Ports of Call Resort

Ports of Call Resort is large for a boutique resort, and doesn't feel cramped. It seems a bit unassuming from the road, with an extended driveway entrance and a simple sign marker made of white tile, natural stone, and maritime fonts. However, as you wind past green landscape and a leafy outdoor picnic area to the hotel's semi-circle entrance, the hotel and the large, adjacent Ports of Call Shopping Plaza come into view.Parking can be found anywhere around the shopping plaza, although on high volume days for either the shops or hotel, space may be limited. Although the immediate area isn't too busy (the main drag is just a few minutes' drive down Grace Bay Road), there is a feeling of relaxing solitude while on the Ports of Call property. There are lush garden grounds, no neighboring properties in view, and only smaller side roads surrounding, all of which contributes to its feeling of privacy. If you do feel like being social, just take a seat at the pool bar (especially during a themed activity night) or in the hotel's large, contemporary lobby. Higher foot traffic can be found at the nearby plaza, where locals and tourists congregate to dine, drink, shop, and wander.

Off of Allegro Road, a busy connector street between Leeward Highway and Grace Bay Road, Ports of Call Resort has an extremely convenient location. The short but sweet Allegro Road has a bank (with ATM), IGA grocery store that sells both food and alcohol, local souvenir huts, a pharmacy, and a few restaurants -- all within walking distance. The roundabout intersection of Grace Bay Road -- one of the island's main roads -- is only a two-minute walk from the entrance of the resort. A large selection of restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops (The Saltmills, Regent Village Shopping Plaza) are within a two- to five-minute drive. The resort also owns the adjacent two-story Ports of Call Shopping Plaza, which features a spa, three restaurants, a dive bar, souvenir shops, ice cream parlor, meeting and event rooms, and a dive shop. The beach is within a five-minute walk from the hotel (or short shuttle ride), and the airport is about 20 minutes away by car.

All 98 rooms at the Ports of Call Resort are all dubbed Junior Suites. In the Deluxe Junior Suites, thick cushioned couches and dark IKEA-type coffee tables, along with a modern set of table and chairs, sit in the partially partitioned lounge areas. Furniture is all dark wood and bedding is white with bright green accents. Although rooms have been updated with stylish furniture, lights, and large flat-screen TVs, remnants of rooms past are present in older air-conditioning units (which still blast cold) and the basic tile floors. Variation between the Standard and Deluxe Junior Suites is minor; Deluxe Junior Suites are larger, and have only slight cosmetic differences. For the most part, Standard Junior Suites lack partitioned lounge areas and have a more basic table and chairs set. Some Deluxe Junior Suites may have a private balcony or terrace.While rooms are spacious and contemporary, bathrooms are clean with modern touches like partial glass walls and smooth countertops. Name-brand toiletries are provided, as well as a makeup mirror and hairdryer (although the lighting is fairly dim). Anyone who likes a powerful shower may be disappointed as the water pressure at Ports of Call can be low. All rooms have Wi-Fi and either a pool or garden view.

The adjacent shopping plaza is a major draw here, as it gives guests convenient access to several shops, a few restaurants, a casual dive bar, spa, dive shop, and more -- not to mention a fun collection of plastic pirate statues. A bit farther down the way from the shopping plaza is the hotel's access point to Grace Bay Beach, where an hourly shuttle runs to and from the hotel. The space is directly next to the Seven Stars beach area, and while it may be tempting, facilities are not shared. Ports of Call has a dedicated, although sometimes absent, beach staff that can set up loungers and an umbrella upon request. If you prefer to lounge closer to home, there are plenty of sun chairs by the pool. Small, but clean, the pool is the centerpiece of the hotel, and includes a small adults-only hot tub. At night, the pool becomes lighted with different colors.Although the resort has a free continental breakfast served in a dedicated breakfast room off the lobby, there is no official restaurant on-site. However, two of the restaurants in the Ports of Call Shopping Plaza allow guests to bring meals to their room. Although it closes in the late evening, the hotel does have a poolside bar where guests can grab a drink, watch the news, or participate in any one of the themed nights (think happy hour, bingo, and karaoke). There are also outdoor (and poolside) ping-pong and pool tables set up by the bar.Other conveniences include a coin-operated guest laundry room, small gym with cardio machines and weights, and a two-computer business center partitioned off the lobby. Meeting and event space is located next door on the second floor of the plaza shops and can accommodate up to 30 people. Wi-Fi and parking are available, and included in the resort fee.