Luxury travel ideas in Jamaica

Jamaica is among the handful of fantasy destinations scattered across the globe – the white sandy beaches, tropical climate, relaxed atmosphere and fabulous culture making it a must see location.

British tourists account for some ten per cent of all international holidaymakers to the island, making them the second largest group of visitors to this Caribbean paradise.

Around 100,000 visit each year, coming to explore the grand history and dynamic, modern culture of Kingston, the hip clubs and lavish resorts of Montego Bay, and the picturesque coast of Negril.

Here travelbite.co.uk takes a look at what is new on the island, and offers a few suggestions on where to stay.

New attractions in Jamaica

Thrill seekers and nature lovers now have even more reason to visit Jamaica, with four brand new attractions open for business. From zip-line canopy tours to performance driving, this Caribbean destination has something for everyone.

Chief among them is Misty Morning – named in honour of the Bob Marley track - at Montpelier Estate, operated by Chukka Caribbean, which offers environmentally friendly tours around the island from 05:00.

Meanwhile, travellers looking for a little more excitement can check out Mystic Mountain.

Located 700 feet above sea level, this eco-friendly adventure park in Ocho Rios offers a range of exhilarating soft adventure rides which sweep visitors through Jamaica’s lush mountains.

Must-do activities include the Rainforest Sky Explorer – a 30-minute excursion on an open chairlift over treetops and the Zip-line Canopy Tour, which flies over the rainforest canopy and limestone cliffs.

For history lovers, the Outameni Experience is a unique blend of music, art, dance, film, drama and authentic Jamaican cuisine.

This virtual journey through 500 years of Jamaican history is brought to life by lively song and dance performances.

Finally, car lovers can experience the Jamspeed Rally Experience in Rose Hall; the first authentic performance driving school in the Caribbean offering a thrilling circuit-drive in a range of top cars.

There is really nothing like driving a car down a narrow dirt road at high speed – and here is the place to try.

Meet the People

For those looking to get closer to the local culture of Jamaica, the island's tourist board has developed the increasingly popular Meet the People programme.

Guests on the programme are matched with one of over 700 Jamaican volunteers who share similar religious, occupational or leisure interests. Then, in true Jamaican spirit, these volunteers offer a hand of friendship and hospitality to visitors who want to veer off the beaten track and are genuinely interested in the Jamaican way of life.

The host may take visitors on a personalised tour of their hometown or invite them to a family dinner, local sporting event, reggae concert, or church service.

More information here.

Sports focus

In celebration of this summer's Olympic Games in China – where Jamaica won six gold medals - the island has launched a bid to position itself as a destination of sporting excellence.

The strategy will encompass a wide range of sports and activities, with the support of sporting ambassadors - including 100m men’s world record holder Usain Bolt and cricketer Courtney Walsh – deployed to build a global reputation.

Next year Jamaica aims to host a high-profile golfing event as well as The 2009 World Beach Sprint to coincide with the third World Athletics Awards.

Visitors to the destination can also participate in many sporting events such as the Reggae Marathon and the Rose Hall Triathlon.

Where to stay

In an exciting development for the island, the Solís the Palmyra Resort & Spa is set to open in March 2009 and will offer 299 guestrooms plus suites, penthouses and private villas with large private terraces.

This luxury beachfront residential community will boast a 30,000 square foot ESPA, an ocean-view fitness centre and nearby championship golf at three prestigious courses.

When open guests will have a wide array of dining options with a wine cellar. The property, which features state of the art meeting facilities, is also less than 15 minutes from the Sangster International Airport.

Located in Ironshore, the RIU Montego Bay, officially opened on August 29th this year.

The resort, which boasts 681 rooms, is the first RIU property in Montego Bay and the fourth in Jamaica.

Finally, this summer saw Spanish company Fiesta Hotel Group open two luxury five star resorts on Jamaica’s north coast: the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa and the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa.

Situated near the town of Lucea in Hanover, the hotels, which feature 1,056 rooms, are halfway between Montego Bay and Negri.

More information

If you are thinking about visiting the island, or simply want to know more about it, the redesigned Visit Jamaica has all the information you could ever need.

Chris O'Toole