Trip notes and itinerary for my 5-day trip to Jamaica
During most of the ‘aughts’, I was part of a group that traveled to Jamaica once a year. That incredible run came to an end in 2008. Air Jamaica’s demise may have played a big part in that. After sitting out 2009 and 2010, I realized there were a few things I still had yet to experience on the island: 1) Mystic Mountain was still under construction last time we were there so I never got a chance to visit after it was completed. 2) In all of my excursions around the island, there was one parish I still had not been to: St. Thomas. 3) Although I had gone to church in Ocho Rios a couple of times, I had not attended the one closest to our usual hotel. The sole purpose of this trip was to rectify all of the above, hence, the name of this tour. And since Jamaica had just celebrated its 50th year of independence – which coincided with a significant milestone of my own – I thought this would be the perfect time to go. Truth be told, I HAD to go. Something inside compelled me to return to Jamaica. I’m not sure I can explain why.
Flights
The airfare was the easy part; I used American Express Rewards points. It was nice to be able to use some of the points I had been saving up. Delta Air Lines had the most convenient flights. By booking the flight with rewards points, I not only got the flight for free (well, except for the service fee), miles from the flight were added to my Delta SkyMiles account. While checking fares, I noticed that a few of the flights from Los Angeles that fit my schedule had a stopover in Las Vegas. The fare from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, Jamaica was a couple hundred dollars cheaper than flying out of LAX. I decided to drive up to Las Vegas, thereby saving the couple hundred dollars…and about 20,000 points.
Transfers
To get from Donald Sangster airport in Montego Bay to the hotel in Ocho Rios and back, I used Viator. They have a transfer service from most major airports worldwide.
Accomodations
The hotel at Rooms Ocho Rios was booked directly through their site.
Activities
The Mystic Mountain excursion was booked directly through their site.
My tour of Jamaica was booked directly with Glen Garwood of Jamaica Xplored.
My 5-day tour went like this:
Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: Mystic Mountain, Scotchie’s with Glen Garwood
Day 3: Touring eastern Jamaica with Glen Garwood of Jamaica Xplored
Day 4: Church, dining, Soni’s Plaza
Day 5: Return home
(Updated 31 March 2022 to show name change of Las Vegas International Airport from McCarran to Harry Reid.)
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