Our Tropical Travel Blog

Sandals & Beaches Updates - Summer 2010
It’s been a crazy couple of weeks with lots of Sandals trainings and events going on!

I had my yearly 4 hour classroom training 3 weeks ago, then the next week off to Chicago for the Sandals dinner with Adam Stewart CEO of Sandals and the chairman Butch Stewart! I was called up on stage to speak- I don’t know how many of you were around last year but that was my first time speaking to an audience and I was petrified! Well this was ,my second time and yup- I am still pretrified! I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if I had something prepared but it was a, “BTW your next” and off you go! My husband said I did well, just was really quiet. Honestly I don’t remember but two words of what I said! The funny thing is my throat was soooo parched and when I sat down and reached for my glass of water my hands were shaking so bad that I couldn’t take a drink! I survived though and I am really proud of myself that I did it!

Then last week we were invited onboard the “Lady Sandals” yacht for dinner and more training! She’s a beautiful ship- it’s nice to see how the other half live! Check out Sand and Sun Vacations facebook page for pics! A little history on the yacht- Mr Stewart sold it to Nicolas Cage, who then made some modifications and enjoyed till he had some financial issues -he then sold it back to Mr. Stewart! I suppose it’s as close to the rich & famous as I’ll ever get LOL!

At any rate- the updates !

Lots and lots of rennovations going on! Beaches Sandy Bay and Beaches Boscabel are having millions sunk into them in the form of rennovations! This will be fantastic for destination weddings! look for butlers in the near future!

Sandals Grande Ocho Rios- Big, big plans in the works for rennovations, updates and upgrades! This will no longer be a lead in resort for Sandals!

Sandals Dunns river Villagio- still not being renewed. Rumors are that the septic system needed major work and the owners were not willing to do the needed repairs and upgrades-such a shame.

Now for the BIG NEWS!!

They are breaking ground for amazing Over the Water bungalows in St. Lucia! there will be ( if I remember correctly) 24 and 4-6 of those will be on the very end and have private pools and hot tubs! All of the suites will offer fish viewing windows in the living rooms just like in Tahiti! I am sooo very excited about this as sooo many of my honeymooners want that experience in Tahiti but the cost of the airfare, exchange rate, flight times and that they are not all inclusive mean that many don’t go! These offer the best of both worlds and with St. Lucia being referred to as the Hawaii of the Caribbean it’ll be just breathtaking!

Ok and now- the OTHER BIG NEWS!

Sandals / Beaches are going to build a brand new Beaches, similiar in layout to the Italian Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos right next to Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica! This is still about a year and half out or so before they break ground but will be amazing and offer so much to that area! PLUS they are adding a golf course for the guests of the resort !
Iberostar Rose Hall Resorts & Spa- Suites- by TA Maureen

Iberostar Rose Hall Resort and Spa is huge. It is divided into 3 hotels. The original least expensive hotel is Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Hotel. That one is currently closed but expected to reopen in November in time for busy season. The middle hotel is Iberostar Rose Hall Suites. This is newer and has all junior suites. This resort is family friendly as well as the beach hotel. The Grand is adults only with added amenities such as butler service. We stayed in the Suites so that is what I will review although I have a few pics from the 2 others.

Iberostar Rose Hall Suites Site Visit October 2009.

We arrived to the resort at around 2pm despite the empty lobby and low occupancy our room was not ready. That was fine as I am not the type to be upset because a room isn’t ready early. Check in time is 3pm. The lobby was large with a bar tour desks the front desk and a grand staircase leading down to the pool/beach/restaurants level. There are elevators as well. We were given our bracelets and directed to the main buffet, Miranda Hill, for lunch. We were impressed with large variety at the buffet. I love the pasta made to order!

We checked back after lunch and our room was ready. We were in an Oceanview Junior Suite. I was very impressed with the rooms. They were spacious and very clean. You enter into a hallway with the bathroom on one side and large closet for hanging clothes, closet with shelves and safe, and mini bar on the other side. The bathroom was large with a huge soaking tub (no jets) and a stall shower with rain shower head and double sinks. There is a door between the hall and the bedroom. The bed is big and comfortable with plenty of pillows and a flat screen TV. Then you step down to a sunken living area with love seat table, desk and chairs. There is free internet connection by the desk but it is not wireless. The balcony was a nice size overlooking the pool with and ocean view if you go out and look to the side (that is what ocean view is if you want a full on view of the beach book and ocean front). There is a rack for hanging wet clothes as they ask you not to hang clothes/towels from the balcony. This rule and others is included in their mini handbook of rules that is given to you at check in.

