My Visit to the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica

Welcome to the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

We stayed here for 4 nights at the beginning of our recent trip to Jamaica. We booked an Oceanfront Suite. This was the dreamy view... right outside our patios. {the oceanfront suites have TWO patios.}

The Suite had a mini-bar, which we quickly turned into a bottle prep station...

A PLUSH king bed in the bedroom. {I don't have photos of the sitting area where our 4 kids slept - the older two on the pull-out sofa and the twins sharing a crib.}

The bathroom was a highlight - the white marble and turquoise walls had a very clean feel which helped offset the somewhat dated color theme of the soft furnishings in the other areas... 

The hotel has three main restaurants - all with outdoor seating which is a plus when you are traveling with kids. For some reason, when a baby cries in an open air environment, it is not as disturbing as crying in a closed atmosphere. Agree? 

The beach is small - but even at full occupancy, there seemed to be enough room for all.

The water is BLUE.... give it any other adjective and it doesn't change the color...

But the truth is... the beach is pretty rocky and challenging to get in and out of. This was the biggest complaint we had.

The drinks were cold and creative and ALWAYS served with a smile. {The service has to be the BEST part of the Ritz Carlton... it is amazing. The entire staff makes an effort to learn your name from the second you arrive and it can be said that most staff you encounter will anticipate your every need.}

No cool & creative cocktails for this little lady! But she was still a pampered princess. The room service staff was happy to collect our bottles and wash them 3 times a day, giving them a proper sterilization. The restaurants were wonderful at making "baby food" for our little girls too, mashing carrots, sweet potatoes... whatever we asked for and our girls devoured every bite.

The pool is on the small side - but there was always plenty of room in the shade... even for SWEET ANGEL BABIES to take naps in the sea breeze...

Maybe I've saved the best for last... the grounds of the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall are absolutely amazing!!! These gardeners deserve huge applause because they keep the resort perfectly manicured and post card perfect. 

Overall, we had a wonderful time and would return to the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall for a future stay. It was the perfect size hotel for our first trip out of the country with the twins.

{Want to see a sample of how much prep went into this trip? Jump over here.}

The hotel is stroller friendly and very easy to navigate. If you visit with kids, book an oceanfront suite for so many reasons! The ocean path that runs the length of the resort in front of the ocean is right outside the door of the oceanfront suites - EASY! While the older kids would have appreciated a larger pool and slightly more kids entertainment, I hear there are plans to improve this aspect of the property in the very near future. The rocky beach? I'm not sure what can be done about that - but as long as you arrive prepared, it shouldn't put a damper on your stay.

I'd be happy to help you plan your own vacation to the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall - feel free to contact me at any time - laura @caribbeanjourney.com.

Enjoy,

The Blue Lagoon, Port Antonio, Jamaica

I've been to the Blue Lagoon before. The first time was 2001. Back then, the Jamaica Tourist Board took a more active role in marketing Port Antonio. We flew into the small airport just outside of town. We stayed at a hotel that is not currently operating called Dragon Bay. {If you saw the movie Cocktail with Tom Cruise, you know the beach and the famous beach bar.} But that was then. In the years since, I've been lucky enough to spend about 5 Easters in Port Antonio and I make it a point with each visit, to return to the Blue Lagoon.

And this is why...

It is simply MAGICAL...

I'll visit any way I can... usually by rising early to walk down the long and winding hill from our home-away-from-home at Goblin Hill Villas. This year, we succumbed to the offers to take a bamboo raft into the lagoon and swim.

 

The ride was relaxing to the point I almost dozed off - that was, until my husband decided to add a little adventure to the trip and jump in the shallow flats in front of the lagoon and capture a sea creature for our son:

Success and oh so spiny....

Fascination with hands on nature is.... better than any classroom...

The Blue Lagoon is adjacent to some of the prized real estate in the Caribbean. These waterfront villas sell for millions but rent for pretty reasonable rates - ask me about renting one for your next villa vacation.

Then we finally reached the lagoon and took a swim in the cool water. The lagoon is reportedly 186 feet deep. I figure that must be 15-16 stories - right? That's DEEP and the reason behind the water's amazing hue - not quite blue, not quite green - truly the closest thing to turquoise I've even seen...

After an hour swimming, our raft guides returned to pick us up... 

