“When you think of the perfect luxury holiday, you might dream of sinking your toes into pleasingly soft sands while enjoying an exquisite al fresco lunch under a golden afternoon sun, with the promise of the evening not far behind.
Or perhaps you dream of wading through sapphire-blue shallows before diving into a deeper kind of blue, then wading back to shore to sip a frosted craft cocktail made with local rum, before retiring to an opulent room with a sea view.
But an indulgent, u200bunforgettable escape isn’t only about finding an idyllic beach with a bar attached and palatial accommodation. Standouts include Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay – the luxury travel brand’s first ever Sandals resort that, thanks to its over-the-water villas, beautiful cove beaches and private offshore island, remains a flagship resort today.
Theres nothing quite like watching the sunrise from Half Moons elegant infinity pool
Close by, the historic Half Moon oozes colonial charm, and counts Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Rainier of Monaco and John F Kennedy among its high-profile past guests.
Or, in the pretty little banana port of Oracabessa, check in to the secluded GoldenEye. This laid-back yet luxurious resort with its own beach, coves, and lagoon is centred around the Fleming Villa, where Ian Fleming famously wrote all 14 James Bond novels.
While at GoldenEye, why not pay a visit to Firefly? You might find yourself caught up in a carnival – Jamaica knows how to celebrate and it does so with verve during Rebel Salute which takes place every January and July’s Reggae Sumfest. Just ask James Bond: in Live and Let Die, Ian Fleming’s special agent proclaims Blue Mountain Coffee “the most delicious in the world”.
For a dramatic mini-adventure, you could take a helicopter flight over those rugged mountains enveloped in misty blue air, or more active types could hike or bike through their cool, fragrant woodlands before rewarding themselves with a deliciously reviving cup of Blue Mountain coffee.
More of Jamaica’s authentic, natural side can be enjoyed by floating along the Rio Grande River or if you’re staying in Negril or Montego Bay, the Martha Brae River, on your own bamboo raft.
You’ll be piloted by an experienced and knowledgeable captain who will point out former banana plantations, trees groaning with mouth-watering mangoes, and tiny, delicate hummingbirds flitting through the lush greenery. Be pampered in a tranquil, ocean-front spa like the one at Jamaica Inn – where treatments utilise local ingredients like Blue Mountain coffee and organic coconuts – while listening to waves lap the shore.
Or simply relax in a hammock by your infinity pool, or on a beach such as Frenchman’s Cove – a small strip of postcard-perfect white sand ringed by miniature forested headlands and flanked by a perfectly turquoise lagoon.
Whatever you choose to focus on – wellness, watersports, wildlife, or a little of everything – it’s worth knowing that arrivals and departures come with a typically tropical Jamaican twist, with VIP airport lounges Club Mobay and Club Kingston at Sangster in Montego Bay and Norman Manley in Kingston turning what is usually an endurance test into an indulgence – ensuring that your Jamaican sojourn remains irresistible and effortless from end to end.
For more inspiration, head to visitjamaica.com”,
