5 Things To Do in Jamaica

Dates: July 6 - 9, 2018

Stay: Grand Palladium Montego Bay

Trust me when I say, when traveling to Jamaica you are going to want to do a lot of things, which may include staying at a resort, going on adventures, drinking rum and swimming in a pool. You’ve got it all, the fresh and salt water, drinks, food and service and your gorgeous hotel room. What more could you ask for?

Last month, I went on a 4 day/3 night trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica with Caribbean Airlines. My husband and I traveled with our long time friends Diane and Wedkency. It was the Inaugural Annual Dieujuste Vacation. Fun fact: We share the same last name, but we’re not related. Diane and I are childhood friends from Naples and Widlin and Wedkency are childhood friends from Fort Myers. Both gentlemen have the last name “Dieujuste” but have no family ties. Ironically, they both married two friends, and now we share the same last name. Pretty cool huh! :)

We booked our trip through Groupon for a steal of course! On this all-inclusive vacation we spent our days at the four-star Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort and Spa in Lucea, which is approximately 45 minutes outside of Mobay.

No trip is complete without a little adventure mixed in. It is a must to take a day away from being caged in the resort to see the culture and thrills of the locals and peek into their lives. This is worth more than any free rum punch in my experience. For us, these were the 5 top adventures we feel you need to try while in Jamaica.

1. Zip Over and Climb Dunn’s River & Catamaran Cruise, Ocho Rios The famous waterfall was top priority. We booked our excursion through Chukka, which had the absolute best service and guides! The excursion included pick up and drop off from our resort and lunch. We were picked up at the top of the morning and off we went on a charter bus. Upon arrival to the dock, boarded the Chukka Catamaran to sail away. Along the way, we took a dip in the waters to snorkel and explore the tropical reefs. Subsequently, it was the stop at the world famous Dunn’s River Falls, where we would climb the 600 ft natural cascading waterfall. The thought of climbing Dunn’s River seems like a difficult task but the tour guide made sure we reached the top in no time and had plenty of time to stop for photo opportunities. After the fall, it was time to zipline. We geared up and got a bird’s eye view of the waterfall as we zoomed through treetops. Thereafter, we boarded the Catamaran for a Chukka Rum Punch Party. A party it was indeed with popular Jamaican music and top hits from the US, the rum punch was definitely sizzling through everyones body by the end of the ride.
   

2. Margaritaville, Ocho Rios After learning a few new dance moves or two on the Catamaran we returned to the dock to head to Margaritaville for lunch. The outdoor spaces and banging beats from live entertainment was fun! It was certainly a casual dining restaurant to enjoy each others company and the view. Margaritaville was a spot to play, dine and party!
   

3. Mountain Valley Bamboo Rafting in the Great River In true Jamaican style on board a bamboo raft, we discovered The Great River. The downstream cruise, piloted by our guide on a 30-feet raft was an amazing experience during our time in Jamaica. This rafting tour was not hectic or fast paced, it was peaceful and relaxing with the addition of the scenery. This excursion was also booked through Chukka. The guide was attentive and went out of his way to make us feel at home. Prime example, he did not rush any portion of our cruise, he stopped in the beginning to go get Rum Cream and Red Stripe beers. Then proceeded to perform our infamous limestone massage while sharing the history and information of rafting in Jamaica.
   

4. Rick’s Cafe, Negril This is a visit to a tourist location for sure but it is a great spot while in Jamaica. Rick’s Cafe is known for it’s heart-throbbing 35 foot high cliff diving experience and breathtaking sunsets.  There are also Jamaican bands and singers playing live and a bar/restaurant to relax and have a bite. If you can swim, and have a brave adventurous soul you will have all the intent on jumping off the cliffs a few times. Our husbands took quite the advantage, while us wives didn’t plan on jumping we got the rush and excitement from watching them and other people jump. If you plan to go to Rick’s Cafe, it is suggested you go in the afternoon/evening near time for sunset around 5:30-6:00PM. Everyone crowds around trying to get the best view, it is imperative you secure a spot early. If the weather is perfect, you’ll get a great shot of the sunset. Warning! The food and drinks are pricey. I would strongly recommend if you are on a tight budget, come with a full belly and leave in time to make it back to your resort for dinner. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort therefore, we did exactly that! If you have cash to spare, you can relax and have a few drinks. The menu is not wide but you can get the usual items such as wings, chicken tenders and fish.
   

5. Seven Mile Beach, Negril There is no shoreline quite like the Seven Mile Beach. The shallow waters stretch out and the sand are just reasons why this beach is described as the best in the Caribbean. We stopped @woodstocknegril, which is a beach bar and grill and more. This spot had great spots for photo ops and beach chairs to lounge. This sun-filled sand spot is an experience for yourself!

6. Bonus* Rum Overload Because its Jamaica!

We must return to Jamaica because there is so much to do and visit. It would be impossible to squeeze in everything into our four day trip. But until next time, the 2nd Annual Dieujuste Vacation is in the works! Where should we go next?