My wife and I usually go on cruises twice a year. With the current restrictions we have not been able to cruise since February 2020 and don't see this changing any time soon.

With that said we have been kicking around the idea of an all inclusive vacation in Jamaica.
We have been to Jamaica several times however it was while we were on cruises.
We have never done an all inclusive vacation and are looking to try something new.

I am looking for recommendations in the northern part of the Island between the Montego Bay area and Ocho Rios area. The time we are looking to go would be more toward the end of the year, not sure if that matters.

Any recommendations will help.

Thanks

Not cheap. The caves. Amazing place.

Go to a French, American, or Brit island. St. John is fine, or St. Thomas. St. Barts was awesome before the hurricane.

Or go to Puerto Rico which has everything you might want - beach resorts, rain forest canopy tours, old military forts, night life, awesome food, etc.

I will not go to a 3rd world shithole with high crime off-resort just because it has a nice beach.

Not now that all the shithole dwellers are emboldened...

We haven't been to Jamaica, but we've been to all inclusive resorts on St Lucia and Barbados. Both times we stayed at Sandals resorts. They are expensive, but they really treat you well.

Sorry, no experience with resorts in those locations but I honeymooned in Negril (1999) at an adults only (not Hedonism) all-inclusive that was very nice.

quote:

Originally posted by tk13:
We haven't been to Jamaica, but we've been to all inclusive resorts on St Lucia and Barbados. Both times we stayed at Sandals resorts. They are expensive, but they really treat you well.

It has been *years*, but Sandals was great. Went to Negril for honeymoon, Saint Lucia another trip, and somewhere else (Mo Bay?) on another trip. Did a day trip to Ocho Rios on one of the trips.

Only thing to be careful of is don’t go for too long, or be really careful going out for a while after. Having a great meal with drinks, then saying, “Thanks.” and getting up and leaving could get to be a habit and that probably wouldn’t play well in restaurants at home…

I rented a car and drove from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios. This was in the last century. There was barbed wire around the resort which was quite nice. Everytime we left the resort we were hassled about seeing Bob Marley's grave or buying ganga. That was unpleasant. Saint Johns is much nicer. My wife would not go back to Jamaica even it were with all expenses paid.

We went to Sandals in Negril and it was excellent but that was awhile ago.

I think quite a few of the individuals responding would be well served to think about the last time they went to Jamaica/other resorts. If it’s not in the last few years, please don’t give a recommendation.

At best, your information is dated, and very likely it could be downright dangerous. For reference, in 1999 the world was a much different place…

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...720002964#6720002964

quote:

I think quite a few of the individuals responding would be well served to think about the last time they went to Jamaica/other resorts. If it’s not in the last few years, please don’t give a recommendation.

^^^^^^^^^^
My reccomendation from the last century is still applicable. The situation has only gotten WORSE.

Little Dix Bay, is an upscale resort. It has plenty to do.

2 to 3K per person 5/4.

You never have to leave the place.

I have not been anywhere post-pandemic but this is one place I would not worry about if it is open.

It is on Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda.

Used to be a Rockefeller Resort nature preserve.
they sold it off and I think it has been sold again.

Always rated one of the top resorts in the BVI.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yep been there and Caneel Bay. First class, nice and relaxed. Very safe.

My wife and I spent out honeymoon at Couples Negril on the west side, and it was fantastic.
They have 2 resorts on the north side as well, but the beaches arent as nice as Negril/Bloody Bay. Consider looking at Negril- its only an hour shuttle ride from Montego Bay airport.

Thanks everyone for the ideas.
The reason we are interested in Jamaica, over they years going on cruises we have made friends with a gentleman who runs a store that is an AD for several watch brands and they also sell jewelry.
In the past he has invited us to come to Jamaica and stay with him and his family. It is a very nice gesture however my wife and I do not want to impose on him for a week.
Our thought would be to make plans to stay at a resort first then tell him we are coming.