This resort is very European so all instructions, menus, and signs are listed in several languages and you will hear all different languages being spoken while there. Most staff seemed to speak English and/or Spanish. You will also note ash trays everywhere (even in rooms and next to lounge chairs) because it is okay to smoke although I was never bothered by the smoke.

Restaurants: All specialty restaurants require reservations be made at the guest services desk in the lobby. They all have a dress code. Men must wear trousers and shoes! The buffet restaurant is the only one without a dress code of reservations needed.

We were only got to try 2 restaurants for dinner. Aunt Ruby’s steakhouse was very good! You can walk along the beach to get to it or take a shortcut from the pool area through the hallway of building 3. Everyone sits out on the 2 patio areas for dinner because the inside gets filled with smoke when the grills are going. You do go inside for the salad bar. The other specialty restaurant we got to try was the Japanese Hibachi restaurant. This is actually located in the beach hotel so we had to take a golf cart over and down a steep hill (do not sit on the very back seat). The way back we just walked along the beach which was much nicer until a cat jumped out. The cat was harmless but scared me to death, lol! While at the hibachi we kept waiting for the cooking show to start but it never did. He cooked in front of us but there was tricks, show, nothing. We must have just gotten a dud cook because we heard applause and what not coming from the other grills. The portions here are small so if you are a big eater order 2 choices. Also, they do not offer you sake but they do have it if ask and they serve it warm.
As I mentioned earlier we were impressed with the Miranda Hill lunch buffet. The lunch buffet at Aunt Ruby’s was good but did not have as much selection.

As many know the beach is not as great in the Montego Bay/Rose Hall area as it is in other areas of Jamaica or the Caribbean. It was still nice but the water is a little rough at times which makes not clear for as far out as we are used to. Plus it is pretty rocky along the shoreline. Once you get past this patch it is smoother. If this bothers you, you can bring water shoes or walk down towards the steakhouse and beach hotel where it seemed to be less rocky.

The pool is the best part of the resort! We loved getting a drink at the swim up bar and then leaning up against the infinity edge and just hanging out. This seemed to be the hang out spot. The lazy river was a nice touch too. There is a nice Jacuzzi although it was not heated at the time we were there.

The entertainment staff works hard to keep activities going. Everyone seems to enjoy them but at times they were a bit loud and persistent in getting guests to participate. There is a smaller activity pool for diving instruction and games like water polo.

There is nightly entertainment in the theater each night. They put on shows for the children earlier in the evenings then the entertainment starts around 9-9:30. The disco is open 11pm-3am. We never made it out that late! The music bar was open certain nights with live entertainment. That seemed to be a nice place to hang out in the evenings. There was also a cigar bar and the lobby bar.

WEDDINGS:
I met with the WC Nicole Barnett and she took me on a tour of the resort. She is very sweet and seems to be pretty on top of things. Some resorts only offer limited info on your options after you ask and wait weeks to get an answer. She was able to show me the different ceremony, cocktail hour and reception sites. I really like the balcony off of the main lobby overlooking pool, resort and facing the beach. She said this is a great place to set up cocktail hour and I agree. More on locations below. She seemed a little more accessible and up front with information than other WC’s I have met. She sis admit her job can be overwhelming at times which I can certainly understand, but she does a great job! Also both times I needed to get a hold of her prior to my trip she answered the phone. That almost never happens! There is only one wedding per day at each resort so although she has her hands full it’s not as bad as resorts that have 3-5 weddings a day.

Ceremony Locations:
Beach
Gazebo (next to pool)
Lazy River Island (a pretty neat and unique location!)

Decoration of wedding area is included in your package and includes either and iron arch or a bamboo canopy/huppah, white sheer fabric, artificial ivy and/or flowers. Chairs for all guests with white covers and a tie bow in either gold, white, or silver. A white or red runner is included. SOOOOOOOOOOOO I have heard many complain about the cost of wedding packages at Iberostar but when you consider everything that is included that you would have to pay extra for at other resorts it really is worth it. For example at another popular AI the runner is $40.00 chair covers and sashes are $12.00 per chair!

