Jamaica Holidays 2013

It’s rumoured that Ocho Rios, Spanish for “Eight Rivers”, was where Christopher Columbus first landed upon his arrival in Jamaica in the late 1400s. If that’s the case, he couldn’t have picked a better place to stop.

A holiday to Ocho Rios is like stepping into a living postcard of paradise, where the sparkling seas stretch out until they blend seamlessly with the blue sky above. The town offers a variety of tourist attractions, including great food, drink, nightlife and accommodation to suit everyone from families to honeymooners.

It’s sometimes hard to find a single place on a Jamaican holiday that hasn’t been used in a film - Bond films especially. Ocho Rios boasts a starring role in the very first Bond film, with Montego Bay playing host to Roger Moore in his initial outing as 007 in 1973.

The second largest city in Jamaica offers its visitors duty free shopping, a choice of excellent beaches, bars and restaurants and picturesque views of the nearby mountains. Live out your own Bond fantasy with a holiday to Montego Bay in 2013.

Named in the late 1400s by the Spanish, possibly due to the black cliffs that lie to the south, Negril is home to what many regard as one of the top ten beaches in the world.

With a range of hotels and resorts lining the coast, along with numerous spots for diving, snorkelling and beach side drinking, Negril is a fantastic destination for those wanting to live it up in paradise.

If you fancy a break from the beach, there’s a fantastic range of sights to see across the island. No holiday in Jamaica would be complete without paying a visit to Bob Marley’s former home and recording studio.

Now a museum to the King of Reggae, there’s some great exhibits and items owned by the man himself. Children get in half price and the stew served at nearby Bob’s Café was reportedly Marley’s favourite.

If you’re feeling adventurous, a raft ride down the Martha Brae River is well worth a go. The bamboo rafts wind slowly down the river while your guide keeps you informed about the animals and plants you see throughout the route.

This was apparently a favourite pastime of Hollywood legend Errol Flynn and is sure to be a cinematic experience of your own. For a tiny island, there’s more than enough to keep you busy.

The Rose Hall Resort and Spa is a deluxe beachfront Hilton property, overlooking the pristine Rose Hall beach, 15 miles from the centre of Montego Bay. The perfect place to stay if seeking an all-inclusive family holiday where you can choose to do as little or as much as you want! With one of the largest water park’s in the Caribbean, a full service spa and the Robert Van Hagge designed Cinnamon Hill Ocean championship golf course, you will be spoilt for choice!

When you first arrive on the island, it can be hard to choose a beach from the miles of picturesque coastline on offer, so where do you start?

Negril beach, one of Jamaica’s most lusted after stretch of coast, provides an excellent starting point for your holiday to Jamaica. However, half the fun is venturing out until you find that perfect beach for the two of you. You certainly won’t be short on choice!

Feeling brave? A candlelit tour of Rose Hall, the former home of Jamaica’s White Witch Annie Palmer, is bound to get goose bumps out of even the hardiest of travellers.

The creepy tales of love, murder and mystery are expertly relayed by the tour guides and the visit ends with a trip to the dungeon, now a tavern, where you can try the potent “Witches Brew” cocktail. If you weren’t feeling brave before this potent potion, you will be after!

If you want to make your holiday perfect, you won’t do much better than the exclusive and luxurious Couples Sans Souci Hotel in Ocho Rios. This adults only resort is perfect for couples and all of its 150 suites face the ocean with the majority including private terraces or balconies.

Great food, spa treatments, water skiing, golf and a host of other activities are available should you want them. This is one hotel guaranteed to make your holiday here a magical trip to remember.