Today we went to Dunn’s River Falls. If you have never been there, you need to go. You can climb the waterfall from the beach all the way to the top. Because were staying in Negril, we had to leave early (early for vacation), at 7:45. We then had to drive for three hours, which wasn’t bad because there was a guide who pointed out a lot of information about Jamaica.

Once we finally got to the Falls, we had to join a group. This is the third time I’d been to Dunn’s River Falls, but the first time I had to climb with a group. I wasn’t to happy. I really enjoy taking my time and exploring the waterfall, but for some reason, we weren’t allowed to go by ourselves. The guide moved so fast, that it really felt like he cared more about getting the most groups through as possible, than making sure we enjoyed it. He kept pulling us forward (about 30 people in the group), and people kept tripping and falling because he didn’t give anyone time to test their footing. Then when you fell or took to much time, he started yelling at you and splashing you.

I will never go with a group up the falls again, and I don’t recommend it unless you are too scared to try it by yourself.

After we left, we went to The Ruins in Ocho Rios for lunch.

It is a buffet, so of course I had all the Jerk chicken and pork I wanted. There was also a little three piece combo playing some music.

When we left The Ruins, the guide took us to a small straw market where they had already told someone we were coming and that person took us to their stall and made us look at their stuff instead of wandering around to see what everyone had. I have been to these markets before, but haven’t been treated like I was here and by the guide that took us (I have also never been with a guide before this trip either). We then wen to the Taj Mahal duty free shops. Nobody on the bus was really interested in shopping and they just stayed in the bus (we were waiting for others in the group to finish swimming with the dolphins), but my wife and I went out just to walk around and to stop hearing people complain on the bus.

We finally got home around 7 that night. That made for a long day.

I really was disappointed in my trip this time to Dunn’s River Falls, I like doing it by myself, and this was not fun.

On Monday, we did almost absolutely nothing. Sort of. We relaxed.

There are many vendors on the beach selling everything from fruit and beads to weed and mushrooms. So we bought some fruit which was great. There were some small bananas that were fantastic. The vendors have a tendency to be very persistent, and you have to be firm about saying no. If you are halfhearted or say maybe later, they will remember and come again.

We got into the ocean about three times today. It was beautiful. The water was perfect, the weather was perfect, everything was perfect. I’d say we probably spent at least 6 hours total in the ocean.

We went to Margaritaville for lunch, which has pretty good food, but not the best. I’ve said it before, you go to Maragaritaville for the atmosphere.

For dinner we figured we would try Norma’s at the Sea Splash resort. As we were walking down the beach, a guy stopped us and asked if we would like to have the best food on the beach at Norma’s. Since that was were we were going, I said sure, and he gave us a 10% off coupon to go there. At first I was a little wary, but This guy is making a living by getting people to go to Norma’s. After you eat, you sign his coupon and he makes a commission.

We had Jerk Chicken and Coconut chicken. I loved the jerk (of course) but the coconut chicken was unbelievable. It was unlike anything I’ve ever eaten with coconut here in the States. It was sweet without being overly sweet, it was juicy and… I can’t think of how else to describe it. It was excellent.

I would definitely recommend Norma’s.

So ended our first full day in Jamaica. Come back for the next post about our Jamaican Vacation.

We left very early in the morning, about 5:00 AM. It made for a very long day and trip. We also had only about 30-45 minutes in Charlotte airport to get to our second plane.

The driver fom Rondel Village (John) was at the Montego Bay Airport waiting for us when we got there. He drove very fast and passed just about everyone on the road. I was fine with that as I really wanted to get to our hotel to get to the beach.

One thing to remember, not everybody exchanges money at the same rate, so make sure you go to the airport exchange. At the airport we had a rate of 88 Jamaican dollars to every 1 US dollar. At the hotel, it was 80 Jamaican to 1 US. So we actually recieved more money at the airport than we would of at the hotel. The restaurant at the hotel also had an exchange of 90:1. So we saved some money there too. For more information, read my previous post on how to get the best exchange rate.

