Montego Bay, Jamaica

One of the first things you should know before traveling to Jamaica is that they have some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. They are always willing to help someone in need or a lost tourist in need of directions. They have a lot of pride for their country and love to share that with guests who may be visiting. They believe in hard work and never take life for granted. I love learning about a countries flag and what they represent and Jamaica’s is one of my favorite. The black represents the strength and creativity of its people; the gold represents the natural beauty of the sun and the wealth of the country; and the green represents hope and the strength from their agriculture. It’s a beautiful country with very rich, deep history.

The other thing you should be aware before you travel here is that the sun is no joke. With an UV index of 10+ everyday (on the extreme side), you could be wearing full on zinc and you will still come away with some color. My poor English/Scandanvian skin stood absolutely no chance of making it through. After the first day of becoming a lobster, I was forced to mostly the shade and only could leave said shade when the sun was gone (and my mom said it was ok).

We stayed at the Royalton White Sands which was located almost halfway between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. An all inclusive that had plenty of things to do for all ages: Water Zumba, Bocce Ball Tournament, Cooking Classes, Scavenger Hunts, Lazy River, etc. I will say that while all inclusives are definitely usually cost efficient, you tend to have something that may be lacking due to the cost and for us it was the food. It was just ok or at least wasn’t what we were use to. There weren’t really any near by towns or restaurants that we could’ve visited instead. Also, due to some recent higher crime/conflict situations, we decided to just spend our few days at the hotel and exploring the beach around there. It was the perfect relaxation trip that everyone in my family was in need of.

Jamaica is filled with some of the most stunning white sand beaches, amazing reggae music and just picturesque landscapes all around. It’s an incredible place for all ages to come and appreciate this amazing island. Talk to the locals and learn what makes Jamaica so special. I always love coming to this country and can’t wait for another adventure there some day.

Until Next Time, The Library Abroad