Where to Stay: Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa, Jamaica

Jamaica’s South Coast is a relatively untouched utopia of pristine beaches, seductive hideaways, eco-friendly attractions and gorgeous natural treasures. Whether you’re looking to simply get away from the everyday and treat yourself to a great week in a beautiful setting, or seeking the best of romantic getaways, a stay at Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa on Jamaica’s South Coast is a decision you won’t regret making.

One of the best resorts in the region this 50-acre seaside fantasy expertly merges an already naturally alluring exotic setting with some of the best of modern luxury. Here you’ll step into three authentic European villages, where Dutch charm meets French sophistication and Italian seduction. Wander an expansive Venetian piazza bordering a 2 mile stretch of unsullied beach, reminiscent of St. Mark’s Square, and browse elegant duty-free shops filled with treasures from around the globe. Dine at a total of seven impeccable restaurants, serving a world of culinary experiences from China to Italy and the Caribbean and most importantly have the best sleep of your life in one of over 300 oceanfront rooms and suites.

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January 27, 2011 at 3:01 pm | The South Coast, Where to Stay | 2 comments

Vacation Themes: Golf: The White Witch Golf Course, Jamaica

The island of the Jamaica has traditionally been known for its dazzling beaches, seductive off the beaten path attractions and not to mention it’s warm, inviting culture. In more recent years Jamaica has come to also be celebrated as one of the best of winter golf getaways. The popular north coast area of Montego Bay is home to several world class golf courses, making the area an excellent destination for golfers. The White Witch golf course in Rose Hall is one of the best of these.

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Winding through the mountains of Jamaicas historic 5000-acre Rose Hall Plantation, The White Witch golf course is considered by many to be the most scenic in Jamaica as well as being one of the best in the Caribbean. Carved out of 600 acres of lush greenery and rolling countryside, the course features breathtaking mountain views as well as panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea from 16 of its 18 holes. This beautiful course is absolutely stunning to see and even more fun to play! Just riding around on the cart would be fun, but playing it is a blast.

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January 25, 2011 at 3:53 pm | Montego Bay, Vacation Themes, What to Do | 1 comment

Where to Visit: Alligator Pond, Jamaica

Jamaica’s rustic South Coast with its beauty unblemished, and natural wonders of flora and fauna virtually untouched extends a warm eco-friendly invitation to the adventurous visitor. Complete with charming fishing villages, miles of untamed beaches, excellent food, magnificent panoramic views over deep blue sea, wooded valleys and old plantations, this is just about as far away from packaged tourism as you can get. It is here that you will find Alligator Pond.

Located at the foot of the Don Figueroa Mountains, some 35 km from Mandeville. The name is said by locals to derive from the shape of the mountain range, which viewed from the beach has bumps which suggest an alligator’s back. Alligator Pond is the proud home of one of the longest fishing beaches on the island. Known to be the best place in Jamaica to procure all sorts of seafood – cooked or uncooked Alligator Pond is a virtual haven for seafood lovers. Usually the best selections are bought at the morning fish market, where patrons can buy the first catch of the day out of the boats of fishermen coming in from the sea. A trip to this region offers an experience of the authentic, off the beaten path Jamaica. Rustic, intimate and slow-paced, Alligator Pond is a delightful find.

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January 24, 2011 at 5:06 pm | The South Coast, What to Do, Where to Eat, Where to Visit | No comment

Event Update: Caribbean Marketplace 2011

Jamaica successfully outshined its last hosting of the largest regional tourism trade show, Caribbean Marketplace in 2005 when the island again hosted the 2011 installment of the event last week (January 16-18) at the newly constructed Montego Bay Convention Centre.

In addition to the announcement of a 14% hike in January visitors to the island and showcasing Jamaica’s musical genius with a number of performances from top entertainers on its opening and closing nights, Caribbean Marketplace saw attendance from up to 1400 candidates from 30 countries and a host of exciting booths, prizes and giveaways. Posted now, for your viewing pleasure are some of the highlights from this truly significant event.

January 24, 2011 at 12:41 pm | Jamaica Events, Meetings and Incentives, News & Updates | No comment

News & Updates: Caribbean Marketplace 2011 a Resounding Success

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Hon. Bruce Golding declared open Caribbean Marketplace 2011 on Sunday, January 16. The event was well supported by many Caribbean tourism delegates and other invited guests who were hosted at Jamaica’s newly built Montego Bay Convention Centre. This is the first event to be held at the state-of-the-art facility, which provides in excess of 50,000 square feet of exhibition space, over 20,000 square feet of banquet space and more than 11,000 square feet of meeting space.

On hand to share in the opening night festivities are (left to right): John Lynch, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism; Alec Sanguinetti, Director General and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA); John Taker, Purchasing Director, Virgin Holidays; Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism; Amanda Willis, Managing Director, Virgin Holidays; Hon. Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica; Josef Forstmayr, President of the CHTA; and Carrole Guntley, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Jamaica.

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January 22, 2011 at 2:22 pm | News & Updates | No comment

Fan Friday: The Top 5 Facebook Fan Comments of the Week!

