September 7 – 11, 2011: Michael and I just returned from a brief trip to Jamaica to celebrate a friends’ birthday – someone I met in Nicaragua last year on a GAP Adventures trip. She and I have also traveled to El Salvador and Honduras together this year. On this trip, we also brought our significant others.
UPDATE: Gap Adventures is now GAdventures and the Essence of Nicaragua tour is still offered today. The itinerary is slightly different than it was in 2010 but I’m sure it is still amazing! We highly recommend GAdventures and have used them for over five trips between the two of us.
We flew from Newark, New Jersey, United States to Montego Bay, Jamaica (with a layover in Orlando, Florida). We stayed at Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa, an all-inclusive resort in Lucea, Jamaica.
An all-inclusive resort isn’t the typical travel style for any of us however, it can be really relaxing not to have to worry about transportation, meals, or anything at all! As a result, most of our time was spent relaxing on the beach and enjoying the amenities within the resort. Whilst this was great fun, we did leave the resort one day to check out the local scene.
We got in a taxi cab and asked him where we should go for good food. It was a struggle but we finally got him to suggest his favorite spot – a fried chicken joint. And it was damn good fried chicken! We often ask locals where they would go to experience something; and all too often we are given a response that involves a tourist trap. However, when we do get honest answers they are often the best recommendations.
He also took us to a beach where we could try parasailing – something my friend wanted to try as a birthday experience. We set out in a motorboat and, in pairs, buckled ourselves into a harness on the launch deck. As the boat took off, we were launched into the air trailing behind the boat in our harness and parachute.
I thought parasailing was great fun and, despite the fact I am not good with heights, didn’t have any fear. I think it may have something to do with my love of water; I wasn’t fearful of falling into the water if there was a malfunction. Michael apparently was leery of this set-up and felt less comfortable. He couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that there was only a small rope attaching us to the boat.
All-in-all, it was a great long weekend with great friends! And, the sunsets were amazing.
Accommodation: