Destinations to Explore

SPOTLIGHT: Ocho Rios, Jamaica

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On Jamaica’s north coast lies a harbor city known as Ocho Rios, “Ochi” by the locals. Boasting a host of beautiful beaches, tropical gardens, and waterfalls, Ocho Rios has become one of the most popular Caribbean destinations for resort-goers and cruise travelers alike. Quieter than the bustle of Montego Bay, though not as relaxed as Negril, the extensive quantity of all-inclusive resorts and tourist attractions located in and around Ochi are enough to satisfy even the pickiest of travelers.

Lush gardens, lazy rivers, cascades, and caves and are just some of the natural wonders of the area, and historic plantations nestle in the foothills. If you’re looking for a relaxing day on a sandy beach or to swim with dolphins, sail into the sunset on a catamaran, or spend your day jet skiing along blue Caribbean waters, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy beach and water sport activities in the local area.

Ocho Rios Top Highlights:

  • Dunn’s River Falls
  • The Blue Hole
  • Dolphin Cove
  • Fern Gully
  • Reggae Beach
  • Rainforest Bobsled at Mystic Mountain
  • Shaw Park Gardens
  • Prospect Plantation
  • Nine Mile – located just an hour outside of Ocho Rios

Weather: June is the hottest month in Ocho Rios with an average temperature of 84°F (29°C) and the coldest is January at 79°F (26°C) with the most daily sunshine hours clocking in at 10 in August. The wettest month is October with an average of 171mm of rain. The best month to swim in the sea is in July when the average sea temperature is 84°F (29°C).

Local Treats to Try:

  • Jamaican Patty- made of ground meat or veggies seasoned and wrapped in a crust and often served with Coco bread
  • Jerk Chicken- mixture of island-grown seasonings like Scotch bonnet peppers, pimento, cinnamon and nutmeg are dry-rubbed on meat which is then traditionally roasted, sometimes for hours, over pimento wood.
  • Coconut Drops- coconut is cut into small pieces and boiled in brown sugar with added spices.
  • Gizzadas- a tart shell filled with butter, fresh sweetened coconut, ginger and nutmeg.
  • Blue Mountain Coffee- coffee beans grown in the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica are among the best in the entire world and well-known for its smooth, non-bitter taste.
  • Duckunoo (Jamaican Blue Draws)- this pudding-like dessert is a delicious blend of green bananas, sweet potatoes, grated coconut, brown sugar and a range of spices. Traditionally, the mixture is spooned into green leaves from the banana plant and expertly tied together before boiling for 45 minutes to an hour.
  • RUM!- need I say more?

Why It’s A Desired Caribbean Destination: The Ocho Rios area has long been a playground for musicians and literary legends. Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond series, made his home near here at Oracabessa (you can visit James Bond Beach-about 10 minutes from Ocho Rios). Visitors can tour the hilltop retreat of Noel Coward, the famous playwright and composer, and music fans flock by the dozens to Nine Mile, the birthplace and final resting place of reggae legend, Bob Marley. Ocho Rios is also the launching point for exciting adventures such as dolphin encounters, bobsled rides, zip-lining, and river tubing.

How To Get There: You can experience all that Ocho Rios has to offer by spending a week (or longer!) at one of the area’s many all-inclusive resorts. Or cruise on in to port here with many of the major cruise lines (focus your search on Western Caribbean cruise itineraries).

Is Ocho Rios “Jamaican you crazy” for a Caribbean vacation? Contact me today!

Written by Casey Cote: Casey Cote is a travel agent with Destinations to Explore. She loves planning incredible vacations at no cost to you. To book your next cruise, all-inclusive resort vacation, family getaway or honeymoon, contact at Casey@destinationstoexplore.com. You can also find her on Facebook!

SPOTLIGHT: U.S. Virgin Islands

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A vacation to the U.S. Virgin Islands is quiet possibly the closest thing to a perfect taste of the Caribbean as you can get. Boasting consistent 80 degree temperatures, pristine white-sand beaches, and a rum-infused taste of West Indian culture, this region of islands provides several different swoon-worthy tropical experiences all in one territory.

