Posts Tagged ‘Jamaica’

Planning a Destination Wedding in Jamaica: Helpful Tips

Have you decided that you would like to get married on the beautiful island of Jamaica? If so, you are ready to plan a destination wedding. Despite what you might have heard in the past, destination weddings are actually a lot easier to plan than they originally look like. With that in mind, you can keep reading on for a few helpful tips when it comes to planning a destination wedding in Jamaica.

Do examine all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica. Many people like to refer to all-inclusive resorts as one-stop travel. When you book your stay at an inclusive resort, your stay includes your room, snack, drinks, food, tips, qualifying airport transfers, and some forms on onsite entertainment. In terms of your destination wedding, can have your wedding ceremony and reception in the resort property; you never need to leave!

Do consider rolling your destination wedding in Jamaica and honeymoon all into one. You might originally think that you are shortchanging yourself a good time by doing this, but not when you opt for a stay at an all-inclusive Jamaica resort. As previously stated, your food, drinks, snacks, and some onsite entertainment are included. You should have multiple places to eat at, meaning you won’t get bored with your choices. Beachfront resorts have the best in terms of honeymoon activities. In addition to land based activities, you will find a handful of beach activities that can be romantic, such as snorkeling or scuba diving. With all-inclusive Jamaica resorts, these beach activities are typically listed as inclusions, meaning you don’t pay more.

Do look into an all-inclusive Jamaica resort’s free standard wedding ceremonies. The best all-inclusive resorts in the Jamaica do offer guests a free wedding ceremony when they meet the minimum stay requirement, which is often 5-nights. The good news is that you can purchase upgrade packages to have an all-out reception, a professional photographer, and more. With that said, if you are planning a quiet and small destination wedding in Jamaica, the free standard wedding ceremony will likely do.

Do look at a resort’s wedding upgrade package. As previously stated, you may want more than a standard destination wedding in Jamaica, even if it is free. For that reason, you want to start doing the research now. If you have yet to decide on an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, this research might play an important role in your choice. Some all-inclusive resorts have more extras to choose from than others.

Do start planning ahead. You will find no shortage of rooms at all-inclusive Jamaica resorts; however, you are also planning a wedding. Since you are located thousands of miles away, you will be paired with a wedding planner. You can communicate with this planner via email or over-the-phone. Since you are planning a destination wedding and likely a honeymoon too, you may want to upgrade to a suite and this calls for making your reservations in advance. Moreover, don’t forget that you and your bride, as well as any wedding guests need valid passports to travel to and from Jamaica.

Speaking of guests, do plan in advance. The moment you decide on a destination wedding in Jamaica is the moment you should start informing your guests. Even if you don’t have a set date in place right now, let close friends and family know. There are many ways to save money when planning a trip to Jamaica, but some of your guests may be on strict budgets and they may need to plan ahead and budget for this trip. As soon as your all-inclusive Jamaica resort reservations and wedding is set, inform the guests of that information so they can book their trip in advance and avoid paying higher travel fees at the last minute.

What is nice about planning a destination wedding in Jamaica at an all-inclusive Jamaica resort is your choices. As previously stated, you may qualify for a free standard wedding ceremony offered by the resort, but you always have the option to upgrade. You can invite guests if you want because most resorts provide you with a small number of guest passes and you can purchase more. Or, you can have a small and private wedding ceremony and use a witness provided by the resort. Essentially your wants can become a reality especially when you choose an all-inclusive Jamaica resort that is known for catering to guests.

The Benefits of Opting For an All-Inclusive Beachfront Resort in Jamaica

So you have decided that you want to vacation on the beautiful island of Jamaica. You have made a wise decision because Jamaica is often referred to as the land of fun, sun, and romance. However, your decision making isn’t done just yet; now you need to decide where you want to stay. Just about every corner of the island is beautiful, but you will have the vacation of a lifetime if you opt to stay at a beachfront all-inclusive resort. Why?

