WHERE TO STAY

Chief towns and cities of Jamaica include the capital Kingston, as well as Portmore, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Negril, and Montego Bay. Each Jamaican township is different from the next, offering visitors a unique experience based on where they stay. The best vacation deals are typically offered when staying in the better-known cities. However, you can still get discounts on tours and other extras by booking them before your arrival.

Montego Bay

Discover Lively Jamaica

Montego Bay, also known as Second City, is the capital of St. James and the second largest city in Jamaica. This area is replete with hotels, boutique resorts, all-inclusive resorts, restaurants, tourist attractions, duty free shopping, a cruise line terminal, several beaches, and more. The bustling “Hip Strip” is decorated with shops, restaurants and clubs. Whilst it’s lively here, there are also picturesque low-lying mountains, championship golf courses, and historical and great Colonial houses, making Montego Bay the type of place that everyone can enjoy.

Photo courtesy of Dave TAZ

Ocho Rios

Discover Natural Jamaica

Ocho Rios is located in the parish of Saint Ann on the north coast. It is believed that this is the place where Christopher Columbus first set foot on Jamaican land. This region is made up of waterfalls and parks, including Columbus Park. It was once a fishing village but now is a port of call for cruise ships. The region’s most notable claim to fame is when the area was featured in Dr. No, the very first James Bond film, which was released in 1962. Ochi, as it’s often called, is a favorite destination of lovers of scuba diving, eco-tourism, grand, all-inclusive resorts, and natural, outdoor beauty.

Negril

Discover Casual Jamaica

Negril’s charming coast is lined with towering cliffs and pristine white sand beaches. A lively nightlife and famed hotspots such as Rick’s Café and a stunning seven-mile beach make this region ideal for those who like to sit back and enjoy the Caribbean sun and local people. Negril is most known for its picturesque setting and casual vibe but what many people don’t know is that this one-of-a-kind gem tenders some of the best cuisine on the island, with offerings from all over the world including pan-Asian, Italian, and Thai food. No trip to Negril would be complete however, without a roadside sampling of jerk chicken or pork!

South Coast

Discover Rustic Jamaica

Hidden treasures, like YS Falls, Black River and the Appleton Estate adorn this unspoiled coast. Even the drive to these amazing hotspots is a treat in itself, as you wind past beautiful, tropical countryside and marvel at the breathtaking views, quaint fishing villages, and natural waterfalls. Take a trip off the beaten path to discover a world of rustic charm and elegant, natural beauty.

Falmouth

Discover New Jamaica

Falmouth was once an essential port of call in the Caribbean during a time when Jamaica was the world’s leading sugar producer. Nearly one hundred plantations were actively manufacturing sugar and rum for export to Britain. Falmouth was so flourishing and dynamic that it even had piped water before New York City. Now, the quaint township is known for being one of the Caribbean’s best preserved Georgian towns, with wide streets and awe-inspiring architecture. New and exciting outdoor adventures and a new cruise ship port are giving the town back its original bustling fervor.

WHAT TO DO

With stunning white sand beaches, lush foliage, mountains, and tropical weather all year round, Jamaica offers the perfect backdrop for thrilling outdoor adventure.

Depending on where you decide to stay, there are plenty of activities and attractions to enjoy, including tours to historical, 18-century Great Houses and age-old sugar plantations with original sugar mill remains. Devon House in Kingston offers delectable ice cream, pastries, and gourmet cuisine for foodies. There are also remarkable art galleries and a rich cultural heritage for art and history buffs. Get deals during your vacation on tours and attractions by booking your excursions before your arrival. Here are some of the most popular activities to do on this beautiful island:

Catamaran Sailing                                                                             Dunn’s River Falls

Swimming                                                                                          Negril Lighthouse

Rose Hall Great House                                                                      Bird Watching

Picnics on the Beach                                                                                     Golf

Good Hope Estate                                                                              Blue Lagoon

YS Falls                                                                                               Lover’s Leap

Rick’s Café                                                                                          Scuba Diving

Photo courtesy of Idee_Per_Viaggiare

WHO TO BRING

If you’re deciding whom to take with you on your vacation, keep these things in mind:

Friends & Families

For the best deals when booking your vacation, look for resorts and hotels that have all taxes, fees, and tips included. All-inclusive resorts are typically the best way to go for groups as guests can receive bulk booking discounts. Villas are another option for groups, as the cost can be split several ways. Many villas in Jamaica also offer the extra-special service of a personal chef!

Your Significant Other

Many hotels and resorts in Jamaica cater specifically to couples so bring your significant other along to get away to one of the most romantic getaways in the world. Because of its proximity to the US, you can often find great deals for a vacation for two, especially if you bundle your flight and hotel or resort.

