The first vacation that officially unlocked my travel bug was Montego Bay, Jamaica for Thanksgiving 2018. My friend invited me to join her family on vacation but I was originally hesitant. It was my last semester of college and at the time, I didn’t have a job nor did I have one lined up for after graduation. I did, however, have my teach abroad planned and was nervous that between that program, not having a job, potential moving expenses after graduation, and now this trip, I was going to be broke. I’m glad I decided to say yes though because the whole trip (flight and all inclusive resort) only cost me about $1000 for a week. I’ve always been pretty good at saving and because I did end up finding a job after graduation, I did not end up broke LOL. Everything worked out and I got to go on my first fun vacation (because my actual first vacations were not fun memories LOL).
During our trip, we stayed at the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa which was nice. I would definitely recommend it, esp. for families traveling to Jamaica. Here are some of the deets below:
Hotel
The Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa is a nice, family friendly resort about 30 minutes from the airport. There is also a sister resort, Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa, that I imagine is pretty similar. The resort is on a large property with over 500 rooms, multiple pool areas, a kids waterpark, free wi-fi, and plenty of bars and restaurants. The resort also has direct beach access which is great. The property is perfect for a relaxing getaway because everything you need is at your fingertips!
Rooms
During our vacation, we stayed in a junior suite with a king bed, flat screen tv, a living area, and a furnished balcony. Taking a quick peek at the website, this room would probably cost about $1600 for a week. They offer junior suites and regular suites with a variety of views, including garden, pool, and beach. The rooms are placed all around the property and can be accessed either by foot or using the resort’s property shuttle.
Food and Drinks
The best part of all inclusive is unlimited food and drinks! The property has a variety of food options to fulfill many different cravings. Some options include Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Indian, Barbeque, Creole-Jamaican, and fish and rice. They also had a sports bar, a café area, and multiple buffets. There are also plenty of bars all over the property, including a swim up bar in the main pool. The “Bob Marley” is one of the resort’s popular cocktails with the colors of the Jamaican flag.
Entertainment
There is plenty to do on the property for adults and children. There are 4 different pools to relax in and a small waterpark to entertain the children. You can also catch live shows (we watched fire dancers), dance in one of the club rooms, play life sized games (I believe they had checkers), play in the various sports facilities, etc. Lastly, the beach is easy access which means you can relax or participate in some water sports. Kayaks, snorkeling, paddle boat, and windsurfing are all free while catamarans, diving courses, sailing courses, windsurfing courses, and motorized sports can be done for additional charge.
Things to Do Nearby
Because the property has a lot to offer, we spent most of our time at the resort. However, we did sign up for a tour through the property to visit local shops and visit the nearby Rick’s Café. Rick’s Café is famous for beautiful sunset views and exhilarating cliff jumps. The restaurant is visited by locals and tourists daily. If you love a good adventure, this is your place! There are three heights you can jump from—10 ft., 25 ft., and 35 ft. I believe most people choose the 25 ft. jump. If you prefer to play it safe, it’s also interesting to watch others jump, eat, drink, and watch the beautiful sunset. Whatever you choose, I would definitely recommend this Café! In fact, this may have been my favorite part of vacation overall.
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