Back to the Caribbean we go! To the island that made one man and his reggae tunes famous worldwide, jerk a tasty word instead of a not so nice one and all-inclusive resorts the way to stay and play in the islands.<\/p>\n
By now I am sure you have guessed that I am talking about Jamaica and I am thrilled that my colleague\u00a0Tamara Christie, Business Development Manager in the Southeast for Visit Jamaica<\/strong>\u00a0agreed to come chat with me about this beautiful pearl of the Caribbean. Completely surrounded by the Caribbean Sea making for a fabulous destination in terms of location \u2013 here every day is a beach day thanks to the abundance of beautiful beaches.<\/p>\n Ready for a glimpse into why they say it is the heartbeat of the world? Shore \u2013 pun intended \u2013 you are! Let\u2019s talk about Jamaica Mon!<\/p>\n **************************************************<\/p>\n Getting There:<\/strong>\u00a0Getting there is super easy from the US or Canada thanks to an abundance of nonstop flights – and even if you are behind the gateway – it’s so easy to connect smoothly. And the airlift available comes from numerous airlines including American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Southwest and more. And \u2013 keep in mind that even if you are not near a gateway city that doesn\u2019t mean I cannot get you a non-stop flight. I work with certain vendors who give me the opportunity to book direct flights via charters from many different departure cities.<\/p>\n VIP? Why Yes!<\/strong>\u00a0Jamaica is home to two international airports \u2013 Montego Bay and Kingston and one of the things that I love about arriving in Jamaica the best is\u00a0Club Mobay and Club Kingston<\/strong>. The idea behind these clubs is that when you arrive at the airport you are treated like a VIP.\u00a0 Imagine that moments after stepping off the plane you come across your escort holding a sign with your name on it for that personalized meet and greet service. From there, they fast track you through immigrations and customs \u2013 meaning once you are met with the sign, they take you straight through both without having to wait in what can sometime be incredibly long lines \u2013 especially if several planes arrive at the same time. Once you are done with arrivals, they have a premium bar on the inside of their private lounge that they will escort you to. And it makes no difference the nature of your travel – they cater to everyone whether you are there on business, getting married, traveling with family or a corporate group, are an unaccompanied minor or a senior citizen – they have a personalized service for you. Bonus \u2013 they do this for departures as well! And both myself and Tamara agree – once you experience it you wonder how is it that you used to fly without this service, and you\u2019ll insist on booking it every time you travel. And trust me \u2013 I always offer this to my clients \u2013 in fact, I don\u2019t recommend booking Jamaica without it because it saves you from spending so much time in the airport and will expedite your arrival to your final destination \u2013 the resort.<\/p>\n Destinations:<\/strong>\u00a0The three most popular \u2013 or should I say well-known \u2013 destinations are Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril. But there are others that you definitely need to consider when we create your itinerary. Read on for an overview of each.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Did you know that you can\u00a0ride seahorses<\/strong>? Not the seahorse that is a fish \u2013 but rather actual horses who absolutely love the water! Tamara shared that she has done this tour and said that you once they’re getting close to the beach you feel that pep in their step because they know they’re going to get to swim making it absolutely joyous for both you and the horses.<\/p>\n How about a leisurely float down the river on a\u00a0bamboo raft<\/strong>? Per Tamara \u2013 do this and all of your troubles will melt away as you just lay there and relax and let someone else take you on a ride. You can even opt to do a nice spa experience while you are on the raft. Be prepared for a history lesson along the way too as you’re going through areas that have much history behind it them and most of the rafter guides have been around for many years and can’t wait to tell you all about the area that you\u2019re rafting through. It really is quite a lovely experience.<\/p>\n For a totally unique wellness experience there is something called\u00a0Stush in the Bush.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Fun Fact: In Jamaica Stush means posh.