The Caribbean has always been a good starting point destination for Three Girls and the Globe. Surprisingly, this is the first time that I (Jessica) have been to Jamaica, despite my Jamaican heritage. Being the birthplace of my Grandmother, who recently passed away, the aim of the trip was to visit family, explore the island, relax and catch the sun for the 10 days I was there. Jamaica is now one of my favourite destinations, and here are my tips on what to see and do when on the island!
Where To Stay
We mainly based ourselves in Montego Bay, staying at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa a 4* All Inclusive. Montego Bay is a great location, with its international airport and regular flights to the UK, you have easy access to the rest of the island and it’s close to some of the key tourist attractions. As we were visiting family we also spent a few nights in Kingston, I would advise splitting your trip so that you get to see more of the island.
Must See
Dunns River Falls
Jamaica’s most famous attraction doesn’t fail to impress, the best way to see Dunns River Falls is on a private tour otherwise you are in a massive group and it can be tricky to take the pictures that you want. We hired a car and organised everything on arrival which was super simple, that way you can do everything in your own time. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from Mo Bay and make sure you invest in some water shoes, you can buy them in the park, and they are pretty cute! The tour starts at the bottom of the falls on a pretty beach, if you opt for a private tour you get to choose if you want to take the easy or difficult routes and you can avoid the long chains of group tours. Once you have completed the climb you can head back to the beach to chill, or do a bit of shopping in the market.
Rafting down the Rio Grande
Rio Grande, used to be a key tourist attraction, but has been struggling recently with tourists opting for the less impressive but easier to get to Black River. For those that want to get out and explore the journey is definitely worth the drive. When you arrive you will be given 2 options; one, start from where you park, go up the river ½ way then head back down, this takes approx. 1 hour. Option two, get a cab with your Captain, start at the top and raft all the way down approx. 2.5 hours. We opted for option two, it’s such a relaxing experience that the time flies by. Along the route you can stop for food and drinks from locals, who carry the produce from the villages in the mountains on foot for 1.5 hours everyday. If you are feeling brave have a go at rafting, it makes you appreciate that it’s a lot harder than it looks!
Croydon in the Mountains
This beautiful coffee and Pinapple plantation set way up in the hills is a million miles from South London’s Croydon! From pineapples to akee, all of the tropical fruit and veg can be seen in this idyllic setting. Getting to Croydon in the Mountains is all part of the experience, the worst thing you can do in Jamaica is stay in your resort!
Bob Marley Museum
Based in Kingston, we were lucky enough to be staying a couple of streets away from Reggae Royalty’s museum. If you are staying in Mo Bay, Kingston is quite a trek, but t’s worth splitting your visit, Kingston is a very different vibe but I loved it. The Bob Marley museum is set in Bob Marley’s old house, and really immerses you in the life & loves of Bob Marley. The guides are extremely knowledgeable and their passion for the subject is infectious! We didn’t plan our trip, we just turned up one afternoon, sessions are happening all the time, so you really don’t need to organise too much.
Ricks Café
Famous for cliff diving, Ricks Café is the perfect spot to watch the sunset, with the sounds of live reggae and waves in the background whilst sipping a cocktail, what more could a girl want? The perfect spot for early evening, if you are feeling really brave you can get involved with the cliff diving.
Harbour Street Market
Set in the heart of Montego Bay, Harbour Street Market is perfect for everyone who loves a souvenir. This market has everything that you can think of! Prices start high, so you need to be in the mood to haggle. Make sure that you have enough time here as everyone wants you to visit their shop, so have a think about what you want to buy before you head in otherwise you will be there all day.
Drink lots of Rum
Sounds obvious, but I don’t mean drinking rum by the pool in your resort. Go up in the hills and stop at the shack bars, everyone is so friendly you will be there for hours this is when you don’t want to drive! Wray Nephew is my favourite rum, if you find it strong drink it with Ting for a totally tropical taste! If you are planning to bring back rum (you should) they package it up really well in the airport so no need to pre-plan that shopping trip.
Party in Kingston
Notorious for being a dangerous city, preconceptions would tell you this is not the place to party, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. If you want to stick to Tourist style bars, check out Usain Bolts Tracks & Records, good for an early dinner and pre-party drinks. We ended up in Escape where the owner was having a birthday party. It was such a friendly and inclusive vibe, making it easy to stay on the dance floor till sunrise.
The key tip for visiting JA is don’t stay in, as beautiful as the resorts are every hour that you spend there you are missing out on fun. Get out and explore, eat street food and Juici patties, drink fresh coconut water and get social – everyone has a story to tell. Hiring a car is really helpful, but you need someone who has Lewis Hamilton driving skills though, the roads and the other drivers are crazy!