Priceless...

a trip to remember

Cheers,

Luxury Honeymoons at Secrets Wild Orchid or Secret St. James

Its no secret that Jamaica is a top honeymoon destination. The tropical island is home to some of the most scenic geography in the Caribbean. Beauty relaxes the mind and after months of stressful wedding planning, all brides deserve to relax. So what better place for a honeymoon?


Jamaica has many wonderful resorts - but the two new Secrets Resorts in Montego Bay are a smart and easy choice for anyone wanting a fully inclusive, luxury resort, catering to couples. Now is a great time to book either Secrets St. James or Wild Orchid for your honeymoon and take advantage of the following promotion:

Book a Hotel + Delta Air package for you, each traveler will earn 3000 bonus Delta Skymiles AND at least $50 off your vacation package. Contact us today to get started!

{As with all promotions, restrictions apply. Please inquire for full details.}

Cheers,

Hot NEW Caribbean Hotel Inclusions!

Here is a roundup of hot new Caribbean hotel amenities being offered in 2012:

Hotel Chocolat in St. Lucia offers guests house-made chocolate truffles from cocoa grown right on property - yum:

The Four Seasons Nevis offers guests with small children complimentary items to childproof their room.


The Body Holiday Le Sport in St. Lucia has an Icicle Tricycle that cruises the beach providing guests with cool and refreshing snow cones daily in unique flavors such as cucumber mint.


{this is for my girls...} Tucker's Point Resort in Bermuda has the prettiest sunbrellas I've ever seen - hot pink with ruffles, found at their spa pool. Book a massage and curl up under one of these with a spa cocktail and a good book:

The St. Regis Bahia Beach in Puerto Rico provides a daily Iced Tea Ritual - where teas from around the world are served iced and accompanied by a tropical fruit skewer.


Excellence Playa Mujeres & Excellence Riviera Cancun offer top-shelf tequila tastings:

Secret Bay, the new eco-luxury resort in Dominica offers guests free exclusive use of a Kindle loaded with daily international newspapers.


At GeeJam in Port Antonio, Jamaica, you have the option of renting out their state-of-the art recording studio, following the drum beats of many famous artists.


Grotto Bay Beach Resort in Bermuda offers spa services in their underground serenity cave. Serene? Yes!

To book these hotels, or any other Caribbean or Mexican luxury resort complete with unique amenities, please contact our Caribbean Travel Specialists - info @ caribbeanjourney.com OR 866-236-1924.

Cheers,

Caribbean Travel Discounts for Firefighters

Calling all Firefighters! 

Beaches Resorts, the Caribbean's leading family friendly all-inclusive resort collection, is offering 10% off for all FIREFIGHTERS all year long.

The discount is on top of any other current promotion offered by Beaches Resorts. Beaches Resort properties are located in Jamaica and the Turks & Caicos.

This is a great way to reconnect with your family and enjoy some serious relaxation. 

We are happy to provide you with a free quote. Please contact us today!

What to pack for a Caribbean Vacations with a BABY!

This was my packing station for our Jamaica vacation. It was the first trip for our twin baby girls who are 9.5 months old. I started organizing and packing about 6 weeks prior to our trip. Below are some of the tips and ideas that worked best for us!

The List:

An Umbrella Stroller - There are so many fancy strollers on the market today that you might cringe at the thought of your baby in a $14 umbrella stroller - but I swear by these. The are small, portable, and lightweight and will fit in every taxi cab the world over. 

A Stroller Bag - This isn't really necessary if you take my advice and go with the cheap umbrella stroller, but if you insist on bringing your designer model, you will want to protect it from the dangers that lie in the belly of the airline. I like the Right Start for such bags. 

A Cooler - This is a great idea! Another find from the Right Start. $29 will buy you a stroller cooler that has adjustable straps to work with any model of stroller. It is the perfect size to stash a few bottles, snacks for baby, and even some after-sun care cream. This will save you a few trips from the resort pool back to your room every day.


Baby Food - So far on our vacation, the resort staff at the Ritz Carlton Montego Bay has been great at preparing food for our little ones. We've requested mangoes, papayas, bananas, and sweet potatoes and asked that they be mashed. I'm sure any other hotel or villa would be just as accommodating. We found that having our own baby food along was key on our travel days. The best part about the baby food available on the market today is that it can come in pouch varieties instead of glass jars. We used the pouches on the airplane and simply squirted the baby food into their mouths. Easy!