Music-they can play music you bring or you can hire live music. Musicians must be paid in cash prior to event.
Mento Band $350.00/hr.
Steel Pans Band $350.00/hr.
Violinist $300.00/hr.

Flowers: they use www.flowerstudiojamaica.com

Cake: can be chosen at onsite meeting prior to wedding
Flavors: vanilla cake, chocolate cake, fruit cake, or strawberry cheesecake. It will be decorated with flowers matching bridal bouquet.

Private Event Options:

Aunt Ruby Steakhouse is for groups of 50-200. You can have private dinner on the beach terrace. You can rent restaurant from 7pm-10:30pm and have dancing (extra charge for DJ) set up here as well. The cost is $800.00

Mediterranean Restaurant/Mare Nostrum
Private dinner in an air conditioned restaurant for 25-50 guests from 7pm-10:30pm. The cost is $800.00.

Disco can be rented from 8:30-10:30 with open bar and DJ for $350.00.

If you just want dinner together without having a private venue then you can choose a restaurant and select seating time.

There are cocktail party options as well.

Day Passes:

Day pass 9am-6pm $75.00
Night Pass 6pm-2am $100.00
All day pass 9am-2am $125.00
Special Pass for wedding day (from ceremony till end of celebration) $100.00
Special Wedding Pass for Guests staying at Iberostar Rose Hall Beach $50.00 (from ceremony time till end of celebration)

To see pics please visit http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/f132/iberostar-rose-hall-suites-review-wedding-info-50715/

To learn more about the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites & book your vacation please contact Maureen at - Maureen @SandnSunVacations.com
Iberostar Rose Hall Resorts & Spa- Suites- by TA Maureen
Iberostar Rose Hall Resort and Spa is huge. It is divided into 3 hotels. The original least expensive hotel is Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Hotel. That one is currently closed but expected to reopen in November in time for busy season. The middle hotel is Iberostar Rose Hall Suites. This is newer and has all junior suites. This resort is family friendly as well as the beach hotel. The Grand is adults only with added amenities such as butler service. We stayed in the Suites so that is what I will review although I have a few pics from the 2 others.

Iberostar Rose Hall Suites Site Visit October 2009.

We arrived to the resort at around 2pm despite the empty lobby and low occupancy our room was not ready. That was fine as I am not the type to be upset because a room isn’t ready early. Check in time is 3pm. The lobby was large with a bar tour desks the front desk and a grand staircase leading down to the pool/beach/restaurants level. There are elevators as well. We were given our bracelets and directed to the main buffet, Miranda Hill, for lunch. We were impressed with large variety at the buffet. I love the pasta made to order!

We checked back after lunch and our room was ready. We were in an Oceanview Junior Suite. I was very impressed with the rooms. They were spacious and very clean. You enter into a hallway with the bathroom on one side and large closet for hanging clothes, closet with shelves and safe, and mini bar on the other side. The bathroom was large with a huge soaking tub (no jets) and a stall shower with rain shower head and double sinks. There is a door between the hall and the bedroom. The bed is big and comfortable with plenty of pillows and a flat screen TV. Then you step down to a sunken living area with love seat table, desk and chairs. There is free internet connection by the desk but it is not wireless. The balcony was a nice size overlooking the pool with and ocean view if you go out and look to the side (that is what ocean view is if you want a full on view of the beach book and ocean front). There is a rack for hanging wet clothes as they ask you not to hang clothes/towels from the balcony. This rule and others is included in their mini handbook of rules that is given to you at check in.

This resort is very European so all instructions, menus, and signs are listed in several languages and you will hear all different languages being spoken while there. Most staff seemed to speak English and/or Spanish. You will also note ash trays everywhere (even in rooms and next to lounge chairs) because it is okay to smoke although I was never bothered by the smoke.

Restaurants: All specialty restaurants require reservations be made at the guest services desk in the lobby. They all have a dress code. Men must wear trousers and shoes! The buffet restaurant is the only one without a dress code of reservations needed.

