High on life in Jamaica
High on life in Jamaica.
How difficult is it to choose the perfect holiday destination on a scale of 1 outta 10? If you also think that answer is 100, read our experience of the beautiful country of Jamaica. It has nature, music, great food and amazing vibes. Jah man.
So last summer the BF (T) and me waited until the last minute to book a vacation. We didn’t know where to go, just that we wanted a beautiful resort with lots of food options, adult only (enjoy while you can!) and a gorgeous country with lots of nature.
So I started roaming the Internet, as the “Tina Travel Agent” I am and finally stumbled upon a destination: Jamaica.
2,944 Likes, 19 Comments - ＴＩＭＯＲ ＳＴＥＦＦＥＮＳ (@timorworld) on Instagram: "🇯🇲🌴☀️"
The flight from Amsterdam to the Donald Sangster Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica, took about 11 hours. Which sounds pretty long, but with unlimited champaign, snacks and movies we managed.. Also, by coincidence and as a total surprise our friend (Jandino) and his family were sitting in the seats next to us, so that made the flight even more fun.
What immediately caught my attention the moment that we landed in Jamaica, is that everyone (even the border security and passport control) was so friendly! Whereas for example in LA, people treat you like you just ate the last piece of their favorite food (or worse!).
So after we got the best tips about food (jerk chicken!) and sight seeing, we went to the hotel in our transfer. We really vibed with the driver over dancehall music and I think he wasn’t used to tourists actually knowing the artists.
“Where I’m the one that usually likes to sunbathe, swim and read almost all day, T likes to connect with other people, play teamsports and explore all the activities a bit more.”
3,375 Likes, 29 Comments - Z O E Y I V O R Y (@zoeyivory) on Instagram: "Magical places 🌊✨ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Photo taken #withgalaxy @samsungnederland #dowhatyoucant #galaxys9plus..."
Our room in hotel ‘Secrets Wild Orchid’ was nice and big, with a jacuzzi that I loved. Every day and every night there were lots of activities planned. From water and beach volleyball, to games and shows. There was not a single moment left for boredom.
Where I’m the one that usually likes to sunbathe, swim and read almost all day, T likes to connect with other people, play teamsports and explore all the activities a bit more, which is also good for me and my big ol’ comfort zone. Where as I try to give T some more rest and peace, it is vacation after all. BALANCE.
We did lots of activities on the resort such as a nature walk, learning how to sail a catamaran (we wanted to go paddle boarding every day, but the sea was too wild..Boo!) and we even went searching for the little tree frogs you hear as soon as the evening falls. But that was just our own weirdo move, we just like animals.
We also booked a few excursions, through the hotel – but also with Trip Advisor, check beforehand what is cheaper! We are people that love to see more than just the hotel, so I think we almost booked every excursion available.
4,239 Likes, 39 Comments - Z O E Y I V O R Y (@zoeyivory) on Instagram: "Happy child in a beautiful waterfall 🙌🏼👧🏽 Wonders of nature 🕊 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ #waterfall #nature..."
5,486 Likes, 81 Comments - ＴＩＭＯＲ ＳＴＥＦＦＥＮＳ (@timorworld) on Instagram: "ᴅᴏᴇs ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅ sᴀᴠɪɴɢ? 😋🤣 . . . #baywatch #lifeguard #beachready #summervibes"
A trip to Margaritaville where we enjoyed the food and drinks, where I got my hair braided and where we got on a party catamaran to Rick’s Cafe (where T jumped off a 30 feet/10 meter cliff!)
A trip to the Appleton Estate Rum Factory (I don’t really like rum and got car sick on the way there, but thought the history was really interesting and loooved to taste the Jamaican sugar canes), a tour on the Black River where you go on a boat and see beautiful nature and crocodiles, and a visit to the YS Falls. It started to storm when we were out there in the waterfall, which was kinda scary and not really safe with the lightning and all.. So our visit was cut short. But we still had an amazing experience (SAFETY FIRST! You get a personal guide, that guides you through the fall and even takes pictures of you and he immediately said we had to get out. So you better tip the man!).
And a trip on a catamaran with lots of snorkling in combination with a visit to Dunn’s River Falls, which is at about 180 feet (55 m) high and 600 feet (180 m) long, so you have to climb together hand in hand with a bunch of people you don’t know. I was the last one of the chain until a girl, I think maybe 14 or 16 years old grabbed my hand and was scared of everything.
She really clung on me and I felt like I had to carry her through the whole climb, which I almost did until we quickly seperated ourselves from the group (but be really careful in the falls when you do that). We also took our own pictures with our waterproof Samsungs (huge tip: bring a waterproof case or a trustworthy waterproof phone with you, or else you won’t have any pictures of your trip to Dunns).
7,913 Likes, 54 Comments - ＴＩＭＯＲ ＳＴＥＦＦＥＮＳ (@timorworld) on Instagram: "ᴡᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴀ ʀɪᴠᴇʀ ғᴜʟʟ ᴏғ ᴄʀᴏᴄᴅɪʟᴇs.....ʙʀᴀᴠᴇ? ᴏʀ sᴛᴜᴘɪᴅ? ᴏʀ ʙᴏᴛʜ?🤣 #jamaicanadventures..."
2,782 Likes, 31 Comments - Z O E Y I V O R Y (@zoeyivory) on Instagram: "It was SO cold, it was raining like crazy! 🌧 After this picture was taken, it even started storming..."
We also wanted to see the nightlife, I’m a huuuge dancehall fan and we both love dancing (lol obviously), so we went to Margaritaville in Montego Bay on Ladies Night.
I honestly loved the nightlife, with everyone dancing, grinding, daggering and doing choreos.
In short, we had an amazing holiday. The weather, the food, the vibes, everything was right.
Would you love to visit Jamaica as well? Let me know in the comments! ✿
1,651 Likes, 14 Comments - Z O E Y I V O R Y (@zoeyivory) on Instagram: "💦🐱 (If you watched my IG story, you know what this drink is called 😜)"