<\/em>\u00a0This is one of those experiences where you truly feel like you are on an island far away from the real world. It is a holistic, health and wellness experience right down to the organic farm to table food. This is a must do for those of you who are into wellness as it\u2019s something that’s unique to the island and that you won\u2019t find in any other place.<\/p>\n Where there are rainforests there is zip lining! Jamaica is so green and lush and zip lining gives you the chance to view it from up high as you glide over rivers and streams. Here too your guides can’t wait to relate to you the history of the area and teach you about all of the flora and fauna that you see around you – making it both fun and educational.<\/p>\n Speaking of educational the\u00a0Falmouth Heritage Walking Tour<\/strong>\u00a0is a great history lesson in itself. Falmouth \u2013 18 miles east of Montego Bay \u2013 is one of the oldest and best-preserved towns in Jamaica and was one of the first places in the Western Hemisphere to have electricity and running water – so it certainly dates back in time. It is filled with historical facts and building that have been there for many, many years as well. The tour is very professionally executed, and you really come away with a lot from it.\u00a0Fun Fact: When Prince Harry visited Jamaica, he took this tour.<\/em><\/p>\n For my shoppers – you will find many\u00a0craft markets<\/strong>\u00a0in this area – most filled with handmade items made with the mahogany wood or redwood that can found on the island.\u00a0 One of the awesome things about this is that when you purchase these crafts, you’re actually helping locals who are entrepreneurs and small business owners like me – using their art to sustain themselves.\u00a0 What a great opportunity to give back and make your trip one of sustainable travel. And the best part is that you are getting unique one-of-a-kind piece of art plus you’re bringing back a piece of Jamaica with you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then there is the infamous\u00a0Rick\u2019s Cafe<\/strong>\u00a0that is situated right on the water and is known for its front row seats to spectacular sunsets that are jaw dropping. As the sun starts to go down it\u2019s simply amazing how everyone stops what they are doing and focuses on that orange glow over the blue water as the reggae band starts to play a serenade to the sun.\u00a0 And don\u2019t forget the locals who put on\u00a0cliff diving<\/strong>\u00a0shows for their visiting guests and are often accompanied by some daredevil tourists too!<\/p>\n Another thing I really enjoyed here was the\u00a0catamaran cruise<\/strong>\u00a0which is the epitome of what a party boat should look like with dancing and eating and drinking and watching the sunset from the water \u2013 such a great experience! Just being on a catamaran sailing in the Caribbean Sea is the icing on the cake to a Jamaican beach vacation.<\/p>\n Negril has some great\u00a0national parks<\/strong>\u00a0where you can participate in safaris via boat that give you a great history of the area. What a lot of people are unaware of is that Negril has the wetlands as a backdrop, and this gives you the opportunity to see part of those wetlands that are very vital the maintenance of the beaches and the whole environment there.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s also home to another type of park –\u00a0Kool Runnings Adventure Park<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 a water park that sits right in the front of the beautiful scenery of the wetlands. With water slides, a lazy river and even paint ball – it\u2019s fun for the whole family.<\/p>\n While the cliff side doesn\u2019t have beaches never fear because there\u2019s plenty of white sand elsewhere in Negril \u2013 seven miles to be exact hence the name\u00a0Seven Mile Beach<\/strong>. And if you\u2019re looking for something more private there\u2019s the cove of\u00a0Bloody Bay<\/strong>\u00a0as well as several other coves scattered throughout. You\u2019ll find plenty of activities near the water too. For instance, just as in Montego Bay you can take the horses for a swim in Negril as well because the horses here totally enjoy the water and love to swim too! There\u2019s also an opportunity to\u00a0Swim with the Dolphins in Lucea<\/strong>\u00a0which is an area in between Montego Bay and Negril meaning you don’t have to drive all the way out Ocho Rios to enjoy these marvelous mammals. And don\u2019t miss out on\u00a0Island Lux Beach Park<\/strong>\u00a0which is a lovely beach area featuring restaurants and ice cream shops and more. It a private beach so there is an admission charge but it’s well worth it!