Jamaica, Jamaica!!!
Most people know that I live in a Caribbean Household and so going on this trip was so exciting to me because I love the Islands. One of my good friends wanted to go away for her birthday so after months of planning, a group of us headed away for vacation.
I headed to JFK Airport on Black Friday (I know sounds terrifying) to meet up with a friend, but it wasn’t as packed as I thought it would be and for that I was happy. JFK Airport terminal 4 has basically every store and restaurant you can think of except for Starbucks, AHH! No morning caramel latte for me to gulp down so I wouldn’t be miserable on the ride but what can you do? Finally, we board the plane and away we go!
Now I’ve taken a couple of flights on different airlines, I’ve been on American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta, and one I hate to admit, Spirit. I will say I am so glad this Delta flight had personal televisions and so I cranked up my inflight movie and hoped the time would fly by, since I hate sitting still for too long. After nodding to sleep a few times during the Secret Life of PETS, they started hanging out cards for us to fill out for immigration when we get off the plane.
Thank God, for the best travel agent Bev, because she hooked us up. As we walked off the plane and approached the ramp, there was an agent to meet us with a sign with our names to expedite us through the immigration process and BOY were we happy because that general line was too long. After answering a few questions we were granted access and walking through the airport to receive our luggage from baggage claim then headed to the arrival lounge to sip on some Rum Punch and wait for our friend, the birthday girl.
When the bday girl arrived, we drank another Rum Punch (we made the bday girl drink 2) and we headed to the front to board the resort shuttle. I decided to take a little nap and soon we arrived at the beautiful Luxury Bahia Principe Runaway Bay (Adults Only). When we arrived to the beautiful marble lobby we were greeted and offered Mimosas while going through our check in process (which didn’t take long) and up we went with our bell boy.
Our room was beautiful with 2 queen beds, a balcony and bathroom with a shower, Jacuzzi and a separate toilet space. The Bday girl presented us with these beautiful gift bags that had everything you could think of in it. There was a list of all of the items and why we got them, an itinerary, T-shirt, cup for our liquor (cuz we don’t waste no liquor lol), a bandana, sunglasses, lip gloss, gum, a nippy, and a beautiful Alex & Ani bracelet. We were in paradise and decided to get started on festivities right away and get some food from the Jerk Hut up the road. We got a driver from the hotel to take us and omg the Jerk Chicken was so good, not the fake Jerk you get on the resort, but the real thing. (I’m already used to it from my cousin’s husband, he makes the best authentic Jerk Chicken in Brooklyn). After riding back to the hotel we ate dinner on our balcony while taking in the view then took a walk on the beach while planning events for the next day.
Saturday, we went down to the lobby bar to wait for our other friend and her bf to arrive and started to TURN UP! Drinks on deck and my fave was the Superman which I couldn’t get enough of. Soon enough our friends showed up, they got settled in their room and we headed to one of the restaurants to get some lunch. We decided that we would have a chill day on the resort that day since our friends just arrived so we went to the different bars, made friends of course with the bartenders and had fun with the unlimited drinks and beautiful weather because later that day we had the bday dinner to attend.
For dinner our travel agent arranged a ride for us to Miss T’s Kitchen in Ocho Rios. Of course we had a theme, all of us wore some shade of nude and when we arrived it was so pretty. We were seated outside in the beautiful garden and I ordered the rice and peas and curry shrimp, A-MA-ZING. After eating we decided to head back to the resort and go to the party there. After a couple of hours of dancing we headed back to the room and ordered room service before heading to bed.
Sunday, we headed to breakfast at the outside restaurant, and on our way back we spotted one of the workers cleaning the pool and singing, it’s such a positive environment how could you not be happy here. It was booze cruise day so we go change into our swimsuits, grab our water shoes, and head downstairs to wait for our excursion shuttle but stop at the bar first for a drink to go. In the shuttle we head to the boat’s pick up point and board the boat. Time to try scuba diving.
It is here, I found my fear of the ocean. Now I’m not a strong swimmer but I can do a little something, something, so I was willing to try, but I got my ass in that ocean and panicked quick and got my ass right back out of the water lol. I just decided to watch and I took some pics for everybody else and once that was done we got going to Dunn’s River Falls. We got to the falls and the tour guides go through the procedure and we got going, One of our friends decided to walk the falls and took pics of our travel up. Fast forward we get to the top, we did it! Then head back down the stairs so we can head back to the boat before it leaves us stranded. Now it’s party time, on the boat heading back, they handed out rum punch, there was music going so we got up and partied. When we got back we were worn out and took a quick nap before dinner that night.
Monday was adventure day, we all threw on our matching Bday Shirts and hop on the excursion shuttle to go ATV riding. I of course have never driven before but I say what the hell how hard can it be. Well during the practice round I ran into the fence, lol. Nope I can’t drive so I hopped into the 2 seater with one of the tour guides and we followed the group. We rode by cows and goats and I am so happy I didn’t try to drive myself because I would’ve been stuck. Finally, we rode to the top of the waterfall and they tell us we can dive off. After the previous day and my water woes I decided not to but one of our group did. We rode back and headed back to the resort after thanking the guides and planned to meet up for dinner before our last and late night excursion to the illuminating lagoon.
The lagoon is so pretty and every time there was movement in the water the species in the water start to glow, 3 of our group members decided to hop in while 2 of us stayed back. We headed back to the resort sadly because it was our last night there so we ordered room service and hopped in bed.
The next morning, we packed up then head to breakfast one last time outside, and said our goodbyes. Soon enough our airport shuttle picked us up and we headed to the departure lounge where I had a salad and some other food and waited for our flight to be called. Bye, bye Jamaica.
This trip was much needed for me because I recently started my new job and hadn’t been on vacation yet for that whole year, plus it’s always fun linking up with my girls. I can’t wait for our next trip, but til then back to work I went.
See below for more photos and video from our trip.
