With its pristine beaches, ringing reggae beats, interior jungle, pretty drives and friendly people, Jamaica offers up all the sunshine and rest and relaxation of any other Caribbean destination. What set's is apart can be price and diversity in destinations. Inland and coastal, sun-worshipping travelers can enjoy several well-priced package deals. Get ready for some "cool runnings, mon."
Beach Destinations (tel. 800/433-4378; www.beachdestinations.com) out of Seattle, WA of all places, has a three-night trip to Negril on Jamaica's west coast costing $489. The site advises to "book now" for availability purposes. Travel for this trip is good from January 2 to January 27, 2005 with accommodations at the attractive and charming Rondell Village Resort, a cozy beachfront hotel with 36 rooms. Taxes of $73 and transfer costs are not included in this air/land package that departs out of New York; other departure gateways are available for an additional price.
Another discount package deal operator, the Vacation Travel Mart (tel. 800/288-1435; www.vacmart.com) has several sales to Negril as well. Offering three- ($566), five- ($699) and seven-night ($833) packages with travel good from January 6 to February 16, 2005. These air-inclusive trips depart midweek out of Miami and are based on double-occupancy travel. Accommodations are at the stylish Foote Print on the Sands, a two-story beachfront property with water sports and some land activities. Airport departure and security taxes are not included. Neither are meals. From New York, the same three-night trip costs $591.
Vacation Mart also offers deal to Montego Bay, a more cosmopolitan yet still mellow island destination. Three- to seven-night packages range in price from $503 to $697 with accommodations at the Wexford, only a five-minute walk to the popular Doctor's Cave Beach. Centrally located to Montego Bay's hopping strip of bars, shops, restaurants and concert halls, the Wexford is a good starting point for day and evening excursions into Jamaica's "good timing" culture. Vacation Mart also offers a beachfront Montego Bay vacation package with lodging at Club Ambiance, known for its laid back and casual attitude. The three-night package with airfare out of Miami costs $589 not including departure taxes, security fees or airport transfers. This trip is available for booking and travel through February 16, 2005.
If you're form the Midwest and are a little tired of all these deals going through Miami, New York or Los Angeles, Fun Jet (tel. 888/558-6654; www.funjet.com/dest/mbj.asp?OAC=) offers some very affordable all-inclusive deals to Montego Bay from several Midwestern departure points. Departure dates are throughout January 2005 with air travel through United Airlines and hotel accommodations at the El Greco Hotel complete with tennis courts and a large swimming pool. The seven-night trip departing out of Chicago costs $499. A charter trip out of St. Louis with accommodations at the beachfront Royal Decameron Club Caribbean costs $799. Departures are on Thursday, January 20 or 27, 2005. Prices for both trips are based on double occupancy travel. Air and security taxes are not included in the price. All meals are included in the St. Louis vacation package.
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