<\/p>\n Negril is great for nightlife too whether it\u2019s visiting\u00a0Margaritaville<\/strong>\u00a0for dinner and drinks or strolling along the Caribbean Sea listening to the live reggae bands that perform nightly on the beaches.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can find\u00a0bamboo rafting<\/strong>\u00a0in Ocho Rios too on the\u00a0White River<\/strong>. Or you can grab a\u00a0tube\u00a0<\/strong>and float down the White River in that as well. Be sure to stop at the rope swing for a jump into the river and some good old fashion fun!<\/p>\n For adventure of the drier kind head to\u00a0Mystic Mountain Park<\/strong>\u00a0and try out the\u00a0Sky Explorer<\/strong>\u00a0which takes you up 700 feet above sea level for magnificent views of the Mystic Mountain tropical treetops and the nearby Dunn\u2019s River Falls. Or you can hop on a\u00a0Jamaica Bobsled<\/strong>\u00a0on rails that plunges 3280 feet of twists and turns down the mountain overlooking the town of Ocho Rios and the blue hues of the Caribbean Sea. Or take a flight through the forest canopy via\u00a0zip line<\/strong>\u00a0for glimpses of the beautiful flora and fauna that’s growing wild. The choice is yours!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the things that I love is that Jamaica has tons of festivals and Kingston you will find the Reggae Carnival as reggae was born here and Bob Marley recorded his music here. And speaking of Bob Marley, you can visit the\u00a0Bob Marley Museum\u00a0<\/strong>here in Kingston \u2013 which gives you a great history of his rise to fame. You can also opt to take the\u00a0Trench Town Tour\u00a0<\/strong>which is actually a birthplace of reggae tour that gives you the history of Jamaica\u2019s music and the role Trench Town played in the start of reggae. On this tour you will also get a chance to see where Bob Marley lived when his reggae first took off and he became a success.<\/p>\n Jamaica has amazing coffee \u2013 which has a different taste than what you are probably use to, but it is quite smooth and is very popular so be sure and visit a\u00a0coffee plantation<\/strong>\u00a0while in Kingston for a tour, a cup of java and a real farm to table meal.<\/p>\n Another area of Kingston not to miss is\u00a0Port Royal<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 which has a great history to it and was the inspiration for the\u00a0Pirates of the Caribbean<\/em>\u00a0movies with\u00a0Captain Henry Morgan.\u00a0<\/em>For those of you who are not familiar\u00a0–\u00a0<\/em>Henry Morgan was a pirate and plunderer who called Port Royal his home during the time when it was filled with \u2013 well \u2013 pirates and plunderers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Similar to Dunn\u2019s River Falls – in South Coast the\u00a0Y.S. Falls<\/strong>\u00a0are the big attraction. They are a bit different in that these waterfalls are in a garden setting whereas Dunn\u2019s River Falls is on the beach. Here you can take a guided tour of the entire area which includes lunch and plenty of background on the falls.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Black River Safari<\/strong>\u00a0which is the on the longest navigable rivers on the island \u2013 is an amazing adventure that gets you up close and personal to the\u00a0friendly<\/em>\u00a0Jamaican crocodiles \u2013 but Tamara warned – don\u2019t try feeding them \u2013 leave that to the guide! Fun Fact: It\u2019s called the Black River because of the peat sediment at the bottom of it. It’s really crystal-clear water but the peat ignites when it gets really hot and makes it look black.<\/em><\/p>\n A trip to South Coast would not be complete without visiting\u00a0The Pelican Bar<\/strong>\u00a0which is a quirky and very charming bar that sits out on a sand barge in the Caribbean Sea. You need to access it via boat and once there you will see it has a very rustic feel to it, so you definitely get that Jamaica and island experience here.