Ron Menzies

Recently I had an opportunity to visit one of the jewels of the Caribbean, Jamaica. Here is an island that is now more accessible from the West Coast with the non stop flights out of Vancouver from November to April.
Just to start the journey knowing that once you get on the plane your next stop Montego Bay.

Upon arrival into Montego Bay we flew over the Sandals Montego Bay Resort and then onto the rest of the Jamaican adventure.

My first stay was at the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites in the Montego Bay area. A beautiful 4 star property with superb amenities. The beaches here are fantastic with the turquoise water and the white sand. Montego Bay is the nightlife area with the Hip Strip of shops, restaurants and hotels. There are plenty of golf courses to test your skills, I am not a golfer, and sights like Rose Hall Mansion which they say is haunted. This mansion was part of a large plantation in the 1800's and is open for tours each day.

I was able to visit numerous hotels on this trip from the 3 star comfortable properties to the 5 star luxury properties. Some hotels have their beaches split into family and adult areas like the Sunset Beach Resort which is a Jamaican with large rooms and great amenities for the adults and kids alike.

I had a great time on the Hip Strip bartering with the merchants and talking with the Jamaicans on the street. I had at no time a feeling that it was not safe to walk the streets between the hotels and shops in the area.

Next I went to the adventure area of Ocho Rios where you will find the Dunn's River falls and Mystic Mountain.
In this area I stayed at a resort called the FD Resorts, a family oriented resort line with a high return rate. Here your family will have a dedicated nanny to make your overall stay great. Imagine that you would like to go to the golf course or an outing that your children may be to small to do. Here is where the nanny will do crafts,supervise the children at the pool or beach combing. The rooms are fantastic, large for families and some have full kitchens in them if you have particular diet needs.

In the Ocho Rios area I went to Mystic Mountain which has a chair lift to the top of the hill and boasts a Bobsled run down the mountain and a Zip line through the trees. Even if you are not adventurous for the rides the view of Ochio Rios and the cruise ships is great. The Hotels like the Sunset Jamaia Grand, Royal Decameron Ocho Rios and Breezes runaway bay resorts have great kids programs and great room options for families.

The last area I visited was Negril, the laid back relaxing area of Jamaica's resort areas. Here I stayed at the Grand Lido Negril adult only resort on the seven mile beach. Sprawling resort with plenty of water sports, restaurants and as long as you stay at the waters edge you can walk the seven mile beach area to take in the beautiful white sand and turquoise waters. Beaches Negril, a Sandals property is near by and is a great family vacation option with the great beach, water slides, xbox and more for the young and young at heart.

A visit to this area is not complete with out a stop at Rick's Cafe where you will see cliff jumpers and the sunsets over the Caribbean.

Well, great vacations must end so back home I came looking forward to my next trip to this beautiful country and hospitality.