It’s time again for our weekly “Fan Friday” feature! Each week we select five of the best fan posted wall posts and/or comments on videos and articles posted to our Visit Jamaica Facebook Fan Page and publish them right here on Island Buzz just to let you all know we’ve been listening and we appreciate all your great feedback.

On the western tip of Jamaica lies Negril, famous for its natural surroundings and lively nightlife. Negril is an exceptional place where every day holds another surprise for you. The area features some of the best snorkeling, scuba diving, jet skiing and dolphin watching as well as hiking and horseback riding tours. Located close to the local hub, poised on the limestone cliffs of Negril’s scenic West End, The Caves captures all the essence of a seductive oceanfront sanctuary. Here’s what some of our fans posted in response to Where to Stay: The Caves Resort, Negril:

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January 21, 2011 at 12:33 pm | Fan Friday | No comment

What to Do: Birding at Bluefields, Jamaica

Jamaica is well known to the world as the land of rum, reggae and white sand beaches, but there is a side to Jamaica lesser traveled and equally alluring. A walk through the island’s interior opens you up to a wonderland of beautiful flora and fauna. A hike through the Bluefields Mountains on the South Coast affords sightseers spectacular views of Bluefields Bay as well as an opportunity to take in some of Jamaica’s 280-plus species of birds who call the island home, including 28 that are found only on Jamaica.

The thickly forested Bluefields Mountains rise from the sea to nearly 2,600ft and are listed by BirdLife International as one of Jamaica’s globally Important Bird Areas (IBA). Among the plant species of the Bluefields Mountains is the Chusquea abietifolia, a bamboo that flowers only once every 33 years and is due for its next bloom in 2017. Jamaica’s other unique residents include the Jamaican Tody, a bird that nests in the ground instead of in trees, varieties of rare yellow snakes and the Giant Swallowtail butterfly, which has a wingspan of up to six inches and is thought to be the largest butterfly in the western hemisphere.

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January 20, 2011 at 4:17 pm | What to Do | 1 comment

Where to Stay: The Caves Resort in Negril, Jamaica

On the western tip of Jamaica lies Negril, famous for its natural surroundings and lively nightlife. Negril is an exceptional place where every day holds another surprise for you. The area features some of the best snorkeling, scuba diving, jet skiing and dolphin watching as well as hiking and horseback riding tours. Located close to the local hub, poised on the limestone cliffs of Negril’s scenic West End, The Caves captures all the essence of a seductive oceanfront sanctuary.

Twelve exclusive cliffside accommodations, private cave dining, a sensual Cave Rum & Cigar Bar, and a seaview Aveda Amenity Spa offer a refreshingly organic interpretation of romance. Its protective landscaping and secluded ten-acre property make it feel like a tropical castle set above a vibrant town center. The Caves’ two acres of seafront are designed as an artful labyrinth combining the magnificence of nature with a singular maritime mystique.

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January 19, 2011 at 4:22 pm | Where to Stay | No comment

Vacation Themes: Beaches: Frenchman’s Cove, Jamaica

Port Antonio, on Jamaica’s eastern coast, is snugly located between the Blue Mountains and the Caribbean Sea. The area is still, thankfully considered relatively virgin territory and Frenchman’s Cove is a perfectly secluded spot that will make you fall in love with the water instantly. One of the most beautiful beaches in The Caribbean, let alone Jamaica this white-sanded shore, set against a magnificent backdrop of exotic tropical gardens and crystal-clear mountain streams, is so idyllic; it’s no wonder it was featured in the major motion pictures Club Paradise and Treasure Island.

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Frenchman’s Cove is tucked between two rocky bluffs and consists of a lagoon which meanders around a bar of sand from one direction while the sea barrels in from the other, pinched between two tiny headlands that are overhung with greenery – giving the beach a luminous green light. Visitors pay a small fee for entry but it is well worth it. You enter through some lush gardens, which then open up into a gorgeous little secluded beach cove. It also has a fresh water river flowing into the beach. Lots of fish in the river, as well as a rope and swing for the kids to play with. There’s also a jerk hut on the beach with drinks and food made to order, as well very clean bathrooms.

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January 18, 2011 at 2:26 pm | Vacation Themes, What to Do, Where to Visit | No comment

News & Updates: Jamaica announces 14% hike in visitors to the island at Caribbean Marketplace 2011

The 2011 installment of the Caribbean Marketplace Tourism Trade show in Jamaica is already looking to outshine the island’s last hosting of the event in 2005. This year up to 1400 candidates from 30 countries are being hosted at the Montego Bay convention centre and so far The Jamaica Tourist Board’s booth has been flooded with media and other parties interested in the new optimism that seems to have enveloped the Caribbean Marketplace 2011.

Jamaica announced a hike of 14% in January visitors to the island, and feels that this really signals the end of the previous years world wide slow down in tourism. Very encouraging for the future year. If you’re on Jamaica’s West Coast today visit the Montego Bay convention centre and see for yourselves what everyone is buzzing about.

January 18, 2011 at 1:06 pm | News & Updates | No comment

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