Staying Honest About My Travels – Truth about Jamaica
On my recent visit to Jamaica, I got a chance to see a lot of great features of the island. However, I’m not new to the country, the culture, her people, and the lifestyle. My brother-in-law is Jamaican, one of my best friends from college is Jamaican, an ex-boyfriend is Jamaican, my sister got married in Jamaica, and I grew up in Brooklyn, which has a healthy Jamaican population. (It’s a top destination for yardies after they leave their country. I should know – my father is from Barbados.)
That being said, I want to be honest with you. Jamaica has never been on my top Caribbean destination lists but here they sit as winners of numerous awards from the 2011 World Travel Awards. And deservedly so, my recent press trip has raised my personal opinions about the country.
However, behind the glitz of the trip, there are some hard truths that I want families to know. Jamaica is a lively, energetic place but there is good and bad that goes with that. The good is that the dollar is strong there, so even if you’re on a budget, you can enjoy yourself and bring home a bottle of rum, and a souvenir or two. Islands like Aruba, Barbados, and The Cayman Islands present more of a spending challenge for the budget-minded traveling family. The other good about Jamaica is that you have your pick of the litter when it comes to places to stay, cuisine, and attractions.
The bad is that aside from the glamour of the island’s numerous attractions, if your eyes are open, you will see a lot of poverty. I’m not the biggest philanthropist but it was hard for me to fully enjoy a horseback ride through an impoverished mountain neighborhood short of a shanty town. Here, kids walked barefoot and many men appeared to be without jobs – this didn’t sit well with my mommy wanderlust.
Because of my past travels and my background, I’m fairly familiar with Kingston, Jamaica. And let me tell you, if you’re traveling there, this is not a place to trifle with. It reminds me a lot like Brooklyn, and like Brooklyn, you need to know where to go and where not to go. It can be rough and I’ve heard several people speak of being robbed while over there. Our group didn’t tour Kingston and I was thankful. Although it is rich with history, energy, and culture, it’s not a top destination I would suggest for traveling families, especially if they don’t someone who’s from there.
For me, travel blogging isn’t always about painting a pretty picture. I take pride in telling families not only where to go but where not to go. As long as I know the deal, I like to maintain that balance as much as I can. It’s good to know a destination’s roses as well as its’ thorns so that your family can be fully prepared in travel cultivation.
Disclosure: My press trip, which included airfare, meals, transportation and accommodations, was sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board. Of course, I received no compensation for this article. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
The real deal about Things to Do in Jamaica with Young Kids
I had a wonderful time exploring Jamaica in the October off-season and researching what to do in Jamaica with young kids. The sum total of my activities on my trip included horseback riding with Chukka Caribbean Adventures; swimming with the Dolphins at Dolphin Cove; touring Rose Hall Great House; partying on Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship Adventure; zip-lining at Y.S. Falls; hunting for crocodiles on the Black River Safari.
All of these activities I felt were appropriate for kids 7 and up, generally speaking.
Yes, there are some kids that start horseback riding and swimming with the dolphins at age 3, but generally speaking, that’s still a little young for most parents. Besides, staying on a horse’s slippery back, in mane-deep water, was a real core workout. A guide would probably help pull the horse along but your average 6 year old might find it challenging to keep his/her balance.
One of my funniest moments in Jamaica was on Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship. This was a great evening activity/attraction, however, there were some elements of this party boat that I thought were more appropriate for a 16+ crowd. (I have the pictures to tell.)
Here are some activities that I thought were age-appropriate for the 6 and under crowd:
- The Kids Cove at the Grand Palladium is a big selling point and is appropriate for younger children. Drop the little munchkins off and hit the spa or just take a tropical break while the kids play with their peers.
- YS Falls had a calm swimming lagoon that would be appropriate for that age range. I didn’t have a chance to wade in it because I was too busy channeling my inner Tarzan, flying through the Jamaican jungle on gravity defining zip-lines.
- Dolphin Cove not only had the dolphin experience, but also a small animal park that would be more appropriate for the under 6 crowd. Touching a dolphin is one thing, just as long as they’re not afraid of larger mammals, however, swimming with one at a younger age may be a little risky for your taste.
Other activities that would be appropriate for a family traveling to Jamaica with young kids include: day tours, nature walks, zoo visits, boat rides, foodie experiences, or simply relaxing near the water.
