Just 6 weeks ago, I traveled to “Jamaica One Love” for a Destination Wedding Symposium at the new Moon Palace Grande Jamaica in Ocho Rios. This by itself was very exciting, but then we would be doing site visits at 15 resorts in Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios! How could we ever cover that much ground? It took stamina and an “I can do it” attitude for Jamaica One Love!
Negril lived up to it’s “best beach” reputation, no doubt about it. I was fortunate to choose two of the best…and on the “best” beaches…Sandals Negril, adults only, and Beaches Negril, a family property. Sandals Negril was wonderful to return to again. Ten years ago, I attended my son & daughter-in-law’s wedding on this very same property! It was just as beautiful as I remembered it! Sandals Negril could best be described as “a little bit exotic and a whole lot of chic. It epitomizes the free spirited personality that has long made Negril the exotic playground of choice for fun-loving pleasure seekers. You can get closer to the water than anywhere else in Negril.”* This is a Quick glance video of the features of Sandals Negril – Sandals Negril video
- on the longest stretch of Negril’s seven mile beach
- unlimited premium brand drinks
- every room just steps from the beach * unlimited fine dining at 7 restaurants
- beachfront walkout club level rooms * unlimited land and water sports
- swim-up suites * free WiFi in all rooms and public areas
- 24 hour room service * free Non-stop airport transfers
- nightly entertainment
Beaches Negril is perfect for families of all sizes and ages. We arrived just in time for lunch and found so many delicious options to please even the pickiest of eaters. Negril embodies the ultimate relaxed lifestyle, “laid back” was invented here. The resort is a spot so in-tune with nature, that it’s tallest building cannot reach higher than the tallest palm tree.* Again, you are located on the widest stretch of the Negril’s 7 mile famous beach. Everything you could possibly want is right next to the water here. Not only the beautiful Caribbean water beckons you, but a waterpark, fabulous pools, restaurants, and bars, all seek your family’s attention. And, here’s a Quick glance of the features of Beaches Negril:
- 20 acres of lushly landscaped gardens * Pirates Island Waterpark
- 3 pools with 2 swim-up bars * 9 specialty restaurants
- Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street * Trench Town Teens only game room
- Liquid at Beaches Nightclub * Scuba program
- Supervised kids camp * Xbox play lounge
- Scratch DJ Academy * Thrilling family adventure and excitement
Other resorts that I visited and completed site visits (ask me about these): Couples Swept Away, Couples Negril, and Sunset at the Palms.
Next up? Montego Bay! Are you looking for an all-inclusive luxury family, or adults only luxury resort? The Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara are vacation destinations with oceanfront dining and a pristine beach on the Caribbean Sea! Find both the Hyatt Ziva (for families) and the Hyatt Zilara (for adults only), right on the same Hyatt property. The Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall just completed a multi-million -dollar renovation, and it is apparent! The property itself, is fabulous with all the amenities and comforts that a seasoned traveler could want. And if it isn’t here, no worries, the Hyatt will take care of it for you. This is a story that a guest (I’ll call him John, and his little boy will be Jack) at the Hyatt related to me during lunch. John brought his family to vacation at the Hyatt Ziva because he believed that with all of the goats in Jamaica, he would be able to obtain goat’s milk for his son, that required this for his diet. After he arrived, to his horror, he discovered that yes, the island has goats, but the government doesn’t allow the use goat milk on the island. So now what would he do? He contacted management, and they immediately sprung into action. Management contacted a firm in Miami that sold and distributed goat’s milk. It was flown to the Hyatt in Jamaica, so that Jack could have the goat’s milk his diet required. Amazing!
Other properties that I absolutely recommend in Montego Bay are: Royalton White Sands, Secrets St. James, Secrets Wild Orchid, and the Iberostar Grand. In Ochos Rios, the properties included Couples Tower Isle and Jewel Paradise Cove. I’ll be glad to share information about them with you.
Lastly, we traveled to Ocho Rios for the Destination Weddings Symposium and more site visits. Do you think I’m worn out yet? No way! We arrived at the new Jamaica Grande Moon Palace for the remainder of our stay. This resort is only 5 minutes from downtown Ocho Rios, sits in a beautiful bay, and straddles the Caribbean Sea on one side. It’s the best of both worlds to have a quiet bay to play in kayaks, sun-fish, snorkel, etc., and then have access to the ocean right next to the resort. The resort’s luxurious accommodations and breathtaking views can happen from 705 rooms and suites, that feature 24 hour room service, free WiFi access, top-shelf drinks, and unlimited other amenities and features. Your benefits don’t stop there! Up to $1500 in resort credits are part of the benefits for guests. These credits can be used for spa, excursions & tours, private romantic dinners, and more. These credits vary in accordance with the length of a guest’s stay and are subject to a 16% service fee on all products and services. How much of a good thing can you handle?
Jamaica offers so many tours and excursions that make it your “Jamaica one Love”. Dunn’s River Falls, bob sledding, river rafting, zip lining, shopping, swimming, snorkeling, dolphin swims, Mystic Mountain, Rick’s Cafe, and catamaran sunset tours are just a few of the exciting adventures that await you!
After all of this, do you think that Jamaica could become your “Jamaica One Love”?
Susan
*excerpt taken & quoted from Sandals.com and Beaches.com*
Now, this is Ricardo Mora, regional sales & marketing manager for Karisma properties. The Complimentary Destination Wedding is a valuable opportunity for Wedding couples at Karisma properties of El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Seaside Suites, El Dorado Maroma, Generations, Azul Sensatori, Azul Fives, and Azul Beach. There are many options that a couple can choose, such as ceremony decorations and reception location. Signature services, such as wedding guest concierge, a groom’s room with the wedding bites on the day of the wedding, and a Personalized Wedding website and Honeymoon gift registry, are other options available. 
Tracy Schwerin, Wedding Business Development Manager for Couples Resorts in the USA and Canada, also spoke to me about this topic. She said the free Wedding is definitely worth it, at Couples Resorts in Jamaica. The Bride and Groom receive everything they need for their Wedding Day…flowers, cake, and champagne at the ceremony location. It is designed to be perfect for the happy couple. Couples Resorts has more than 40 years experience in designing Weddings for our guests , and the Complimentary services we provide would cost thousands of dollars in the United States.