It was my BFF’s 30th birthday and what better way to celebrate her very special day than to travel to her homeland…Jamaica! We celebrated her birthday in Ocho Rios, and chose a travel package arranged by one of the best Caribbean travel agencies, YPG Travel. Our travel package included dedicated tour guides, scheduled tours/activities, 24/7 all-ground transportation for tours/activities, round trip airport transfers, a private villa, and a personal chef. It was an experience that I would never forget, and I can’t wait to tell you about it!…
Now let’s tRavel iN Style!
I was on a travel assignment in Washington, D.C.; therefore, I flew from D.C. to Montego Bay, Jamaica via Southwest Airlines. By the way, as of September 1, 2023, flying to Jamaica requires you to complete a pre-departure form online. If you do not complete the online form ahead of time, you could fill out a paper form at the airport, once you arrive in Jamaica. After going through customs, I met up with YPG and the rest of our birthday crew!
We started the day out by having lunch at a food rest stop at the Sharkies Seafood Restaurant. I ordered the curry shrimp, rice & peas, fried plantain, and a Bob Marley daiquiri (with an extra shot of love lol), which were all delicious!
Afterwards, we checked-in to our private villa located at the Pyramid Point, a gated community in Ocho Rios, which had an infinity pool and stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. Later on, we went to the Plantation Smokehouse (an addition to Sharkies Seafood Restaurant) for dinner and drinks. This restaurant had a really nice vibe and featured a live performing band.
The next morning, we went to Kri’so Lounge & Wine Bar for breakfast and strolled down the Ocho Rios Hip Strip to purchase souvenirs. We also drove around the winding road called Fern Gully, which was a tranquil, popular road embedded with various fern species that grew wildly along a gully. There were several other vendors along the roadside, as well.
For our afternoon excursion, we visited the Nature Blue Hole. The entrance fee was $25, but trust me, it was worth every penny! The deep, crystal-clear, aquamarine water was absolutely beautiful. We had the best tour guides, Devin and TJay, who were exceptionally knowledgeable of the Blue Hole and made sure that our experience was top-notch.
Later that evening, we had dinner at Scotchies restaurant. I ordered the best jerk chicken wings that were very flavorful, well seasoned, but surprisingly not too spicy. I ate those, along with red beans & rice, and a Sorrel Red Stripe beer to drink.
On our last morning in Jamaica, our breakfast was cooked by the magnificent Chef Shawn, who prepared a fresh fruit platter full of papaya, watermelon, and pineapple. For the main dish, he prepared Ackee and Saltfish, fried plantain, cabbage, fried dumpling, cinnamon banana fritter, and yam. This meal was absolutely delicious (chef’s kiss)!
Our final outside adventures began with riding ATVs at the CHUKKA island outpost, which was so fun and exciting.
After riding ATVs, we went water rafting at White River Rafting. Our tour guide, nicknamed Popcaan, provided us with the most fun and unique experience of rafting through the river that merged into the beautiful beach.
We spent our final evening enjoying a special birthday dinner at the villa, which was prepared by the infamous, magnificent Chef Shawn, who served oxtails, rice & peas, garden salad, potato salad, and escovitch fish. Everything tasted phenomenal!
On the morning of our departure, we made our way through the Sangster International Airport (SIA) of Montego Bay, where we were fortunate enough to see Chef Shawn for a final time at the Bob Marley’s One Love restaurant. We enjoyed one last meal prepared by Chef Shawn, the “magnificent”. Until next time Jamaica 🫡…
Have you been to Jamaica? Where did you go? Drop a comment below? 🇯🇲🖤💚💛