You want to buy a watch or jewelry in Jamaica? Are you an expert at spotting fakes? Why would you trust a 3rd world salesman that wants your money? Because he seems like an honest guy? New flash, he is not honest, he wants to take as much of your money as possible, and you should not trust him, period.

If not you may spend a fortune on a fake that is worth a fraction of the real thing. And there are many fakes that are very convincing unless you know what you are doing.

There is a reason well-monied Chinese go to the US west coast to buy luxury goods. All the high end shop have Mandarin speakers. They simply cannot trust the authenticity of shops in China, nor do they want to pay the cost of import taxes.

Sandals has completely redone the Montgomery Bay resort, it’s beautiful and minutes from the airport. Like over the wall from the runways, but after a few hours you don’t really notice, and unlike a lot of airports, no late night or early morning flights. It is a party resort, lots of young couples.

We haven’t been to Royal Caribbean in many years, so I can’t say what condition it is currently in.

The Sandals Ochi resort (near Ocho Rios) is big, really two resorts. The beachside is the lower priced, younger oriented resort, while the hilltop is the upscale, more mature part of the resort. Shuttles back and forth from morning to past midnight.

Next door is Sandals Royal Plantation, a resort so quiet we nicknamed it “The Library”. Luckily there is a shuttle to Ochi.

We have been to all the above resorts (except Royal Caribbean) in the time of Covid, since we couldn’t go to Europe or Asia. My wife really likes Sandals, and since she is still working at a high stress job, I defer to her until she retires.

Good food, good drinks, high end liquors if you bother to ask the bartender, Red Stripe beer (if you like that crap). Daytime activities arranged by the Playmakers, or you can veg by the pool / beach. Nighttime entertain varies in quality, but it is mostly quite good. Bar service is a little slow, but not bad for the islands. Make sure you go to the piano sing a long, karaoke night and the couples game (think the old Newlywed game, but more fun).

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
You want to buy a watch or jewelry in Jamaica? Are you an expert at spotting fakes? Why would you trust a 3rd world salesman that wants your money? Because he seems like an honest guy? New flash, he is not honest, he wants to take as much of your money as possible, and you should not trust him, period.

If not you may spend a fortune on a fake that is worth a fraction of the real thing. And there are many fakes that are very convincing unless you know what you are doing.

There is a reason well-monied Chinese go to the US west coast to buy luxury goods. All the high end shop have Mandarin speakers. They simply cannot trust the authenticity of shops in China, nor do they want to pay the cost of import taxes.

Thanks for the concern and the warning. My wife and I have been cruising the Islands for over 20 years, this is not new for us.
My wife and I have purchased watches from him in the past with no problems, everything we have purchased comes with the complete set"box and paperwork". They have been in business since 1949 with several stores on the island. I think if they were selling fakes they would have been out of business a long time ago.

I do my research into the companies I will be buying from before my vacations to make sure they are an AD for the brands I am looking for.

I am not an expert at spotting super clones however I am pretty good at spotting most fakes, I bring a jewelers loup with me on vacation and have a good idea at what I am looking at.
Items we have purchased from him have appraised at higher values then we have paid for them.

We are also not buying anything from street vendors, we know better.

We have known him for over ten years and he has invited us to stay with him at his home if we want whenever we are in Jamaica.
I think we can trust him.

The gentleman and the jeweler I deal with are an official AD listed on the following watch websites

Rolex
Breitling
Omega
Cartier
Tudor
Hublot
Raymond Weil
and a few others

Again thank you for your concern, I can understand where you are coming from.

I worked on about 15 Sandals Resorts photo shoots across the Caribbean. Loved every one of them!

Uncle Sam was kind enough to help me travel the earth, and I’ve been to every island in the Caribbean and some other third world shitholes on this rock…and you couldn’t give me a free trip to Haiti / DomRep or Jamaica.

My friend and his wife go to The Jamaica Inn every year and they love it. It's a small place... I think only about 70 people or so.