We were only got to try 2 restaurants for dinner. Aunt Ruby’s steakhouse was very good! You can walk along the beach to get to it or take a shortcut from the pool area through the hallway of building 3. Everyone sits out on the 2 patio areas for dinner because the inside gets filled with smoke when the grills are going. You do go inside for the salad bar. The other specialty restaurant we got to try was the Japanese Hibachi restaurant. This is actually located in the beach hotel so we had to take a golf cart over and down a steep hill (do not sit on the very back seat). The way back we just walked along the beach which was much nicer until a cat jumped out. The cat was harmless but scared me to death, lol! While at the hibachi we kept waiting for the cooking show to start but it never did. He cooked in front of us but there was tricks, show, nothing. We must have just gotten a dud cook because we heard applause and what not coming from the other grills. The portions here are small so if you are a big eater order 2 choices. Also, they do not offer you sake but they do have it if ask and they serve it warm.
As I mentioned earlier we were impressed with the Miranda Hill lunch buffet. The lunch buffet at Aunt Ruby’s was good but did not have as much selection.

As many know the beach is not as great in the Montego Bay/Rose Hall area as it is in other areas of Jamaica or the Caribbean. It was still nice but the water is a little rough at times which makes not clear for as far out as we are used to. Plus it is pretty rocky along the shoreline. Once you get past this patch it is smoother. If this bothers you, you can bring water shoes or walk down towards the steakhouse and beach hotel where it seemed to be less rocky.

The pool is the best part of the resort! We loved getting a drink at the swim up bar and then leaning up against the infinity edge and just hanging out. This seemed to be the hang out spot. The lazy river was a nice touch too. There is a nice Jacuzzi although it was not heated at the time we were there.

The entertainment staff works hard to keep activities going. Everyone seems to enjoy them but at times they were a bit loud and persistent in getting guests to participate. There is a smaller activity pool for diving instruction and games like water polo.

There is nightly entertainment in the theater each night. They put on shows for the children earlier in the evenings then the entertainment starts around 9-9:30. The disco is open 11pm-3am. We never made it out that late! The music bar was open certain nights with live entertainment. That seemed to be a nice place to hang out in the evenings. There was also a cigar bar and the lobby bar.

WEDDINGS:
I met with the WC Nicole Barnett and she took me on a tour of the resort. She is very sweet and seems to be pretty on top of things. Some resorts only offer limited info on your options after you ask and wait weeks to get an answer. She was able to show me the different ceremony, cocktail hour and reception sites. I really like the balcony off of the main lobby overlooking pool, resort and facing the beach. She said this is a great place to set up cocktail hour and I agree. More on locations below. She seemed a little more accessible and up front with information than other WC’s I have met. She sis admit her job can be overwhelming at times which I can certainly understand, but she does a great job! Also both times I needed to get a hold of her prior to my trip she answered the phone. That almost never happens! There is only one wedding per day at each resort so although she has her hands full it’s not as bad as resorts that have 3-5 weddings a day.

Ceremony Locations:
Beach
Gazebo (next to pool)
Lazy River Island (a pretty neat and unique location!)

Decoration of wedding area is included in your package and includes either and iron arch or a bamboo canopy/huppah, white sheer fabric, artificial ivy and/or flowers. Chairs for all guests with white covers and a tie bow in either gold, white, or silver. A white or red runner is included. SOOOOOOOOOOOO I have heard many complain about the cost of wedding packages at Iberostar but when you consider everything that is included that you would have to pay extra for at other resorts it really is worth it. For example at another popular AI the runner is $40.00 chair covers and sashes are $12.00 per chair!

Music-they can play music you bring or you can hire live music. Musicians must be paid in cash prior to event.
Mento Band $350.00/hr.
Steel Pans Band $350.00/hr.
Violinist $300.00/hr.

Flowers: they use www.flowerstudiojamaica.com

Cake: can be chosen at onsite meeting prior to wedding
Flavors: vanilla cake, chocolate cake, fruit cake, or strawberry cheesecake. It will be decorated with flowers matching bridal bouquet.

Private Event Options:

Aunt Ruby Steakhouse is for groups of 50-200. You can have private dinner on the beach terrace. You can rent restaurant from 7pm-10:30pm and have dancing (extra charge for DJ) set up here as well. The cost is $800.00

Mediterranean Restaurant/Mare Nostrum
Private dinner in an air conditioned restaurant for 25-50 guests from 7pm-10:30pm. The cost is $800.00.

Disco can be rented from 8:30-10:30 with open bar and DJ for $350.00.

If you just want dinner together without having a private venue then you can choose a restaurant and select seating time.

There are cocktail party options as well.

