logo
Enjoy laid-back luxury on the Caribbean's most elegant island

Enjoy laid-back luxury on the Caribbean's most elegant island

Telegraph20-06-2025
When you think of the perfect luxury holiday, you might dream of sinking your toes into pleasingly soft sands while enjoying an exquisite al fresco lunch under a golden afternoon sun, with the promise of the evening not far behind.
Or perhaps you dream of wading through sapphire-blue shallows before diving into a deeper kind of blue, then wading back to shore to sip a frosted craft cocktail made with local rum, before retiring to an opulent room with a sea view.
But an indulgent, ​unforgettable escape isn't only about finding an idyllic beach with a bar attached and palatial accommodation. It's also about having authentic experiences that get you up close to the local culture and people – so that you can understand and experience a little of the island life while creating lasting memories.
In Jamaica – which arguably has the most distinct culture of all the Caribbean islands – you can achieve all of the above, and more.
The lively Caribbean island is known for its swathe of seriously luxurious hotels. Standouts include Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay – the luxury travel brand's first ever Sandals resort that, thanks to its over-the-water villas, beautiful cove beaches and private offshore island, remains a flagship resort today.
Close by, the historic Half Moon oozes colonial charm, and counts Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Rainier of Monaco and John F Kennedy among its high-profile past guests.
Or, in the pretty little banana port of Oracabessa, check in to the secluded GoldenEye. This laid-back yet luxurious resort with its own beach, coves, and lagoon is centred around the Fleming Villa, where Ian Fleming famously wrote all 14 James Bond novels.
While at GoldenEye, why not pay a visit to Firefly? Once the home of English actor, playwright, and composer Noël Coward – and so called because of the glowing creatures he shared the property with at night – it's a mere 15-minute drive away.
Don't miss the statue of the theatrical titan sitting in his chair, looking out to one of the best coastal views in Jamaica.
From your sumptuous base, you can explore an island rich in history and culture. You might find yourself caught up in a carnival – Jamaica knows how to celebrate and it does so with verve during Rebel Salute (which takes place every January) and July's Reggae Sumfest. Picture colourful costumes and exuberant dancing to top-tier reggae – you won't be able to resist joining in.
If you're not visiting during January or July, then worry not, because all over the island, on any given afternoon (just hire a surprisingly affordable private car and driver to whisk you wherever you want to go) you'll find the streets filled with friendly locals grooving to infectious, life-affirming reggae beats that blast out from boom boxes stacked high.
Yet while Jamaica may be the birthplace of reggae – Bob Marley, the genre's biggest star, is the island's most famous son – it's also the home of rum.
On a private tour of Appleton Estate, the oldest rum producer in the country, you'll discover how the distillery's location – amid a landscape of limestone peaks, verdant forests and gushing rivers – influences the final product.
There are also guided (and generous) tastings of Appleton's 17 honey-hued signature rums – including the lethal overproof – so keep an eye on the measures if you wish to accomplish anything else on this day trip.
Rum is also king at Floyd's Pelican Bar, off Jamaica's south coast. Made from driftwood and palms, the bar was built by fisherman Floyd Forbes in 2001 after he envisaged it in a dream. Pay a local fisherman to row you to the wonderfully rickety drinking den – dubbed the 'coolest in the Caribbean' – at sunset for a sweet rum punch with Floyd and friends, keeping your eyes peeled for pelicans and dolphins en route.
Liquid gold aside, Jamaica is famed for its Blue Mountain coffee: smooth, dark and handsome, it's rated among the best and rarest in the world. Just ask James Bond: in Live and Let Die, Ian Fleming's special agent proclaims Blue Mountain Coffee 'the most delicious in the world'.
For a dramatic mini-adventure, you could take a helicopter flight over those rugged mountains enveloped in misty blue air, or more active types could hike or bike through their cool, fragrant woodlands before rewarding themselves with a deliciously reviving cup of Blue Mountain coffee.
More of Jamaica's authentic, natural side can be enjoyed by floating along the Rio Grande River (or if you're staying in Negril or Montego Bay, the Martha Brae River), on your own bamboo raft.
You'll be piloted by an experienced and knowledgeable captain who will point out former banana plantations, trees groaning with mouth-watering mangoes, and tiny, delicate hummingbirds flitting through the lush greenery. There are stops along the way to swim, too.
But this is the island life, and you may prefer to do absolutely nothing, and that's fine too. Be pampered in a tranquil, ocean-front spa like the one at Jamaica Inn – where treatments utilise local ingredients like Blue Mountain coffee and organic coconuts – while listening to waves lap the shore.
Or simply relax in a hammock by your infinity pool, or on a beach such as Frenchman's Cove – a small strip of postcard-perfect white sand ringed by miniature forested headlands and flanked by a perfectly turquoise lagoon.
Whatever you choose to focus on – wellness, watersports, wildlife, or a little of everything – it's worth knowing that arrivals and departures come with a typically tropical Jamaican twist, with VIP airport lounges Club Mobay and Club Kingston at Sangster in Montego Bay and Norman Manley in Kingston turning what is usually an endurance test into an indulgence – ensuring that your Jamaican sojourn remains irresistible and effortless from end to end.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Love Islander embarks on racy new business as she prepares to open ‘sex hotel' with mirrored ceilings after villa stint
Love Islander embarks on racy new business as she prepares to open ‘sex hotel' with mirrored ceilings after villa stint