My press trip was sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board. All opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.
Grand Caymanian Resort Review – Cayman Islands
In July, our family of four stayed at the Grand Caymanian Resort in the Cayman Islands. The property is situated on the North Sound of Grand Cayman about 15 minutes from the airport. The resort’s location was serene and removed from tourist congestion.
Transportation
Taxi service to the resort cost $40 for our family. The resort didn’t offer airport pick-up service for its guests, something that took us by surprise. The resort does offer a shuttle to different attractions and transportation to the local market, however you’re on someone else’s time. Management politely suggests that guests rent a vehicle if interested in touring the island fully.
Amenities:
A scuba shop
A c-store
24-hour access gym
An onsite restaurant
Two pools, including a kiddy pool
Tennis court
Water sports
Private beach access complete with hammocks, beach chairs, and a pier
The Villa
We stayed in two connecting villas that had a lock-off option. We put our boys in the larger villa and stayed in the one-bedroom villa, keeping the doors open in between the two. The larger-sized villa included a full kitchen complete with a refrigerator, microwave and stove; a washer and dryer unit; a 6-person dining table, couch and love seat, an entertainment unit, a double-entry balcony over looking the pool, restaurant, and beach, as well as a large double-vanity bathroom. Our smaller villa offered a kitchenette, a desk, small couch, and a private balcony as well.
One of the things I loved about having the connecting villas was the separation of space and the extra room for the kids to run around and explore. The other pluses that worked well for my family were the in-suite washer and dryer and the full-size kitchen.
Criticisms of the Grand Caymanian:
In my opinion, here are some things I think the Grand Caymanian needs in order to count itself as a true 4 star resort:
- A proper gym complete with free weights, a television, towels, and in general, more state of the art exercise equipment
- Personalized activities for kids
- Updates/Modernization to the decor of its older villas
- An expanded concessions store
- Airport shuttle service for guests or some equivalent
Most importantly, wi-fi service in all rooms. Using the business office or lugging my laptop down to the lobby to use the service was a grand inconvenience. When I’m on vacation, most of my computer time is done late at night when everyone is asleep – leaving my villa in the dark to get internet service is not an option and a deal breaker for me when deciding to be a repeat vacationer at a resort. Hopefully the new owner will see the value in providing this service for their (mainly) American guests in the near future.
Wrap-up
There are plenty of things that the Grand Caymanian does right for its size: its hospitality and offering on-site water sport amenities. Guest activities like the free coconut-picking demonstration and paid in-pool scuba diving training can keep guests entertained for a spell but for the most part, you will need to go off-site if you’re looking for more action. Notwithstanding mom’s critical eye, my little family had a great time at the resort swimming, relaxing, and soaking in the Caymanian sun.
The spoils of Jamaica: Appleton Rum Review
I should be ashamed of myself. It’s 1 am and I’m downstairs in my kitchen writing and “taste-testing” the bottle of Appleton Estate Reserve rum gifted to myself and 8 other bloggers on our tour of Jamaica last weekend with the Jamaica Tourist Board. I had no intentions of pouring a drink tonight – I was actually coming downstairs to shut everything down. Yet here I am.
I marvel at the fact that I can drink and type. (Actually I’m already done with my drink but who’s counting). I’m not normally a rum drinker unless it’s tucked neatly away in a cold well-blended Pina Colada, a drink I try to stay away from because it is so incredibly delicious, addictive, and fattening when done right. (But again, who’s counting). A-NY-WAY, that’s the only way I’ve ever drank rum…until now. (Drum roll please)
Appleton Estate’s Reserve Rum is wonderful. Don’t quote me, I’m not a rum connoisseur but their reserve rum is smooth. I mixed it with an orange-mango juice blend, 2 parts to 1, and voil`a, I was transported to the sandy beaches of Montego Bay for a few minutes.
The folks over at Appleton Estates even thought enough about us to include a deck of recipe cards so that we can explore more drink combinations. Even as a former bartender, I can’t begin to recall all the ways to enjoy rum other than in a Colada or a cake. However, what I made tonight sufficed and hit the spot. Now all I have to do is suck on my ice and head to bed feeling irie.
Disclosure: Appleton Estates gifted me with a bag of their Reserve rum and some other items. I have not been compensated for this post. As a matter of fact, I don’t think they even expect me to write about their Rum but I am because I love it! All opinions expressed within are my own.
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