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Seas the Day, the Jamaican Style Way: Rum, Reggae, Relaxation, & Reality Checks (Cha-Ching!)
- Stephanie Blanc
- 4 days ago
- 13 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
What started as a much-needed getaway quickly turned into a week filled with rum, reggae, relaxation, breathtaking scenery, unforgettable excursions, more Jamaican patties than I'd care to admit, and yes...A few unexpected reality checks (and tips...lots and lots of TIPS! Haha!!).
Jamaica had been sitting on my travel wish list for quite some time, so when the opportunity finally presented itself, I was beyond stoked!
Between horseback riding & bamboo rafting in the turquoise waters with the sounds of Bob Marley in the background, incredible local foods, where again, I ate some of thee BEST Jamaican patties in my LIFE (!!!), this trip was a much-needed escape for me, paired with lots of vitamin sea.
So ultimately, I had a wonderful time. Jamaica is undeniably a beautiful island with very friendly, chill people, and several of the experiences I had there were absolutely once in a lifetime.
However, as with any trip...I encountered a few bumps in the road, both literally and figuratively (because, chile...I was NOT prepared for Jamaica's driving style! 😂), this island still gave me exactly what I came for: The opportunity to truly unplug, recharge, and enjoy some of the best sleep I've had in months.
But, again, y'all know how I'm gonna keep things all the way real over here sooo....I will be divulging some of the instances that had me a bit taken aback. BUT, the good news is that these experiences will fully prepare me for my next trip there.
So here's my honest recap of my Jamaican getaway: The good, the bad, and the beautiful. Ya know, so that you can be more prepared than I was haha!!
Ocean Eden Resort: Beautiful Property, Mixed Experience
For my first-ever all-inclusive resort experience, I stayed at Ocean Eden Bay Resort in Falmouth. The check-in was pretty straight-forward. They do try to get you to upgrade to privilege, which I told him that he could fast forward because I knew all about it and wasn't interested, politely of course haha!!
The resort itself? Gorgeous. The rooms? Spacious, comfy, clean, & beautiful. The atmosphere? Somewhere between tropical luxury and Spring Break 2026 (i.e. remember MTV's Spring Break from back in the day?? Yeah..Expect a lil' bit of that). The service? MEH. It was giving inconsistent. I did for the most part enjoy my stay. But the service and overall experience didn't quite live up to the property's beauty & 5-star rating.
As someone who appreciates elevated hospitality, I was surprised by how hit or miss the overall experience felt at times. Again, while the resort & grounds were immaculate (thanks to recent renovations), it often lacked the refined service I expected. More specifically, room service was almost non-existent, as I had made several attempts to take advantage of it during my entire stay, from Monday-Friday, and was entirely unsuccessful. A lot of the time, we couldn't even get anyone to answer the phone at front desk (i.e. I had to flag a housekeeper in the hallway for toilet paper), and for the caliber and PRICE of the resort itself, was totally unacceptable.
Additionally, there were a couple of days where room service started banging on the door at 9:30 am. Now granted, I am usually already up and out early most days cause your girl stays booked & busy with excursions on vacations, however I appreciate trying to sleep in until 8-8:30 am for a couple of mornings...I am on vacation after-all, so I don't want to feel rushed when I am getting ready. Granted, yes, I could have just placed the 'do not disturb' sign on my door...But I also figured I was good at 9:30 am to not having to worry about that. I mean who does housekeeping at 9:30am for occupied rooms?! Apparently, Ocean Eden Bay does. But, they need to realize that not everyone is always out and about at the crack ass of dawn 🫠. Not to mention, most of my earlier days of the trip had me outside my room for most of the day and I'd come back well after 5:00pm and sometimes the room still wasn't done...So there was definitely some inconsistencies with housekeeping.
Additionally, it felt like anytime I wanted to take a nap (which wasn't that often, but ya girl usually needs a siesta after a day full of excursions)...They were either mowing lawns all day or vacuuming for what would feel like eternity. Or, the phone would constantly ring, or constant knocks at the door for nonsense. Yes, NONSENSE!
