Although I was born and raised in the U.S., Jamaica always feels like home. I also have a great time visiting family and friends and make it a point to do something new every time I go there. This year my family spent a little over a week; spending half our time at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort All-Inclusive in Montego Bay and the rest of the time with friends and family in Kingston, Spanish Town and Portmore.
Resort Life – Montego Bay
We did the resort first. It was a great family friendly resort, truth be told it’s the first time I’ve been to an all inclusive resort. It was great because we didn’t have to worry about food and drinks the entire time. Of course the resort made a great attempt at serving classic Jamaican dishes, which was good, but not as great as some of the roadside stops and box food you get in town. They also fused with American favorites as well, which made it well balanced for those less adventurous. The Jerk Hut was my favorite spot for a quick snack in the afternoons. The activities and access to the beach, pool, onsite activities and ability to leave the resort via tourist excursions was great. The sailboat ride was much faster than I expected.
Bus to Town
We took the Knutsford Bus from Montego Bay to New Kingston, best experience traveling across the island ever. Previously we’ve always had someone drive us across town, which can be a hassle with bags, car space, timing and cost. the Knustford Bus was a perfect alternative. They offer WIFI connection, movies and make stops to major location across the island. I’d definitely use them again to get the best of both worlds.
Classic Favorites – Hellshire Beach & Devon House
Devon House is home to my favorite ice cream, fruit basket, it’s the only place I’ve been able to get this flavor and I enjoy it every time I visit Jamaica. Getting fried fish at Hellshire Beach is always the best. Select your fish and have it fried to order; seasoned to perfection and topped with pickled onions and peppers. You can’t have fried fish without festival! I washed it all down with a Ting.
New adventure – Port Royal
Visiting Port Royal was a great new experience. The port is filled with historical nostalgia. We got there too late for a guided tour, but walked around the grounds and saw the Giddy House before making our way to a roadside spot where we ate seafood, specifically conch and lobster. I had conch soup, but it was available cooked to order and seasoned with your choice of garlic, jerk or curry. I sampled my cousin’s jerk conch and garlic lobster…amazing!
The ultimate joy was spending time with family and waking up to doing absolutely nothing!
Mikelah
Mikelah is a Caribbean Culture expert, curating the bridge between the Caribbean and its diaspora. A CUNY Baruch College graduate with a BBA in Marketing. With previous experience with Caribbean lifestyle brands such as VP Records, Tempo TV and JAMROCK Magazine. Currently serving as a digital marketing maven by day, while continuing to collaborate with Caribbean brands.
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