talking shop MY RECENT HOLIDAY TO...
Famtastic 'I dos' in Antigua
My Recent Holiday to... Jamaica
Mae Swan-Easton Travel Counsellor
One of 10 lucky agents who joined a weddings and honeymoons fam trip to Antigua, Julie Arksey tells all. "Antigua is a stunning location for
weddings of all sizes. Without some of the red-tape found in other places, it’s easier to say 'I do' – just pick a beach, a historic spot overlooking the azure waters, or a traditional church. "Home of Liat, it’s easy to twin Antigua with other Caribbean islands and many resorts offer free wedding packages so it's for all budgets. We spent four nights at the fun Jolly
Beach, with superb food at Bocciolo's, and a good spa. St James Club was next, where the new adult-only Royal St James Club had spacious rooms with bathrooms to die for and The Verandah, where the semi-detached villas on stilts all face the sea." Best of the rest: Curtain Bluff – the Caribbean's best- stocked wine cellar, gorgeous ocean- facing rooms and calm oasis of a spa; Blue Waters – voted ‘best waterfront villas in the world'; The Inn at English Harbour – quintessentially English, with manicured lawns and lovely views.
I last visited Jamaica 10 years ago when the roads were full of potholes and you got constantly hassled on the beaches and in the shops by locals selling their wares. What a difference a decade makes! The roads heading north and south of
Montego Bay are smooth, and apart from the odd jewellery seller on the beach, the main interruption was local musicians playing reggae music and singing Bob Marley tracks to the tourists. But bargain hunters rest assured – the
local craft markets are still full of enthusiastic stall holders who want you to see their wood carvings and handmade jewellery. These days Jamaica truly has
something for everyone, whether a family, couple, group of friends or prospective bride and groom. Where else can you climb a waterfall in the morning, zip line over a rainforest in the afternoon and horse ride in the ocean
surf at sunset – and still finish off the day with a visit to lively ’Margaretville’for drinks & dancing in the evening? If you prefer to chill out and relax then there’s rafting on the Martha Brae River, swimming with dolphins at Dolphin Cove or sugar plantation tours giving you an insight into Jamaica’s history. There are some things you should
look out for to buy in Jamaica: Appleton Rum which has been distilled since 1749 – you can learn about the history of the Appleton Estate on a guided tour with some goodies to sample at the end; PlusCuban cigars (Jamaica is just 276 miles away, after all); Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee; quirky Jamaican T-shirts with slogans such as ‘Yeh Mon’, ‘One Love’ and ‘No Problem’ emblazoned across the front; chocolate
Above: Getting 'Sweptaway' in Negril Below: Mae and husband Mick
diamonds; and beaded jewellery. Tell your clients to barter, as it’s expected, even in the smart jewellery shops. We chose to stay at Couples Sans Souci and Couples Sweptaway in Negril. It was a good combination: the resorts and hotels are completely different from each other and it felt like we were having two holidays in one. Both had fabulous spas, excellent service always with a smile and the food was of a really high quality. There was definitely a very different
vibe to Jamaica this time around than 10 years ago and I will now have no hesitation at all in recommending the island to any of my clients.
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