Once you book your hotel and flight to Jamaica, the next thing you’ll do is start planning out your days!
Aside from beach days and pool days you will find loads of interesting places to visit and things to do. There are so many things that you’ll never pack them into just one vacation. Make a list of your favs and start planning your trip.
So, when you start looking around you will soon figure out you need a driver. Now, I’ve done a few of these articles over the years, giving fun recommendations, but this is the first time in seven years I have felt comfortable enough to recommend a driver/taxi service.
Shorty Tours
Even after 7 years, we are still finding new and cool stuff to do. This year we also found a new taxi driver. After a lot of research and contacting several companies, I found Shorty Tours. Anyone who knows me would describe me as thrifty, thorough, and fair. So I really did my research!
Mr. Shorty, of Shorty Tours, responded quickly to my internet inquiry (his website had a form to fill out for more info and rates.) He and I corresponded through email for a while (although you can also call him, but I just prefer email)
If there is one thing I have learned about taxis in Jamaica is to get the quote in writing if you are booking in advance. Mr. Shorty had no problem doing that for me.
In short, Shorty Tours was the best tour company I’ve used in seven years. He showed up on time, was very friendly, nice, and even stopped at the Hi-Lo to get us cold Red Stripes on the way from the airport to Negril. In fact, we liked this service so much that we had him drive us to all our excursions and adventures during the week. We even had him drive us from Negril all the way to Greenwood.
He is very knowledgeable about the area and its history, very trustworthy, personable, and provides a very safe ride. He will book your tour for whatever part of the island you are interested in. I highly recommend Shorty Tours. He has red plates… for all of you who have done your research and know you should stick with red plate taxis. *wink
Blue Hole Mineral Springs
Snuggled up in the mountains is a wee slice of heaven and it’s called Blue Hole Mineral Springs. I’m shocked at myself that in all the years I’ve been coming here, this was my first visit.
From our resort in Negril, it was about a 45-minute ride on narrow roads through the mountains. We arrived early, way before the crowds, which was very nice. Most of the people in our group of 8 went down into the spring which is a big gaping hole in the rock with the most beautiful color blue-green water you’ll ever see, about 25 feet below. Some of us jumped, some of us (me) climbed down a ladder.
The place also has a pool that is filled with mineral water for those who do not want to go down the ladder or jump. They also serve lunch and drinks. They also offer mineral mud massages which a couple of girls in our group got. They said they were amazing. I would say plan to spend 2-3 hours there.
Even if you don’t want to go down, you can watch the natives jump from the trees! Guaranteed to make you gasp out loud!
Make sure you check out the view from the villas there, you can see all the way to the sea from the roof top! Stunning views!
They also have a ganja farm there which we didn’t tour but they do give tours. This place is located in Orange Hill. So for those of you who have done your research you will know the best ganja on the island comes from the Orange Hill region.
On the way back from Blue Hole, our driver, Mr. Shorty, took us to a roadside bar where we stopped and had some Red Stripes and learned about the Breadfruit tree and other plants that were on the property.
This year was our seventh year traveling to Negril, Jamaica. We love Travellers Beach Resort, which is where we always stay, but this year we decided to split up our trip a little and do our regular stay in Negril for a few days (Travellers) and then spend a couple of days in Greenwood (near both Montego Bay and Trelawny Parish.)
Our group of friends was set on doing the Martha Brae River rafting tour this year and although you can easily taxi from Negril to Martha Brae (about a 2-hour taxi ride), we decided to just drive up there and spend a couple of days doing new stuff.
And that brings me to…
Ocean Pearl Resort
What a little gem! This place was not near the hip strip (thank God… the strip is a little too peoply for me), but not far from the airport at all (about 20 minutes). You have to cross a heavily trafficked area to get to a store if you need one but that’s really the only drawback if you can call it that.
With that said Ocean Pearl was well stocked on alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. (And our group can drink!)
The property is sitting in such a perfect spot to see both the sunrise and the sunset! It’s right on the water and the property is very well kept and clean. They have two pools, one is seawater the other is a swimming pool. Both were clean and well-maintained.
The rooms were really cute and clean. A few things could be updated, I suppose, like maybe newer beds, but I’m sure they will be.
The cook is amazing. Breakfast was free there for the price of the room and wow, it was very yummy. The cook prepared both Jamaican and non-Jamaican fare like scrambled eggs and bacon. All of it was delicious!
There were a few restaurants very nearby. Two within a very short walking distance. One of them was Grandfather Bull—serving a wide variety of food for a great price. The restaurant I liked best near Ocean Pearl was Chillout Hut (below).
I highly recommend Ocean Pearl Resort in Greenwood, Jamaica.
Martha Brae River Rafting
Oh, what a treat this was! Located about 15 minutes (8 miles) from Ocean Pearl Resort was this beautiful excursion that we’ve had on our bucket list. The ride out and back was about $12 USD per person roundtrip and entrance was $70 per boat (which holds 2 people not including the captain).
Honestly, this was one of the most relaxing things I’ve ever done on the island. Rafting down the rivers in Jamaica is said to have been started by Errol Flynn in 1911 when he saw bananas being transported by raft and wondered if people could be as well.
The trip flows down 3 miles of the Martha Brae and lasts about an hour and a half. There is a lovely herb garden at the launch area and a couple artsy stands with souvenirs. If you see something you like but it because you don’t end the raft trip where you start!
Chillout Hut
Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Ocean Pearl was one of the coolest restaurants I’ve been to on the island. The food was amazing (although the pizza could be improved upon) and the view was simply stunning. Plan to watch a sunset there.
The Tryall Club (golf course)
I am not a golfer, but my husband practically lives on the course. For the last few years he and his friends golfed at Negril Hills, a great course that they love. This year they tried out a different course, Tryall Golf Club located between Sangster airport and Negril. (About 1 hour by taxi from Negril)
This beautiful course is a nestled between mountains and the sea. It’s a very challenging course! From all accounts this course is highly recommended.
I was not compensated in any way for any of these referrals. I simply wanted to share the good times and good vibes with my fellow travelers.
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