Jamaica Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Mom's Guide To Travel

Oct 22 2011

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.

Oct 21 2011

The real deal about Things to Do in Jamaica with Young Kids

Palladium Resort in Jamaica

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.

Oct 11 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Things To Do In Jamaica

If you’ve ever wondered about things to do in Jamaica besides sitting around the beach and drinking rum punches, I’m here to tell you that there’s plenty, especially for the adventure traveler. Now, I’m not talking about sky diving or swimming with sharks but a few of these activities will get your adrenaline pumping and your heart racing nonetheless. The Jamaica Tourist Board sponsored me to visit the country to try on some of these activities for size.

Tawanna and the Dolphins — Playing with Dolphins, Jamaica

I’d have to say that I was surprised to find out that there were all these other activities I could do while down there. The few times I went, it was a much more mellow experience. I do remember my husband and friends driving ATVs on an excursion arranged by our cruise ship. However, I knew nothing about swimming with dolphins. And to be honest with you, I probably wouldn’t have done it at the time anyway. I’ve seemed to have gotten more courageous with age – who knows why but that’s the case.

Horseback riding through shallow waters was interesting but I felt bad for the horses. They seemed to have been struggling. I think my favorite activity was probably zip lining through YS Falls. Whew! Talk about an adrenaline rush. If you’re traveling with kids to Jamaica, you could probably do the dolphins, horseback riding, and ziplining with a 9 year old and older. I might be a little apprehensive about the ziplining at that age but it also depends on the kid. It’s definitely an experience that neither one of you will forget.

I don’t think anything beats just chilling poolside at the resort after a few days of exploration and adrenaline-rush activities. I wouldn’t stay there everyday, there’s just so many things to do in Jamaica and it would seem like a waste of a trip. But to each his own – enjoy your vacation the way you want. It’s just good to know all the options you have in front of you and take a leap of faith once in a while…or a zip-line of faith. You may surprise yourself.

Oct 11 2011

Traveling To Jamaica? Learn some dancehall moves before you go.

We had a great time visiting Holiday Inn Montego Bay in Jamaica last week. Part of the family-friendly fun was a dancehall dance class with the resorts’s mascot, Rocky the Turtle. Here are some of the moves he taught guests that day. See how much you know. Can you name those moves?

Oct 08 2011

Family Friendly Resort in Jamaica: The Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts

Looking for a family friendly resort in Jamaica? Well, the Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts, an all-inclusive family-friendly resort, may be exactly what you need. The Grand Palladium is on the North Coast of Jamaica in the town of Lucea, about a 40 minute drive from Montego Bay airport. This property is broken up into two sides: the Jamaica Resort & Spa and the Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa.

The rooms that make up the resort

The property, or as the resort’s literature calls it, “the complex” houses 516 rooms on the Lady Hamilton side and 540 rooms on the Jamaica Resort side. The rooms are divided into three-story villas, each with 6 one bedroom suites and 30 Jr. suites. At the Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa there are 48 “adults only” ocean front two-story villa suites. Each of those villas house 4 adult suites. In total, the Grand Palladium houses 1056 rooms. My favorite rooms were the honeymoon suite, complete with outdoor shower…wow! and the junior suite for families.

Dining at the Grand Palladium

You will never be hungry or thirsty at the Grand Palladium. There are 13 bars and 10 restaurants, 3 of which are buffet restaurants, 6 of which are “a la carte” regional food restaurants, and 1 bbq/seafood restaurant at the beach. Of the “a la carte” restaurants you can find an Italian Trattoria, an Indian restaurant, an Oriental restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, a Jamaican restaurant, and Bubba’s Grill House.

During the low season, only a few of the restaurants are open as occupancy is currently only at 50%. So, for a mom-on-the-go, buffet style is serving its purpose well. I think if I had my kids here, that would probably be the dining option I’d utilize the most. I like the flexibility of getting whatever I want whenever I want. Dining without children, my preference is a la carte dining.

General activities around the Resort

The resort has an infinity pool to rival any infinity pool you will lay your eyes on. Here are the types and number of pools you will find on the property:

5 fresh water swimming pools

1 great pool with 4 integrated Jacuzzis and swim up bar

1 private kids’ pool

1 adult pool with 1 jacuzzi (open until 12am)

1 quiet pool in the Grand Palladium Jamaica with integrated jacuzzi and bar

1 spa pool with lazy river

This family friendly resort in Jamaica also has a menu of sports activities included with your stay, sports installations which include tennis, volley ball, and basketball courts along with a pro-soccer field and miniature golf facility. Water sports activities are also included as long as it is non-motorized. Activities that do incur an additional charge include excursions, scuba diving, windsurfing and sailing lessons and motorized water sports.

The gym is just steps away from the spa and located on the Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa side.

There are also live performances in an outdoor theatre. Children shows take place here as well and adult shows follow suit. The performances change nightly. Throughout the resort you will also find a gaming lounge with game machines and stores for shopping.

Activities Specifically For Kids

The Grand Palladium also offers activities specifically for children at its Mini Club. Here, children 4-12 can be left under the supervision of childcare staff where they can play outside in the grass or on the play park, participate in arts and crafts, swim under supervision, watch videos or play video games. The Mini Club is open from 9 am to 11pm, presenting a great opportunity for parents to sneak in some “alone” time.

The Spa

The spa facilities at the Grand Palladium is definitely something worth writing home about. The spa is in its own section of the resort complete with several jacuzzis, a continuous pool, sauna, steam room, and foot massage. The spa offers all of the typical services you’d find at any modern spa in addition to professional hair salon services, all of which are at extra charge to the guest.

Prices for this Family-Friendly Resort

So what does all of this cost? At this time of year, a junior suite will run you $294 a night, however, as with any hotel or flight, prices change. This time of the year is considered low season, thus room prices tend to be less less expensive. Currently (at the time of this posting), April 2012 through June 2012 have even lower pricing. You can also check pricing on the Grand Palladium’s website at: www.fiestahotelgroup.com.

Disclosure: My trip, which included a 4 night stay at the Grand Palladium Hotels and Resorts, was sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board, however all opinions and thoughts are my own.