Story time: At one point, I was hanging out on the balcony enjoying the view and meditating, and we heard constant banging on the door to which we answered and it was 'house prevention' with 'guidelines for the lockbox.' I didn't even feel comfortable with letting the gentleman in because it almost felt like another gimmick to buy something. Because like why couldn't we have just been notified via phone that someone was coming to talk about the lockbox?? Especially, since they had previously been calling us with everything else? Like why are you repeatedly waking us up or disturbing our peace?
Another issue, was the constant sales gimmicks...Every time I'd just take a stroll on the resort there was someone stopping me to sell what sounded like timeshares or upgrade to the Privilege option, which I politely declined each time because I did my research on Youtube and deemed it to not be worth it after hearing some reviews.
Lastly, most of the resort's restaurant food was another disappointment. Nearly every restaurant I tried throughout the resort was extremely underwhelming (Route 66 being the worse!!) with one shining exception...Captain Market! Caption Market was our saving grace. Every single visit there, was a win. The abundant continental buffet consistently delivered some of the best meals I had during my stay. Just for context, we'd normally go for breakfast, however we did also try lunch and dinner there as well.
Photo Credit: Maria Bella Photography
Love these Jamaica vacay-inspired looks? Tap here to see my outfit details!
The Tipping Olympics
So now, let's address the elephant in the room.
The tipping culture caught me completely off guard...Like TOTALLY! It was on a whole nother level than I was prepared for.
Now, let me be clear: I absolutely believe in tipping and rewarding good service. But what became increasingly frustrating was the constant expectation of additional money at every turn. Like...literally, every turn.
One example: I had prepaid for private airport transportation specifically so that everything would be handled before I arrived, especially in case I hadn't had the chance to convert my U.S. dollars into Jamaican currency yet. I did have a little cash on me, but nothing too crazy because I packed last minute and didn't have time to get to the ATM the morning of my flight. I know...I know...My fault (!!!).
But anyway, the driver still expected a tip and was pretty shameless about it too. To add insult to injury, he spent a good portion of the ride complaining about different groups of "cheap people" around the world, almost as if he was subtly giving us the nudge to not be them, if you will. I mean...ya girl reads the room and catches the subtext every time. He wasn't slick! 😂.
At the resort, the staff resisted us handling our luggage. (Just for some context...We landed, and the drive to the resort normally takes about 35–45 minutes depending on traffic. So I figured I'll just used the bathroom at my hotel room. However, there had been a major accident, and we ended up sitting in traffic for over 2½ hours. By the time we finally arrived at the resort, the trip had taken nearly three hours...and ya girl had to TINKLE 😩😂)
So after checking in, all I wanted to do was get to my room and relieve myself. Instead, we were asked to wait another 10–15 minutes for the luggage attendant, and the staff insisted on bringing our luggage to the room rather than allowing us to just take it ourselves so that we could finally get settled. We arrived at about 5:30pm, and front desk said the beach closes at 5:00pm, but that I could still go just be discreet, but how if you won't let me grab my luggage with the bathing suits in it?
Now, don't get me wrong, the little "Your Chariot Awaits" luggage cart was actually a nice touch 😂.
But once we arrived at the room, the luggage attendant essentially turned around to us with his hand out 🤨...😐. As we scrambled through our wallets trying to figure out the Jamaican currency, this man actually pointed to specific bills in my hand to indicate how much he expected me to give him...?!?! 😳
"Now, don't get me wrong, the little "Your Chariot Awaits" luggage cart was actually quite a nice touch. 😂"
As someone who was still a bit of a novice when it came to Jamaican currency, I found the interaction incredibly out-of-pocket given the circumstances that had JUST occurred.
So like...lemme get this straight...You refuse to let me take my own luggage....
You make me wait for someone to arrive even after I explain that I'm exhausted and just want to get to my room after a 3-hour ride ordeal. Thennn, after ALL of that...You expect me to pay for a service that I didn't even ask for nor really want in the first place?! Ummm...yeah...THAT definitely caught me off guard, and had me side-eyeing...🤨.
It's one thing to expect & appreciate gratuity. It's another thing to dictate it.
By the end of the vacation, my wallet needed its own vacation 😂 Now, I will say this...Upon arrival, they greet you with a deliciously BOMB cocktail🍹. So...at least they got that part right! 😂
Pebbled Paradise...
The beaches were absolutely gorgeous! The water was warm, crystal clear, and exactly what you'd expect when someone says, "caribbean paradise."
