Tag Archives | jamaica

Reasonably Priced Places to Stay in Jamaica

By Erica Johansson on in Accommodation, North America & Caribbean

Seven Mile Beach. CC Image by MSMcCarthyPhotography (Flickr).

Holidays in Jamaica don’t come without music and laughter, along with the sea and local food visitors get an unforgettable vacation experience. As one of the most beautiful islands in the world, Jamaica is also a very popular place to find the sun when there’s snow and ice at home in the UK!

There is a general misconception that a holiday on this fabulous island will be very expensive and out of reach for many people. However, this is not true, since a little bit of research and effort can provide some cheap options for boarding and lodging in Jamaica, without exceeding your holiday budget.

Have a look at Jamaica holidays with Thomson to compare flights that are available this season and see the following accommodation options available on the island.

All Inclusive Resorts & Hotels

These resorts abound in Jamaica, and they offer good packages where all the boarding and lodging costs, and other related costs are covered. During the off-season, they offer very good rates, and their excellent locations work in their favour. The resorts are generally well-equipped with all the amenities required by visitors. For a family enjoying a holiday in Jamaica, these resorts are a good option, since food costs are always a major expense for families.

B&Bs

There are many bed and breakfast options available in all parts of Jamaica. The prices range from 20 GBP upwards. Most of these cheaper alternatives offer a decent room and a simple breakfast. It is important to make sure that the location is not too far away from the beach (Seven Mile Beach in Negril is unmissable!). Otherwise, the transportation expenses may turn out to be a bit too high for some people.

Among the over 150 B&Bs listed on the net, look for places that have received good reviews, and make sure that the final cost includes all taxes and other charges. These bed and breakfast places provide a warm and relaxing atmosphere, and most of them have only a couple of rooms, ensuring a relaxing atmosphere.

Budget Hotels and Inns

Slightly larger in size and with better facilities, the inns and budget hotels in Jamaica are also among the more reasonably priced options available. The number of rooms may not be many, and they may be some distance away from Jamaica’s famous beaches.

However, most of these inns are built with international travellers in mind. Clean, efficient and beautifully constructed – these inns offer you a unique Jamaican experience. There are many restaurants located close by; hence, finding reasonably priced meals is never a problem.

Special Deals

There are many places that offer special deals, especially if you are in a group or holidaying with your family. Look for the BYOG special – one grandparent stays free with every paying adult, sharing a room; with some deals that allow children up to a certain age to stay for free.

Many resorts and hotels offer an extra night free if a package is booked. Off-season rates are always lower than the season rates; and often if a package is booked through an agent, then they offer rates that are much less than those which are advertised.

7 Destinations for Combining Beach and Culture

By Erica Johansson on in Europe, North America & Caribbean, United Kingdom

The coast of Nice.

By DANIELA BAKER

If you want a vacation that’s more than your typical drinks-on-the-beach relaxation vacation, a destination that combines culture and gorgeous beaches may be right for you. Luckily, there are plenty of out-of-the-way beaches where you can also enjoy ethnic cuisine, museums and architecture. Here are seven destinations that let you combine beach and culture:

1. Nice, France

You may not think of France when you hear beach vacation, but Nice really has it all. There are plenty of public and private beaches around, as well as enchanting accommodations, including the Palais De La Mediterranee, a luxury hotel built in the Art Deco style with multiple swimming pools, a casino, and a multilingual staff.

Cultural attractions include authentic French restaurants and the Old Town of Nice, where there is plenty of interesting architecture to admire as well as shops to peek into. Castle Hill, or Colline du Chateau, is one of the most popular sights in the area, since a climb to the top of the hill gives you a scenic view of Nice and the surrounding blue waters.

2. Crete, Greece

Really, you can take a cultural beach vacation just about anywhere in Greece, but Crete is a good place to start. It features beautiful beaches and lagoons, great museums, and other charming cultural attractions. For example, you can visit the village of Margarites, about 19 miles southeast of the town of Rethymnon, where small artisan studios practice traditional pottery making.

Of course, if you like Mediterranean food, the food in Crete is not to be missed, either. For example, Margarite is home of the Belanidia hotel, which serves such traditional items as stuffed grape leaves and the garlic-based puree dip known as skordalia.

3. Malaga, Spain

As with Greece, there are many great beach cities to visit in Spain that aren’t far from the local culture, either, but Malaga—the birthplace of Pablo Picasso—is certainly a great option. This large city has it all, including monuments, an 11th century fort, museums, and plenty of tapas bars. You can spend part of the day on the impressive beaches and part of the day exploring the old town and picking up interesting souvenirs there.

4. Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre is a line of five cities dotting the Italian coast. The last village, Monterosso al Mare, is the home of Fegina beach, the only sand beach among the cities. Each city boasts plenty of Italian culture, however. Even in the busy summer season, you can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at this colorful site of terraced villages, complete with the quaint sights of local vineyards and the day’s laundry strung out on clothes lines between buildings.

5. Brighton, UK

If you’re at all a fan of Victorian literature, a visit to Brighton might be just the thing to draw you into your favorite books. This south England seaside city has been popular since the 18th century, and now you can find plenty of delightful beaches as well as pubs, clubs, and the 11th century St. Wulfran’s Church, which is still home to an active congregation, for a bit of history on your beach vacation.

6. Dominican Republic

The Dominican is small enough that you can visit the entire island (or, at least, the Dominican half of the island it shares with Haiti!) in a single trip. In the Dominican, you can enjoy an affordable and family-friendly beach destination at sites such as Boca Chica, a clean and fairly shallow beach well-suited to younger swimmers. On this historically important island, you can also find the first cathedral, university, and hospital opened in the Americas in Santo Domingo.

7. Jamaica

Again, Jamaica is one of those places that you can explore for a week and see many of the local attractions, which include both attractions born of the local island culture, such as the supposedly haunted Rose Hall in Montego Bay and the 18th century Prospect Plantation in Ocho Rios, as well as beautiful natural attractions like the Green Grotto Cave at Runaway Bay.

And, of course, between the white sand and sapphire blue water, the beaches of Jamaica just can’t be beat! If you want to go a little on the wild side, there are even resort-owned nude beaches to visit.

Once you arrive at your destination, be sure to pick up a small amount of local currency to carry in addition to your credit card. While major credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted today, carrying local money will still help you cover tips and purchases from street vendors. Obviously, you shouldn’t carry more than you need.

If you plan your trip ahead of time, you can certainly combine beach and culture on your next vacation.

Daniela Baker is a social media advocate with http://www.creditdonkey.com/, a travel credit card comparison site. She has a passion for travel and frequently travels around the globe. A popular option for travelers is airline credit cards to earn frequent flyer miles with everyday expenses such as groceries, gas and other daily essentials. With responsible usage, the card can help prepare you for many beach and culture vacations in the future. Follow her @creditdonkey

Beautiful Honeymoon Destinations

By Erica Johansson on in Honeymoon Travel

By ASHLEY JENNINGS

There are many decisions that go into planning a honeymoon and these can have a significant effect on the quality of the trip. It is important to decide what type of vacation you are interested in booking. An all-inclusive package is a popular choice, but some couples may not wish to have everything available at the resort.

Among honeymooners, Cancun, Jamaica and Hawaii are three well-liked destinations. If you are looking to book a trip through a travel agency, Liberty Travel has some great honeymoon packages.

Mexican Cancun is a popular destination often chosen because of the beautiful beaches and warm weather. Cancun almost feels like the Caribbean and has many activities that couples can enjoy together. If you enjoy the ocean, you can go scuba diving in the clear water or try windsurfing.

An all-exclusive trip to Jamaica is another excellent choice for a honeymoon. Since everything is available at the resort, including food and drinks, an all-inclusive vacation ensures that you receive the service you deserve. This allows you to enjoy your time together without even having to explore the area.

Jamaica has a variety of activities such as river rafting in Port Antonio and cliff jumping into the sea. If you would prefer to stay at the resort, the beaches are the perfect place to relax.

Another popular honeymoon destination is Hawaii, an island with a very diverse temperature that varies depending on when you decide to go. During the summer season, which takes place between May and October, the temperature usually reaches the mid 80s, and during the winter months, the temperature is usually in the 70s. This makes Hawaii an ideal honeymoon location, especially for couples that are used to living in the cold weather. The weather and natural beauty of the islands make Hawaii an excellent choice for a newly married couple.

A helicopter tour of the island can be an enjoyable experience that you both remember for a long time. If you enjoy the water, you can go snorkeling, kayaking, or surfing. Hawaii has a variety of activities for couples of all ages.

A honeymoon is meant to be romantic and these locations provide everything honeymooners would ask for during their first trip as a married couple. The all-inclusive resorts are highly recommended, because everything necessary is available at the resort. However, if you prefer to explore the island and sample local cuisine away from the resort, an all-inclusive vacation package may not be the best choice for you.

As a freelance writer, Ashley Jennings writes about a variety of topics including travel.