This island was once the home for notorious pirates and buccaneers many years ago. This is where the treasure beach in Jamaica got its name. Today it is one of the popular destinations for visitors to the Caribbean and lies just a little over five hundred miles from the South of Florida.
With its unique scenic places with rugged mountainside, spectacular white sand beaches flanked by the blue green waters of the Caribbean Sea. This is an unmatched beauty that is always filled with visitors during the tourist season.
More and more, visitors are enticed to these magical shores from all over the globe to enjoy some of its world class conveniences. There is ease of entry to Jamaica as visitors can either come through the two major airports with international facilities, from the smaller airports, cruise ships, private yachts or arrange transportation for transfers from resorts or hotels. There is no hindrance to travel to Jamaica and you are welcome to stay for long periods.
There is time in the tourism sector when it is referred to as high season when most if not all the hotels are fully booked. This is the period from January to mid April and some persons will book rooms at the popular hotels from even a year in advance to secure there spot. It is very difficult to get rooms during this period, but remember that accommodation facilities are numerous on the island; you might not get what you plan for originally but you will find suitable lodgings.
During this time it is not only the rooms that will be in high demand, rental vehicles and sporting activities might be a little harder to get. However, there are lots of advantages to travel to the island at this time and that is why a lot of persons gravitate here. During the high season many persons welcome the change of weather from their homeland and get to enjoy some of the holiday offerings on the island.
This high demand also happens when it is the holiday period, with the numerous festivals and concerts the rooms are also fully booked. People always welcome the chance to experience the many festivals and celebrations that takes place this time of the year. There are numerous festivities to keep you entertained, such as the Carnival in the Easter week, jazz and blues festival and numerous yacht events. There are so much other activities in Treasure beach Jamaica.
There is more than enough for you to look forward to and very quickly you forget the drawbacks such as lack of hotel space, waiting list for sporting activities and overcrowded pools and beaches.
There is also the low season that is from the middle of April to December, also referred to as the summer season. This is the time when you miss most of the tropical climate or as some persons say, the sun is missing from the summer travel. This is not only reflected in Jamaica but throughout the other Caribbean islands as well.
During this time there are fewer crowds. If you travel during this season you will notice the changes in the hotel, both in the amount of visitors and the services. You might not feel the same vibe as you would in the high season, the features and services might not be in abundance and some places even close for short period of time.
It is advisable when making your reservation during this period to find out about renovations on property, as most places utilize this time to do some sprucing up.
Notwithstanding all that, this is still a popular tourist destination and you will be given the best of treatment. This is the time when most persons on budget will travel too as there is not the high demand and you might get discounts on a lot of services.
They even use this opportunity to enjoy some of the activities that you have to pay for such as diving, fishing, snorkeling, tours and any other fun activities that would be available. You might just indulge in some good shopping and get to take home more souvenirs for your friends and family.
Whatever the season, you will not regret a vacation in treasure beach in Jamaica, this tropical paradise where you will feel the welcomed, both from the people and nature’s offerings.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Annual Festivals in Jamaica
There are a number of annual festivals that take place in Jamaica. If you are interested in any of these, knowing when they occur may help you decide when to take your vacation.
The Annual Jamaica Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival: This year this jazz festival will be held in June and will celebrate 17 years of consistent artistic success, presenting the best of Jamaican musical talent and some of the most famous names in International Jazz. The past ten years have seen an emergence of a variety of ‘Jazz Festivals’, at home and abroad, and many other Caribbean festivals have adopted the innovative features first introduced by the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival. This festival is eagerly anticipated by both locals and tourists alike.
Annual Jamaica Spice Festival: In July, the Jamaica Tourist Board will again celebrate Jamaican cuisine with its premier food festival, Jamaica Spice, a one-day celebration showcasing all that Jamaica has to offer local and international Epicureans. The main highlights of Jamaica Spice will be the exhibition of traditional gourmet, processed foods, and delights that originate in Jamaica and are produced locally. Close to fifty exhibitors are expected to showcase their products including coffee, chutneys, meats, juices, rums & liqueurs, arts & crafts, fruits and candy. Lively cooking demonstrations will be conducted throughout the day by exhibitors, restaurateurs and local media personalities. There will be displays of contemporary Jamaican food products prepared by culinary experts who will be available for sale and public sampling. Food lovers look forward to this festival with great anticipation. If you intend to go to this and intend to bring some local flavor home, check what you’re allowed to bring through customs on your return before you go shopping at the festival!
Accompong Maroon Festival: This unusual festival is celebrated by the Maroons, who are the descendants of the slaves brought to Jamaica to work on the sugar plantations. Part of the festival involves a pig roast, in which black, male pigs are cooked in large pots. The whole community, including visitors, then eats the results – and, according to tradition, eating a mouthful of the succulent pork will bring you luck. This festival is held in January.
Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival: For ten years, the national airline has been sponsoring a lively musical event, featuring artists from all around the world, as well as popular Jamaican performers. Reggae is an important feature of the program, but there is also plenty of opportunity to listen to jazz and other types of music. This festival is held at Montego Bay in the month of January.
The Jamaican tourist board will be able to tell you the exact dates of these and other festivals that will be held in Jamaica throughout the year.
The Annual Jamaica Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival: This year this jazz festival will be held in June and will celebrate 17 years of consistent artistic success, presenting the best of Jamaican musical talent and some of the most famous names in International Jazz. The past ten years have seen an emergence of a variety of ‘Jazz Festivals’, at home and abroad, and many other Caribbean festivals have adopted the innovative features first introduced by the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival. This festival is eagerly anticipated by both locals and tourists alike.
Annual Jamaica Spice Festival: In July, the Jamaica Tourist Board will again celebrate Jamaican cuisine with its premier food festival, Jamaica Spice, a one-day celebration showcasing all that Jamaica has to offer local and international Epicureans. The main highlights of Jamaica Spice will be the exhibition of traditional gourmet, processed foods, and delights that originate in Jamaica and are produced locally. Close to fifty exhibitors are expected to showcase their products including coffee, chutneys, meats, juices, rums & liqueurs, arts & crafts, fruits and candy. Lively cooking demonstrations will be conducted throughout the day by exhibitors, restaurateurs and local media personalities. There will be displays of contemporary Jamaican food products prepared by culinary experts who will be available for sale and public sampling. Food lovers look forward to this festival with great anticipation. If you intend to go to this and intend to bring some local flavor home, check what you’re allowed to bring through customs on your return before you go shopping at the festival!
Accompong Maroon Festival: This unusual festival is celebrated by the Maroons, who are the descendants of the slaves brought to Jamaica to work on the sugar plantations. Part of the festival involves a pig roast, in which black, male pigs are cooked in large pots. The whole community, including visitors, then eats the results – and, according to tradition, eating a mouthful of the succulent pork will bring you luck. This festival is held in January.
Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival: For ten years, the national airline has been sponsoring a lively musical event, featuring artists from all around the world, as well as popular Jamaican performers. Reggae is an important feature of the program, but there is also plenty of opportunity to listen to jazz and other types of music. This festival is held at Montego Bay in the month of January.
The Jamaican tourist board will be able to tell you the exact dates of these and other festivals that will be held in Jamaica throughout the year.
Jamaica All Inclusive Resorts
Discover a different kind of vacation experience by opting for one of the impressive Jamaica all inclusive resorts. Not only will this accommodation option provide travelers with a world of wonder and awe, but a good opportunity to save. If you have plans to stay in the resort town of Negril, expect to find luxury facilities such as SuperClubs and Sandals chain of hotels on the beautiful shorelines.
However, before you get overly excited, you should first consider the budget which you have put aside for this trip. This has to be given some consideration to ascertain if it would be better to design your own package or make use of the all inclusive offers. Most of the time, the decision to stay in these type of accommodations will be dependent on what is included in the deals.
It might be a situation that you are traveling during the off season when the hotels and resorts along the seven mile beach in Negril is offering amazing discount offers. This would require you to check all the available options to figure out if staying at the Grand Lido would be cheaper than the nearby Couples resort. Even though this might seem like a tedious task, it is actually simple once you have your travel budget and holiday needs well planned out.
You should also keep in mind that the Jamaica all inclusive resorts usually incorporates items such as your meals, rooms, airline tickets, entertainment activities, as well as car rental, tours, tips and transfers. But, due to the wide variety of resorts and hotels that you will find, the deals and package inclusions will depend on the type of vacation you are seeking. You will find hotels for couples, adults only and family with specially designed packages, so naturally the price and activities will differ.
The remainder of this article aims to point out some of the ways that you can save with this popular all inclusive vacation choice.
First, to determine if you are truly saving you have to compare the different offerings and identify what is and not included in the packages. Let’s imagine that you are a lover of alcoholic beverage, especially the ones with the strong Jamaican white rum, you have to ensure that the resort you select will offer this as an inclusion in the price. If not, every time you want to indulge, it will cost you extra.
Next, there is also the opportunity to save a bundle on tours or admission to attractions because the hotels and partnering companies usually combine to provide travelers with heavy discounts. It is common to be staying at one of the hotels on the West End or on the seven mile strip in Negril and find packages that will allow you to visit the Bob Marley Mausoleum in St Ann or to enjoy the adventures of the Zip line tours in the hills of Hanover. So, you should look for the travel package which will offer some sort of excursion in the cost for your stay.