Once we got to the Rondel Village, we had to wait quite a while for our room. Apparently a big tour bus was in the process of checking out, so our room wasn’t clean yet. We also got there very early, so it was understandable. We ended going to the restaurant before our room because I was hungry.

The music at the restaurant was very loud, although it could have seemed louder that day because we had been traveling all morning and just wanted to relax.

We did get to the beach today, which was my whole goal in leaving so early. I wanted to make sure that I was able to get in the ocean every day of our vacation.

I also got some jerk chicken today, and it wasn’t the last time this trip.

Rondel Village was a beautiful hotel in Negril, Jamaica. It was clean, had great service, and was almost right in the middle of the beach.

These are pictures from our room. You can see that we were right on the beach. Although the entire beach is lined with hotels, Negril the city is actually surrounded by cliffs. This is one thing you have to watch when searching for cheap hotels in Jamaica, if they don’t say beachfront rooms, then they are most likely on the cliffs, and don’t have beaches close.

If you are looking for a vacation or holiday in Jamaica, I would definitely recommend Rondel Village. The restaurant had great food, and there were always people at the bar. However, it wasn’t a party atmosphere, which I liked.

Tours in Jamaica can range in price from cheap to expensive. Going through the hotel is probably not the best idea, rather go through another agency, or ask a taxi driver.

I will be going into much more detail about places we went and things we did in Jamaica in later posts.

See the first day of our Jamaican Vacation here.

I don’t want to write about the beach, I want to lay on it.

I don’t want to write about the ocean, I want to swim in it.

I don’t want to talk about jerk chicken, I want to eat it.

I really don’t have many other plans than that. We will go to Dunn’s River Falls, and maybe over to Margaritaville, but that’s about it. I only want to go to Margaritaville because it’s Jimmy Buffett’s. It’s not about the food, I can get the same stuff here in the States.

If you have any suggestions of what to do, where to go or where to eat, please let me know in the comments. However, I really don’t plan on doing much. My wife and I are not really into partying, we’d rather remember our vacation.

So far, the staff at Rondel Village has been great as far as answering emails and helping us with getting transportation from the airport. I hope it stays as good when we get there. The reviews I read about them were mostly good, but there were a few bad ones. That is normal though.

I can’t wait!

I emailed them and they responded quickly. The only real problem I’ve had so far is that when I tried to book it on the site, the booking software they use is not secure. So you have to put in your credit card info in a non secure browser. I didn’t feel comfortable doing that, so I emailed them again, and they sent a credit card authorization form to fax back to them. I still wasn’t that comfortable with having a fax laying around somewhere, but they sent back a receipt within minutes, so it wasn’t laying around long.

I also have found a great price on plane tickets. I checked out CheapTickets.com, but the reviews about them aren’t very good, so I just went to Travelocity and got the tickets for the exact same price.

I am getting so excited as this is only two months away.

I also haven’t decided whether I want to use an online travel site such as Expedia or Travelocity or just do it all myself. I love to save money, and if that means doing all the booking myself, then I’ll do it. And I’ll tell you how I do it too.

Things To Do in Jamaica List:

These are some of the things I would really like to do (some I have already done, but my wife hasn’t).

• Dunn’s River Falls
• Cliff diving at Rick’s Cafe (only if we stay in Negril)
• Relax on the beach
• Stay at a place on the beach
• Go to the beach (the beach is important)
• Eat authentic Jamaican food (not Americanized Jamaican)

Places to Stay in Jamaica List:

• White Sands in Negril – A nice looking place with mostly good reviews. It is much cheaper than many other places, and it is right on the beach. White Sands would be more of an economical vacation. I don’t plan on spending much time in our room anyway. I’m going to the beach.

• Mom’s Place B&B – I just found this on TripAdvisor, and it looks like a really nice small little B&B. It is right on the beach in Negril, and not owned by a corporation.

• Taino Cove – This place looks beautiful with large rooms. It’s about twice as much money as White Sands, but it is also on the beach. It is in Treasure Beach area which is much further out than most touristy places. That is good (no crowds of tourists), but also means a bit less to do.

