Experience Life Off the Grid at Animal Farm

Nestled in the Montpelier Hills near Montego Bay, Jamaica lies the alluring Animal Farm and Nature Reserve. This 40-acre sanctuary sits in a lush rainforest valley which is supplied by the Great River, one of Jamaica’s fastest flowing rivers. Dr. Geoffrey Williams, the owner of Animal Farm, acquired the thickly wooded land in the 1990s and transformed it into a beautiful off-the-grid farm. Animal Farm is solar-powered, harvests water from the Great River and uses bio-gas for refrigeration and cooking. Animal Farm opened to guests in 2000 and quickly became a naturalist and ecotourist’s paradise, teeming with ferns, towering trees, flowering plants and beautiful exotic birds. Today, one can escape the hustle and bustle of city life with a stay in one of the farm’s eco-cottages, or enjoy an edutaining farm tour, hiking, birdwatching, bamboo rafting excursion or even a self-guided tour through the farm at one’s own pace. In this article, I recap my weekend getaway and share why Animal Farm deserves a spot on your Jamaican bucket list.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle25 Comments

Glamping & More at Hidden Springs, Saint Ann

Last month, I was invited on a special road trip sponsored by Red Stripe. Red Stripe is a refreshing lager beer best enjoyed cold and on hot sunny days. This beer has become a Jamaican cultural staple, and is generously splashed onto jerk chicken during its preparation. Thus, there was no better company than Red Stripe to gather local talents on a ‘Jamaicanness Tour‘ to celebrate Jamaica’s unique food and adventure spots. They promised a day filled with fun, food and Jamaican experiences– and delivered. Our first stop was at Hidden Springs, an idyllic gem on Jamaica’s north coast which offers several accommodation options for the discerning traveler and nature-lover. These include two guest suites, glamping tents as well as a campground where you can pick a spot, and pitch a tent. Today, let’s recap my visit to Hidden Springs.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle17 Comments

Retreat to Nature at Neita’s Nest

Neita’s Nest is a creative nook tucked away in the hilly outskirts of Kingston and St. Andrew. Located in Bridgemount, a quiet suburban and historic neighbourhood, Neita’s Nest began as a private dwelling where the Neita family would often entertain relatives and friends. However, in 2010 its proprietor and host, Michelle Neita, opened her charming home to guests as a local homestay and bed & breakfast. Michelle’s gracious willingness to share her knowledge of Kingston’s rich history and culture to guests makes Neita’s Nest a useful resource and base for visiting creatives, researchers and scholars. As they would say, the rest is history. Neita’s Nest is far removed from the hustle and bustle of Kingston but close enough to all its amenities, making it a desired place to stay for visitors to Kingston, Jamaica’s capital city.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle22 Comments
Exterior of home with garden

Escape to Runaway Bay, Jamaica With These 3 Villas

Runaway Bay on the north coast of Jamaica is said to be one of the island’s most beautiful towns. The town consists of hilly terrain which gently slopes towards charming white sand beaches, pristine reefs and imposing all-inclusive resorts. Runaway Bay is an important tourist hub. It lies 27km away from the bustling resort town of Ocho Rios, and is an hour’s drive away from the island’s largest international airport in the city of Montego Bay. The meaning of the town’s name isn’t clear. Some say it is so-called because of slaves who used the beach to escape to Cuba; others say the name has to do with the Spanish soldiers who fled Jamaica from this beach after invasion by the British. Nonetheless, people would rather pay money nowadays to escape to Runaway Bay; not from! Here are three delightful villas in Runaway Bay at which one can enjoy a great vacation.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle28 Comments

The 10 Most Luxurious Hotels in Jamaica

The island of Jamaica is renowned internationally for its white sand beaches, all-inclusive hotels and as a playground for the world’s rich and famous. There’s a wide range of deluxe accommodations in The Home of All Right ranging from sprawling beachfront hotels to secluded waterfront villas and cozy mountainside chalets. If you’ve ever wondered where in Jamaica do the celebrities vacation, or would like to live as luxuriously as they do, you’ve come to the right place. Here are Jamaica’s top 10 luxury hotels where you can have the singular experience of tropical Caribbean opulence.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle20 Comments

10 Affordable Places to Stay in Jamaica

Over the past few weeks I’ve shared lists of the best places to stay in Jamaica under categories such as hotels, villas and eco-lodges. Those lists were not necessarily budget-friendly, so I knew I had to make one for the average traveler. Most travelers are not traveling because they are rich, myself included. We travel because we have an insatiable desire to see the world around us, experience new cultures and meet new people. As a result, it is important for frequent travelers to spend wisely. Staying at budget-friendly accommodations is a good way to stretch those travel dollars. Here are 10 affordable places to stay in Jamaica (prices included).

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

9 Places to Enjoy a Nature Retreat in Jamaica

So many of us feel at peace in nature, yet our daily lives are often far removed from it. For that reason, we ought to retreat to nature every chance we get in order to restore equilibrium to our lives. Jamaican nature retreats are rustic wooden and thatch structures nestled into the island’s lush tropical rainforest and rooted in responsible tourism practices such as serving organic seasonal foods prepared straight from the land. Many take it a step further by harvesting rainwater, and using compost toilets and solar electricity, while others double as wellness resorts by offering spa services, yoga and other activities to promote physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Learn more about the benefits of staying at a nature or wellness retreat, and discover 9 places where you can enjoy these benefits in Jamaica.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle16 Comments

The 10 Best Boutique Hotels in Jamaica

This week, we’re talking about boutique hotels! The phrase boutique hotel is a hot topic in travel magazines and on everyone’s lips these days but what exactly is a boutique hotel? Unlike all-inclusive hotels, there are no strict requirements but generally, boutique hotels are small sophisticated places to stay. Some boutique hotels are whimsical, artistic or downright luxurious. They tend to have a strong focus on design and décor, offer an intimate ambiance and are perfect for travelers who want a base from which to explore a city or neighbourhood. Read on to find out why boutique hotels are my preferred accommodation, and get my top picks for the best boutique hotels in Jamaica, prices included.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle15 Comments

The 8 Best Villas in Jamaica (With Prices)

Last week I covered the best all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica so now it’s time to talk about the best villas. Villas offer an intimate luxurious experience for small groups with complete privacy– no worries about strangers photobombing your pictures and you can laze around in the pool or common areas without worry of disrupting other guests. More importantly, villas allow you to have fun while maintaining social distance. As a result, Jamaican villas grew very popular during the pandemic and were the perfect place to be during lockdowns and curfews. Jamaica has officially reopened but the seclusion of villas will keep them popular for years to come. Nearly all have an oceanfront, river or mountain view, while many are beachfront or have a lovely private pool. Read on for how to book a Jamaican villa and get my top recommendations for which ones to visit.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle17 Comments

The 10 Best All-Inclusive Hotels in Jamaica

As a Jamaican travel blogger, I often get asked about hotel recommendations by friends, readers and associates. However, I’m frequently stumped for answers because everyone’s needs are different. Choosing the right all-inclusive hotel in Jamaica depends on whether you’re travelling alone, with friends, as a couple or even as a family with young children. Also, the answer depends on which end of the country you’d like to stay, your budget and what are your tastes. Are you going for the activities, the views or for a special occasion like an anniversary or honeymoon? Well, I decided to put together a list of the best all-inclusive hotels in Jamaica that should cater to all tastes.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle29 Comments