Day Passes:

Day pass 9am-6pm $75.00
Night Pass 6pm-2am $100.00
All day pass 9am-2am $125.00
Special Pass for wedding day (from ceremony till end of celebration) $100.00
Special Wedding Pass for Guests staying at Iberostar Rose Hall Beach $50.00 (from ceremony time till end of celebration)

To see pics please visit http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/f132/iberostar-rose-hall-suites-review-wedding-info-50715/

To learn more about the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites & book your vacation please contact Maureen at - Maureen @SandnSunVacations.com
Couples Negril - Jamiaca Review!
Couples Negril

I am not sure there are words to explain how I feel about this place. I kept saying to my husband this is my “happy place”. I have been to many all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. I have been to more over the top grand luxurious places, but this is not what being in Negril is all about. Negril is about being laid back, relaxing, and having no worries. It is part of my job to check out all different resorts all over so I don’t usually plan on going back to the same resort but I know I will be back to CN.

We enjoyed our Couples vacation as soon as we got to the airport. We checked in at the Couples lounge and were served some Red Stripes before we were escorted to the van and sent on our way. We were the only guests in the van. The driver stopped so we could get some beers and he told us about the sites along the way.

I would like to give a thorough review of the property but what I really want to get across is it’s not really about the property specifics but rather the atmosphere and vibe here. I have always known that Couples Resorts have very loyal repeat clientele but now I truly understand why.

Here we go,

Location:
CN is located on Bloody Bay Beach (not 7 mile beach that is where CSA is). This cove has crystal calm waters and white sandy beaches. It is located approximately 1 hour 45 minutes from Sangster International Airport (transfers are included).

This resort sits on 18 acres of lush tropical foliage. This is no concrete jungle, it is pure Caribbean paradise!

Accomodations:
There are 234 suites and rooms on this property.
All rooms are very spacious and decorated with eclectic Caribbean charm. All rooms have air conditioning, king bed, ceiling fan, flat screen TV, and I-pod docking station(we loved hearing our favorite songs while sitting on our balcony) ; they are in 9 three story buildings (no elevators) set amongst the foliage facing the beach in two different u-shaped patterns on either side the lobby and pool. There are 3 types of Deluxe rooms: Garden, Ocean, and Beachfront and 2 types of suites: Garden and Beachfront. There is nothing tricky here about what your room is going to be like. It is simple. Unlike other resorts you can also feel good about booking a Deluxe room category here. The suites offer not only more space but a sofa, bigger balcony with signature hammock and one of the largest hotel bathrooms I have seen.

Inclusions:
Now this is where Couples really shines. There are so many things included in this all-inclusive package you are actually saving money by booking here. Of course they include delicious food (really delicious but I will talk more about that later) and top shelf drinks (they even serve Grey Goose as part of the AI). They also include way more than other AI’s such as water sports and SCUBA, sunset catamaran rides, glass bottom boat rides, shuttles to Margaritaville, free shopping trips, unlimited green fees and shuttles to the course. Oh and the inclusion that we appreciated most….a free internet café (very well air conditioned if you need to cool off ) and free wireless internet throughout the resort. It was so easy to keep in touch with home! Even your round trip airport transfers are included.

Dining:

I am a picky eater and I LOVED the food at CN. They had the best jerk burgers I have ever tasted. My husband loved the sushi at Lychee. You can’t miss Friday night chocolate and champagne at sunset, yum!

Cassava Terrace
This is the main buffet dining restaurant which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have 3 specialty theme nights throughout the week so that helps add to the variety. One night we had steaks grilled right in front of us poolside during a theme night. Breakfast was delicious and included fresh fruit smoothies and omelets made to order. We never had lunch here but that was because we could not get enough of the jerk chicken and jerk burgers at the grill! The stage is also located in this open air dining area so you can listen to some music while dining in the evening.

Heliconia
This poolside/beachfront grill features made to order lunch such as salads, jerk chicken, jerk burgers, other burgers, fries, and more. There is also a snack station here featuring nachos, pizza, and beef patties.

For dinner they offer a different menu at night. It is more Mediterranean with pasta dishes and a dessert bar.

Lychee
This was our favorite restaurant. It is an Asian Fusion theme. This one is air conditioned. My husband enjoyed the sushi appetizer for 2 (all on his own). I had the beef teriyaki one night and the pork spare ribs another night. Both were delicious!

Otaheite
This is the gourmet restaurant . I enjoyed the soup and nut crusted chicken dish. This restaurant is also air conditioned. You can make reservations for this at guest services in the lobby and men should wear trousers and closed shoes.

