By Jennifer Traynor
We’re more than a year into the coronavirus pandemic and I’m finding myself daydreaming of going on a vacation with my family, as I’m sure many other people are as well. I treated myself to a mini escape recently by attending a Virtual Vacation Experiences online event in Jamaica. It was two hours in an island paradise! When it was over, I came to one conclusion: Jamaica would make the perfect family getaway!
During this event, Tracy, as well as representatives from the Jamaican Tourism Board, and Beaches and Sandals Resorts, connected all of us attending with the sights and sounds of Jamaica live and in real-time. It was great to get a first-hand experience of what a vacation here could be like!
The first stop was Chukka Cove and we got to see our guide Afiya gallop on a beautiful white horse out into the turquoise water of the ocean. A horseback riding tour is one of a variety of activities you can enjoy at Chukka Cove.
Our next stop was Mystic Mountain with Jerron. He showed us all of the fun, adventurous things you can do here, like rock climbing and zip-lining. The best part was when he went on the Bobsled coaster LIVE for us to get a more authentic experience! From the top of the hill, there’s an amazing view of the ocean before you zoom down through the lush forest. And if thrilling adventure is your thing, then riding the Raggamuffin would be just the ticket! Jerron also took us on the spectacular ride LIVE! The Raggamuffin is like a roller coaster with a track on top and feet dangling, but the best part is that you get the thrill of zipping along the curved path down the hill all while going through a beautiful forest and having the ocean and Ochos Rios as your backdrop. I could totally see my family having a memorable day at Mystic Mountain!
Of course, you can’t plan a great vacation without finding fantastic accommodations, and it doesn’t get much better than a Beaches or Sandals resort. We had the chance to tour the Sandals South Coast resort first, and if a luxurious escape is what you’re craving then look no further. From suites with butler service to over-the-water bungalows — no really, they have these amazing villas built slightly offshore, IN THE OCEAN, with plush king-sized beds, a swim-up patio, an outdoor soaker tub, just to name a few of the perks of staying in one of these rooms…sorry, I was daydreaming again. Where was I? Oh yeah, Sandals South Coast is the ultimate luxury destination, in my honest opinion. It looks like the perfect place to get married (they have a gorgeous seaside chapel!), have your honeymoon, or perhaps even celebrate a milestone anniversary with your significant other. Whether you’re enjoying their five-star cuisine or being serenaded by their amazing singers at one of their stage shows, Sandals South Coast knows how to deliver romance.
For a fun-filled family destination, Beaches Negril is a fantastic choice! Not only is this resort situated along the famous Seven-Mile beach, but they also have an awesome waterpark and so many activities the entire family can enjoy. For the younger children, they’ve partnered with Sesame Street to provide fun and educational activities, and for older children, there are watersports and a video game lounge. They have an excellent entertainment staff and even had some of their dancers show off their moves on the beach. There are also nine restaurants onsite, so if your family likes variety, you will have plenty of options to choose from. Although I think the best place there is Yoyo’s, a frozen yogurt shop with so many toppings to choose from! When your family is having fun in the Jamaican heat, who wouldn’t want to just pop into Yoyo’s for a refreshing treat?! But if the parents would rather enjoy an adult beverage, you can treat yourself to a tropical drink made with Jamaican rum, just like the one the Beaches mixologist showed us!
My absolute favourite part of Beaches Negril was seeing that they have a three-bedroom suite that sleeps up to 12 people as one of their options. With my brother and his family living in a different province than me, spending time all together is very special. We’ve talked about going on a vacation together and now I know the perfect resort with the perfect room we could all stay in. Our kids could have a sleepover and my parents can enjoy having us all under one roof.
In a two-hour virtual vacation experience, I was pretty much able to plan my next vacation! Thank you, Tracy, for organizing this fantastic event! You know who I’ll be calling when I’m ready to book that trip!
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