So the missus has asked you to sort this year's holiday. You want to impress her, score some brownie points? Don't worry lads, we've got you covered. Where better than an all-inclusive, 5* resort on the ultimate tropical island paradise of Jamaica?! Even the most high-maintenance woman cannot fail to be impressed, and of course, you want only the best for your lady! Or if you're single, you could make it a lad's trip - plenty of opportunity to chill or party, depending on your mood!
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Jamaica: Bob Marley? Reggae music? 65% proof rum? The Azul Beach Resort in Negril has all of this and more. Situated on the western-most tip of the island and an hour and a half's transfer from Montego Bay, this hotel is a first class tropical paradise. Set literally on the golden sands of the iconic Seven Mile Beach, it's the ideal place for a laid-back holiday. The location is unbelieveable, with picture postcard white sandy beaches as far as the eye can see and azure-blue, tranquil seas stretching to the horizon. This beach is famous for its sunsets, world-renowned and an essential part of your trip - best enjoyed with a cold beer or spicy margarita, obviously!
Accommodation
The vibe of the Azul Beach Resort is bang on; it manages to strike the balance of being both cool and sleek without being flashy about it, whilst being as down to earth and chilled as you can get. This place is so laid-back it's practically horizontal. The rooms all have sea views and some even have swim-up pools. The beds are huge and comfy and air-con is of course standard, as well as containing all the amenities you would expect from a 5* hotel room, plus a fridge full of Red Stripe. Although there are almost 300 rooms, it doesn't feel crowded as there are loads of different bars, pools and chill-out areas dotted around the resort, and most of the pools have swim-up bars serving banging cocktails strong enough to put hairs back on your chest, premium spirits and ice-cold beers all day long.
Food and drink
The hotel has several restaurants to pick from, featuring cuisine from all around the world - Italian, Japanese and my favourite, Ackee - a restaurant serving all the traditional Jamaican foods (get the ackee and saltfish, jerk chicken and pork or curried goat and of course, a Red Stripe or five)! Waiters bring you drinks all day long on the beach, so you don't even need to move from your sun lounger if you don't want to. There are also plenty of locals selling a range of local souvenirs on the beach, from fresh coconuts, shells and of course, the finest local cannabis (company permitting).
After hours
After a hard day relaxing in the pool bar or bathing in the clear waters of the Caribbean sea, you might be up for a late one. If so, there is always something going on in the evenings here. During my stay there were beach bonfires, a silent headphone party, reggae night, dancehall night and a Michael Jackson show, plus the Nesta reggae lounge is open late every night if you are up for a proper party. And of course the bar is free, so no excuse not to get involved and have a few shots to make the party go off. If evening entertainment is not for you, a smoke on the beach is easily obtained by wandering along the beach and talking to the very friendly and entrepreneurial locals. I mean, when in Jamaica, it would be rude not to!
Fun
If you are feeling sufficiently relaxed and want a bit of adventure, there are plenty of opportunities in Jamaica! At the resort you can choose from a variety of watersports (no, not that kind...) including kayaking and SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) which are both included, or waterskiing, parasailing, deep-sea fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving (extra charge). We opted for the snorkelling and took a trip with Stanley's Watersports, based at the hotel; motoring out in a glass-bottomed boat to a coral reef, you jump in and can immediately see the whole rainbow spectrum of fish, sting rays, sea urchins and starfish. If you would rather stay in the resort, there's plenty to keep you busy: an on-site spa offering all the usual treatments (pricey but will certainly keep the missus happy), a fully-equipped gym, beach volleyball, yoga and Jamaican dance classes to name but a few.
Adventure
If seeing more of the island is your vibe, there's plenty of options for activities to quench every appetite. JamWest Adventure Park is a good place to start, with loads to choose from, all including pick-up from your hotel. We were keen to check out the island's wildlife, so opted for the JamCulture Tour ($95 per adult), a 4x4 safari vehicle ride through the lush rainforest where you can see the native yellow snake, American crocodiles and other non-native animals including alligator snapping turtles, giant tortoises, giant iguanas and more. If you are eagle-eyed you might even be lucky enough to spot the tiny, elusive lizards which camouflage against the trees. The trip includes a rum-tasting which was a bit brief and not really the highlight for me (although the Rum Bar Jamaican 63% proof rum certainly packed a punch) - that honour goes to our guide, 'Safari Dwayne' who was very knowledgeable and entertaining and made it a tour to remember.
Kingston
If you are a big Bob Marley fan, you of course absolutely have to make a pilgrimage to visit to the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, where you can see where the great man lived and made music in the 70s. The museum is open Mon-Sat and costs $25 per person. You can arrange a tour from the hotel including transport to Kingston but be warned, it's a 4 hour journey from Negril so this is only for the hardest of die-hard reggae fans. It is not advisable for tourists to wander around Kingston so we recommend going with a guided tour of you want to see more of the town.
Rick's Café
No trip to Jamaica would be complete without a visit to the famous Rick's Café. Founded in 1974 by the original Rick, Richard Hershman, this iconic party place has been rebuilt several times following hurricanes, but each time comes back bigger and better than ever. This is party central, not to be missed. We arrived in style - by catamaran from the Caribbean Sea. Approaching the shore, sounds of reggae music can be heard; climbing the steps of the cliff, the party atmosphere hits you - the sight of beautiful people dancing, drinking rum punch, cocktails and Red Stripe. The smell of barbeque and weed mingling to create a truly Jamaican vibe. If you're brave enough, climb the cliff to jump (there is a range of jump off heights, ranging from 10 to 35ft) - a mad, unforgettable experience!
Loaded travelled with TCC LDN to the Azul Beach Resort Negril, courtesy of Karisma.
