Holiday Travel

Happy holidays! I cannot even believe 2007 is almost behind us. I have to admit that this is my favorite time of the year. I wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday season.

Before I get started on destinations, I want to tell you that for some reason this year, there is still space available for Christmas and New Years. We don’t have any bargains, since neither the airlines nor the hotels need the help during this time of year, but we do have space at most of our warm destinations.
If you still want to take a trip during this holiday season, give us a call. We will find you something, but be realistic with your budget. If you are looking for a deal, try to travel in January. I travel every holiday season, and every year I wish I could wait until after New Years to go. I hate paying double the money, having to get up at 6am to get a chair at the beach or pool, and don’t like to wait in line to eat. Anyhow, that is just me. It is still nice to be with family and friends during the holidays, so I should not complain.

So, where do you want to go on your next vacation?

How about Jamaica? I love Jamaica. I love the food, the people, and the mountains.
Do I feel safe there? I honestly do. If there is one negative for me it would have to be the haggling with the locals. Staying at an all-inclusive would avoid all of this, but I love to explore and see the sights. It is fun to bargain at the flea markets, but sometimes you have to be stern and say “no” more than once. Other than that, Jamaica is fantastic. It is not as inexpensive as the Dominican Republic or Mexico, but it is worth every penny.

Who should go to Jamaica and where should you stay?

There is a place for everyone. That is part of the beauty of Jamaica. It is a perfect place for a destination wedding and honeymoon, perfect for families with children of all ages, and perfect for “hedonists”.
Jamaica has perfected the all-inclusive concept. They have been doing it the longest, and offer the most inclusions. SuperCLubs, Sandals, and Couples are all fantastic and offer great added values with golf and scuba diving included. You just can’t beat it. Be careful when choosing one of the Super Clubs resorts, because they are all so different and cater to distinct clienteles.
When I first stated selling travel, a nice young man was taking his Grandma on vacation and heard that Hedonism II was the best place to go. What did I know? The price was right and off they went. Wow! These poor people were born-again Christians and I think they are still praying for salvation for all those people. They moved hotels after 24 hours, but I learned a lesson. The next month, a minister and his wife called and asked for a price for Hedonism II, and I told them this story and recommended some other great resorts. Nope. They only wanted Hedonism II- it would be there third trip there and they even asked to be on the nude beach!
Call us and we’ll guide you to the right all-inclusive. Some are better than others, and the prices reflect those that are truly 5 star.
If you don’t want all-inclusive, “no problem”. There are plenty of hotels, from Ritz Carlton to Legends.
So, now we know Jamaica is great for honeymooners, families, and college kids (Montego Bay and Negril in March) but it is also a great destination for golf enthusiasts, and scuba divers. Am I leaving anyone out?

Now that we know Jamaica is great for everyone, you probably want to know which part of Jamaica to go to. Good question. Montego Bay is the closest to the airport, so for 3 or 4 night trips, I highly recommend Montego Bay. There is a “down town”, great golf courses, good beaches, and plenty of resorts to chose from. When choosing a hotel in Montego Bay, ask if the resort is on the beach and if so, is it a private beach.
If you want peace and quiet, do not go there in March or April because it is filled with college kids.
Negril is 1 hour from the airport, and the ride is an adventure in itself. Jamaican’s drive on the other side of the road, but I do not think there is a speed limit, and the roads are sometimes tricky. Negril is most famous for its 7 mile beach and it is spectacular. In addition to great resorts on the beach, there is the West End where you will see the most beautiful sunsets in the world. When booking hotels on the west end, be aware that there is no sand (just cliffs and ocean) and most resorts do not have air conditioning. Negril is also home to the world famous Hedonism II…F.Y.I.
Runaway Bay has a couple of great all-inclusives, is only an hour from the airport, 30 minutes from the world famous Dunns River Falls, and home to great horseback riding and golf courses.
Ocho Rios has everything; beach, golf, shopping, night clubs, a 2 hour bus ride. It is home of Dunn’s River Falls, and many 5 star all-inclusive resorts. The beaches are not as nice as Negril, but there is more “action” if you are looking to leave the resort.

What else do you want to know? The weather is warm year round, the people are friendly (sometimes too friendly), the food is outstanding, and the rum is from Jamaica so it is cheap and plentiful. It is not the least expensive Island, but it is worth the price. The most common misconception that people have is that it is dangerous and that drugs are legal. Drugs are not legal, and you do have to use good sense when leaving the resorts, but tourism is the number 1 source of income and they try extremely hard to keep us safe and happy.
Go with confidence and be safe and happy during this holiday season and always.
Beth