Kids and Babies

Some hotels and resorts charge additional fees for babysitting and day care while some family resorts and hotels include these services in the cost of your booking. If you do your research beforehand, you will be able to make a booking most suited to your childcare requirements. Be sure to research local attractions in the region that you choose to visit in order to guarantee there is something fun to do for every age group.

Amy Fry is a writer specialising in the travel industry, covering topics such as currencies, summer and winter holidays. Amy has previously written for several lifestyle blogs, and currently lives and works in London.

• Playa de Oro Beach – The beach is generous, safe, and clean and is located north of the city. The beach is bordered by rocky configurations and is surrounded by a curve of large hotels. The beach keeps you busy with plethora of recreational activities and aquatic sports, such as parasailing, waterskiing, and swimming.
• Playa Los Muertos Beach – This is one of the most popular beaches in Puerto Vallarta. The beach is mostly sandy and is long and wide, with typically small waves that are perfect for swimming. In old times, on Sundays and holidays families in Puerto Vallarta would come here to play in the surf and sand. The beach offers fishing opportunities on the south end, where you can catch Lisa, sierra, pargo, and torito. At its backdrop, it has a number of international hotels offering great accommodation.
• Las Gemelas Beach – Las Gemelas are a duo of beaches, each approximately 100m in length. The two beaches are distinguished by their clear water, gentle onshore waves, and fine white sand. You can choose from activities like Swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, walking and finally relaxing and sunbathing.
• Playa Destiladeres – This is a popular beach with a couple of rural restaurants for food and refreshments. The beach is especially popular among Mexican families and offers nice waves for boogie boarding and to those learning to surf. The beach is also popular among surfers as it has a good wave action.
• Quimixto- Nestled between the sandy stretches of Las Animas and Majahuita, Quimixto has calm and clear waters that attract snorkelers and adventure seekers. The beach has two casual restaurants offering the usual seafood eateries. At this beach, do not fail to dive into its waters and explore the underwater world.
• Boca de Tomatlán – Boca de Tomatlán is the last beach accessible by land before the highway turns inland. This beach lies between jutting hills, trees and palms, where the sweet waters of a river collide into the sea. If you wish to see rest of the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, you will have to take water taxi from here.

So, what are you waiting for? Book your Flights to Puerto Vallartaand enjoy the amazing, pristine beaches that the beautiful Puerto Vallarta has to offer. Have fun and enjoy the majestic beaches! ~ By- Ashwin Sharma is a travel blogger. He is currently associated with CheapOair.com

So for all you individuals who are traveling Europe this summer this is what I recommend.

1. Where to stay

I would only stay in Hostels within Europe. Try to avoid hotels, only because they are actually less safe. Kinda a funny, but it’s so true. And they are usually way over priced. Stay in a hostel, it is the perfect way to meet fellow backpackers/friends. It’s complete safe and you will receive great advice in what to see and do during your stay in that city or town. Hostels offer so much: Pools, laundry, breakfast/lunch, lockers, local (sometimes free) tours, patios, Internet, and landline phones. The best way to go about staying in hostels and picking the right ones would be booking ahead of time. Yet, not too far ahead. You want to leave yourself a bit of space. What I mean by that is if you meet and becomes friends with a bunch of people in one hostel and decide to travel with them to a location. You can just jump and go for it, knowing you haven’t made solid plans yet. So only book your hostels a week or even days before you reach that next destination.
What I would do is book a hostel at the destination before your next destination. Book online.
Below are the best websites to book online.
– http://www.hostelworld.com/
- http://www.hosteleurope.com/

Be sure to check the ratings of the hostel, there can be crappy ones, as we all know. Hostels range from $25 – $40 a night. Be sure to stay in that range in order to ensure cleanliness. Also look at the location of the hostel. Ones to close to a train station are usually not that great, so double check. Get a hostel that is located near all the major attractions. Also getting a dorm room, are usually fun, but stay within a range of a dorm room with not too many beds. What I mean, is stay to a dorm room with only 4 – 8 beds, nothing more. Only because it will be too crowed, loud, and the cause of stealing can increase. Usually no one steals, only because everyone is in the same vote – BACKPACKING. Yet, there can be creepy individuals. But do stay in a dorm room not a single room, it’s more fun and you will meet so many interesting people from around the world.

