JAMAICA
TRIPPING Clockwise from left: Martha Brae River; Chukka Caribbean Adventures; Rick’s Café
Of course, we had a look at some of the other room categories, and the ones with private hot tubs and
rainforest showers were stunning. But ours was pretty perfect with two large beds, an extra sofa bed; massive bathroom with whirlpool tub, and its own private terrace. Plus, our mini fridge had soft drinks and snacks as well as waters, and anything we used was replaced next day. There are walkways in all directions at Grand Palladium, flanked by beautifully maintained gardens and cleverly incorporating covered sections, meaning if you walk from one end of the resort to the other, you can stay in the shade if you prefer: great for kids. And when you don’t want to walk, golf buggies are always cruising around, another of the little touches which make this such a good resort for families When you’re holidaying with kids, choice is important, and we tried a few of the à la carte restaurants as well as the buffets. Our favourites were, Bhopali Indian restaurant, and the seafood restaurant, Poseidon. Although we loved the buffet breakfasts and lunches at Mo’Bay, and breakfast at Blue Lagoon, complete with saxophonist, chirping birds and pool views, was a feast for the senses. Another win was the sports bar, which had the coldest aircon, as well as food available all day. And the Jerk Hut for those classic Caribbean feels didn’t disappoint – you’ll find one by the main pool, and the other at Sunset Cove. There’s also a little beach bar with fresh coconuts, harvested daily. It was hard to leave the resort, particularly as we were enjoying such good weather in October’s so-called ‘rainy season’. But as it was our first visit to Jamaica, we had to fit in some exploring. Our first trip took us bamboo river rafting on the Martha Brae River; a serene experience where our gracious skipper sailed us downriver as we lay back, took pictures, and enjoyed the peace. We also joined an early evening tour to legendary Rick’s Café; currently celebrating 50 years of drawing huge crowds, and famous for stunning sunsets and people leaping off its impressive cliffs into the sea. One guy stood on his hands to walk towards the edge, before somersaulting in, which made us think he’d done this before. It’s probably not the best place for younger kids after dark, as the music gets loud and the guests do too so, once we’d seen the sunset, we hopped on our bus for the 30-minute journey back to Grand Palladium, and a well-earned dinner.
Our last trip was a fantastic catamaran excursion with Chukka Caribbean Adventures. We had a crew of four
including a DJ, and moored up in a pretty bay to snorkel the reef before floating around with handy inflatables. Drink service in the sea was like the ultimate swim-up bar and even non-swimmers got to snorkel, with the help of the lovely crew. A half-day is ideal for this trip, and it works for most kids as there is plenty of shade in the rear section of the boat. A final indulgence was putting luxurious Zentropia Spa to the test. Turns out the massage therapists are excellent at soothing away the knots of modern life with charmingly upbeat energy, plus the hydrotherapy centre is a lovely, shaded alternative to the main pool. We would 100% return to the Grand Palladium Resort. It’s so welcoming, so easy, and the feelgood factor lasted well into the cold UK winter. We also loved being surrounded by so much amazing scenery, and warmth of the friendly staff who exude an enviable sense of not taking life too seriously: because we’re ‘feeling irie’.
the lowdown
HOW TO GET THERE Direct UK flights to Montego Bay from 10 hours WHERE TO STAY Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa, Junior Suite Garden View, all-inclusive (2 adults, 2 children) from £101 per night palladiumhotelgroup.com GOOD TO KNOW Jamaica Rafting
jamaicarafting.com Rick’s Caf é Jamaica rickscafejamaica.com Chukka Caribbean Adventures chukka.com
54
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator