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Here are just a few of the hundreds of pictures I took while scuba diving in Jamaica. All of these pictures were photographed in Negril, while staying at the Beaches Negril Resort in January 2010.
The scuba diving in Negril is certainly not the best in the world, or even in Jamaica for that matter but it is a great place to learn with the help of very calm waters. There has been considerable improvement in the health of the reef as well, since our last visit in 2003, after several hurricanes had left the reef in rather poor shape.
I would definitely consider Negril a great beginner location. Here you will see a number of small fish, but the larger fish are very sparse. Vibrant colored sponges add a bit of flavor, while small wrecks offer some interesting dive spots.
At Beaches Resorts, they offer all levels of scuba PADI training, with programs for kids starting at age 12. Both of my children dove for the first time on this trip, and had a blast. Resort certification, which includes an introductory scuba class is fairly inexpensive at $70 US/person, takes about 1/2 day, and allows unlimited shallow dives while at the resort. Full certification is available at an additional cost.
All the necessary equipment is included at Beaches, Sandals and many other all inclusive resorts in Negril. However, wet suit rental is often an added cost but well worth the money.
Hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do. If you have any questions about diving in the Caribbean please feel free to contact me.
If you have never been on a winter beach vacation, you truly do not know what you are missing. It’s nothing short of a miracle being able to go from freezing temperatures to beach weather in less than 4 hours!
On a cold bleak January evening, what can keep me going? Perhaps, knowing that in 10 days we will be leaving our snow filled Maine home to visit the sunny shores of Jamaica. Like children at Christmas, we count down the days in anticipation. Checking Accuweather every day to scope out the weather forecast in Jamaica, which by the way is sort of funny, because we already know what the forecast will be…. “Sunny all week and in the high 80’s”. This certainly beats the cold temperatures we’ve seen here lately. Just last week we got down to minus 6, yes you heard me minus 6, our coldest weather yet this year.
The thought of a week on a Jamaican Beach, where all we have to complain about, is the terracotta tiles being too hot, certainly warms the spirit! Yes, we look back on our beach vacations, and laugh about the things we complained about while we were there. Tiles being too hot, the pool being too cold, the sun not being out as much as we would have liked. All of these things and more just to name a few. Quite funny considering, we will have to go back to winter soon. I think that is part of the unwinding that takes place when you vacation. Getting away from the daily routine so that you can truly relax. After a couple days, you forget about all that and settle into the comfortable rhythm of the islands. It is a great reprieve from the frigid temperatures, and gives our bodies some much needed rest and relaxation.
On this trip we will be staying at Beaches Sandy Bay, on the famous 7 mile Negril beach. We are bringing along our two children, my mother in-law, a Friend and her daughter. Mark’s Aunt will be meeting us down there as well. In total there are 8 of us going and should be quite the trip to look forward to. We are already talking about what we would like to do while we are there: Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Rick’s Cafe, Margaritaville, and simply relaxing by the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea. The bags are almost packed with our summer clothing, flip flops, and sunscreen.
Beaches Sandy Bay is a modest resort, but it offers some of the best value in all of Negril. We’ve visited the resort before so we know what to expect. Great service, beautiful beach, a warm atmosphere, and best of all access to the larger Beaches Negril resort just down the street. As usual we booked a separate room for the kids. Can’t wait!
If you have never been on a winter beach vacation let me tell you this….
It is a Must! Everyone deserves a week away from the cold. Time to relax, unwind, and spend some much needed family time together!
For more pics of our trips to Beaches Sandy Bay visit out FaceBook Fan Page
One only has to read a few reviews on TripAdviser to see that guests who use the butler service absolutely love the program.
Your personal butler is trained in accordance to exacting standards by the Guild of Professional English Butlers, which provides butlers and valets to nobility and celebrities world wide.
Imagine returning from dinner and being surprised by rose petals scattered all over your candle lit room. Soft music is playing in the background, and a hot scented bubble bath awaits. Your four poster bed has been turned down, and a beautiful swan, made with towels adorns the covers. Your favorite chocolates and a chilled bottle of champagne are set beside the bed.
