Our Trip to Jamaica!

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This past week we took a trip to Jamaica for my birthday and to say the least, it was epic! Greg and I are really intentional about making sure our children stay grounded in our culture. As first generation American & British, it can be easy to adapt to the ways of modern society.

After all, the environment in which we live influences us a great deal. The last time we came to Jamaica was in 2018. 2020 was a tough year with the entire world being shut down, so we didn’t travel. When the world opened back up, we packed our bags and said, “Let’s go to Jamaica!!”

The Process

My mother and sister traveled with us. Getting a family of 6 to travel internationally was no easy feat. Passport applications are backed up by weeks, and the application process was grueling. Before traveling to Jamaica, you have to fill out a Travel Authorization form within 7 days of your departure. Apply here:

https://www.visitjamaica.com Once you get the okay to travel, directions will appear regarding your need to stay within resilient corridors. Businesses have been prepped by the government and follow strict guidelines in order to keep tourists safe.

Do I need a Covid Test?

The answer is yes. You need a Rapid Antigen Covid Test or PCR dated within 72 hours of your departure that states you have tested negative for Covid-19. Without written proof, you will not be able to board your flight.

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Where did we Stay?

This time around we stayed at Ocean Coral Springs Resort in Falmouth, Jamaica. It is located in the parish of Trelawny.

How did we Like our Stay?

I’d give this resort a solid 3 out of 5 stars. The beginning of our stay was tainted with concerns about the cleanliness of the rooms and the responsiveness of staff. We did take advantage of the Privilege package that allowed us access to exclusive restaurants and lounges. The Privilege package also guaranteed us top shelf liquor and butler service. Our butler created a group chat for the trip and every morning he texted the restaurant schedule to us, and asked if we’d like to make any reservations. Our butler made reservations on our behalf which was convenient.

This resort gets 5 stars for being family friendly. This is really a resort to stay at if you are travelling with kids. They have a Daisy Club which looks after your children for the day and keeps them occupied with activities so the adults can have time to themselves. They have a playground and kids water park on the premises and they also have a bowling alley, a teen club with video games, and a theatre.

Towards the middle of our stay, we had more concerns with the cleanliness of the restaurants we ate in. We eventually escalated our concerns to a manager and the manager was responsive. He immediately addressed our concerns and created a wonderful birthday dinner experience for my husband and I on the beach.

How was the Food?

The food was sometimes hit or miss. They have a variety of restaurants to choose from. A Hibachi restaurant, classic American food, authentic Caribbean food, all were available. I had an amazing conch soup at the Sugar Cane restaurant. The curry goat could have been seasoned and cooked better, but the jerk steak was amazing. The breakfast buffet had trouble keeping the food warm, so I opted for freshly made omelettes, and if you have the Privilege package, you can eat at the Privilege Lounge and have all your meals made to order.

Take a Look at Our Jamaica Travel Vlog on YouTube!