THE GREATER ANTILLES, “SPECTACULAR CARIBBEAN”

JAMAICA, "LAND OF WOOD AND WATER"

BY Clay Larroy

A vacation can soothe the soul and leave you renewed, refreshed, and invigorated. Whether you are just now starting to plan your next vacation, or are merely looking for travel ideas and suggestions, read all the articles about the Caribbean. So take away some of the stress of making travel plans, and get started thinking about the fun and relaxing times you will soon be having on your next trip! When you are ready to plan an exciting vacation contact me!

The third-largest island in the Caribbean is also one of the most colourful. Idyllic white sand beaches and vibrant tropical blooms sit on a backdrop of blue mountain peaks. As the adopted home of the Rasta, Jamaica is also a riot of red, gold, and green.

Renowned as the birthplace of Bob Marley, reggae remains at the island's musical heart. Rice-and-peas, rum, coffee and cricket are its soul. Excellent tourist facilities and attractions range from leafy parks to handsome colonial towns and neon-lit nightlife. Negril and Montego Bay are Jamaica's two main coastal resorts, attracting tourists with exquisite sands, lively clubs, fine restaurants and world-class golf. Laid-back Negril boasts 7 miles of beach, while sizzling Montego Bay boasts the reputation as party-town.

Venture a short distance along the coast to discover 'the real Jamaica', amidst street markets of ackee, yam and breadfruit and vendors hawking kulu kulu rum. Explore the sleepy fishing villages of Treasure Beach, Port Antonio and Oracabessa which offer a glimpse of Jamaica's quieter side. Music is inherent to Jamaica, be it roots, rock or reggae and in Kingston, the island's spirited capital, grand Georgian plazas and elegant mansions are serenaded by soca rhythms and the pulsating buzz of the city. You’ll soon be seduced by the rhythm of life on this famous paradise island.

Hotels

Accommodation catering to all tastes and on wildly vary scales can be found all around the island’s coast, as well as more and more establishments inland in areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the Blue Mountains. Montego Bay and Ochos Rios are the main ‘volume tourism’ and cruise ship destinations, and they have many of the principal hotels, sights and shopping areas. At the western tip of the island, lining a spectacular seven-mile stretch of beach and some equally pretty cliffs, Negril is popular but with a very different feel, smaller-scale excusive hotels and a more laid back air. Port Antonia is also a calmer and quieter corner of the island boasting some of the most attractive countryside. Coastal areas such as Treasure Bay, Discovery Bay and Runway Bay have gained such a reputation over the years that they have become destinations in their own right, and of course a range of hotel accommodation can be found in the capital Kingston, the lively heart of Jamaica.

Boutique Hotels: Jamaica realized some years ago that there were many potential holiday-makers keen to visit its shores and looking for hotel accommodation, but put off by the stranglehold of the massive chain resorts. Since then a profusion of small and intimate, luxury boutique hotels have flourished around the island, many being converted from revamped B&B establishments. If you’re put off by large resorts but don’t want to go completely ‘local’ either, the intimate, elegant surroundings and more personal service offered by these hotels could be the answer.

All-inclusive Resort: Jamaica boasts more all-inclusive resorts than any other island in the Caribbean. In fact there are over thirty dotted around the island’s most popular coastal locations, with something to suit every budget, and the advantage of having your holiday completely taken care of before you arrive, from meals and drinks to airport transfers. All-inclusive resorts are usually large affairs, well equipped with more than one pool and several options for restaurants and bars. By and large they fall into two categories; ones designed to cater for family holidays and those reserved for couples and honeymooners.

Grading: Hotels are government-controlled in four categories: A, B, C and D.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com

I love running in nature. I don't like running on the streets, I don't like running in the city, 

I don't like running on the concrete. I love running in nature, so Jamaica provides a lot of that for me. 

Ziggy Marley

 

Enjoy life and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!