• Negril Beach House Villas – A little more expensive than Taino Cove, and also right on the beach. This place has very good reviews, and you can get a kitchen in your room. That is awesome, as my wife and I like to cook and save money by not eating out.

So that’s what we are looking at. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. I am not into partying, I am going to relax and enjoy the beach. And to drink some Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.

1. The Baths – Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Snorkeling, caves, grotto’s and beautiful sandy beaches are what you can expect at The Baths in BVI. The giant boulders have created a type of maze to walk through.

2. Flamenco Beach – Culebra Island, Puerto Rico

Tropical forests, beaches, nature, turtles. What more could you want from an exotic island. Much of Culebra Island is protected, for wildlife, plants, and historic monuments.

3. Flic en Flac – Mauritius

Flic en Flac is a small village on the West Coast of Mauritius. Of course, it has the required white sand beaches, and it also has a blue lagoon.

4. Copacabana – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Before you start trying to sing some Barry Manilow, this isn’t the nightclub, but the beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This is the opposite of a quiet village, and is one of the party capitals of the world.

5. Playa Tamarindo – Costa Rica

If you want to get away, go to Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica. The jungle looks like it comes right up to the beach. The sea turtles love it so much, they come back every year to make more sea turtles.

Come back for the next five exotic beaches on the list.

Mere beauty is not the only thing Jamaican beaches have to offer. No matter what kind of jet setter you are or no matter what kind of beach activities you enjoy, you are bound to find a beach that delights your taste for adventure, romance or laid-back comfort. Here is a guide to the best Jamaican beaches:

Doctor’s Cave Beach

The thriving tourist hotspot of Montego Bay (Mobay) is home to some of Jamaica’s most treasured beaches. A favorite among Mobay’s beaches is Doctor’s Cave Beach, a five mile stretch of pristine white sands, surrounded by sparkling, turquoise water. This Jamaican beach earned its name when it was found in 1906 by a group of doctors.

Doctor’s Cave Beach located on the hotbed of Mobay’s tourist activity known as the Hip Strip, comes equipped with several changing rooms, a beach bar, many food stands and water activities like snorkeling and water skiing. This spot is perfect for the whole family.

[I have been to Montego Bay, but never did get to Doctor's Cave Beach.]

Negril Beach

On the northern coast of the island is the trendy tourist magnet, Negril and it is here where you will find the seven mile long Negril Beach. It stretches along the west of Negril and comes complete with golden sands and a view of the sea that is truly remarkable. This Jamaican beach is perfect for all kinds of jet setters, but family vacationers beware: several sections of the beach are allocated to the uninhibited who like to bare all.

Along the beach there are many open-air restaurants, bars, clubs and resorts where you can relax when you tire of swimming in the clear, blue waters of the Caribbean.

[We were supposed to be going to Negril this summer, but the friends we were going with had some things come up, and my wife and I are buying a house, so none of us are going to make it. We are very depressed.]

Cornwall Beach

Cornwall Beach is also a favorite in Montego Bay. This favored Jamaican beach is within less than half a mile from the major tourist resorts in Montego Bay and is a must stop for anyone who vacations in Mobay.

From 9 am to 5 pm for a price of US$2.50 for adults and US$1.50 for children, you get to enjoy the views of the sparkling blues sea as you sip drinks on the white sugar sand under your feet. This is a great place for the whole family. Just find a comfortable spot for you and your loved ones as the popularity of this Jamaican beach lends it to overcrowding and a few aggressive vendors hawking their wares.

James Bond Beach

Located near Port Maria, James Bond Beach is a great place to leave all your troubles behind. White sand beaches, warm blue sea, Reggae music; what is there to worry about again? Enjoy yourself sunbathing, snorkeling, kayaking or rent a glass bottomed boat and admire the sights of marine life and coral below.

This Jamaican beach named after the famous British spy penned by Ian Fleming offers visitors much seclusion than other Jamaican beaches, so there is plenty opportunity for a romantic stroll along the beach.