Lobster is served on Friday nights while in season. Continental breakfast in bed can be ordered as well.

****The best thing at these restaurants besides the food is that all have casual dress codes and no reservations required except for Otaheite. ****

Bars
There are 4 bars (plus in room mini bar) at Couples Negril. The piano bar is open every evening. There is no disco so they have dance parties here on certain nights as well as karaoke nights and piano sing alongs. The swim up bar/pool bar is always a favorite in the late afternoon. The main bar is just next to Terrace Restaurant. There is a beachfront bar on the deck grill Heliconia. We hung mostly at the swim up bar and the piano bar. Even though this resort is couples only and more laid back we had such a good time each night and made lots of friends. The entertainment staff here is friendly but not obnoxious or over-bearing.

Spa
There is a full service spa here. They offer beach massages as well as their very unique tree house massage hut.

There is always great secluded places to sneak off with your spouse. There are hammocks along the beach, 2 jacuzzis at the pool and a hidden one back by the spa.

Yes, there is an au natural beach but it is secluded and no big deal if you don’t want to go over there you don’t have to. We met plenty of couples who loved it.

-Maureen

To book your amazing Couples Negril getaway

You can contact Maureen at Maureen@Sandnsunvacations.com
Sandals Destination Wedding Specialist
Sand & Sun Vacations is proud to announce that Jennifer Prymula and David Prymula completed extensive Sandals Destination Wedding Training April 7-12, 2008 in Jamaica.

They are two out of 21 travel agents from the USA that have completed the training. Visiting all 12 of the Sandals, Beaches and Royal Plantation properties they observed first hand the upgrades and changes . They also toured the wedding locations, met with Sandals Wedding Coordinators, sampled food at mock recepetions and enjoyed entertainment that brides & grooms could hire for their Sandals Destination wedding ceremonies or receptions. The entertainment included a steel drum band withdancers, guitarist & saxophonist.

The resorts visited include;

Sandals Whitehouse

Sandals Negril

Negril Gardens- soon to be Negril Grand Pineapple

Beaches Negril

Beaches Sanday Bay

Sandals Montego Bay

Sandals Royal Caribbean

Sandals Inn

Sandals Dunns River Villagio

Sandals Grande Ocho Rios

Royal Plantation

Beaches Boscabel.

While visiting the properties they took over 750 photo's!

Jennifer & David also complted 5 hours of classroom training that focused on Sandals Destination Weddings including the islands of St. Lucia, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Sandals photography and Preston Bailey Wedding Packages.

Please feel free to contact us for your Sandals Destination Wedding!
Sandals Caribbean Honeymoon Seminar -

Join us for a Honeymoon Seminar presented by Sandals Resorts and Sand & Sun Vacations at the

38th Annual Grand Rapids Bridal Show!

DeVos Place, Grand Rapids MI

Friday, January 4th, 2008 at 5pm
Saturday, January 5th, 2008 at 11am

Limited space, must RSVP!

Call Certified Sandals Specialist Jennifer at Sand & Sun Vacation at 269.686.0595
or Email Jennifer@sandnsunvacations.com with choice of date.

Special discounts available only to show attendees! Door prizes!
Four Dys In Paradise- Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Four Days In Paradise!

As a travel agent I make a point of visiting several destinations each year to see first hand the newest attractions, how the hotels and resorts are doing and meet with the managers and sales staff.

This May I was a guest of Japex and the Jamaica Tourism Board and I had the privilege of spending 4 days in Ocho Rios.

Day one – Flight from Chicago O’Hare. We had a plane change from Air Jamaica to Ryan Air. The attendants were gracious and attentive, the flight uneventful and quick as we were able to watch a movie on the way down. Arrival in Montego Bay was smooth as was going through customs. Retrieving our bags was extremely quick and I was impressed with the new terminal. It was air conditioned, bright and airy.

The trip to Ocho Rios normally takes about an hour an a half but it seemed to fly by. Our first visit was to the beautiful Grand Lido Braco. The atmosphere was laid back understated elegance. A beautiful courtyard greets visitors with a fountain and shops – on the left as you face the ocean is the nude side and on the right is the prude side. Both are tucked away in lavish gardens. We had the privilege of having a buffet lunch and the selection was abundant, fresh and quite tasty. The staff we encountered while doing our inspection were extremely friendly and warm. This is a fantastic resort for those that enjoy the finer things in life in a casual Caribbean atmosphere. A smaller intimate adult only resort (210 suites) this is a great place for meeting other couples and personalized service. One of the few resorts that includes waterskiing. There were some incredible spots from which to have a destination wedding.

We then checked into Shaw Park Resort. This is a great little place for those who are not fussy and want a quiet place to lie on the beach. The open air lobby is very Caribbean with turning palm frond fans and one of the friendliest staffs on the island. My roommates and I were placed in the two bedroom oceanfront Suite. Breathtaking floor to ceiling view of the beach and ocean that were literally just steps from our terrace. The suite was large and comfortably appointed. Breakfast was fresh and sufficient with both selections of Americanized and Jamaican breakfast items. My only complaint with this resort would be the water pressure and warmth in the shower although my roommates in the second bedroom did not have this issue at all. The bathrooms are in need of some updating. This is also a small resort -94 rooms.

In the evening after freshening up and unpacking my fellow travel agents and I met at the beach bar at Shaw Park Resort. Ahhh paradise- a pina colada at sunset on the beach. Have I mentioned how much I love my job?

On to dinner at The Ruins. What an amazing restaurant! While I was not able to sample any of their food (we had a buffet provided by several of the resorts on the island) the restaurant itself was amazing. Built around a waterfall and trees you are literally eating under the stars! The strands of lights throughout the trees, the foot bridge and sound of the water running down the falls and through the restaurant set the most alluring atmosphere!

Day two in Paradise!

8:30am the tour bus pulls out of Shaw Park. We are on our way to visit 4 resorts this morning.

Chrissanns – small beachfront hotel, mostly Jamaican clientele that operates as a timeshare. Each unit is individually owned and rented out. I was impressed with the unit owned by a Jamaican Ambassador.

Royal Plantation- If you are looking to be pampered, relaxed and catered too in an adult only, upscale and absolutely stunning location- this is the resort for you. Our gracious guide said it best, “As long as it is not illegal nor immoral we will provide whatever a guest desires.” The rooms all come with a fabulous view of the ocean, were spacious and exquisitely decorated in an understated elegance complete with a pillow menu. There are two beaches, one has beach butlers that will cater to your needs-from retrieving your beverages to spritzing you with a cooling lavender water- all you need to do is raise your flag. Perfect for that quiet elegant beach wedding. There is also a 3 bedroom villa onsite that can be rented for private groups or weddings.

Riu Ocho Rios – This resort is sprawling and very active! The perfect resort for larger or mixed age groups or people who like to have lots of choices right at their fingertips. The rooms are spacious and nicely appointed. A huge beach front and several pools. Staff here was friendly as we toured. The in room mini bar and liquor disperser is extremely popular with guests.

Sunset Jamaican Grande – A newly added water slide makes this the perfect getaway for families! We were not able to see any rooms as they were booked solid but the grounds were nicely kept. The entire resort was recently renovated and all of the guests I observed from the very young to the old appeared quite content. This is a very active resort and includes a kids club for those from 2-12years old. It was neat to see the cruise ships docked in Ocho Rios; this resort is a short walk from shopping and nightlife in town. Two areas to get married – a gazebo right on a point on the water and another gazebo just off the beach. Both made for great photos!

Lunch at Walkers Wood- delicious! I would like to come back and do the complete tour when I have more time. We had the privilege of meeting with Old mother Thyme and learning about the history and how the Jamaicans lived and cooked in the past with a quick demonstration of the tools used. The tour of the garden and explanation of what each plant did was eye opening and educational. I really enjoyed seeing how their jerk sauce is made. Great little gift shop onsite to purchase their seasonings. Can also purchase online at www.walkerswood.com

On to the Catamaran Cruise! We left from Sunset Jamaica Grande and sailed past Dunn’s River Falls. The falls looked beautiful as we sailed past. Great reggae music but it really started to get lively on the way back! Personally I think they wait till the Rum punch has a chance to kick in! Starting with a dance move demonstration by the staff we ended the cruise with most of us up dancing and singing!

We ended the evening with the Grand opening of Harley Davidson Ocho Rios at Island Village. A great little shopping area where you’ll be able to find most any tourist item you desire!

