This April I was very happy to go to Jamaica to celebrate my two good friends getting married on none other than my birthday! UMMM, is there anything better than that?! I have always wanted to take a trip on my birthday, but couldn’t ever manage to coordinate anything. So when my friend Tiana told me that she was getting married on 4/27, I was ecstatic! What better way to spend your birthday than watching two people express their love for each other amongst all of their friends and family, not to mention whilst in the gorgeous setting of Jamaica. And lucky for me, several of Tiana and I’s mutual friends attended this event as well!
We flew into Montego Bay on a Thursday after a quick 3-hour flight from New York. Going through customs was pretty quick, but I was surprised by facing a more thorough questioning than usual. We were asked very specific questions about what we were doing, where we were staying, and even what kind of room we were staying in! It was a bit more intense than other countries I have visited in the Caribbean, but all was well regardless. I would recommend writing down specific details about where you’ll be staying should you visit Jamaica, so you can have them handy going through customs after your flight.
The drive from the airport to our resort was fairly quick – it only took 30 minutes and cost $40 – and was previously arranged by the resort. Keep in mind that people in Jamaica are very adamant about being tipped in cash, so make sure you have some on hand for your driver. Everyone accepts both USD and Caribbean Dollars. We stayed at Round House Villas Resort, which was absolutely GORGEOUS. It’s a smaller boutique resort that is truly awe-inspiring. We learned from the staff that JFK actually spent his honeymoon there, and that Queen Bey & Jay-Z are regulars, and I can see why. The resort has several extremely private villas with two floors, several rooms, private pools, and a view that’s to die for. My boyfriend Jeremy and I stayed in a less extravagant villa, but it was still amazing. We opted for the deluxe suite with a shared pool, which we loved. There is nothing better than opening up the door to tropical plants and a pool just footsteps away. Because we were with the wedding party we received a discounted rate of just $310/night for the first three nights, and $259 for the 4th night. Normally the rooms start at $600, so keep that in mind!
Ok, now I’ll be honest and say the one downside of this resort is that is not all-inclusive. I know, I know, I’m an all-inclusive queen! The majority of my vacations have always been with my family, and that’s just how we do it. It’s so much less stressful to not have to worry about how many piña coladas you’re drinking, and how much you’ll have it pay for them later. So having to pay for food and drinks was a bit of a downside. Just one beer with tax was $10, and liquor drinks $15 – essentially New York prices! If we were to return, I would definitely have just spent the money on a car to town the first day and purchased our own alcohol, mixers, and snacks. It would have saved us the several hundred dollars that we spent on food & drinks! But alas this was not one, but TWO special occasions, so we sucked it up and indulged as we pleased. There were two restaurants on the resort that served AMAZING authentic Jamaican food. I don’t usually eat meat- but Jeremy said the jerk chicken was the best he had ever tasted- and so I HAD to try a bite, and WOW. It was incredible! I was happy to discover that all of the food at the resort is sourced from local farms, and thus super fresh. You really can taste the difference, and so for that, I would say everything was totally worth it!
As far as things to do, there’s plenty! Fortunately, the water sports are all inclusive and there are plenty to choose from. Round Hill Villas offers kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, sailing, and paddle boarding! They also have their own private beach with a trampoline, these floating white things you can lay out on, tons of beach chairs, and some of the most beautiful water I’ve ever seen. There were also several excursions available, but due to the interest of time, we didn’t get to make any this time around. However, my last time in Jamaica I went rafting down Rio Grande, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. If you have the chance, DO IT!
After three days of laying out, water sports, and lots of delicious food, the wedding day (aka my bday) rolled around. And WOW, was this the most perfect and beautiful day to get married. There wasn’t a drop of rain at the resort, but just before the ceremony began a rainbow appeared out of nowhere. If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with rainbows so this was probably the best gift that God could have given me! Plus, I think it was good luck for the newlyweds 😉 After the ceremony, there was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have EVER seen. The bride was dancing in the golden light, which just looked unreal. Overall it was an AMAZING trip and one of my best birthdays ever. If anyone else wants to have a destination wedding on or around my birthday, please do LOL. Have you guys ever been to Jamaica? Or had someone get married on your birthday? Let me know about your experiences below!
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