The Beauty: One of the reasons why the Caribbean is such a popular vacation destination is because of the beauty of the land or more often the water. The beaches are a huge draw for Jamaica tourists because they are so beautiful. Not only is it amazing to be able to walk along the beach anytime you want, but how would you like to look out your window and see either the sunrise or the sunset? You can with a beachfront all-inclusive resort.

The Tropical Atmosphere: Yes, you will get a tropical feel by staying at an inland resort, but nothing beats a beachfront resort. You get 100% of the tropical look and feel. In fact, this leads to two other benefits of opting for a beachfront all-inclusive resort; the romance or the fun. In all honesty, the beautiful beaches of Jamaica will give you either. They are the perfect backdrop for a romantic getaway or even a destination wedding. Moreover, the fun atmosphere of the ocean makes it a great destination for a family vacation too!

Access to Activities: Along with a beachfront resort should come a handful of beach activities. The activities you gain access to will all depend on the resort in question. However, here are a popular water sports regularly offered at all-inclusive Jamaica resorts: sunfish sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. With the exception of scuba diving, all activities you should be able to enjoy free of charge. An International PADI certification for diving is required and this will cost extra if you don’t already have the necessary documents.

Activities Should Be Listed as Inclusions: If you want to save money, save time, and eliminate the hassle of planning a Jamaica vacation, an all-inclusive resort is the way to go. Your stay includes your room, food, drinks, snacks, and some forms of onsite entertainment. Some of those activities listed above, such as snorkeling and scuba diving should be listed as inclusions at an all-inclusive beachfront resort in Jamaica. This means you basically prepay for these activities ahead of time. If you spend your vacation onsite and make use of these included activities you will save money as opposed to venturing offsite and paying out-of-pocket.

Now that you know some of the benefits of opting for a beachfront all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, are you ready to start booking your travel plans? If so, you want to find that one perfect resort; the resort that seems like it was built just for you. After all, the inclusive resort you choose has the ability to make or break your trip. Here are a few helpful tips for making your choice.

Review the Resort’s of Inclusions: You not only want to opt for a beachfront all-inclusive resort in Jamaica with a lot of inclusions, but ensure they are inclusions you will use. See, inclusions were already figured into the cost of your stay meaning you don’t pay extra. When your resort is packed full of activities, like windsurfing, that you will use, you end up spending your money wisely.

Look at Pictures: Of course you want to closely review the resorts list of inclusions, but a picture can speak a thousand words. You want to vacation in paradise and the beauty of your resort can have a huge impact on that. Not only ensure that you aren’t staying at a second-rate resort, but choose a resort that you could see yourself having the vacation of a lifetime at.

As you can see, it is not only beneficial to vacation at an all-inclusive beachfront Jamaica resort, but it is easy to find the resort that best fits your wants and needs. So what are you waiting for?

5 Reasons to Plan a Destination Wedding in Jamaica

Are you getting ready to plan your upcoming wedding? If so, your first thought may be to have a beautiful ceremony back home. Yes, this is nice, but have you considered destination weddings, like in Jamaica? If not, now is the time. Although most couples don’t need convincing, you may wonder what makes a destination wedding better than a traditional wedding back home.

1 – The Weather

If you live in New York and plan a wedding in the middle of July, you are likely to find warm hot weather. This is great, but the heat and humidity may leave it feeling too hot. With the Caribbean and the island of Jamaica, you don’t just get warm weather, but tropical weather too! Then, there is the rain. The weather is somewhat unpredictable all around the world, but you are more likely to find scattered showers and thunderstorms in New York and many other areas of the United States than in Jamaica.

As with a wedding back home, you have many venue choices. Some Jamaica resorts have onsite chapels, but most give you many choices. If you opt for a garden or beach wedding, the beautiful, warm, sunny, and tropical weather makes your wedding ceremony nothing short of picture perfect.

2 – All-Inclusive Resorts

There are many all-inclusive resorts on the island of Jamaica. You may wonder what impact this has on your wedding ceremony. These resorts are the perfect place to have a destination wedding. Most give you many ceremony options. If a small wedding chapel is not found onsite, you may get to choose from a garden, the beach, or a banquet room.