Sound Machine - My twins have fallen asleep every night to the sound of the ocean on a sound machine. A sound machine is a good idea even if you don't use one at home. You never know what outside noises will be audible in your hotel room and it is certain that your babies will need to take a day time nap and a sound machine close to their crib will help drown out any other noises in the room.


Baby Wipes - You can buy these in the Caribbean but you might not find the same quality you are accustomed to. I bought 5 of the small packs with the plastic closure. Slightly more expensive than buying one large bag, but less of a chance of the entire pack drying out if left open and the smaller packs can be divided and one thrown in the cooler, diaper bag, my beach bag, dad's backpack, etc.


Diapers - These are also available for purchase in the Caribbean but I suggest bringing enough for the first few days so you have time to source them when on the island.


Swim Diapers - These are much harder to find in the Caribbean so bring enough for your entire stay.


Diaper Cream - Bring a large tube because you will find you are using more. The Caribbean is hot and humid, making it the perfect environment for diaper rashes to thrive. Add in the fact that your little one will likely be spending a few hours a day in a swim diaper and you could end up with a serious rash. Plan on using the cream often and in larger quantities than you would at home.


Baby Powder - This is one of my favorites. Not only is powder good to keep heat rashes at bay and to help baby not feel super sticky, it works miracles at gently removing sand from babies skin. Your little ones skin is far to fragile for an exfoliation treatment that comes naturally when we rub sand off wet skin. Instead, dust the sandy area with baby powder and it will dry up and fall right off without any friction. 

Disposables - Not just diapers and swim diapers, but go for any other item that can be purchased in a disposable variety such as changing pads, bibs, place mats, etc. Airports are very dirty and you don't want to end up packing any of the germs you come in contact with back into your diaper bag.


Sunscreen - We brought two kinds with us - the cream plus the face stick - and used them liberally. Despite our best efforts, our little Sophie has been teething and thus the constant flow of drool from her mouth took the sunscreen off her chin area and she did end up with a pretty bad sunburn so be sure to pack some after care lotion too.

Tips for Twins:

• Instead of bringing the bulky double stroller, try two inexpensive umbrella strollers. You can purchase a connector from HERE to make them a double stroller if only one adult is available to push, or break them apart into two to squeeze into smaller spaces, such as narrow bathroom stalls.

Happy Travels,

Yoga comes to the chicest shack in the Caribbean!

Come one... come all. Yoga in the Caribbean is good for the spirit! 

Cheers,

Military Travel Discounts to the Caribbean

Attention all servicemen and women! 

How about a discount on a luxury Caribbean family vacation? 

Beaches Resorts, the Caribbean's leading family friendly all-inclusive resort collection, is offering 10% off for all military personal all year long, with the months of September & October being 15% off. 

The discount is on top of any other current promotion offered by Beaches Resorts. Beaches Resort properties are located in Jamaica and the Turks & Caicos.

This is a great way to reconnect with your family and enjoy some serious relaxation. 

We are happy to provide you with a free quote. Please contact us today!

Jamaica Tourist Board & the "Pon di Road" Series

Enticing enough for you? If it makes you want to start packing now, drop us a line and we'll get started researching the best hotel + airfare rates for your Jamaican adventure!

Jamaica is within reach because most major US & European Gateways have daily flights on most major airlines.

Beaches Resort Vacation Discounts!

Beaches Resorts have two super fantastic promos right now! 

{Beaches Turks & Caicos by Day}

The first one will give you $315 IN FREE AIR CREDIT when staying 6 nights or more at Beaches Negril located on Jamaica's famous 7 Mile Beach.

The second one is an early booking bonus for travel this fall and will give you $325 CREDIT TOWARD YOUR HOTEL STAY. This offer is valid at any Beaches Resort.

Beaches Resorts have long been known as the best family friendly all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. They do an excellent job of catering to kids as well as adults. Beaches Turks & Caicos is my personal favorite - especially the Italian Section... all-inclusive family friendly vacations don't get any better than a week in a Turin Water's Edge Walkout Two Bedroom Family Suite. 

{Beaches Turks & Caicos at Night}

Our Caribbean Travel Specialists will be able to help you decide which Beaches Resort and which room category is best for your family. Call or email us today! 


{As with all promotions restrictions apply, please inquire.}