Jamaica Travel News

POTD: Chess Board, Couples Sans Souci

It seems like just about every Jamaican resort has a jumbo chess board somewhere on property but this one at Couples Sans Souci caught our eye because of the locally-made, hand-carved chess pieces.

Labels: Ocho Rios, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 3:40 PM

February Travel Special at Couples Resorts

Here's an interesting special package we just read about: Couples Resorts is offering a "Secret Rendezvous" special from Feb. 1-29. What's the secret? You won't know which of the four Couples Resorts in Jamaica you'll be staying until a week before your departure. You might be at Couples Ocho Rios, Couples Sans Souci, Couples Negril or Couples Swept Away.

Price: The price for the Secret Rendezvous is $175 per person, per night with a three-night minimum.

For More Information:
• call 1-800-COUPLES

Labels: Negril, Ocho Rios

posted by Paris & John @ 3:35 PM

POTD: Breezes Runaway Bay Resort & Golf Club

Breezes Runaway Bay Resort & Golf Club was renovated and reopened in early 2007; this new block of rooms contains some of the most upscale of the accommodations at the all-inclusive including rooms with private hot tubs. This room block is located on what was formerly the clothing-optional beach; one that today requires a bathing suit.

Labels: Runaway Bay

posted by Paris & John @ 5:38 PM

Rondel Village Offering Wedding Package

Thinking about starting the new year as husband and wife? If you're looking for a destination wedding package, Rondel Village in Negril offers a comprehensive wedding package for couples between January 7 and 23, 2008.

Price: Priced from US$625.

The Package: The package includes:

• the services of a marriage officer
• cost of a marriage license; a bouquet for the bride
• a boutonnière for the groom
• a bottle of Champagne
• a one-layer Jamaican wedding cake
• an elegantly decorated beachside setting
• the services of a wedding photographer

Honeymoon Package: Also offered at Rondel Village is a special honeymoon package that includes a tropical fruit basket; a bouquet of flowers in the villa or room upon arrival; breakfast in bed one morning; nightly turndown service; and a bottle of Champagne. This package is priced at US$155.

For More Information:
• visit www.RondelVillage.com

Labels: Negril

posted by Paris & John @ 3:46 PM

POTD: Chenille Plant

The chenille plant (sometimes known as the red-hot cat tail) grows throughout Jamaica and its fuzzy, long blooms are often used to spell out the letters of a bride's and groom's names on resort wedding reception tables.

Labels: Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 3:20 PM

POTD: Roaring Pavilion Villa & Spa

If you ever wonder how the rich and famous travel in Jamaica, the answer is often villa vacations. The Ocho Rios area is home to some of the most luxurious villas on the island including this one, Roaring Pavilion, located just west of town. The four-bedroom Roaring Pavilion Villa and Spa has plenty of indoor-outdoor living and dining areas, a pool, a private beach (the beach that was made legendary when Ursula Andress comes out of the sea in Dr. No), and its own on-site spa. Guests here have ranged from Celine Dion to Jack Nicholson to Tom Cruise.

Labels: Ocho Rios, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 12:09 PM

Half Moon Offers Large Family Package

Planning a winter vacation for a large family? Here's an interesting package we received: Half Moon will be offering a Winter Escape Package for groups of 8 to 14 guests.

Dates: The Winter Escape package starts on January 5, 2008.

The Package: Groups of eight to 14 people staying a minimum of five nights in villa accommodations enjoy credits of US$1,000 for a five-bedroom villa and US$1,400 for a seven-bedroom villa. The package includes daily breakfast and round-trip airport transfers. Guests have a choice of water, waterfront or garden views villas.

For More Information:
• visit www.halfmoon.com

Labels: Montego Bay

posted by Paris & John @ 12:01 PM

POTD: Irish Moss Stand, Alligator Pond

The drink Irish Moss, popular as an aphrodisiac across Jamaica,is sold at this colorful stand near Alligator Pond on the island's south coast.

Labels: Photo of the Day, South Coast

posted by Paris & John @ 8:07 PM

POTD: Air Margaritaville

If you haven't been to Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport in a couple of years, you'll find that it is home to a new terminal filled with shops and restaurants, including Air Margaritaville. Part of the popular Jimmy Buffet chain which includes locations in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, and Negril, the restaurant serves burgers (yes, the famous Cheeseburger in Paradise) plus some island items like jerk chicken and conch fritters.

Labels: Montego Bay, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 8:28 PM

POTD: Lighthouse at Sunset Jamaica Grande, Ocho Rios

Sunset Jamaica Grande, which has the largest meeting space in Jamaica but is also a very popular leisure hotel with families, opened its new lighthouse slide this year. The lighthouse makes a striking landmark when you're out on the water; we took a catamaran cruise and enjoyed the sight of the lighthouse from some distance away.