Since, this all inclusive package might be the first for you; it is possible that you are not aware that the individual deals can add up to significantly more. Just think about the opportunity to drink and eat all you want with no limitations whatsoever, enjoying a comfortable airplane ride and possible get discounts or free tours. Take all of this into consideration when you are doing your comparisons and you are guaranteed to get the absolute best value for your hard earned money.
Hopefully, this information will get you interested enough to give this option a try on your next trip to Negril. Keep in mind that a vacation on the island of Jamaica is not complete if you cannot find the money to enjoy yourself.
However, before you get overly excited, you should first consider the budget which you have put aside for this trip. This has to be given some consideration to ascertain if it would be better to design your own package or make use of the all inclusive offers. Most of the time, the decision to stay in these type of accommodations will be dependent on what is included in the deals.
It might be a situation that you are traveling during the off season when the hotels and resorts along the seven mile beach in Negril is offering amazing discount offers. This would require you to check all the available options to figure out if staying at the Grand Lido would be cheaper than the nearby Couples resort. Even though this might seem like a tedious task, it is actually simple once you have your travel budget and holiday needs well planned out.
You should also keep in mind that the Jamaica all inclusive resorts usually incorporates items such as your meals, rooms, airline tickets, entertainment activities, as well as car rental, tours, tips and transfers. But, due to the wide variety of resorts and hotels that you will find, the deals and package inclusions will depend on the type of vacation you are seeking. You will find hotels for couples, adults only and family with specially designed packages, so naturally the price and activities will differ.
The remainder of this article aims to point out some of the ways that you can save with this popular all inclusive vacation choice.
First, to determine if you are truly saving you have to compare the different offerings and identify what is and not included in the packages. Let’s imagine that you are a lover of alcoholic beverage, especially the ones with the strong Jamaican white rum, you have to ensure that the resort you select will offer this as an inclusion in the price. If not, every time you want to indulge, it will cost you extra.
Next, there is also the opportunity to save a bundle on tours or admission to attractions because the hotels and partnering companies usually combine to provide travelers with heavy discounts. It is common to be staying at one of the hotels on the West End or on the seven mile strip in Negril and find packages that will allow you to visit the Bob Marley Mausoleum in St Ann or to enjoy the adventures of the Zip line tours in the hills of Hanover. So, you should look for the travel package which will offer some sort of excursion in the cost for your stay.
Since, this all inclusive package might be the first for you; it is possible that you are not aware that the individual deals can add up to significantly more. Just think about the opportunity to drink and eat all you want with no limitations whatsoever, enjoying a comfortable airplane ride and possible get discounts or free tours. Take all of this into consideration when you are doing your comparisons and you are guaranteed to get the absolute best value for your hard earned money.
Hopefully, this information will get you interested enough to give this option a try on your next trip to Negril. Keep in mind that a vacation on the island of Jamaica is not complete if you cannot find the money to enjoy yourself.
Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Shore Excursion Tips
Ocho Rios is located on Jamaica’s northeast cost. Once a small fishing and banana port, Ocho Rios has become the cruise ship capital of Jamaica and the most popular western Caribbean port of call due to its stunning waterfalls, beaches, and fun filled Shore Excursions.
There is plenty to see and do while your cruise ship is docked in this scenic tropical port. In addition to relaxing in the incomparable blue Caribbean sea and sun-worshipping on the magnificent beaches, there are a number of excellent excursions in and around Ocho Rios that can include shopping, snorkeling, downhill mountain bike riding, botanical gardens tours, plantation tours, horseback riding treks, river tubing adventures, and river rafting. For beach lovers, there are Mahogany, Boscobel, and James Bond beach. At Mahogany beach you and your family will be delighted with the variety of activities there are to enjoy.
One of the best ways to see the tropical beauty Jamaica has to offer is by booking a shore excursion. Your cruise ship offers a variety of Shore excursions in beautiful Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and they range in price from $25.00 – $150.00 per person. These excursions are very popular and fill up very fast so to avoid being disappointed, try to book early. Many cruise lines offer shore excursions on their websites, allowing bookings before leaving home.
Another option to booking shore excursions is with an independent operator. You can find independent operators offering the same, if not better and more private, shore excursions at competitive rates. When looking for independent operators make sure that they belong to “Jamaica’s Union of Travelers Association” (J.U.T.A). JUTA operators can be recognized by an identification card and their vehicles will have a red license plate. Remember to book in advance; if no reservation is available for your arrival date, your last resort will be to negotiate your excursion with a tour operator at the pier, but be careful; prices can vary dramatically from operator to operator.
There is an abundance of fun filled activities in Ocho Rios and it is difficult to pick one out of the many options, however, my personal favorite excursion is to Dunn’s River Falls. Most ship passengers who visit Ocho Rios are eager to take the challenge of climbing this 600 ft (183m) waterfall, shaped like a giant staircase, cascading down to form cool pools among rocks, nestled in a picturesque forest of trees. For those who feel a little less daring, one can walk along the dramatic falls observing the beauty of the lush tropical vegetation. Beach lovers can hang out at the base of the falls. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit, and waterproof camera. Lockers and water shoes can be rented on site. You might opt to save money by bringing a pair of old sneakers to protect your feet when climbing (sandals are not allowed).
