Showing posts with label Air Jamaica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Air Jamaica. Show all posts

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Golf and Adventure Getaway Jamaica -style

One segment of the girls' golf getaway package at Breezes Runaway Bay Resort is, naturally, to take a lesson and play a round (or more) at the SuperClubs Golf Club but once that is done, what are five adventurous ladies supposed to do? Why not interact with dolphins!

Dolphin adventure in Jamaica

 Receiving a kiss from Skye the dolphin

The morning began with a lovely breakfast buffet including the freshest of fruit and some of the finest Jamaican coffee (with warmed milk) at the Beach Buffet. The girls gathered in the lobby and were escorted to Dolphin Cove at Treasure Reef, purported to be Jamaica's number one attraction, to get up-close and very personal with dolphins, sting-rays and even stand over shark-infested waters!


Swim with dolphins
 Swimming with dolphins


We opted for the "Encounter Swim" program and had enough time before meeting the dolphin named "Skye" to first watch an entertaining shark show where the sharks were "tame" enough to allow their trainers to rub their undersides.


shark encounter
 Shark Show at Dolphin Cove


The girls even had the opportunity to hold a very heavy, slithery stingray then snorkel alongside of these mammals and other assorted fish. Stingrays are carnivorous yet non-aggressive shellfish although they do have poisonous barbs, only used in self-defense. We snorkeled alongside these and other fish. My first snorkel experience was very exciting and memorable.

holding a stingray
 Holding a stingray, barb clipped

A tour of Ocho Rios was next on the agenda. I found myself slowly slipping into a state of happy "ya mon" and everything was beginning to look IRIE.


My first experience in Jamaica was in Ocho Rios: I fell down a manhole, legs dangling, while my husband looked around to see where I had disappeared! Many of the local shop ladies came to help, clean me up and "mother" me and from that time forward, I have always felt that there were no kinder, more helpful people than Jamaicans.

Ocho Rios
 Ocho Rios


Ocho Rios proudly displayed a bustling thoroughfare. Jamaica's main cruise ship destination of was named by the Spanish Las Chorreras, or The Bay of Waterfalls while the Arawak called Ocho Rios, Maguana.

The drive up Shaw Park Road led us to the newly opened Oceans on the Ridge Restaurant and Jerk Bar where views of the cruise ship port and mainland go on for miles while towering behind the bar stands Mick Jagger's vacation hideout.


Mick Jagger's Jamaica estateaerial view of Ocho Rios

Mick Jagger's supposed hideaway in Ocho Rios and a view from just below his estate of Ocho Rios




Coyaba Gardens JamaicaContinue along Shaw Park Estate and you will come upon Mahoe Falls Coyaba Gardens. Coyaba is the Arawak word for heaven and, with an assortment or rare and tropical plantings, a waterfall climb and George the Peacock outstretching his plumes for guests, this beautiful retreat will take your breath away.



Jamaica flowersJamaica banana trees
Beautiful floral specimens and banana trees found at Coyaba Gardens



The day was filled with action, fun and and much relaxation, so much so that I knew that I had finally shifted into "vacation-mode".


Asian Fusion restaurant Breezes JamaicaBirthday cake
<==We'll be enjoying Asian Fusian cuisine in front of a hibachi tonight at Munasan, one of Breezes Runaway Bay's two reservation-required restaurants.


==>Last night, we celebrated my birthday at the Resort's Italian Restaurant Martino's (complete with antipasti bar, delicious cheesecake and a heartwarming rendition of the Happy Birthday song.)



Tomorrow I head for home back aboard Air Jamaica but I won't be thinking of that tonight for we are celebrating reggae-style!


See me riding the dolphin Skye on Facebook feel free to post your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on the @Breezes_Resorts Twitter page!


Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Air Jamaica makes travel to Runaway Bay a Breeze

Although air travel was more than a bit turbulent on today's descent into Jamaica's Donald Sangster Airport, the "super-inclusive" hospitality offered by Caribbean Airlines made up for any discomfort.

Most airlines tack on fees for baggage and throw you a bag of peanuts but Air Jamaica offers fliers two bags of luggage checked-in for free, a treat if you want to bring your golf clubs with you to Breezes Runaway Bay.

I was also surprised to receive a hot, tasty sandwich with two snacks. The online web portal check-in, available within three to twenty-four hours of my Jamaica escape, offered a short wait on the "special" line.


Air Jamaica


Air Jamaica, which just merged with Caribbean Airlines, calls their attentiveness "lovebird service", I considered it refreshing!


Once the flight arrived safely in Jamaica, customs validated my passport and then it was a short walk to the Breezes Runaway Bay lounge located inside the airport terminal. Travelers were greeted and quickly checked-in then shuttled off to the lavish twenty-two acre resort for super-inclusive service.


My super-inclusive Jamaica vacation began with a delicious buffet lunch at the al fresco Beach Terrace restaurant. Stations offering a variety of food from grilled shrimp and pasta (my choice) to tacos (and tempting desserts like warm chocolate bread pudding) had me going back for seconds.

Breezes Jamaica
 Breezes Runaway Bay Jamaica


You would think that the soft-sand beach is the main attraction at Breezes Runaway Bay but it is the people who work here and greet you with "Welcome home" that are the stars of this Resort.

Superclubs Golf Jamaica
 Friendly service at Breezes Runaway Bay Beach Buffet


Tomorrow, my Jamaica golf vacation kicks off with a video golf lesson and a round to be played at SuperClubs Golf Club. The fact sheet on this par 72 eighteen-hole championship golf course says that a few of its strengths are large flat greens protected by grassy mounds and sand bunkers. Add wind gusts of up to thirty-five mph and you can see why the SuperClubs Golf Club has hosted the Ryder Cup match between the UK and the West Indies, among other professional events.

Jamaica Golf Courses
View from the fairway: SuperClubs Golf Club




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