My Best Vacation Ever - Jamaica

A few years ago, my husband and I took what I would term a "trip of a lifetime." We went to Jamaica for a week. This was especially meaningful because we had been through a tough year financially and health-wise, so the respite was greatly needed and even more appreciated than it would have been under normal circumstances.

We stayed at an all inclusive resort called Couples in Ocho Rios, which is on the southern side of the country. And it was really an all inclusive. We enjoyed food and drink virtually 24 hours a day. The fruit was incredible. The hotel also offered a range of activiites for free. You could take scuba diving lessons, go horseback riding, visit Bob Marley's grave, sail and fish for free. Equipment and lessons if needed were provided. It's not a shopping mecca, so if that's your cup of tea, you may want to go elsewhere. If you're into beaches, this is the place for you. It was the most relaxing week of my life.

My husband arranged all the details of the trip and that made it so special. I hate to fly on crop-dusters and I often dread the fatigue associated with airports. My husband booked a hotel close to the airport. Both trips, we were in and out of the airport in no time. On the return trip, it was just a huge comfort to know that a nice hotel room was waiting for us as soon as we landed. The hotel even allowed us to park our car there while we were on our trip.

He also researched resorts very carefully. This one only accepts couples. No families and no large groups of partying college kids. It was perfect for us. It offered some nightlife, but we were going to relax and enjoy each other's company. This was the perfect place for us.

The best thing about our trip was without a doubt the people. The people we met were wonderful. It has to be rooted in their "be happy" culture. I can't imagine that there's enough money in the world to "pay" people to be as warm and as welcoming as the people in the airport, in the hotel, at restaurants, everywhere we went.

Jamaica does have a completely vibe to it. I grew to love reggae music. I passed up the dreadlocks, but became addicted to papaya. (That's still driving my small town grocer crazy.) If you're fortunate to ever find yourself in Jamaica, please go snorkeling. the fish are amazing and the water is crystal blue. It's probably going to rank in the final top ten experiences of my life.

The beaches are so different. I've been to beaches all over Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, California, even New England. The water in Jamaica was just so warm and so blue. The resort had the greatest float loungers and I literally spent half of my vacation just drifting at sea.

Everything wasn't perfect. Jamaica is a very poor (in the financial sense) country and we did see some very impoverished living conditions. Even the best resorts aren't going to be exactly American, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The food is a little different, the water pressure a little less, but who cares? You're in Jamaica.

We had been warned by others about dangerous conditions and crimes against tourists. We saw no evidence of this whatsoever.

Thanks for letting me share these great memories.