Jamaica: How to do it all by yourself...

Don't worry, be happy!

I went here on Easter break away from teaching post overseas. Although I received mixed reviews on safety and how I would be able to survive, it proved to be a great experience.

My first flight of fancy was flying Air Jamaica. It is one wild party! There were people trying to dance in the aisles, people singing, and perhaps my flight was more eccentric, since I had a well-known comedian sitting in front of me. It was crazy. I've never been on a flight where people dared to light a cigarette and flight crew were cheery and knew they were just joking. It is certainly one flight that I will never ever forget! I'd do it again for sure! If you're uptight when flying, it's not the airline for you at all.

I spent my time at a hotel called Gloucestershire, which is directly across from the famous Doctor's Cave Beach. The beach itself is quite small and is lined with resorts to the right (Sandals), but it's nice patch of white sand. There's a charge to access the beach which keeps it clean and a you don't have to pay twice in a day which is nice for a budget traveller! The beach has two long piers that I walked, slept and sat on and posed those existential questions. I found the beach to get very crowded around noon so it's best to visit before closing which is around 6pm. Be prepared to share the beach. It is small.

Back to the hotel! The hotel is great; it's got a clean, nice pool and hot tub and serves free breakfast everyday! I had plenty of plaintains--fried bananas! In addition, I fell ill after eating at a fine dining restaurant (forget the name) across from Jimmy Buffet and located in the building with the casino and rainforest cafe. They used raw egg for the dressing, and I was NOT well after. Long story short--the staff at the hotel brought be ginger beer (similar to ginger ale--Canadian) and took very good care of me. So check out the hotel--very nice tourist booth too!

Quick Tips:

Safety:
I always felt safe during the day, but at night, it was a little daunting. I wouldn't suggest walking out late at night by yourself. The strip of Mobay is quite safe; however, it's not a compound, and local traffic does pass through it.

Jimmy Buffet's rocked--see my review on that.

Negril beach is a must-see and much, much longer! I would suggest staying there at least one night. I didn't, but there's a nice place called Treehouse Inn right on the beach along with many others.

Rick's cafe is nice for the view and sunset--it's in Negril.

Book your flight with Air Jamaica. It's worth the fun and frolic to get you into Jamaican spirit.

Best Way To Get Around:

Hire the tourist bus or a private taxi. I suggest going with a tour group: you'll meet people and learn about their fun and tips too.

Walk! Wear your sunscreen and walk! It's the best way to take pictures (neat street crossing signs) and to explore the beauty of Jamaican the local way.

The hotel is clean and very accessible to the Doctor's Cave beach. The hotel staff members are polite and able to help a foreigner such as myself survive Jamaica all by herself! My room had one queen-size bed, two lamps, a private bathroom, a safe, a TV ,and phone access. The decor is that bland flower print. I could do cartwheels in my room, it was so spacious for one soul, although many offers were made to keep me company! There's a safe to put your possessions in if you take any with you. I took my laptop to download pictures.

The hotel has its own tourist information centre and an individual can plan trips for you instantly and with ease.

The breakfast every morning is lovely. They serve ackee (fruit) and plantains (like a banana but inedible if raw), which are local dishes, along with tea, oatmeal, fruit, bacon, eggs, toast, muffins---the setup is lovely, and it was really, really nice to get breakfast in the morning and find an interesting place for lunch and dinner.

The pool is great, but nobody uses it because there's a beach right next door! I wish they had more than one hot tub because that seemed to be the busiest place in the back. I put it in as a suggestion, so perhaps you'll see another one if you go, after reading my review, of course!

If you're between 21 and 60, it's the place for you. You'll feel safe. They lock up early, but there's a guard to allow you back in when you're out late from dancing and wining. They care about you at this hotel. The bar guy was friendly and a fan of football (soccer), too!

Happy travels and sweet dreams at Gloucestershire Hotel!

He gestures to buy me a drink from the other side of the bar. I laugh and gesture a "no thanks." Later that night, I find myself laughin' and talkin' in his company.

Jimmy's in MoBay is a fun, safe, and packed place to be when you want to go out in MoBay. The music covers '80s, hip-hop, reggae, and soca. The crowd is mixed, with locals and tourists, and in my opinion, it's worth dancing with locals and getting to know them since they truly capture Jamaican spirit.

The lighting is great and two bars hosted on two different levels cater to those who want to dance and drink and those who prefer sitting and listening to some live music. I found myself dancing away and then wandering upstairs to take a break to get to know my dance partner(s)! The place overlooks the water, so when you feel hot, it's good to get away from the crowd and watch the waves and cool off.

There is a cover, about $10, to get in, and it depends if you pay. I was there almost every night and the staff became like family for the Easter break.

It's safe and worth checking out along Gloucester Avenue, especially if you like dancing with some fine people! They have a local band up until 8pm playing pan and local reggae tunes, and then it's the DJs place after that!

I liked this place because not only did it have wicked dance tunes and great space, but it had two floors for different atmospheres, and above all, the staff is exceptionally considerate and respectable.

I met people from 17 to 45, so if you're (travelling alone especially or with a group) looking for place to people watch, dance, lounge, and drink, this place is it in MoBay--no doubt.

He asked me to sign a paper releasing any liability--if I were to be killed, they would take no responsibility. I looked up from where I sat and signed on the dotted line...

If you're looking for a view of Jamaica's 7-mile white beach from the sky, you must try parasailing! It's safe, and yes, they make you sign a paper before being whisked away in the sky, but that's the only moment of fear.

I took my camera up with me, which is not recommended, because they're not going to fish it out for ya if it falls. I took some great shots and loved it! They make you sit in a harness and buckle you in with a lifesaver vest. You can go up with pairs or by yourself. Don't wear your flip-flops, and I recommend wearing a pair of shorts on top of your bikini bottom--ya just never know!

It's amazing to be sailing up in the air and to see the patches of crystal-blue and marine-coloured water from the sky. It's a great ride and worth it. It cost $40 to go up for about 10 minutes and watch about four others go up as well. In that time, you also have a chance to view the beach from offshore.

Swimming in Negril is great because you can go really far out from the shore and be neck deep in crystal-clear water and still be really far out. It's great for those who are afraid of adventuring out in the water, because it's not too deep at all.

It was nice for a solo traveller because I got a chance to talk to other people about what else I should do while in Negril, and they suggested Rick's cafe!

Guess where I went next?

With food in bag and towel in hand, I nestled myself under the terrace roof and my feet into the hot sand--in the early morning.

Doctor's Cave Beach is a small beach that is used by mostly tourist and few locals. It is nestled on Gloucester Avenue, right beside the Sandal resort.

They have scuba diving lessons off two long piers that project into the water, and I found myself relaxing and watching the water in the morning and late evening here. It's a crowded beach by mid-day, so if you're looking for space, I wouldn't recommend it at all.

I liked it in the early morning and late evening. There weren't many people around, and I like beaches where there is space!

The beach is clean, and there is a nice terrace to sit on and look over the beach. I sat there when I couldn't spot a place to sit on the beach!

The charge is about $4 to use the beach, and you won't be charged for the day. They have noodles and boards for children. Umbrellas and chairs can be rented, too.

It's easily accessible if you're staying on the Gloucester Avenue strip, so check it out and be prepared to share sand!