There’s also a photo shop to get your picture taken and a local craft market.The Arawak tribe of South America are Jamaica's first known inhabitants and were there to greet Christopher Columbus when he ventured to the island in 1494. At the top of the cascade, there’s a park complete with gardens, a waterslide, and a splash pad. With an experienced tour guide, we made our way up the 180-foot-high waterfalls. Although the attraction brings millions of tourists each year, when I first saw Dunn’s River Falls, I thought of the generations of my family that stood in the exact same spot.
Did I stare out the window drooling over the lush greenery, 18th-century architecture, and fruit stands? Yes. Dunn’s River Falls is located in Ocho Rios, about an hour and a half from Breathless Montego Bay, so I brought a book to keep me occupied throughout the drive. One thing to know about the island is that even though it’s relatively small, it can take a while to get from town to town. I’ve wanted to see Dunn’s River Falls ever since I was little-especially because my mom and stepfather never stop talking about it. That all-inclusive life! Thanks to Nico at Altitude Rooftop Bar, I learned my new favorite liquor is rum cream, which he used to mix in the best espresso martini I’ve ever had.īecause I’ve been to Jamaica and I know about all its glory, strictly staying at the resort was *not* an option for me-and thankfully, CheapCaribbean booked me some incredible adventures. All five bars serve up the resort’s signature Breathless Rum Punch, but you can also ask any bartender to make you any drink you want. When you get thirsty, remember that Jamaica-like so much of the Caribbean-is known for its rum. James Resort & Spa, so you can enjoy the amenities-delicious restaurants, bars, and beaches-there too. There’s a sky bridge connecting Breathless Montego Bay with one of its sister resorts, Secrets St. The resort has three pools to fit your every mood-a vibe-y main pool with DJs and daily foam parties, a slightly calmer whirlpool where you can still enjoy the music (without feeling the bass in your chest), and a tucked-away rooftop one.
coffee delivery each morning, arranged a picnic lunch for an excursion, and even asked for the spa to stay open late one evening. Mine was Raynard, and he arranged my a.m.
And another standard amenity is a personal concierge. It features a massive floor-to-ceiling rain shower separating the bathroom and bedroom, a romantic soaking tub on the balcony, a fully stocked minibar, and a tablet to easily control the lights, air conditioning, and blinds. I stayed in a suite at the Xhale Club that’s nothing short of celeb-status accommodations. My long weekend at one of Jamaica’s luxury, all-inclusive resorts was true bliss-and trust me, the magic of this island transcends familial ties. So not only did I get to return to my mother’s homeland, but last month, I was able to experience the island in a way I never imagined. Everything-from excursions and transfers to your resort stay-can be booked through the site. A travel site for beach lovers (hi, hello), CheapCaribbean curates beach vacation packages that are both affordable and customizable. A self-discovery trip to a tropical island on top of all that felt way out of reach.īut as manifestation would have it, a sweet opportunity with CheapCaribbean landed in my lap. I’m a millennial and the work-life balance is difficult enough. You’d think having family in Jamaica would make it easier to visit, but I haven’t been to the island nation since I was 8 years old-and that’s *way* too long to be away from your roots. So at the beginning of 2022, when I made my vision board of all the things I wanted to happen this year, “spend time in Jamaica” was smack-dab in the middle. For three years, all I’ve thought about was finding my way to the enchanting Caribbean island that my mother and grandmother call home. Ask any of my friends or family members and they’ll tell you the same thing: The only place I wanted to go this summer was Jamaica.