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Accommodations:<\/strong>\u00a0There are no shortage of accommodations throughout the island and you guys have plenty of fantastic choices of hotels and resorts – as well as opportunities to indulge in your own private villa, bed and breakfast or even a home. So really depending on where you want to be on the island, we have the opportunity to get you just about anything. For instance – in Port Antonio there are no all-inclusives – but it has my favorite – small, unique boutique accommodations. It’s very private so for those of you who are looking for major social distancing and connecting with nature you’re going to find a lot of that right here. And because this area also has smaller properties if you are looking to do a buyout for a retreat or a small destination wedding this is a great area to do so. And in Kingston as well, you aren\u2019t going to find any all-inclusive resorts – but rather more of the brands like a Marriott or a Hilton and those types of hotels – as it is a big business and corporate traveler destination. And Tamara advises to be prepared to sample some food that you might not necessarily be used to \u2013 because it is all great food and they have got some great chefs. For instance, you must try their national dish –\u00a0akee and salt fish<\/strong>\u00a0– or even the akee and cod fish. She promises you won’t be disappointed and instead you will be happily surprised.<\/p>\n In Negril and South Coast, you are going to find plenty of restaurants where you can get some authentic Jamaican meals so be sure to try out the\u00a0Jamaican jerk and Jamaican beef patties<\/strong>. Per Tamara they jerk chicken, lobster, fish, sweet potatoes \u2013 pretty much everything.\u00a0Fun Fact: Port Antonio is where jerk first became popular \u2013 and is home to the annual jerk festival.<\/em>\u00a0In Ocho Rios my foodies will have the chance to do farm to table spice tours as well as an opportunity to take Jamaican cooking classes in the\u00a0Yaaman Adventure Park<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Culinary events abound here as well! Among the most popular are:<\/p>\n Destination Weddings:\u00a0<\/strong>As you all know I am here and oh so happy to help plan any type of romance travel – whether it’s a destination wedding or a vow renewal or a surprise engagement. And this island has amazing opportunities for all of these events thanks to the jaw-dropping views. Bonus – it’s also extremely easy to get married here making for a simple process that means you can start enjoying married life quickly and happily with no stress – and its legal in the US!<\/p>\n Festivals:\u00a0<\/strong>Jamaica is passionate about partying, enjoying life and being happy and I think that especially now we should take a little bit of their culture and remind ourselves that we need just loosen up and just enjoy or as Tamara said – just be\u00a0irie!<\/em>\u00a0There are a lot of different festivals that happen in Jamaica throughout the year and here’s a just a few of them:<\/p>\n Sporting Events<\/strong>: For my sports enthusiasts and especially my runners there are plenty of opportunities to catch major events or even to participate in a marathon or triathlon including:<\/p>\n Updated COVID-19 Information:<\/strong>\u00a0As of this writing the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Jamaica.<\/p>\n For the CDC\u2019s most up to date information on COVID-19\u00a0click here<\/strong><\/a>. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Jamaica\u00a0click here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n **************************************************<\/p>\n So, mon \u2013 what do you think? Jamaica certainly is a fun-loving destination and when you are there – trust me – you definitely feel the vibe! And as you can see there is much to explore in Jamaica \u2013 and I am more than happy to help you narrow down what is important to you to experience while you are there and help you curate a trip to remember. Let\u2019s get that conversation started and get you to Jamaica this year mon!<\/p>\n For more details on things to see and do in\u00a0Jamaica,<\/strong>\u00a0where to stay, it\u2019s price points and more – contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure \u2013 we got those too!<\/p>\n Namaste!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Back to the Caribbean we go! To the island that made one man and his reggae tunes famous worldwide, jerk a tasty word instead of a not so nice one and all-inclusive resorts the way to stay and play in the islands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2505,"template":"","categories":[15],"tags":[40,121],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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\nGastronomy:\u00a0<\/strong>You know it\u2019s going to be good when you are on an island surrounded by the Caribbean Sea \u2013 right? Absolutely. You are going to get to eat the fresh catch of the day everyday thanks to the fishermen that go out and bring back that fresh fish \u2013 no frozen fish here!<\/p>\n\n
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