Excursions.
There is a tour company operating on the hotel premises, who organise various trips e.g, Negril, Rafting on the Martha Brae, Luminous Lagoon and Grand Ocho Rios Special, which took in Columbus Park, shopping in Ocho Rios and the famous Dunns River falls. Some of the trips were a bit pricey.When we decided to book a trip, first we had to go to the tour desk and book the trip we wanted to go on. From there we went to the cashiers desk and payed for the trip. We were given the options of adding the price of the trip to our room, and at the end of our holiday we would settle up bill or we could pay for the trip there and then.
We found the latter the best option, because we were then, not confronted with a bill which we had check at the end of the holiday. But we could go to the cashiers at anytime and pay off part or all of our bill.
Car hire is available at the hotel.
The Luminous Lagoon.
In the evening we were picked up by the Glass Bottom Boat. Swimwear is essential as there is no pier, we had to wade into the sea and climb aboard the boat. The boat journey to the lagoon lasted about half an hour (the sea was a bit choppy). By the time the boat got to the mouth of the lagoon it was dark. The boat was stopped and we were given a little talk about the lagoon and why the water illuminates. The boat then moved through the lagoon and the wash from the boat started to illuminate. The boat stopped and we were the offered a chance to go for a swim. Unfortunately for us one of our children was a bit sea sick, so we were dropped off at a pier nearby and a taxi was called to take us back to the hotel. The other passengers continued their journey back to the hotel by sea.
All in all, it was an experience never to be forgotten. Certainly our eldest daughter, then 8 years of age, says that it was a dream come true, to have climbed a waterfall.
Rick's Café is set on the edge of cliffs, we had to keep a watchful eye over our children, as the walls at the cliff's edge are not high, it is quite easy for a child to climb the walls. This was my first visit to Jamaica with my own family, all of us enjoyed our stay in Jamaica. As for the hotel, it is a bit secluded. If you wanted to go anywhere you had to hire a car or taxi but you will see some of the island if you booked some of the excursions.Grand Ocho Rios Special.
This is described as a 3 in 1 day out. We headed east on the north coast road. The first stop-off was at Columbus Park in Discovery Bay. Columbus Park is an open-air museum. Columbus Park, has nice views overlooking Discovery Bay.
Unfortunately we did not stay long enough to have a look around but there is a mural depicting the Columbus landing and a craft shop.
It is here at Columbus Park that we could purchase the appropriate rubberised footwear or pay for the loan of the footwear required, to climb the Dunns River Falls (climbing the falls is slippery business, the footwear helps to reduce this).
We payed for the loan of the footwear and was given a ticket. The ticket allowed us to jump the queue at the Dunns River Falls, this is a good idea as the falls is one of Jamaica's main tourist attractions.
After we left Columbus Park, we were taken to Ocho Rios. We stopped off at a Restaurant/Bar for lunch, here we ordered something to eat and drink (as refreshments is not included). We then went onto another part of Ocho Rios where there were some Duty Free shops. After that was over, we headed to a small craft market. We were told, if we decided to buy anything in the craft market, we should haggle over the price.
We were then on our way to our final destination, Dunns River Falls. As we intended to climb the Falls, swimwear is a must. We picked up our footwear and headed through the grounds of the falls, there we met our guide.
We were led to the bottom of the 600ft falls, which flows out into the sea.
At this point the guide told us that if we wanted pictures taken with our own cameras at strategic points during our climb, his colleague would keep our cameras and camcorders safe (this proved a huge help).
During the climb, which is can be physical at times, we were all asked to hold the hand of the person both in front and behind us, to form a kind of 'human chain'. The idea is that if you lose your footing, you will not fall quite so badly. It also means that if you find parts of the climb a bit steep, you are gently pulled along with the rest of your group.
There are exit points, for people who could no longer continue the climb
As we were on an organised trip, there was not an opportunity to climb the falls a second time.
We thought we were too busy concentrating on climbing without falling or slipping, that we didn't have a real chance to appreciate the tremendous beauty of the falls and the surrounding park and gardens.