Nearby eateries include a hearty serving of breakfast, lunch or dinner at the Almond Tree Restaurant and The Little Pub that are 9.7 and 10.6 miles away respectively. With The Almond Tree Restaurant serving an international cuisine and The Little Pub serving tasty Jamaican delights, everyone is sure to go home satisfied.

[I think that the only reason I would go here is because it is named after James Bond. I love the 007 movies, and so does my wife.]

Treasure Beach

On the south coast lays a Jamaican beach that is pretty much summed up by its name. This gem of a beach is often treasured by those who prefer to break away from the crowds and enjoy tranquil seclusion. Let the crashing waves, and sounds from the magnificent birds heard overhead be the soundtrack to your soothing vacation.

A strong undertow in the waters at Treasure Beach can be dangerous for inexperienced swimmers, but will prove to be a delight for thrill seekers and daredevils who enjoy being heaved by the under current. Never overestimate your aquatic abilities when you visit this Jamaican beach.

Nearby restaurants offer local servings of delicious pumpkin soup, jerk chicken and pork, octopus and Jamaica’s national dish, ackee and salt fish (cod fish). There are also many beach cafes.

[We were also looking to go here instead of Negril this summer. There are many places that are very beautiful and less expensive.]

Boston Bay Beach

If simple swimming and sunbathing only scratches the surface of your vacation enjoyment; if your total idea of fun involves more robust activities, then Boston Bay Beach in Portland is a must stop for you. Here you can find the biggest waves in Jamaica, so rent your surf boards and improve your half pipe with the surfing lessons offered – that’s if you need if of course.

Boston Bay Beach also offers swimmers the comfort of not having to muscle their way through crowds whenever they want to go swimming, because of its reputation for being one of the less crowded Jamaican beaches.

Visitors to this Jamaican beach can also enjoy picnic style food served up by nearby vendors who specialize in Jamaican jerk chicken, pork etc.

Dunn’s River Beach

The Dun’s River Beach is popular among both locals and tourists. Here you can take in the breathtaking sights of famed Dunn’s River Falls and see exactly where the river meets the warm, deep Caribbean Sea. Many types of jet setters flock here annually as it is as much a popular Jamaican beach as it is a famous landmark.

Located in the Parish of St. Ann, Dunn’s River Beach allows visitors to participate in activities such as climbing the waterfalls, swim in the Fall’s whirlpool or just simply admire this natural phenomenon before their eyes.

Jamaican beaches are some of the best in the world and with a little consideration you can find the one that suits you best the next time you choose to visit this island paradise.

[I always try to make it to Dunn's River Falls. Climbing the Falls is one of my favorite things to do.]

So there is another list of beaches, this time the best beaches in Jamaica. Do you think it’s a good list?

He came from the direction of the more local side of Jamaica than the tourism side. For those of you who don’t know, what you see in the Sandals and Beaches commercials is not the real Jamaica. Not everyone lives in a resort with spas, free drinks and sits on the beach all day. Jamaica is a poor country, with a high crime right. However, I still love it. Hey, America has a high crime right too, so who are we to complain.

Bourdain spent a lot of time in Kingston, which I would think that 95% of tourists never go to. I, however, have been there and spent about three days in Kingston. But if you really want to experience culture, you can’t do it from the deck of a cruise ship, and you can’t do it in a resort. (I’m not knocking those of you who take cruises,I’m just talking about culture.)

I did learn that Jamaica has kept some of the manufacturing and cultural heritage more than some of the other Caribbean nations. That’s good. America is the melting pot, there are so many different cultures here that we really don’t have a culture. We have a mish-mash (is that a word?). Having been to a number of other countries, I love to see other cultures that haven’t been changed much, or Americanized. That is getting pretty hard though with satellite TV and the internet. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an America hater, I just enjoy other cultures other than my own.

One thing I found really cool about Jamaica, is the music scene. Artists make singles on vinyl, then distribute them to local DJ’s. The guy on the show said that they don’t really own music, they go to the dancehall’s to listen to it. If you know me, you know that I am a vinyl record album junkie, so I love the fact that they still make vinyl records instead of CD’s.