Talk about setting up the perfect romantic evening! The best thing was we never asked for it. The best thing about Sandals Butlers is they love to surprise and do everything possible to exceed your expectations.
Our biggest problem with the butlers was trying to figure out things for them to do. In fact we came up with a little game “Stump the Butler,” where we would try to find things that the butler couldn’t possibly do.
Some of the Sandals and Beaches resorts offer butler level guests extra inclusions not available to regular guests. Some of the extras may include private cabanas or restaurants like Gordon’s at Sandals Grande St. Lucian.
Well I think the answer to that question depends on you. We try to encourage all our readers to make the most of their vacations especially if it happens to be a honeymoon. In today’s crazy world you never can be quite certain what hand you’ll be dealt tomorrow. The only sure thing is today. Karie and I always plan our vacations as if they will be our last. This way we have no regrets that we didn’t make the best of it.
Our personal preference is to sacrifice a bit on the room in order to book a longer trip. However this is not an option for most couples due to their schedule, job or family. I usually recommend that people follow a few simple rules when deciding how much to spend on vacation, and what to spend it on.
If budget is not a concern, I would highly recommend the Sandals or Beaches butler service. Additionally, if you are on a short vacation or honeymoon, and want to make the most of your time at the resort a butler will really help make your trip memorable. Butlers can take care of many of the mundane tasks like: check in, unpacking and packing, pressing clothes, and making reservations, which all take you away from enjoying your vacation.
One of my favorite things to do on vacation is to relax at the end of the day, in a great bar, surrounded by new friends, and recount the days adventures. The Cricketer’s Pub is the perfect place.
The Cricketer’s Pub mixes good times, a lively atmosphere, great entertainment with authentic pub fare. Oh and did I forget beer! Eleven Brands to be exact, including Corona, Miller, Bass, Guiness, and the infamous Turks Beer.
The Cricketer’s Pub features a well appointed snooker’s room with several billiards tables. The cozy library offers a comfortable intimate retreat, for quiet conversation with good friends.
Cricketer’s is open late (12am) and is a great place for a late night dinner or snack. Menu items include traditional pub fare like fish and chips and Sheppard’s pie.
Karaoke is offered several times a week and adds to the entertaining atmosphere. From open to close this place is alive and happening. Be sure to check out the Cricketer’s Pub on your next Beaches Turks and Caicos vacation.
By far the best experience we had during our stay at Beaches Turks and Caicos was the KittyKatt Cruise. These brand new, state of the art catamarans are quickly becoming a favorite at Beaches and select Sandals Resorts. Anyone who loves to sail will appreciate the sheer beauty of the fine boats. A full 65 feet of pure pleasure and relaxation await you on the Kitty Katt.
Available at all the Beaches Resorts, several different tours are also available including: Teen Only Cruises, Sunset Cruises and a Sesame Street Breakfast Cruise. We chose the popular Beaches Kitty Katt Cruise because it has the most to offer. This 3 hour tour takes you sailing along the beautiful coast line of Providenciales with a few stops along the way.
The first stop being a popular snorkeling spot in the Princess Alexandria National Marine Park. When we arrived the crew handed out our snorkeling equipment and made sure everyone knew the proper use of it. They also explained the rules of the Marine Park as well as safety protocols. Basically look but no touchy-touchy! Personal instruction was also available for any that wanted or needed it. The staff made everyone feel very comfortable, even for those with little to no experience.
The Marine Park here was extremely beautiful and rated as one of the top 10 dive locations in the world. Be sure to visit our dive section for more underwater pictures and information.
Once back on board the bars were open and it was away we went to our next destination, Iguana Island, otherwise known as Little Waters Cay. The Kitty Katt was built exclusively for Beaches and features a full bar, separate mens and ladies restrooms (heads as they are called in the boating world), a protected lower deck area, and an upper sun deck complete with cargo nets at the bow, a water slide and stairs for easy access while boarding.