Perhaps the answer would have been to have visited the falls independently and look around at our leisure.
In our opinion the falls are not suitable for small children, as there are parts where you can be waist deep in water but having said that, there were small children climbing the falls with their parents. You climb at your own risk.
If you have small children or you are not climbing (one of us did not climb but stayed to look after our two youngest children), there are wooden steps and wooden landings which you can go down, to look at the falls and watch the climbers.
Mobay Undersea Tours.
Swimwear is a must for this trip. We were driven to the Margueritaville Dock, in Montego-Bay. There we boarded a semi-submersible boat called 'Sharky' (This was one of two, semi-submersibles in the dock).
We helped ourselves to a complimentary drink and soon afterwards the boat went out to sea.
'Sharky' has two, glass bottomed hulls (sort of Catamaran like) which you sat in during the journey out to sea but we could have stayed on the deck if we wanted to. As the boat went out to sea, we saw the coral reefs, schools of fish and turtles in the clear sea (and a telephone cable).
Each hull is manned by a person, who is there to answer any questions you may have about the reef and its fish. Also on hand were laminated sheets, which had pictures of different species of fish that inhabit the reef.
After a little way out the boat stopped. At that point, safety buoys were release into the sea. One of the crew then jumped into the sea and swam between the hulls and fed a school of fish. After that, we then had the opportunity to go for a swim. Goggles, snorkels and a buoyancy jackets were provided.
When we got back to the dock we were then taken onto the Margueritaville bar. But we chose to get a bite to eat at a Burger King, not too far away.
Although this was short excursion, we enjoyed it very much.
Negril Sunset Tours.
As the name suggests, this was a trip to see the sunset at Negril, first stopping off at Cosmo's and then onto Rick's Café to see the sunset.
This is a long journey from the Trelawny Beach hotel.
It took approximately 2 ˝ hours to get to Negril.
But we did stop off on the way to have a break.
The other holidaymakers who were travelling with us, had made arrangements to go to Hedonism (we think through the hotel but not really sure) and skipped Cosmo's altogether.
When we pulled up at Hedonism, as they alighted our eldest asked why we were not getting off, we told her that children are not allowed in (we adults know why).
We then continued on our journey to Cosmo's.
Cosmo's
Cosmo's is basically a beachside restaurant/bar.
The changing area is located near the entrance. Included in the price of this trip was lunch. You had to pay for your drinks and any extras you ordered.
There is three dining areas all of which were under cover, one of the dining areas is set on the beach.
We did not see any sun loungers, but then again it is a restaurant and not a hotel, so taking a beach towel or a beach mat is a must.
If you go to Cosmo's under your own steam you will have to pay a small entrance fee.
From Cosmo's, we had access to Negril's, seven mile long beach. We went for a walk along the beach. There are hotels along the way, whose property, extend onto the beach. Sometimes we came across the odd security guard at hotel boundaries but we found they did not interfere with our walking.
In our opinion, Cosmo's is a lovely place, it is not set in luxurious surroundings, in fact it's decor is quite simple, which was its charm. We spent about 4-5 hours there, and enjoyed every minute, it was time well spent.
Rick's Café
When the minibus arrived we were then taken shopping, and then went onto Rick's Café.
Rick's Café is another restuarant/bar and is popular place for tourists, and it does get packed out.
It is reputed to be one of the best places in Negril, to see the sunset. We had to purchase drink tokens, as cash cannot be exchanged across the bar.
There was music playing in the background, people were looking for a prime position to view the sunset, others were either eating or queuing up to eat and there were other people queuing up to jump off the cliff into the sea, whilst others watched on.
Boats with passenegers also came to watch the sunset.
After we saw the sunset, things were beginning to warm up, a reggae band started playing but we had to make our way back to the minibus, but we left with the impression that Ricks Café is a very lively place.
We will visit the island again, as soon as we can.
Home
Trelawny Beach & Fun Resort Hotel
Trelawny Beach Excursions
Luminous Lagoon
Ocho Rios Special
Mobay Undersea Tours
Negril Sunset Tours
Doctors Cave
Bluefields
Westmoreland