However, during my research before the trip, I was warned that Montego Bay's coastlines tend to be on the rockier side. And let me tell ya...They weren't kidding! 😂 At one point, I was convinced I'd stepped on something sharp enough to require medical attention, but fortunately, that wasn't the case 😂. I can laugh about it now, but I was low-key freaking out at the time. So, if you're someone who's a bit uneasy about walking on what, at times, felt like shards of seashells and rocks, you may want to invest in a pair of water shoes. Since, I am more of a barefoot & free-spirited kind of gyal...I braved it just fine even with the "incident" haha!! But you have been warned...
"The beaches were absolutely gorgeous. The water was warm, crystal clear, and exactly what you'd expect when someone says, "caribbean paradise."
"At one point, I was convinced I'd stepped on something sharp enough to require medical attention, but fortunately, that wasn't the case 😂. I can laugh about it now, but I was low-key freakin out at the time. If you're someone who's a bit uneasy about walking on what, at times, felt like shards of seashells and rocks, you may want to invest in a pair of water shoes."
Just for a little more context, I had originally planned on staying in Negril, which is known for its pristinely beautiful beaches that are essentially rock-less haha. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to book my desired hotel because many of the resorts were already fully booked due to the aftermath of the hurricane Melissa, which had significantly reduced the number of available accommodations.
The Excursions: Always My Favorite Part
Excursions always end up being the highlight of most of my vacays, and it was no different this time. If there's one thing about me, it's that I don't like spending my entire vacation sitting by the pool. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a decent amount of beach bumming as much as the next person, but I also love immersing myself in a destination, learning about its culture, and trying experiences that I wouldn't otherwise get back home. That's exactly why excursions are always the highlight of my trips!
Bamboo Rafting
Without question, one of the most relaxing and memorable experiences of the trip. Floating down the river while listening to reggae and taking in Jamaica's natural beauty felt like stepping into another world. I booked Bamboo Rafting From Montego Bay & Falmouth it through Trip Advisor. See me in action in slide #4 here.
Horseback Riding
Anyone who knows me, knows this is always going to be a favorite of mine. I've always loved horses, and there is something incredibly freeing about horseback riding, especially against such a beautiful backdrop. We even got to ride the horses deep in the water. It was a wonderful experience that I wish could've been longer. I'd say it was about 45 minutes. I booked the bamboo rafting & horseback riding together via Trip Advisor - Horseback Riding & Bamboo Rafting From Montego Bay & Falmouth. The tour operators for both the bamboo rafting and horseback riding were extremely friendly & helpful.
Clear Kayak Photoshoot
I did this on a whim after finding this cute bathing suit at one of the local shops, and loved how it came out. I figured, "Hey, let's seas the day!! Haha!!" But, let's just say those photos didn't come easy though. Cue in Aaliyah's "Rock The Boat," because BABY ya girl was ROCKINNN' back and forth in them shallow waters. At least the tour operator got a good laugh at my fears!!
Balancing in a clear kayak while attempting to look effortless while doing it deserves its own Olympic event. But I felt totally safe and this coming from someone who can't swim (Don't worry I'm planning on getting the lessons at some point). But, was it worth it? Absolutely! I got their contact via one of the other tour operators, Rajay. I booked this experience with Shoreline Views JA.
Love this Jamaica glam-inspired look? Tap here to see my outfit details!
A Food Tour Missing the Key Secret Ingredient
One excursion we were particularly excited about was a local food tour.
Unfortunately, it ended up being one of the biggest disappointments of the trip.
Between repeated cancellations from the original operator (he cancelled our booking 3 times without explanation and the last cancelation was the day before our booking 😑, and we didn't even realize because we were busy doing other excursions). We were able to book another Food Tour via the hotel's tour concierge, but the guy we booked was a less-than-stellar experience, and it simply didn't live up to expectations.
To be clear, I expected the food tour to be fun, educational, and delicious...But, it was more of a taxi ride in which he pointed to everything the hurricane destroyed (which, was a lot). He dropped us off at a plaza with Scotchies & a jamaican beef patty bakery, and then took us to KFC. No history, no explanation, no nada...$75 to cover his gas and $80 for the actual tour, which wasn't even a tour....total RIP OFF. We were definitely scammed. Ya know the tour agents made me feel silly for booking via Trip Advisor, but those were the excursions that turned out the best with the exception of the original food tour company that canceled 3 times. It was called Finesse Jamaica, which is an interesting choice of a name 🧐.