Shore excursions can be a truly memorable experience, but also time consuming. I recommend researching the various excursions and comparing prices before booking. It is best to book excursions located within the Ocho Rios area and not more than 30 minutes away. You and your family will have more time to relax and take in the beautiful Jamaican scenery instead of worrying about getting back to the boat on time.
There is plenty to see and do while your cruise ship is docked in this scenic tropical port. In addition to relaxing in the incomparable blue Caribbean sea and sun-worshipping on the magnificent beaches, there are a number of excellent excursions in and around Ocho Rios that can include shopping, snorkeling, downhill mountain bike riding, botanical gardens tours, plantation tours, horseback riding treks, river tubing adventures, and river rafting. For beach lovers, there are Mahogany, Boscobel, and James Bond beach. At Mahogany beach you and your family will be delighted with the variety of activities there are to enjoy.
One of the best ways to see the tropical beauty Jamaica has to offer is by booking a shore excursion. Your cruise ship offers a variety of Shore excursions in beautiful Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and they range in price from $25.00 – $150.00 per person. These excursions are very popular and fill up very fast so to avoid being disappointed, try to book early. Many cruise lines offer shore excursions on their websites, allowing bookings before leaving home.
Another option to booking shore excursions is with an independent operator. You can find independent operators offering the same, if not better and more private, shore excursions at competitive rates. When looking for independent operators make sure that they belong to “Jamaica’s Union of Travelers Association” (J.U.T.A). JUTA operators can be recognized by an identification card and their vehicles will have a red license plate. Remember to book in advance; if no reservation is available for your arrival date, your last resort will be to negotiate your excursion with a tour operator at the pier, but be careful; prices can vary dramatically from operator to operator.
There is an abundance of fun filled activities in Ocho Rios and it is difficult to pick one out of the many options, however, my personal favorite excursion is to Dunn’s River Falls. Most ship passengers who visit Ocho Rios are eager to take the challenge of climbing this 600 ft (183m) waterfall, shaped like a giant staircase, cascading down to form cool pools among rocks, nestled in a picturesque forest of trees. For those who feel a little less daring, one can walk along the dramatic falls observing the beauty of the lush tropical vegetation. Beach lovers can hang out at the base of the falls. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit, and waterproof camera. Lockers and water shoes can be rented on site. You might opt to save money by bringing a pair of old sneakers to protect your feet when climbing (sandals are not allowed).
Shore excursions can be a truly memorable experience, but also time consuming. I recommend researching the various excursions and comparing prices before booking. It is best to book excursions located within the Ocho Rios area and not more than 30 minutes away. You and your family will have more time to relax and take in the beautiful Jamaican scenery instead of worrying about getting back to the boat on time.
Useful Information About Jamaica
The Caribbean has always been one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Home to a number of islands, each one offers a tropical paradise to their guests. One such place is Jamaica, home to a number of beautiful tourist spots that include white sand beaches and beautiful mountain ranges. Jamaica also offers its guests excellent accommodations and exciting activities that make vacations to the island more memorable. There are many aspects of the Jamaican vacation that must be decided on, and planning just how to spend your vacation can be a bit overwhelming. The good news is that there are certain locations in Jamaica that have been proven to be some of the better places where tourists, especially first-time visitors, should visit without fail.
One of the more notable place tourists could go to in Jamaica is Treasure Beach, which is home to the very popular Jake’s Place Hotel, an ideal honeymoon resort where couples can enjoy a tropical atmosphere while enjoying the excellent service that the resort provides. Another good place to visit is Mandeville where guests can go on hikes while enjoying the scenic beauty of the town, reminiscent of the time when the island was under the British rule. Another notable location is Strawberry Hill, which can provide you with an Old World ambience that includes tasting some of the best Jamaican cuisine and then mountain hiking. Port Antonio provides its guests with lush scenery because of the wide variety of plant life in the area.
One of the more notable place tourists could go to in Jamaica is Treasure Beach, which is home to the very popular Jake’s Place Hotel, an ideal honeymoon resort where couples can enjoy a tropical atmosphere while enjoying the excellent service that the resort provides. Another good place to visit is Mandeville where guests can go on hikes while enjoying the scenic beauty of the town, reminiscent of the time when the island was under the British rule. Another notable location is Strawberry Hill, which can provide you with an Old World ambience that includes tasting some of the best Jamaican cuisine and then mountain hiking. Port Antonio provides its guests with lush scenery because of the wide variety of plant life in the area.
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