For beautiful beaches, booming nightlife, and great shopping, look no further than the island of St. Thomas. Its up-and-coming economic development, North American atmosphere and constant stream of cruise-ship visitors make it the most popular of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, and also the most visited.

If you’re yearning for unspoiled scenery, tranquil surroundings, and a chance to be one with nature, spend your time on the island of St. John. Roughly half of the island is a national park, so it feels like St. Thomas’ less-bustling alter ego. The extensive hiking trails, beautiful coral reefs, and intimate eco-friendly resorts on St. John have become a shining model for other ecotourism efforts throughout the Caribbean.

Somewhere between the two extremes of St. Thomas and St. John is the island of St. Croix, which is most akin to other islands in the Caribbean. It’s an island great at balancing a good amount of shopping and popular tourist attractions with a relaxed atmosphere and stunning historic architectural features. The most well-rounded of the Virgin Islands, I’d say.

Although it’s possible to spend your entire vacation enjoying one island, I highly suggest you take advantage of the variety this connection of islands offers. Timely ferry and plane connections make it relatively easy to hop between each island and discover which of the three suit you most! If you prefer to cruise, many cruise lines also offer itineraries that include U.S. Virgin Islands ports of call. The best part, if you’re a U.S. citizen, no passport needed. Happy travels!

Ready to experience a slice of American paradise in the U.S. Virgin Islands? Contact me today!

Written by Casey Cote: Casey Cote is a travel agent with Destinations to Explore. She loves planning incredible vacations at no cost to you. To book your next cruise, all-inclusive resort vacation, family getaway or honeymoon, contact at Casey@destinationstoexplore.com. You can also find her on Facebook!

7 Reasons to Choose to Cruise

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1) Vacation Value — Cruises offer great value for your vacation dollar because the fares include nearly everything you’ll need for a fantastic trip: food, accommodations, daytime and evening entertainment and transportation between destinations. Some cruise lines also offer additional perks (such as free drink packages, shore excursion credits, or free onboard spending money) to bring added value to your vacation experience.

2) Visit Multiple Destinations in One Vacation — When you choose to cruise, you unpack once and your floating hotel takes you from city to city or from island to island . No need to mess with trains or ferry schedules, or lug your suitcase along unfamiliar streets. Every morning, you’ll wake up in a new place ready to experience a whole new destination. Can’t decide between the Bahamas or Mexico, or France or Spain? Why choose? Pick an itinerary that visits all the cities on your wish list. Cruising is the ultimate “tasting platter” of the travel world.

3) The Food — Highly touted as one of the most popular reasons vacationers flock to cruising, the variety of food options are endless and also of incredible quality (if you choose the right cruise line, of course). At any time of day  you can find cuisine to suit even the pickiest of eaters! Dine in the main dining rooms, splurge on a specialty restaurant (most ships have multiple exciting specialty restaurant options scattered around the ship), or opt for noshing in the comfort of your stateroom with room service…so many choices and you can try them all! Cruises are also the perfect time to try new foods from all around the world. Many cruise lines offer cooking classes to showcase cuisines from the ports of call on your specific sailing, so don’t hesitate to take advantage!

4) Family-Friendly — From toddlers to teens, grandparents to grandchildren, family cruises are fun for all ages. If you’re struggling to find a vacation that your 6-, 10- and 16-year-olds will all enjoy  (and boasts excellent adult activities, too) ships now have extensive kids’ facilities, split by age and filled with fun activities to keep busy. Teens have their own hip hangouts, far away from the play areas for younger children. Each family member can spend the day enjoying their own age-appropriate activities, then come together for dinner or  an shore excursion as a family unit. Parents can even sneak in a romantic dinner alone by taking advantage of late-night hours in the kids’ club! Many cruise lines also offer babysitting services as well.

5) Provides Vacation Variety — Cruise ships these days are designed to keep even the most finicky travelers happy. Want to pamper yourself at the spa while your spouse hits the casino? Or lounge by the pool while your kids play basketball. You can attend an educational lecture on various ports of call, a wine tasting or a dance workshop; paint pottery, play bingo, learn a new language or practice your yoga skills. If you’re hungry, dine at a casual buffet, a fancy sit-down restaurant, sushi bar, or steakhouse. Feel like being entertained? Catch a movie, a stand-up comedian, a Broadway-type show or live music performance. And if all you want to do is nothing while the ship sails from port to port, you can do that, too!

