Pictures of Jamaican Countryside

When most people think of a Jamaica vacation they undoubtedly think of sun, sand and tropical blender drinks. That’s what a Caribbean vacation is about right? But if you’ve read any of my blog you’d know that’s not what my vacations are about!

Up in the hills in Negril looking down onto 7 Mile Beach

Get out of that chair and off the beach! Go see some of the most beautiful countryside I’ve ever seen. If you’re driving from town to town and you have extra time, encourage your driver to take the back roads. You won’t regret it.

Dusk overlooking country in Westmoreland

It might feel intimidating to get off the beaten path but as soon as you’re out in the countryside, it seems EVERY single turn in the winding roads uncovers a sight more breathtaking than the last turn.

Back country in Westmoreland

If you don’t have any road trips planned take a stroll outside the front door where you’re staying and take a walk. There’s plenty of beautiful country you can see that’s not too far off the beaten path. This next shot was taken 5 minutes from our guest house…natural falls running under the road.

Waterfall under Shaw Park Road

And if you MUST stay on the beaten path, on the beach highways, on the main roads, you’re still guaranteed to get your money’s worth in beautiful scenery.

Ponciana tree

CLICK HERE for more pictures of mountain vacations in Jamaica.

Say NO to an all-inclusive Jamaica vacation.

As you may have figured out from reading other posts in this blog, I don’t do resorts.  I don’t like anything about them and the only time I’ve stayed in them are on the two trips that I won.  Hey….it was free.

In no particular order, here are 10 things you should consider as reasons NOT to do your Jamaican vacation the “resort” way.

1. The resorts are not locally owned. They do help by keeping tourism alive but they don?t do much else for the locals or the economy of Jamaica.
2. The Jamaicans who are employed there only make a full-time wage of about $200 USD per month while the foreigner who owns the resort is getting rich.
3. You will not experience even a fraction of Jamaican culture if you stay in an all-inclusive resort. You paid the astronomical price to be there so you’ll be most inclined to stay within the resort and just take in the watered down entertainment that you THINK is a cultural event.
4. In a resort EVERYONE there is doing the same thing as you!  You’re not special.  When you get home and compare vacation photos with your friends who recommended the place, they’ll all be the SAME!  Why bother?
5. If you stay in an all inclusive resort in Jamaica you will think that you learned to speak Jamaican by saying things like “Irie Mon” and “Respect Mon”. Jamaicans secretly laugh at tourists who run around yelling “Irie Mon”.
6. You’ll never learn the fine art of haggling at a craft market and you will not be supporting the local people in your purchases.
7. You’ll never get a Red Stripe for a dollar.
8. If you’re going to stay at a resort why not just stay home and look at all the white people there. Why would you pay money to hang with them when you can do it at home for free? Outside a resort you can experience people who are dying to share their culture with you!
9. Inside a resort you won’t find any of the stuff contained in this blog.
10. You will never experience Jerk chicken from a street vendor.

By far, one of the most valuable resources for all things Jamaican is a chat forum. I have gained so much knowledge and met so many people this way. This entire category will tell about all the people I’ve met, family-like connections I’ve made across North America and Jamaica, places to stay that I would have never found, etc.

I was a senior moderator on a Jamaican chat forum for 6 years and it’s enabled me to experience so much more on my Jamaica vacations. So far I’ve met 18 most wonderful people from Jamaicans to Americans to Canadians, who all have one thing in common….vacations in Jamaica!

I have since branched off that forum and started my own.  Its primary purpose is to be a place where lovers of the country can come together and share experiences, knowledge, fun, travel tips, recipes, language and culture.

My favorite thing about forums are the trip/travel reports. Pretty much everyone posts a report after every trip they’ve been on.

Come visit the newly launched JAMAICA OUR WAY for some great Jamaica talk!