2. What to see

Once you get to your destination it’s pretty easy to figure out what the city’s highlights are. Europe is a place where tourists will always surround you. Therefore, you will see tourist-visiting centers everywhere. Plus staying in a hostel is the perfect place to ask questions in what to see. The people that work there can give you a map and just circle the major highlights for you. There you go, you have a plan for the next few days.
Although there are a few things you might want to peek at before you arrive to that destination. Check out the city’s transportation system; be sure to know what they offer. (It will help) Such a buses, subway, taxis….
The best piece of information I can tell you is, purchase a travel book. The best one is Lonely Planet. That book will literally tell you everything you need to know. From the best hostels to stay at and their prices to prices of museums. I would for sure purchase the Europe version of that book! It will also tell you what you what to see in that city and also what day trips you should check out (smaller town or villages).

3. Tours for Europe

I would recommend never doing a set / paid tour for Europe. Europe is the easiest place to backpack. I can see a tour for Asia, but it would be a huge waste of money to do a tour for Europe. Trust me, don’t consider it. Winging it in Europe is the best option. Yes, it may sound crazy and little scary at first if you are a new backpacker, but truthfully backpacking Europe is a “piece of cake”. Every person you will meet during your time abroad in Europe, they will tell you the same thing. The best thing to do is plan a route of what cities you want to see, how long you plan to stay in each city, and create a budget. I would recommend staying on one city for a max time of 2-3 days. Nothing more. To save money and time, take night trains to your next destination. But be sure that train ride is longer than 5-6 hours. Or else you won’t have much sleep. Oh, also if you do consider traveling Europe by winging it, consider the http://www.eurail.com/home to get your train pass. There are many different passes, but get one that you are sure to use the most of. They can range from $400 – $2000. Depending how many countries you are visiting and how long you are backpacking for. But the train system in Europe is the best transportation option. It’s the cheapest and also a great way to see the countries. Plus at least 80% of the people on these trains are backpackers, so you will meet tones of them.

Now, I want to go back to Europe and do the whole backpacking thing again!

On the way home we stopped at a small local bar that is known to have the best Pina colada in the country. Oh and let me tell you, it was the best one I have every tried. It was yummy. But my the time I got back to the resort I was so exhausted that this was the first night during my trip to Cuba that I actually went to bed before 4am. So as you can tell my trip was filled with much excitement.

Club Night

Once we arrived in Varadero, Cuba it was already midnight, but that didn’t stop me from having fun. Yes, with only a max of 3 hours of sleep I seemed to make it out to a local nightclub just off the beach with a few Miami Vices in my hand. Also not to forget taking a quick swim in the sea when its pitch dark, is very exciting. So for a first night on my vacation it was already starting to look pretty good.
For the rest of the week we as a group of 46 people planned a lot of excursions. But a few of them we did on your own or as a small group. I did a lot of excursions, considering how much I love the beach, but I seemed to keep pretty busy with doing a few adventures. The excursions I did were the catermaran, swimming with dolphins, sightseeing the city of Havana, talking the moped out for spin around the local towns, feeding baby alligators, and seadooing.

The Catamaran

The Catamaran was the party boat. With almost the entire wedding party on board and another 30 people too, it was the perfect day to drink all day and be merry. Starting from 9am in the morning on the boat until 5pm, it was the perfect hot day to enjoy the sea breeze. Our first stop on the boat was snorkeling in the middle of sea with no one in sight. There were thousands of fish, from bright small blue ones to huge big bright yellow ones. It was amazing just to stare into another world and see so many different creatures at once. Considering this wasn’t my first time snorkeling it did have to be one of the best spots I have snorkeled before. After an hour of snorkeling, the boat took us to see dolphins. Now I have seen dolphins before, but I have never swim with them. It was so much fun, they swim along side with you and do crazy flips, kisses, and pull you around. Gotta say, it was one of my favorite moments during the trip. The third stop the boat made was a small private island with bright white sand and amazing seafood. We have a huge lunch on this island that was filled with fresh seafood. It was very yummy. After lunch a few of us went swimming. It was great because the sand was so soft and white that it felt like clay but it wasn’t. So a friend and I had a little fun with putting sand on our faces and taking a quick natural facial. Must say, by the time we were laughing so hard about it, we had half the beach copying us. Plus I think it was one of the best facials I have ever had, since the next day my skin felt like silk.

Facial

We spent the rest of the day at the beach, but my the time it was home time, the crew of the boat had as dancing to crazy Spanish music and drinking lots of rum. So over all this excursion was one of the highlights of the trip.
Keep reading more posts to hear more of my Cuba trip.

I have uploaded a few new photos of Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo- FRANCE. This trip was my work trip, plus keep posted for Photos of my vacation in Cuba! Lots of Havana pictures to come!!!