We’ve all got it: a travel bucket list. I just call mine “the list”. It’s the only list I get excited to ✔️ Check off.
Most of the places that top people’s “lists” are distant and exotic: Maldives, Barcelona, Fiji, Bali, Hawaii, Greece. Maybe the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or the south of France, or Rome...
What if you could find lush beauty, pristine water, deep-rooted culture and white sand closer to home? We all know the Carribbean is beautiful but I’ve noticed most carribbean islands haven’t made it to the top of many people’s “lists” because they are relatively close and inexpensive. Jamaica doesn’t sound as exotic as the Maldives, does it?
I’m here to change your mind.
This is my favorite spot on earth (so far). A close second would be the top of China Man’s hat island just north of Oahu, but if you factor in convenience, it’s this, my favorite spot.
It’s a small shaded area under an almond tree (I think, I’m no botanist). This photo was not edited, photoshopped or even insta-filtered. I snapped it quickly while walking by, on my way to dinner, because I wanted to make sure I remembered to capture it before it got dark. I bet you can find more glorious, dramatic and saturated Jamaican beach scenes ( I even have some on my phone), but this wasn’t shot to be a cute (overly edited) Facebook cover photo. It was shot to just capture the feeling of being in that place. The water is calm, all of the colors are subdued because the sun is lower in the sky. The tree makes a frame around the sun and the stairs lead you to open water, which calms me down just by looking at it.
The water is completely clear. You can see your toes clearly from 5 and a half feet above.
There are many gorgeous beaches in the world. Hundreds of top-rated, crystal-clear-water gems exist all over the globe. I want to see as many of them as I possibly can, but if there were one that had it al, it would be in Jamaica.
Why (besides the beauty)? Well, neither you nor I have all day so I’ll keep this concise:
- The people.
I live in a tourist town. Everyone complains about it constantly. It’s like they don’t realize that tourism drives our economy...
In Jamaica, they get it. Tourism is #1 and tourists here are family. When you exit the airport and head to your cab they ask “your first time in Jamaica?” If you say yes, they will tell you all there is to love about the country. If you say “no” they say “Welcome home”.
Ahhhhhh... nothing makes me smile quite like thinking of Jamaica when I hear the word “home”.
I’ve spent enough time around New York to know when people are being fake nice to sell a product (hello 15 years in retail!). These people are not faking anything. They love tourists. They want to show you their world. They want to welcome you to it.
2. THE FOOD!!!!
This one deserves that many exclamation points. The freaking food. It’s amazing. I crave jerk chicken all year until I can get back to Jamaica.
The food is fresh and REAL. They have KFC and it’s regarded by the locals as the best friend chicken on the island (wait, what!?). They say it tastes nothing like it does in the states, it’s real fried chicken with the perfect spice combo. I regret not trying it myself it just seemed so... odd... to have fast food in a country with such rich local goodness.
The seafood is obviously fresh and amazing. The scallops are plentiful and buttery, and if you’re a crawfish fan they are plentiful.
The best part: any sauces, dressings or toppings made with jerk sauce are legit. They will make pretty much anything out of jerk sauce. Eat it all.
The food is amazing, just believe me.
3. THE RUM.
Just try it. Sandals resorts who serve top shelf liquor use the same rum as 3 star resorts that serve bottom shelf: Appleton. Why? Because it’s local so it’s affordable but it’s SO good. Try the rum cream too, put it in your coffee.
4. The Music.
The Bob Marley love is real here. He’s a hero. You will hear his top hits played over and over; in the airport, at the resort, in the restaurants. I never got tired of hearing it though, his music is an anthem to all things beachy and relaxing. He was also an advocate for uniting Africans world-wide and the liberation of African countries affected by imperialism. Admirable, ambitious, and talented. Even if you don’t consider yourself a fan of reggae, these songs will be stuck in your head for weeks after you return and it will be bring up all of the best memories. Music has a way of doing that.
5. The convenience.
This isn’t emphasized enough with those hardcore travel backpackers and IG influencers. Convenience is important to consider when traveling to another country. How many hours will you be on a plane? What language do they speak? Is US currency accepted, and if not what’s the exchange rate? Is the water clean enough to drink? Is it safe to walk around at night? During the day? Ever? Do you rent a car or is there plentiful transportation? DO I NEED TO DRIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD? How close is the airport to your destination? I could go on...
Jamaica is just so easy ...
the flight from anywhere in the US is 4 hours or less. (Maybe 5 from Seattle) . They speak English but they also speak Patois so you can communicate easily and you can learn something new. They are in the eastern time zone in the winter and central time in the summer, so that’s not unfamiliar. (No daylight savings). The water is fresh and pure and tastes way better than any water I’ve had in the states. You would need to drive on the left side of the roads but cabs and transportation companies are plentiful.
Crime is pretty high, so safety should be considered, but you are safe on a resort. Plus, their police want to protect the tourists. Just be alert if you do leave your resort.
Getting through customs is a quick process every time I’ve gone. There is free WiFi in the airport to get you started.
It’s. Just. Easy.
Learning about another culture, currency and language is fulfilling and fun, but what if you could do that while having the comfort of your home language and culture present while you learn. American culture is very present in Jamaica, but if you get to know the locals, you will fall in love with this island.
So you can plan a trip to Bali or Fiji (and you SHOULD) but if you need a beautiful beach getaway with plenty of culture, don’t think you need to go all the way to Fiji. It’s right here, just a few hundred miles south.
Perfection.
I give the sunsets and A+
Now that’s a “#nofilter” photo worth posting. Yes, this is real life.
happy travels
Stephanie
