including an olympic-sized lap pool) volleyball court, basketball court, badminton court, table
tennis, fully equipped gymnasium, nautilus and free weight room, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, dance studio, equestrian center with a show/dressage area and mini-polo field, and miles
of cycling paths.
 Also on property is a shopping village, Internet
cyber lounge, a childrens' center with supervised activities, a post office, 24-hour banking and a 24-hour full service medical centre and dialysis center.
The spa facilities at Half Moon are second to none with a relaxation lounge, Deluge/Vichy/Swiss showers, hydrotherapy, reflexology, a facial and body clinc and a full-service beauty salon.
 Half Moon certainly rolls out the red carpet to its guests. The expansive, airy lobby seems to be opening its heart to you as
you arrive. We were greeted by so many friendly, well-informed staff members while we were there that we felt as though we
were part of the Half Moon family. During our daily drives in our private golf carts along the beach side trails that lead from the
Royal Villas to the rest of the complex we found that many of the staff members remembered us after meeting us only once - we
were greeted and pampered and made to feel like royalty. In fact, though, the Staff at Half Moon is quite used to dealing with guests of royal lineage as well as famous personalities (we
were informed that Snoop Dog stayed in "Red Ginger" (the name of our Royal Villa) just before we arrived and that Meg Ryan, Eddie Murphy and other movie stars choose Half Moon as a
peaceful respite from their busy lives).
 Given the number of activities available at Half Moon and the
"resort" status of the property, you might wonder how anyone could find it a peaceful place...but that is the beauty of the design and the apparent mission of Half Moon. Our Royal
Villa had 6 bedrooms and many family members joined us for our 4 day stay there. In all, there were 8 adults, one toddler and one 6 month old baby. The villa was so
spacious, the rooms so comfortable and the amentities so lavish that we sometimes didn't see or hear each other until supper time.
 Our young families spent time at the Children's center and the beaches - our
young singles took advantage of the beach activities available (windsurfing, kayaking, water skiing) and the tennis courts (tennis pros are availble for lessons). Of
course, the golfers were no where to be seen in the villa during the day (with three world-class golf courses within 5 minutes of our abode). Each Royal Villa has its own
private swimming pool - so apres golf and other daytime activities found the family gathered in or around the pool discussing the days activities.
 The other accommodations on the property were just as private and decorated as lavishly as our villa. Romatic suites are
available for Honeymoon Couples with large Jacuzzi tubs and fitted with the finest of Caribbean/English furniture. The"Superior" and "Deluxe" rooms are far more extravagant
than other hotels we've visited - the Superior rooms give you beautiful views of the Ocean. Half Moon's suite accommodations are incomparable.
 There are Junior Suites with patio door access to the beach; Superior suites with a partitioned living room and
private balcony; Deluxe suites that are two stories with four poster king size beds in the upstairs bedroom and a downstairs living room that can be converted into a Superior Room with twin
beds (great for families); Royal Suites that are very spacious and furnished with Queen Anne reproductions in Jamaican mahogany; Imperial Suites that are the ultimate in elegance and
are the most luxurious of all of the Half Moon Suites.
 Dining at Half Moon is a real treat. There are 12 restaurants/bars on the property. The Seagrape Terrace
overlooks the Bay and serves Jamaican and International Cuisine. Il Giardino is a fine dining establishment specializing in Italian fare. The Sugar Mill is a beautiful "old
world" restaurant featuring Jamaican and International food while "Sakura" is an authentic Japanese restaurant and
 Belfield 1794 serves an excellent variety of Jamaican specialties. We enjoyed filling up at the Royal Stocks - an English
Pub/Restaurant located in the Shopping Village. Light Snacks and drinks are available at La Baguette, Royal Pavilian and the19th Hole Bar. You can enjoy the relaxing
atmosphere of the Hibiscus Bar, Lester's Bar or the Piano Bar while sipping your favorite island drink (ummm, the best Pina Coladas!).
With all of the facilities and activities available at Half Moon, it is difficult to decide what we
enjoyed the most. Other guests we spoke with each had their own little niche - tennis - golf (that's us, too) - beach - spa - luxury - peace and quiet - security...
Perhaps we can best sum up the Half Moon Golf, Tennis & Beach Club by saying that no matter what part of the world you come from, what type of lifestyle you are used to, what your
taste in food and culture or what previous adventures you've had in travel, a visit to Half Moon will be the most wonderfully unforgettable experience you'll ever have.
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HALF MOON HISTORY:
Half Moon was founded in 1954 and began with 30 rooms. It has grown to become one of the
world's top 50 resorts as well as a leading icon in Caribbean tourism. For decades Half Moon has been a vacation getaway for discerning travellers and has been consistently rated as a top
class resort. Recipient of the AAA Fourt Diamond Award for the last 20 years; is on the Conde Nast list of the top 25 resorts in the Caribbean, and recognized by Meetings and Incentive
Magazine as an outstanding meeting facility.
The resort was conceived by Jamaican entrepreneur Harold DeLisser, 14 Americans and two Bermudian businessmen. The small hotel blossomed and flourised into what it is today, due to
the relentless efforts of Managing Director Heinz Simonitsch, assisted by his wife Elizabeth.
In 1954 the hotel opened with 17 cottages on the Half Moon Bay. By 1965 the number of rooms increased to 60, through the clever conversion of the existing facilities.
In 1979 Half Moon acquired the neighboring Colony Hotel. The building was transformed subsequently by Jamaican arichitect Earl Levy into villas. After the devastating damage
caused by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, the east cottages were replaced by the Royal Suites.
Simonitsch's passion for new ideas and concepts led to the development of the Royal Villas in
1994. Each of these luxurious ficve, six and seven bedcroom villas has landscaped gardens
and a private pool. Also in 1994, the Half moon shopping village was built which features a 24
,0000 sq. ft. conference facility, a variety of shops a commissary, a post office and a medical center.
Today, the 400 acre Half Moon ranks among the most complete properties in the Caribbean.
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