DESTINATIONS CARIBBEAN | JAMAICA
hotels HOT
Princess Grand Jamaica, a new luxury enclave, made its debut on Negril’s sprawling beachfront last winter, offering 1,005 suites, glossy interiors and room categories that
include swim-up, overwater and special couple’s suites, butler- serviced rooms, family areas
and adult-only section Princess Senses The Mangrove. Highlights include the huge
range of culinary options and a Jamaican snack truck serving tasty patties. From £327 per night, all-inclusive.
princess-hotels.com
ABOVE: The fam trip agents explore the island; rafting on the Martha Brae River
Ocho Rios is ideal for travellers who want to see the island’s highlights, with two top attractions on its doorstep – Dunn’s River Falls and Mystic Mountain. Climbing the tiered cascades
of Dunn’s River as they tumble down to the beach is an utterly enchanting immersion in the island’s tropical lanscapes, while jungle theme park Mystic Mountain has an exhilaratingly high perch above Ocho Rios. A chairlift swings us to the top where the bobsled from classic movie Cool Runnings zooms down through the forest. The park reopened last year following a revamp and features the fun Raggamuffin coaster that tosses riders around on the hilltop, as well as a treetop adventure course and a quintessentially Jamaican picnic area serving up Red Stripe beer with a reggae soundtrack kept fresh by breakout island artists such as Chronixx, Protoje and Koffee.
NATURE’S BOUNTY Visitors staying in Montego Bay, around 90 minutes away, have their share of natural attractions too, starting with Martha Brae
58 28 AUGUST 2025 Jamaica’s flavours
make the island stand out as a beach destination with extra bite
river rafting. On a gentle journey aboard a bamboo raft powered by gondolier Fred, it’s easy to imagine the days when this emerald river was used to transport fresh produce to the historic port of Falmouth. Fred hops off the raft to fetch
fragrant Jamaican rose apples from BOOK IT
Kuoni offers a 10-night, two-centre package with three nights, including breakfast, at S Hotel Kingston and seven nights’ all-inclusive at S Hotel Montego Bay from £3,499 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights and excursions to Dunn’s River Falls and the Blue Hole.
kuoni.co.uk
Caribtours offers seven nights at Half Moon resort, staying on a room-only basis, including return flights, private transfers and access to a UK airport lounge from £2,675 per person.
caribtours.co.uk
Half Moon The Jamaica Tourist Board has trade resources available at
visitjamaica.com
travelweekly.co.uk
his neighbour’s tree while I sip from a freshly hacked coconut bought at a riverside stall. As we float downstream, mangoes, breadfruit, walnuts, almonds and figs appear in the canopy all around, the source of the fresh produce I had seen while browsing the fruit stalls of Ackee Walk in Kingston. It’s a far cry from the plastic-wrapped fruit and veg in our supermarket aisles. Jamaica is, quite literally, infused with flavour. Spicy, sweet, aromatic and bold, it makes the island stand out as a tropical beach destination with extra bite – and the real jerk experience alone is worth coming back for.
TW
Princess Grand
Half Moon is a favourite of the royal family and boasts a 70-year heritage, but it
remains fresh-faced thanks to timely tweaks and additions. After an update to its tasteful Founders Cove cottages, the resort added the swish Eclipse Great House with its 33 suites and sanctuary- like Fern Tree spa in 2020, and recently overhauled its luxury villa collection with seven plush oceanfront
pads. Highlights include the
resort’s renowned Sugar Mill restaurant, horse stables and a turtle nesting beach. From £337 per night room-only.
halfmoon.com
PICTURES: Shenika Ramsay/Jamaica Tourist Board; Princess Hotels & Resorts; Shutterstock/toya1970
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