Most importantly, some all-inclusive Jamaica resorts give you a unique opportunity. That is to have a free wedding ceremony. Yes, a free wedding ceremony! Many luxury resorts extend a free standard wedding to guests who meet a minimum stay requirement. This stay requirement varies depending on the Caribbean resort in question, but it is usually three, five, or seven nights. After examining a resort’s free wedding inclusions, you should like what you see. Luckily, affordable upgrades are available if you want more.

3 – The Ability to Combine Your Wedding and Honeymoon

Planning a wedding is a joyous experience, but it can also be stressful and time consuming. Not only that, but you must later plan the honeymoon. The island of Jamaica gives you another unique opportunity. That is to combine your destination wedding and honeymoon into one. Since the island is home to all-inclusive resorts, great restaurants, lots of activities, beautiful beaches, and tropical weather, you will have the honeymoon of your dreams. For your destination wedding, you may have intended to stay two nights. Extend your stay until seven nights for your honeymoon. Plus, this makes it easier to qualify for the above mentioned free wedding that may be offered.

4 – Your Friends and Family Can Come Too

One concern that many couples have about destination weddings surrounds guests. Whether you live in New York, California, or Florida, you may wonder if your guests will make the extra trip to the Caribbean. Honestly, some may not, but you may be surprised how many jump at the opportunity. Not only do they get to attend your wedding, but they get their own Jamaica vacation! Most all-inclusive resorts have a few free guests passes and additional available for sale. This means guests staying at a different resort can attend your ceremony without complications.

5 – It Will Be Cheaper Than You Thought

As previously stated, many couples automatically write off destination weddings due to complications of planning and cost. Don’t make this mistake. As previously stated, you can save money by opting for a resort with a free standard wedding ceremony, combining your wedding and honeymoon into one trip, looking for discount travel packages, and so forth. There are many ways to trim the cost of an otherwise expensive wedding. As for ease of planning, most luxury all-inclusive Jamaica resorts have wedding planners available. They will help you plan the wedding of your dreams, even though you may be thousands of miles away.

All-Inclusive Jamaica Resorts: Will Any Resort Do?

So you have decided that you would like to plan an all-inclusive trip to Jamaica. You are in for the vacation of a lifetime, but you will soon see that you have lots of plans to make. One of those plans involves your staying options; which all-inclusive Jamaica resort should you stay at. You have many choices, but will just any resort do? Not if you want to guarantee yourself an amazing trip.

So what should you consider when examining and comparing all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica?

Pictures: You know the old saying “a picture speaks a thousands words?” It does and that is why you should closely examine pictures of all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica. Pictures can give you great insight into a resort. Yes, you won’t see what the exact room you book looks like, but most are very similar. If you want to stay at a traditional room, look at those pictures. If you want to upgrade to an oceanfront suite, look at those pictures. Additional pictures to checkout include the resort’s facilities, such as all onsite restaurants, the fitness center, the swimming pool area, the lobby and more. Basically, you are looking for an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica that can give you your wants and needs. Does the place look fun, romantic, or peaceful?

Inclusions: When you stay at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, your stay is booked in the form of a travel package. What does that travel package include? Your airline reservations are optional, but it should include your room or suite, food, snacks, drinks, tips, and some forms on onsite entertainment. You want to carefully examine the inclusions that focus on food and things to do. You get a better value for your money when you eat onsite and do onsite activities listed as inclusions because you technically already paid to access them. This means find a resort that serves some of your favorite foods and has some of your favorite land or beach based activities (like snorkeling or kayaking).

Things To Do: While we technically covered things to do above, those were inclusions. At all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, you will find a handful of inclusions, but some activities and services will cost you extra. This is fine if you know the costs ahead of time. For example, all resorts require you pay a fee for getting a massage at their onsite spa, but not all resorts have an onsite spa. Whether you have to pay extra or if it is included in your stay, you want to ensure there are lots of things to do and see right on the grounds of your all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. After all, the more you stay onsite the more money you save in the long-run.

Location: Honestly, many tourists don’t have a set destination in mind when choosing from an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. Most times, they choose the best resort they can find. This is ideal for those who want to save money and stay at the resort where just about everything is included. If you would like to sightsee or go on a guided tour, you want to keep location in mind. You will find these tours, restaurants, and shopping centers throughout the entire island of Jamaica, but they are more abundant in some areas than other. So if you want to get out and explore the great island of Jamaica, keep location in mind when booking your trip and you don’t want to spend hours in a car or taxi.

Costs: Now, the cost of all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica is at the bottom of this list for a reason. One reason why you don’t want to choose a resort based solely on price is because of guarantees. Yes you are guaranteed the lowest price, but that is about it. Wouldn’t you rather stay at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica that has three onsite restaurants and a handful of beach activities listed as inclusions than a hotel that gives you meals at their one restaurant, access to their one swimming pool, and a fitness room with a couple of treadmills? Of course you would! A good approach is to compare all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica (focus on pictures, inclusions, and location) and then price compare your favorites to get the best deal.

Jamaica Real Estate

Jamaica is one of the most alluring islands in the Caribbean. A land of mountains, miles of powder white sands and Crimson sunsets, Jamaica is every travelers dream destination. Jamaica is famous for three things – rum, reggae and reefers. What Jamaica offers is not just a great vacation but Jamaica real estate surrounded by spectacular landscape. This is where Ian Fleming found peace and inspiration called golden eye and this is where most investors have found their dream homes.

A land of unparalleled beauty

An island in the Greater Antilles, Jamaica is 240kms long and 85kms wide. Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1494, it is the third largest island in the Caribbean that draws thousands of tourists year after year.

A tropical climate on the coast and a temperate climate inland have played an important role in defining Jamaica real estate. The real estate opportunities in Jamaica are significantly higher than that of Cayman Islands, Florida and the Bahamas. One of the fun places to be in, Jamaica is Savanna-La-Mar, which is a concrete jungle offering Jamaica real estate condos and apartments and has been built around the Great George Street. Savanna-La-Mar boasts of historical sites that include a fountain at the center of the town, an original courthouse and several historically important churches. Moving away from the concrete jungles, you can find enough adventure to last you for a lifetime. You can rent a bike and drive to the mountains or choose a more comfortable scenic cruise adventure to unusual places.

You can also take a ferry from Kingston to visit Port Royal, Where you can walk through the colonial history of Jamaica. Originally a fishing village, Port Royal is connected to the mainland by Palisadoes. There is so much to do in Jamaica including activities like diving, snorkeling, tennis, sea life, trekking etc., that it will hold you in a magic spell that will be hard to break. This is the exact reason why Jamaica real estate is slowly becoming a growing industry with investors coming from all over the world.

Some of the most amazing places in Jamaica include the Blue Mountain. There is much to explore at the base of the Blue Mountain but if you are the adventurous kind then you can trek your way up to the peak. If you feel the need for more adventure then you can travel to cockpit country in the central north-western part of the island. This is true Jamaican wilderness and offers the experience of being far from civilization. A trip next to the Dolphin cove on Ocho Rios is a must. A one time experience, you can swim with dolphins and it is surrounded by a tropical rain forest.

Type of Jamaica Real Estate

Jamaica offers some of the finest beach front condos, resorts and apartments with state of the art amenities, and a strong infrastructure. A spectacular view offered by some of the real estate property in this Caribbean island makes it a hot destination for investors and buyers. Jamaica real estate prices can vary from $25,000 for a residential lot to $2,500,000 for 3 bedroom lagoon villas. One bedroom beach cottages offering tranquility and excellent view are available for approximately $650,000. From coconut and palm lined beaches to golf courses and from clear blue waters to rejuvenation, Jamaica real estate offers a piece of paradise in a platter.