Day 3 In Paradise-

Are you tired yet? Well I was! It’s rough walking through these beautiful resorts watching others play in the pool, with their cool drinks and looking at those incredible beaches! It was all I could do to not take off my heels and dig my toes into the warm sand.

This morning we visited Emerald Seas Villa- This is where my camera batteries decided to die. And what bad timing for my batteries to go caput. The Villa was breathtaking. Very open and elegant, potted plants throughout created a feeling of being in garden and openness. Four bedrooms each with their own private balcony and private bath, two located on each side of the villa. A curving marble staircase to the downstairs. Large French doors lead to the outside terrace and your private in ground pool. The large balcony upstairs would be an incredible setting for a small intimate wedding. I could just picture a bride and groom saying their vows while looking over the gorgeous Caribbean Ocean. I fell in love with this Villa! The winding stairs leading down to the ocean surrounding by lush foliage would create the most beautiful photos. Comes with a staff of 6.

Sandals Dunn’s River Falls Villagio- A beautiful drive down a manicured garden with statues is your first impression of what is in store at this adult only all inclusive resort. Designed to look and feel like an Italian resort you are immediately put at ease and start to relax. I was amazed at the artistic touches, artfully designed gardens and statues throughout the resort. This includes the minitiare replica falls located in the pool. The rooms were lovely with an elegant 4 poster king size beds and mahogany furniture.

Hedonism III - What can I say ? This resort has a nude side, prude side and also a mixed nudity pool area. Great for couples where one partner is comfortable in being one with nature and the other prefers to stay partially dressed! We were treated to lunch and the food was delicious- some of the best we had! Service outstanding.

Green Grotto Cave- Quite honestly if it wasn’t on the itinerary I probably would have passed. It’s a shame too because I would have missed out on a great experience. Our guide was a knowledgeable and charming young man! We learned about Jamaican history, a bit about the islands ecosystem and also geology. The tour was inside and outside of the caves. The fig trees with their roots searching for water reminded me of the banyan tree in Maui.

Our last night was spent at the new Gran Bahia Ocho Rios. A beautiful hotel with very nice large rooms. This is an all inclusive resort that caters to all age groups. Our balcony was the largest I’ve ever seen and our ocean view was beautiful. The buffet was decent and food was plentiful for dinner but I spoke with guests who said that the selections are the same nightly. To alleviate the repetitiveness there are a la carte restaurants to book for dinner. There was some construction still going on and communication issues amongst staff but that is typical for a brand new resort and it usually last for the first year till the kinks are worked out. Entertainment is held at the Caribbean Village. I thought this was a fantastic concept – an outdoor piazzo with bistro tables and surrounded by shops it provides under the stairs nightly entertainment while keeping the noise contained away from the rooms. A note of caution is in order- there is a beautiful outside marble staircase that goes from the lobby to the pool. It is several stories high but gets extremely slick with any precipitation. I spoke to several guests who slipped down the stairs and also a few of my fellow travel agents who almost tumbled down. Please be careful here especially with youngsters and elderly. This is a tragedy waiting to happen.

Day Four In Paradise-

I woke at 7am, donned my swimsuit and laid on the beach-finally! The beach looked beautiful from afar but you will definitely need water shoes as it is very gravelly and rough, even into the water. No digging your toes into the sand here! Bring sturdy shoes for those long moonlit walks along the beach. After an hour or so I moved to the pool to cool off as I didn’t bring water shoes. Pools were very nice, although shallow at 4’ deep. The pool bar opens at 10am and not a second sooner as my room mate just needed a cup of ice and staff said no. Sadly we left at noon to make our ay back to the airport.

Customs was again a breeze and we had some free time before our flight to visit the many shops. This is a great place to pick up last minute souvenirs, some Blue Mountain coffee and grab a bite to eat at Margarittaville. I found the prices to be comparable to the other areas we visited (just slightly higher) and quite a variety of shops.

So what was my favorite part about Ocho Rios? The people! Although I speak to many clients who are nervous about going to Jamaica and I have to admit that the first time I visited Montego Bay on a cruise ship I was turned off by the aggressive vendors and vowed to never come back! This was my second trip back since then and I promise you it is a completely different experience staying at a resort. The Jamaicans are one of the warmest groups of individuals I have encountered in my travels. It is a joy to experience their warmth, hospitality, pride and the beauty of their island.

If you’d like additional information about Jamaica or any of the resorts I visited please email jennifer@sandsunandsavings.com

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