Hello loves and Happy New Year! My year is off to a great and relaxing start. Although I’ll be heading back to work tomorrow, I’m all refreshed after just getting back from Jamaica. I wasted no time getting started on some of my 2019 travel goals and I’m here to bring you all the details about my trip. Overall I had a great time. Here are some things to consider if you’re ever planning a trip to Jamaica:

Which city should you visit?

When planning a vacation to Jamaica, it seems that everyone first has to decide what city they actually want to stay in. There are two major options that most first time tourists consider: Montego Bay and Negril. Outside of that you may consider Ocho Rios or Kingston. Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, is more of an urban epicenter than a beach town so we easily ruled that out. While Ocho Rios has some popular attractions like Dunn’s River Falls, we knew it wasn’t going to be where our trip would be based. If anything, it would probably be better suited for a day trip.

There are plenty of resources on making the Negril vs. Montego Bay decision but ultimately for us it was about convenience and maximizing time. Montego Bay hosts the main airport. We flew directly into the city and when it was time to leave there was no hassle about getting to the airport. On top of that, Montego Bay has a lot more to do while Negril’s main attraction is the beach. Whatever city you decide, it could be worth it to take a day trip to your second option out of the four cities.

Where should you stay?

Bottom line: stay at a resort. Of course if you’re familiar with the country of you have family there, your case may be different. We decided to stay at an airbnb because of the lower cost. The time of year we chose to travel was especially expensive so an airbnb seemed like the only financially feasible option. The owner of the first airbnb we booked cancelled our reservation about a month before the trip. Luckily we were able to find a couple of other options for an airbnb. When the first few members of my group arrived a day before everyone else, they arrived to discover that our reserved airbnb was not in the condition as promised on the website. The host was still present on the property occupying one of the rooms meant for the guests. The bathrooms and kitchens was extremely dirty, and overall it just could not be the place that we stayed. Ultimately we were able to switch to another airbnb option that turned out to be fine, but I think the extra cost of a resort is worth the comfort of knowing you’re getting what you paid for. If you do choose to stay at a resort or hotel, be sure to get out into the city instead of staying there the entire time.

How should you get around?

Public transportation isn’t that reliable in Jamaica, especially if you do decide to stay at an airbnb. Uber is not available in Montego Bay, so that leaves two options: hire a taxi driver or rent a car. Renting a car will most likely be a cheaper option and luckily there was on guy in the group who was willing to drive. But listen, keep in mind that driving in Jamaica is done on the left (driver sits on the right side) and drivers in Jamaica are WILD! You really have to be confident in your skills as a driver because you’ll be dealing with high speeds, steep and small winding roads, and drivers angry at you if you can’t keep up. If it doesn’t sound like you can handle this, hire a taxi driver.

What do you need to bring?

There are very few things I would say you absolutely NEED to bring. In terms of clothing and swimsuits that’s entirely up to you. Maybe you want to bring portable speakers if you’d like to have music in your hotel room or airbnb. Most importantly, I’d say you need bug spray and sun screen. It’s a tropical island and the sun was beaming down on us, even in January. Protect your skin from the sun and from bugs! Also, you don’t need to exchange your money into Jamaican dollars. Most, if not all, major tourist destinations will have U.S. dollars. Just be sure to bring some cash and have it broken down into smaller bills so your life is easier!

What should you do for fun? 

You could always lay on the beach all day but that was never enough for me. Ever since I did it on my trip to Cuba, horseback riding is something that I love to do in a city that offers it. We took a day trip to Negril and rode some horses through land and water! It was amazing. On the same day trip we also stopped by Rick’s Cafe and Seven Mile Beach. There we stopped by Margaritaville and had an amazing time. The DJ played a bunch afrobeats once we told him most of us were Nigerian and we just danced until sunset. Moral of the story: you can set the pace for the environment and the experience is what you make of it. Back in Montego Bay we made plans to visit the beach, get a day pass to an all inclusive resort, and go ATV riding and zip-lining. Pier One is a popular nightlife option that almost every local recommended to us. For food we stopped by places like Scotchies, Peppa’s and Tastee at the airport which had some amazing beef and veggie patties.  Be sure to grab some before you flight out of Montego Bay!

Final Thoughts! 

Those are all the major details worth sharing about my trip. If you’re considering going, I’d highly suggest getting out of your resort and experiencing some of the culture. It’s definitely worth it: with good food, good, music, and good vibes, you’ll be sure to have an amazing time!

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” Jeremiah 29:13

#EniGivenSunday