Labels: Ocho Rios, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 1:48 PM

POTD: Captain Crazy Leads Tour at Nine Mile

A jovial tour guide known as "Captain Crazy" leads a tour of the home where Bob Marley was born. Located at Nine Mile, the Bob Marley Centre and Mausoleum is a day tour from Ocho Rios.

Labels: Ocho Rios, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 7:40 AM

POTD: Blue Hole near Mafoota

Tucked on a quiet country road that turns east just south of Anchovy and head to the agricultural community of Mafoota, Blue Hole is just that...very blue. This natural spring provides drinking water for the area's communities and is a serene stop rarely visited by tourists.

Labels: Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 10:28 AM

Win a Personalized Jamaica Romance Novel!

It's time for a new contest here at JamaicaTripper.com! One lucky winner will receive a copy of Jamaica Rendezvous ($49.95 value), a romance novel set at Couples Ocho Rios. This is no ordinary romance novel, though; this is a personalized novel from YourNovel.com! The winner will complete an online survey with details about you and yours--from eye color to pet names--and the two of you will actually star in the novel! See our contest page for all the details.

And congratulations to Pat in Portola Valley, California, the winner of our previous contest!

Labels: JamaicaTripper news

posted by Paris & John @ 9:27 AM

Couples Resorts Now Offering RSS Feed

We love RSS feeds; this Really Simple Syndication makes it easy for us to keep up with our favorite sites without filling up our email in box. We have RSS feeds for all of our websites including one for JamaicaTripper.com...and we're happy to see that Couples Resorts is now offering one for its site!

Couples Resorts' RSS feed will automatically update as soon as new offers or hotel news is added to the website. "We want to provide our guests with the latest hotel news and at the same time keep up with emerging technology. It's so much more efficient than going to get it, or getting unwanted emails," stated Randy Russell, chief romance officer and senior vice president of sales & marketing. "Let's say that you want only the latest news about Couples Resorts. Using RSS, multiple websites will deliver that news right to your desktop, suitable for reading and printing."

The RSS feeds for all four resorts will be served by Travelscream Technologies. To subscribe to Couples RSS feeds - go to http://landing.travelscream.com/couples/couples.html.

Labels: Negril, Ocho Rios

posted by Paris & John @ 9:20 AM

POTD: Kling Kling

Locally known as the Kling Kling, this shiny bird is actually the Greater Antillean Grackle. Don't worry about trying to seek out this bird...he'll find you! Look for this yellow eyed bird at breakfast; he has an incredible sweet tooth and comes looking for sugar packets (even if it is Sweet 'n Low) and pastries.

Labels: Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 4:18 PM

POTD: Couples Sans Souci Pool

Visitors enjoy the seaview pool at Couples Sans Souci, one of four Couples Resorts in Jamaica.

Labels: Ocho Rios, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 3:08 PM

POTD: Pirate's Lookout, Firefly

This building was once a pirate's lookout used by Captain Henry Morgan, the pirate who later became Sir Henry Morgan, governor of Jamaica. Its thick walls contain gun slots pointed at the sea and a getaway tunnel leads to Port Maria. Today the building serves as a small pub at Firefly (Noel Coward's former home).

Labels: Ocho Rios, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 8:49 PM

POTD: Jerk Stands at Boston Beach

Boston Beach near Port Antonio is known throughout Jamaica as THE place to go for jerk. The eateries are simple with carry-out and some seating; expect to pay just a few dollars for a meal. At most of the jerk stands, you'll walk right up to the pit and order by weight.

Labels: Photo of the Day, Port Antonio

posted by Paris & John @ 3:28 PM

POTD: Sunken Garden at Goldeneye

This sunken garden sits between the sea and the Ian Fleming Villa at Goldeneye, located near Oracabessa. Beneath these twin almond trees, the writer of the James Bond series liked to have his meals; today guests at the villa can enjoy dinner beneath these trees as well.

Labels: Ocho Rios, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 2:36 PM

POTD: Negril Sunset

No where in Jamaica will you find a better sunset view than in Negril.

Labels: Negril, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 2:35 PM

Mentor Program Launched by Sandals, Beaches Resorts

Photo above: Gerald Christ, general manager of Beaches Boscobel, chats with Shanice Jones, student of Ion High School at the launch of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts mentorship program.

On October 30, 2007, Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts formally announced plans to sponsor a year-long mentorship program for 100 students from six different schools in the St. Ann and St. Mary parishes of Jamaica. The program, which was launched with the support of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), will pair each student with a member of the Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts staff, including managers and supervisors.

