Jamaica Part 1

This trip was actually before the trip to North Texas that the previous post was about, but I couldn't pass up writing about such an amazing place! Nicole and I went to Jamaica on our honeymoon in December and it was the trip of a lifetime!! Unfortunately, we both were feeling a bit under the weather the day we flew out, but upon arrival with the warm weather and warm hospitality of the locals, we soon began to feel like ourselves again. Jamaica is home to bountiful green vegetation both by the ocean and in the mountains, perfect moderate temperatures and some of the nicest people in the world.

We decided to stay at the Sandals Grand Riviera Resort near the town of Ochos Rios, which we found was a great decision. It was an all-inclusive resort meaning that we paid a one-time up-front rate that included our airfare, room, food (unlimited) and drinks (unlimited as well), as well as many on-resort activities and events. The restaurants on the resort were unbelievable. Most of them were 4-5 courses with great wine accompanying meal. Our favorites were Valentino's, Italian, The marketplace, Caribbean cuisine, and the Manor Grill which was open almost all day with pizzas, burgers, nachos and Jamaican beef patties, maybe our favorite food of the trip.

A few things such as extra excursions (which occur off the resort), gifts, and spa credit could be purchased for extra. For these purchases, they give you a "purchase card" when you arrive that is waterproof and takes the place of a credit card so you don't have to lug everything around. The card credits the purchases to your credit card and you pay the total at the end of your stay. The grounds were beautiful with a variety of lush greenery, flowers, hidden pools and many places to relax in the shade.

Some of the grounds outside our building. Our building was up on the mountain, a little ways from the ocean.

The beach and small boardwalk at the other part of the resort.

Nicole and I before one of our fancy dinners.

The Manor Pool outside our building.

A little hidden pool buy the outdoor grill. There is a tile slide connecting two pools.

Our stay was close to perfect with the many Delicious dining options, outstanding friendly service by the staff and a few extras since we were honeymooners. We were given breakfast in bed one morning with all the food we selected and a bottle of champagne. Every night we had our beds turned down and were given the schedule of events for the next day. On our last day there at the resort, we treated ourselves to a days rental of a poolside cabana. This wasn't free, but we had some resort credit given to us for the wedding that we used (Thank you to the Coppedges, our close family friends and Wanda, our amazing travel agent). The rental included our own covered cabana bed, lounge chairs, towels, unlimited drinks from the pool bar, a three course lunch, a HUGE dessert, crackers and cheese for the wine, a fifteen minute massage for each of us from the spa staff, a couples photo session and to cap itall off, steak and shrimp for dinner (that we were too stuffed to finish from all the other food). Our concierge for the day, Stanford, took very good care of us and made a day we will surely remember for a long time.