BUT, moving on and speaking of food...
Scotchies: Our Favorite Jerk Chicken Stop
Scotchies Jerk Chicken absolutely lived up to the hype. No notes. Five stars. Easily, the best jerk chicken I've ever had. Would return tomorrow.
Jamaican Patties: Worth Every Bite
And let's talk about Jamaican patties. I believe the name of the bakery was called Tastee Jamaican Pattie, I can't recall 100%, but it was in the same plaza strip as Scotchies in Montego Bay or Ocho Rios. Shamelessly, I ate approximately 7 throughout the duration of this trip. Maybe even more, but who's counting? What I can tell you is this: Golden Krust doesn't even come close. Not even remotely.
Linda's Jerk & Seafood Restaurant
A strong recommendation from one of our tour operators-Rajay. Whenever a local tells me, "You want some good oxtail," I'm listening. Rajay assured us Linda's was one of his favorite spots, so we happily took his recommendation. I ordered the oxtail with cabbage and rice & peas, and let's just say I was licking my fingers down to the very last bite. There wasn't a single bite left on my plate. Rich, flavorful, and absolutely worth the stop.
Jamaican KFC Deserves Its Own Section
Believe the hype. Jamaican KFC is top tier. I don't know what they're doing differently, but it definitely tastes better. Period. The only downside? Waiting over 30 minutes for an 8-piece meal. Then again, I was in the Caribbean. Perhaps my inner NY side needed to be taught patience as part of the experience haha.
Bob Marley Mausoleum: 9 Mile Reggae
One experience that left me conflicted was the Bob Marley tour in Nine Mile.
On one hand, seeing the humble actual home in which Bob Marley lived his early childhood years, created music, spent time with family, and ultimately spent his final moments was incredibly moving. Walking through those spaces gave me a deeper appreciation for both the man and his legacy.
On the other hand, nearly every stage of the experience honestly came with another sales pitch, another tip request, or another opportunity to open your wallet. After a while, it became a little exhausting because all I really wanted to do was soak in the history.
The tour began in a souvenir shop. Obviously, you're not obliged to purchase anything here, but there were unexpected charges ($10 shots that are presented to you upon arrival as a welcome to the facility, which the bartender announces are $10 when you're basically in the process of throwing the shot back 😂. There were multiple tipping opportunities, and constant upselling throughout the 1-hour experience.
Don't get me wrong, I completely understand that tourism is a major part of the economy, and I expected to spend money while I was there...But it honestly felt like every time we turned a corner, there was another request to buy something, leave a tip, or pay for an additional experience. After a while, it became a bit annoying because all I really wanted to do was take in the history, appreciate Bob Marley's legacy, and enjoy the experience for what it was.
Still, witnessing firsthand how deeply Jamaica reveres Bob Marley gave me an added layer of appreciation for his music and overall influence.
Do I Plan on Going Back To Jamaica?
Absolutely! I know my candid recount of some of the experiences, might have you thinking otherwise, but despite it all, I'm actually someone who relentlessly tries to make the best of situations in spite of surprise hurdles.
Would I stay at an all-inclusive resort again? Probably not. If I return to Jamaica, I'd likely choose a private villa and create a more customized experience. I'd feel safe enough to sort-of roam around on my own more. As a first-time visitor, staying at a resort felt like the safer option for me because I didn't know the island well enough to venture too far on my own. But now, that I have a better understanding of the country, I'd approach the trip differently.
Even in spite of the frustrations, Jamaica gave me incredible memories, unforgettable experiences, amazing food, and a deeper appreciation for a culture unlike any other.
So yes, I'd be back in a heartbeat(!!!), but just a little more wiser than the first time around...Like I am definitely not forgetting to bring smaller bills (US dollar bills because they accept US currency and seem to appreciate it more, and I'll have an even bigger appetite for beef patties & jerk chicken.
If you're planning on going to Jamaica, then grab my Ultimate Planner that has an entire travel planning section to make your trip & life a whole lot easier!
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