Jamaica: It's Irie!

Considering a Jamaica vacation? Don't know what to expect? Then you should read our travel guide. We will give you our tips on where to stay and what to do for a wonderful 6-day/7-night Jamaica getaway.

First, we recommend staying in Ocho Rios. While all of Jamaica is beautiful, we consider Ocho Rios and its surrounding area to be more lush. It is only a 2-hour drive east of Montego Bay and the area offers a great central location for exploring some of the most beautiful parts of the island. On the way to Ocho, you will get the chance to drive through small villages and get a great view of miles of coastline. If you choose to venture outside of your resort, which we recommend, there are plenty of shopping, activities and dining options available.

So let's get started. Which hotel or resort should we choose? While there are a lot of very good options, we recommend the Riu Ocho Rios. The Riu provides a great all inclusive experience and you cannot beat the combination of quality and value that this resort offers. This property has 7 restaurants, 7 bars, nightly entertainment and Riu theme shows. Whether you choose to relax on the beach, sip a drink by the pool or try one of the many daily activities available, the Riu has something for everyone. There is also a spa and non-motorized watersports available for guests to enjoy.

We always like to split our time evenly between enjoying all of the resort amenities and touring areas outside of the resort. There are many touring options in and around Ocho Rios, which can be arranged through the Riu or you can book activities in advance through our site. You should definitely climb the 600 foot Dunn's River Falls. You can make a ½ day of it by combining the climb with other activities such as sailing to the falls. Some of our other favorites are the Sunset Party Cruise, Blue Mountain Bicycle tour, river rafting and Dolphin Cove at Treasure Reef. If you want to take an all-day tour, you can take the Kingston Tour, which will take you through beautiful Mount Diablo to Kingston and also stops at the Bob Marley Museum. For golfing, try the Upton Golf Course in Ocho Rios.

We did not forget about the shopping! There are plenty of local arts and duty-free shopping available. We recommend trying the New Ocho Rios Plaza, Taj Mahal Mall and Island Plaza.

These suggestions should keep you busy for a week, but don't forget to relax and enjoy all of your resort amenities.