6) Cruise Ships are like Floating Cities — If you’re worried about being stranded in the middle of the ocean for days on end…RELAX! Cruise ships are like floating cities with everything you could possibly want onboard. Today’s ships are connected with Wi-Fi, cell service and satellite TV so you can stay in touch with dry land during your cruise (if you even want to). A variety of onboard shops sell the toiletries you forgot to pack, medical centers can provide medicine or a doctor’s services if needed, and laundry facilities are available, so no need to over-pack. Of course, there’s also the fun stuff like spas, multiple restaurants, swimming pools, theaters and discos.

7) Enjoyment For All Traveler Types — The ideal cruise ship for one person may be a mega-ship outfitted with onboard rock-climbing walls and outdoor movie theaters, while another will prefer an smaller, more intimate ship with upscale ambiance. Luckily, all those different types of cruise ships exist. From relaxing walks around a city to adventurous hikes for those looking for an adrenaline rush, cruise ships also offer unlimited options for shore excursions making for a customizable vacation to remember. There’s a cruise experience to suit every traveler type!

Honorable mentions: No housekeeping, leave it to the cruise line; Being “unplugged” for a while (you can skip out on the internet package if you prefer!); Family togetherness; Travel the world without flying (for those in close proximity to cruise departure ports); Party time (all-you-can-drink beverage package options and numerous bar facilities onboard); and lastly, meeting people from all over the world and making lifelong friends!

Are you ready to choose cruising as your next vacation? Contact me today!

Written by Casey Cote: Casey Cote is a travel agent with Destinations to Explore. She loves planning incredible vacations at no cost to you. To book your next cruise, all-inclusive resort vacation, family getaway or honeymoon, contact at Casey@destinationstoexplore.com. You can also find her on Facebook!

SPOTLIGHT: Cruise Alaska

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While many independent travelers will find some aspects of ‘cruise life’ a bit stifling, there are plenty of reasons to take an Alaskan cruise, most notably the two ‘Cs’: comfort and convenience. When you cruise Alaska, a state that could take months, if not years to thoroughly explore, you get a chance to see many of the top sights all in one convenient vacation! Here’s a quick profile on America’s hottest (or coldest) cruise destination:

Typical Alaska sailing months: May-September

Best itinerary to choose: Anything that includes a sail through Glacier Bay!

Traditional route: Sailing the Inside Passage which typically starts from Seattle or Vancouver and makes stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and sails through Glacier Bay. You can sail from North to South or vice versa…whatever cruise itinerary you choose, you’ll be impressed by Alaska’s natural beauty.

What you can expect, weather-wise: Sunshine at times, but prepare for clouds and occasional rain showers. Temperatures hover around 55 to 65 degrees for daily highs in the Inside Passage, for example. Bring your windbreaker and umbrella!

Typical shore excursions you might experience: Hiking, helicopter tours, animal encounters & wildlife excursions, cultural immersion, whale watching, float-plane adventuring, lighthouse exploring, fishing, glacier treks, kayaking, and dog sledding (just to name a few!).

Daylight or always night?: June will have the longest days with 18 hours of daylight, August a good 16 hours, but September boasts a nice 14 hours at the end of cruise season.

Seasonal highlights: Wildflowers bloom along the Inside Passage and larger animals tend to migrate during spring. Early June, expect to see calving glaciers, Orca whales, and Pacific White-Sided Dolphins. A midnight sun is best seen from late-June to late-August. And for fall foliage & bald eagles, September is your sweet spot!

Popular cruise lines that sail Alaska: Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival, and Holland America.

A case for cruising: Nothing like waking up and stepping out onto your balcony to incredible views of glaciers, snow-covered mountain tops, and blue ocean waters! No better way to be submerged in the beauty of the Last Frontier.

Ready to set sail on an exciting Alaska cruise? Contact me today!

Written by Casey Cote: Casey Cote is a travel agent with Destinations to Explore. She loves planning incredible vacations at no cost to you. To book your next cruise, all-inclusive resort vacation, family getaway or honeymoon, contact at Casey@destinationstoexplore.com. You can also find her on Facebook!