Our next stop was at one of the Turks and Caicos Cays (a series of small, mostly undeveloped, islands connecting Provo with North Caicos).
Once at the Island the Kitty Katt was carefully glided up to the sandy beach and we were free to explore the unspoiled deserted Island to our hearts content. The Island was so amazing that words cannot describe it. A quick walk to the other side brought us to a shallow bay area where conch shells were scattered on the sand. Even the sand here is indescribable. A combination of the churning waves and wind makes the sand along the shore into a creamy consistency. Where your feet sink in several inches into the super soft sand. If you enjoy the beach, this island is simply divine and nothing short of heaven.
For those less adventurous your time at the Cay can be spent soaking up the sun, swimming or snorkeling in the crystal clear water or playing on the boats water slide. There is no pressure here expect to relax and enjoy a little slice of paradise.
After about an hour we are all back on board for snacks and hours-devours as we make our way back to Beaches. The sails are raised and the music cranked to island beats as people dance, and mingle on the deck. This is party time and the staff knows just what to do to get everyone in the mood. Activities, games, dancing but again no pressure. If dancing is not your thing just sit back and enjoy the show. The friendly staff is right there to ensure everyone has the time of their life.
My wife and I have been on a number of cruise tours and I have to say this was by far the best. We had an amazing time, so be sure to check it out on your next vacation at Beaches Turks and Caicos.
We could not leave Beaches Turks and Caicos without trying their new Sushi Bar, right next to Kimono’s Restaurant. You never quite know what to expect when dining at an oriental restaurant in the Caribbean, but much to my surprise the sushi was excellent. If you enjoy a bit of raw fish now and then, I highly recommend it. Even die hard sushi lovers will be happy here. The selection is good and features novelties like conch that you won’t find in the states.
After years of waiting we have finally arrived at Beaches Turks and Caicos and I have to say the resort is much more than I expected. Even with the abundance of excellent promotional literature available. The 1 hour 40 minute flight from Miami is short and comfortable. Unlike some of the southern Caribbean Islands landing at the small Provo Airport is easy and we were quick to clear customs once we claimed our bags. Shuttle waiting time was only about 5 – 10 minutes.
Everything about Beaches Turks and Caicos is organized and efficient. Our bags were tagged with our room number prior to being placed on the shuttle. We were brought right to the concierge check in at the new Italian Village. Each Village has it’s own check-in area at the resort.
We were then whisked right to our amazing ocean view Suite. Our luxury suite at Beaches Turks and Caicos was called the Roman Penthouse Ocean view Family Suite with separate kids room was nothing short of amazing. Upon entering the suite walk through the kids bedroom which is richly appointed with bunk bed, trundle bed, separate vanity and sink, game table, Xbox 360 with a 27″ flat screen tv. Beautiful hand crafted mahogany woodworking and book shelves.
Just past the kids room is the master bathroom featuring dual granite toped vanities more fine woodworking, a whirlpool bath, separate shower and private water closet. All beautifully decorated with fine Italian and glass tile. Adjacent to the bath are 2 large closets and bar area with microwave, fridge and coffee maker. This concierge level room features a fully stocked wet bar, soda, water and snacks.
The master suite is separated from the kids room with a pocket door, and feature a carved mahogany four poster king size bed, 42″ flat screen tv and lounge sleeper chair. The 5th floor balcony offered a stunning panoramic view of the Italian Village Pool Area and Ocean beyond.
Our mid-afternoon arrival left plenty of time for Karie and I to explore the resorts sprawling 55 acres of lush tropical beauty. After getting ourselves completely lost more than once, we decided to enlist the help of a few of the very friendly resort staff. Who were more than happy to show us around. Looking at the pictures, you really do not get a feel for the sheer massive size of the Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort, and although it has a lot to offer, the layout can be pretty confusing at first. We walked around for a half hour before finding the beach.
