About Marie Watkins Expertise All-inclusive Jamaica weddings, honeymoons, and vacations. Specific information on Jamaican resorts, the tours, the beaches, the shopping. Marriage requirements, where and how you can enjoy free weddings - what`s included in the free wedding packages, etc.
Question hiya,
i have just booked a holiday to the holiday inn, sunspree in jamaica for june this year with my family. I have been looking on the web and have found some really bad reports about it. There is also a quite recent review which was good and says that it is being renovated. Should i go or change my hotel...any suggestions?
Also is jamaica safe in terms of leaving the resort?
Thanks
Alana
Answer Hi Alana:
Thank you for your email. Please accept my apologies for not responding right away. I had a family emergency which necessitated my being away for nearly 2 weeks. In my haste to leave, I neglected to, temporarily, suspend emails from All Experts. I hope this information is not too late. Again, please accept my apologies.
To answer your question:
I, too, understand that the Holiday Inn has had some refurbishing done. Exactly what has been done, I haven't been able to find out. And I have not personlly seen the refurbishing. I expect I will when I travel to Jamaica in a few months but at this moment, I do not have a personal report I can offer.
You did not say what areas you were particularly concerned about so I'm not able to address any specifics. I do know, however, that the resort has always offered families a terrific vacation at an affordable price.
Jamaica is such a beautiful destination, you'll want to explore. In matters of safety, the same common sense approach works well whether you're at home or in an unfamiliar foreign city anywhere in the world - that is, stick to the main shopping areas, and while you're out shopping, avoid wearing flashy or expensive jewellery, or displaying large amounts of cash.
For things to do, I'd recommend any of several sightseeing tours available for purchase from your hotel tour desk. Consider a day trip to Ocho Rios (about a 2-hour drive) and take the invigorating climb up Dunns River Falls, and later go for a swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Cove. Nearer home, you might try a Swamp Safari, a gentle a day raft ride down the Martha Brae river, a day cruise, or the MoBay Undersea tour.
A trip to Jamaica is incomplete without some shopping so you can visit the local crafts market or (my personal preference) just walk the "hip strip" in Montego Bay. There you'll find duty free shops, local crafts, and souvenir items. Don't forget to take home some rum (there are different flavors), some Blue Mountain coffee (among the best in the world), some liquers (many different flavors), and local spices (like the local jerk sauce, for example).
It's always fun to work in local currency so you can change some money if you'd like (just for the experience). However, the US dollar is widely accepted in the stores and there really is no need to change to local currency. If you do decide to change some money, be sure to do so at the official Bureau de Change or Bank. You'll be given a receipt and you'll need to produce this receipt to change your money back into US dollars when you leave. Generally, $20-$50 should be adequate to change into local currency if you'd like. You can change money at your hotel, the Bureau de Change at the airport (immediately in front of the Immigration area before you go downstairs to Baggage Claim), or at a local bank while you are out shopping.
One other thing that you can take advantage of is the Jamaican "Meet the People" program. This is organized by the Jamaica Tourist Board. Depending on your interests or profession, the Tourist Board will match you up with a local family. Sometimes you'll be invited to the home of that person, or to pursue an activity of common interest with a Jamaican family. If you're interested in this program, you can contact the Jamaica Tourist Board in New York at 1-800-233-4582.
Alana. I hope this information helps. Again, my apologies for the late response
