Wirral Life May 2022 | Page 64

JAMAICA
W L TRAVEL
JAMAICA
By Jayne O ' Gorman , Azure
A personal favourite of Jayne O ’ Gorman , Managing Director of Chester based Luxury tour operator Azure Collection , Jamaica has a lot to offer . It is not just the stunning beaches and year-round climate that attract so many to Jamaica but it is also an island culture from the music of Bob Marley and the Bond novels of Ian Fleming to the record-breaking exploits of Usain Bolt .
More a country than an island , Jamaica is becoming as fashionable again as it was in the fifties , and with good reason – its culture is lively and interesting , its people are amongst the Caribbean ’ s most friendly and it ’ s home to some of the best beaches and the most scenically beautiful places in the world . If you take a climb up Dunn ’ s River Falls , a raft trip along the Martha Brae river or a drive into the majestic Blue Mountains you ’ ll see what we mean .
Half Moon Half Moon is an iconic Jamaican destination that has set the standard for luxury Caribbean resorts for more than 65 years . Located on the island ’ s northern coast on a crescent shaped beach that is one of the finest stretches of sand in Jamaica , Half Moon ’ s 400 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens are scattered with luxury guest rooms and charmingly whitewashed villas which are fit for royalty .
Its world-class amenities make it ideal for families . It all starts with the V . I . L . P . S . Check-In ( very important little person service ) but that really is just the beginning a round on the golf course . Adults can also enjoy some valuable time to reconnect with each other and relax over romantic dinners at the Sugar Mill restaurant after treating themselves at the Oasis Spa . The Anancy Children ’ s Village , puppet shows , spa treatments for youngsters and restaurants with special menus and early seatings ensure that children have the time of their lives . Young and old can ride along the beach from the equestrian centre and improve your back-hand with a tennis pro or play . 7 nights from £ 2195per person on Bed and Breakfast basis *
GoldenEye GoldenEye is truly unique . Legendary novelist Ian Fleming made this his Jamaican retreat and wrote all 14 James Bond novels here . Located in vast acres of tropical gardens , secret coves , breathtaking private beaches , tropical forests and a singular lagoon , it lives up to its original owner ’ s taste for intrigue , seduction and undisputed glamour . At the centre of GoldenEye is a four acre lagoon , originating from the days when Oracabessa was a banana port . Now it ’ s perfect for a range of fun and fitness-focused experiences such as snorkelling and kayaking and paddle boarding . If all that sounds too energetic , you can try sunset yoga or visit The Field Spa . This used to be the home of Naomi Campbell and overlooks the stunning lagoon . Now it is home to three beautiful treatment rooms for relaxing massages salt scrubs and herbal wraps . Or if watching the world go by is more your style , sip away the hours at beachside Bizot Bar while lounging at the freshwater pool . No matter what you do , you ’ ll work up a good appetite , so head to GoldenEye ’ s main stunning restaurant – Gazebo – where our chefs serve fantastic International and quintessential Jamaica-style cooking and enjoy signature cocktails mixed with Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum . 7 nights from £ 2,850 per person on Bed & Breakfast basis *
Jamaica Inn This intimate luxury hotel has held iconic status for 60 years under the care of the Morrow family and celebrities and travellers are as drawn to its timeless charm as they were in 1950 . It is the ultimate romantic getaway . There are only 55 suites , cottages and bungalows , all decorated with impeccable taste in crisp white with rich woods against a backdrop of vibrant tropical flowers . You can start the day with breakfast on your verandah overlooking the Caribbean Sea . Take a nap under your own palapa or laze and watch more than 30 species of birds flit from tree to tree . Dine by candlelight or starlight at the acclaimed open-air Jamaica restaurant and enjoy Chef Maurice Henry ’ s gourmet infused cuisine with local Jamaican flavours serenaded by a four-piece band . The Ocean Spa at Jamaica Inn nestles within the cliffs of Cutlass Bay . 7 nights from £ 2055 per person Room Only basis *
Round Hill Round Hill is arguably the most well-connected resort in the Caribbean . When a hotel can list among its historical highlights that it was where John and Jackie Kennedy visited , where Oscar Hammerstein met Maria von Trapp and conceived the idea of the ‘ The Sound of Music ’ and where Ralph Lauren guided the remodelling , design and decoration , you just know that it has to be something special . The Ralph Laurendesigned Oceanfront Rooms in the Pineapple House feature white stone floors , four-poster beds and sumptuous furnishings . The upstairs rooms feature cathedral ceilings while the downstairs rooms offer private patios and the bathrooms come with gorgeously deep tubs and rain showers . With a golden private beach , double edge infinity pool and adult-only spa pool there are plenty of ways to cool off . Dining is equally special with the modern Caribbean cuisine menus of the Seaside Terrace and the Grill at Round Hill featuring the very best of ingredients , many from Round Hill ’ s own organic garden and local farms . 7 nights from £ 2,255 per person on Bed & Breakfast basis *
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