Our long travel day left us with quite an appetite and we chose Schooner’s. A fantastic seafood restaurant steps from the beach. The a la carte menu features the freshest local seafood, as well as, a great steak. Unfortunately, the beautiful weather we arrived to soon turned to evening showers and we had to eat indoors. The atmosphere was just as nice inside as out. We found the food and service here to be top notch. Fresh conch is a local specialty in Turks and Caicos and you are sure to find some variation of it at nearly all the restaurants.
The island actually boasts the only conch farm in the world. It also happens to be a popular destination on the island. Conch is served in many places in the Caribbean, but here it is the national dish. I found it interesting to see all the different ways that it can be prepared. If you have a taste for these giant snails, I would recommend the conch salad appetizer or try the conch soup both were excellently prepared. If conch isn’t on your favorite Caribbean foods list, the other local seafood and steak selections we tried were just as delectable.
The Island of Providenciales (Provo for short), in Turks and Caicos is a very dry and almost desert like most of the year, except it would seem, for today. Of course, no one wants to talk about bad weather here, when it does come, but it has to rain sometime in order for the islands lush tropical foliage to stay so beautiful.
The funny thing is that everyone you ask seems to have a different story about the weather. One entertaining chef at breakfast, told me that the rain was due to the recent earthquake in Indonesia. Perhaps I’m just a naive tourist but I could not quite figure out how an earthquake on the other side of the world would cause rain in the Caribbean where it never rains.
The rain actually worked out though as it gave us a chance to check out the resorts amenities like the Red Lane Spa. We also took the opportunity to do a resort tour, which helped us find our way around the massive hotel grounds.
Just one more note about the weather. Lots of people choose not to travel in the fall because it is rainy season in most of the Caribbean. However it only rained here for about 6 hours during our entire stay, and from speaking to other guests, this was the first time it had rained in the previous week. This time of year the resort is very slow because kids are in school, so you never have to worry about crowds. Not to mention there are some great deals in the Fall.
With the new Italian Village expansion Beaches Turks and Caicos now boasts an incredible 16 restaurants, 614 rooms and, 7000 square feet retail plaza featuring high end jewelry, a candy store, souvenirs, fashion and even an art gallery. Check out the Beaches Turks and Caicos page for a complete run down of the amenities at this fine resort.
Lucky for us the weather broke by mid-afternoon and gave us just enough time to check out the recently expanded Pirates Island Water park. A few of the new exciting features here include a surf simulator, 2 water slides and a lazy river, plus a new and improved water park for the little ones.
The surf simulator is a blast, although the little kids seemed to have the technique down a lot better than I did. Equally exciting are the huge new water slides, one is an open top tube slide and the other is a pitch black thriller. Children must be 48″ tall to ride the big slides, but there are also new slides and other fun stuff at the new Pirates Island for the younger kids. The new lazy river is great for relaxing on a hot day. All in all there is something here for everyone from the young to the young at heart.
Adjacent to the water park, and inside the pirates ship, is Bobby D’s, a 50 style diner serving all the kids favorites. Including a full service ice cream parlor featuring sundaes, shakes, and cones. The water park is so cool they even have a hot dog stand. There is no way to go hungry at Beaches Turks and Caicos.
(To Be continued….)
Be sure to read our next journal entry as we continue our tour of Beaches Turks and Caicos.
The Turks and Caicos are a small island chain, north of Hispanola, and southeast of the Bahamas. Like the Bahamas, the waters surrounding Turks and Caicos are some of the clearest in the world, making them a mecca for water sports enthusiasts, snorkelers and scuba divers alike.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are also very well known for the quality of their marine life, and excellent dive sites. Due to the incredible visibility, snorkeling is very enjoyable here as well and unlike many other islands, can be done right off the beach in many areas.
The pictures here were taken while on vacation at Beaches Turks and Caicos. Photo’s were taken with a Cannon SD990 IS with Cannon underwater case. No external flash was used.
The island of Providencialas (Provo) is home to the Princess Alexandra National Marine Park, where all fishing is banned. Dive trips to the smaller out islands can also be arranged through independent dive operators.