“Simply put, the youth are our future,” Gerald Christ, general manager of Beaches Boscobel, said. “As the future leaders of Jamaica, we must continue to provide them with the necessary tools, opportunities and character-building exercises to excel. The goal of this program is to establish a big brother, big sister network so students can receive positive one-on-one mentoring, otherwise difficult to achieve in a large classroom setting.”

As part of the program, students will meet with their mentors on a monthly basis and participate in activities such as education-based field trips, use of Beaches Resorts’ Kids Camp facilities and academic counseling.

Labels: tourism

posted by Paris & John @ 9:19 AM

POTD: The Guys from Scotchies Too

The men behind the fiery jerk pits at Scotchies Too in Ocho Rios take a moment out of their busy dinner rush to pose for a photo at one of the open-air jerk pits.

Labels: Ocho Rios, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 9:15 AM

Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival Announces Lineup

Scheduled for January 24-26, 2008 at the Aqueduct at Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival has announced its lineup. Headliner Diana Ross, dubbed the ‘female entertainer of the century’ by Billboard magazine, will be joined by eight-time Grammy singer Anita Baker, Trinidad-born Billy Ocean; and reggae great, Beres Hammond.

“This is perhaps the best lineup that I have heard of in recent times,” commented Minister of Tourism, Ed Bartlett.

“This event is magical,” stated Executive Producer of the Festival, Walter Elmore. “The audience is the biggest heart of the magic. And the artists give back with a performance that they just don’t do anywhere else.”

Called the ‘Art Of Music,’ the festival is a three-day musical event that welcomes 40,000 guests each year. It has become the showcase for music on two stages, Jamaican and international cuisine and an overall great time.

Previous Performers: The Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, since its introduction in 1986, has attracted thousands of patrons from the USA, Europe, the Caribbean and Jamaica. International artistes that have performed at the festival include Alicia Keys, Kenny Rogers, Norah Jones, Julio Iglesias, Roberta Flack, Lou Rawls, Dionne Warwick, India Arie, Nancy Wilson, Earth Wind and Fire, Kenny G., Michael McDonald, Gladys Knight, Kool & the Gang, Al Jarreau, Branford Marsalis, Brian McKnight Harry Belafonte, Babyface, Stephanie Mills, George Benson, Erykah Badu, Gladys Knight, Michael Bolton, and many more. And to bring the Jamaican flavor well known names such as Ziggy Marley, Morgan Heritage, Third World, Toots Hibbert, Shaggy, Sean Paul Maxi Priest, Beres Hammond, Monty Alexander, Ritchie Stephens and many other Jamaican talents have made their mark on the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues stage.
For more information:

• visit AirJamaicajazzandblues.com

Labels: festivals, Montego Bay

posted by Paris & John @ 1:09 PM

POTD: "Casino" Night at Sandals Dunn's River

As a local benefit, Sandals Dunn's River recently hosted a "casino" night for guests with games out on the pavilion. We found that any evening here, though, is a nice night out on the pavilion; the resort also offers nightly shows.

Labels: Ocho Rios, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 1:19 PM

Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival Honored by NYC

Jamaican-American New York City Council Member Leroy Comrie (right) reads the proclamation from the City of New York honoring the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival for its outstanding contribution. The occasion was the kick-off launch event for the 2008 Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in New York City on Thursday, November 1, 2007. The national airline, Air Jamaica, as a title sponsor has lent its name to the event since its inception more than a decade ago. On hand to accept the award is Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett (third right), Joy Schaaffe, Director of Marketing, Air Jamaica and Walter Elmore of Turnkey Productions, organizers of the Festival.

Photo credit: Bill Cancelare

Labels: festivals

posted by Paris & John @ 11:15 AM

Rose Hall Resort & Country Club Unveiling November 15

After a US$35 million renovation, Rose Hall Resort & Country Club (formerly Wyndham Rose Hall) will unveil its new look on November 15. The property has added a gourmet bistro overlooking the sea, a Zen style spa, renovated its meeting facilities, and given its guest rooms and public areas a stylish, modern look with a Caribbean feel.

For More Information:
• visit www.rosehallresort.com/

Labels: Montego Bay

posted by Paris & John @ 1:13 PM

POTD: Hedonism II's Moon Hill

Hedonism II's "Moon Hill" is deserted in this photo but, when groups check out and head off to make the bus ride back to the Montego Bay, expect to see guests out here saying goodbye in Hedonism style..."mooning" their departing friends.

Labels: Negril, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 9:50 AM

POTD: Fortlands Road, Discovery Bay

West of Ocho Rios, the community of Discovery Bay is home to some of the island's top villas. These properties, many of them located on Fortlands Road, offer families or multiple couples a home away from home atmosphere with a complete staff to prepare the meals you select, private pools, private beaches, and more.

Labels: Ocho Rios, Photo of the Day

posted by Paris & John @ 9:10 AM