The Sun

time2 days ago

  • The Sun

Love Islander embarks on racy new business as she prepares to open ‘sex hotel' with mirrored ceilings after villa stint

A LOVE Island star has revealed their plans to open a sex hotel abroad just six months after her second villa stint. Kaz Crossley rose to fame on the ITV2 dating show in 2018 before taking part in the programme's All Stars edition earlier this year. 5 5 But now it seems that she is turning her back on TV once more in favour of a racy new business opportunity. The social media influencer has revealed her plans to open up a sex hotel in the Dominican Republic with her close pal in order to lure couples looking to get steamy out to the country. Kaz revealed she had been a fan of the sex culture in the Dominican Republic and that it had inspired her to use her fame earnings to buy land in the country in order to create her own raunchy establishment. In a video showcasing her wild lifestyle in the country, Kaz told her followers of her plans as well as giving them a first peek at the area where she will be constructing the residence. She said: "Having adult money means buying land in the Domincan Republic and building your own sex hotel. "When I first came to this country, I completely fell in love. "It is one of my favourite places. One thing that did stand out to me is the sex culture here, the cabanas and the motels. "People here love it and as someone who loves it too, I really don't get any, so I fugured why not pour that passion into a different kind of project." Kaz continued to tell her fans about her plans for the sex hotel as she discussed plans to include "tantra chairs" in order to create her dream "erotic escape" and "romantic getaway". She further confessed she wanted to fill the jungle getaway with "outdoor showers and mirrors absolutely everywhere" in order to get the couples feeling spicy in the X-rated hotel. Love Island's Kaz Crossley sizzles in tiny bikini as she gets soaked in the rain on holiday in Thailand Titled Eden, an Instagram page for the hotel described itself as "a boutique erotic jungle hideaway, privacy guaranteed". It further confirmed that mirrors would be placed "above" for couples to take a peek at themselves during more intimate moments. Fellow Love Island star Jordan Hames was one of the first to react to Kaz's venture as he seemingly confirmed that he would be taking a trip to the sex hotel. He commented underneath the post: "Excellent news I'm coming." 5 5 Another fan comment read: "Sound proof bungalows needed for sure, can't wait to visit." However, some others were slightly perplexed at Kaz's decision to open up a sex retreat. One posted: "Love you kaz but really…" Before someone else said: "So you're building a brothel." Kaz had a rollercoaster time in the All Stars villa earlier this year after enjoying snogs with both Ronnie Vint and Curtis Pritchard. She soon found herself romancing Montel McKenzie but their romance fizzled within days of leaving the villa. 5

Simone Biles stuns in bikini on yacht vacation as NFL star husband sends steamy 7-word message
Simone Biles stuns in bikini on yacht vacation as NFL star husband sends steamy 7-word message

The Sun

time3 days ago

  • The Sun

Simone Biles stuns in bikini on yacht vacation as NFL star husband sends steamy 7-word message

SIMONE BILES stunned fans and her husband Jonathan Owens as she dazzled in a bikini. The 28-year-old gymnast is currently enjoying a vacation in the Caribbean with friends. 4 4 4 Biles took to Instagram to share three incredible snaps of herself soaking up the sun on a yacht. The seven-time Olympic gold medallist donned a black bucket hat and stylish sunglasses as she posed in front of glistening blue ocean water. She left little to the imagination in her blue swimwear but wore a white t-shirt over the top. It brilliantly said on it: "No crying on the yacht." Biles' army of adoring fans were left in awe of her, with one saying: "Simone is literally that girl!" Another added: "I'm in love." A third joked: "We are crying because we are not on the yacht with you lol." But her biggest supporter was, of course, her husband and NFL star Owens. The Chicago Bears safety showed just how much he is missing her with a steamy comment on her post, which read: "Sheesh baby i need you home asap!!!" He accompanied it with a drooling, sweltering hot and splash emoji. Simone Biles forgets wedding anniversary on Met Gala carpet Fans loved his comment and they reacted: "Love your girl and show it, she a baddie bro, let ppl know." A second wrote: "Love this! May you always be obsessed with each other!" Owens, 30, has not been able to join his wife on the vacation as he is in a training camp with the Bears getting ready for the new season. They face the Miami Dolphins in their first pre-season clash on August 10. Meanwhile, Biles has been busy of late, stealing the show at the ESPY red carpet event. Her dress was custom-made and she wowed in a royal blue color, possibly inspired by her outfits seen at the Olympics. 4

Cole Palmer parties in Ibiza as O Beach Club throws him lavish 'champion' celebration after Chelsea's Club World Cup win - just days since he and his girlfriend Connie Grace unfollowed each other on social media
Cole Palmer parties in Ibiza as O Beach Club throws him lavish 'champion' celebration after Chelsea's Club World Cup win - just days since he and his girlfriend Connie Grace unfollowed each other on social media

Daily Mail​

time5 days ago

  • Daily Mail​

Cole Palmer parties in Ibiza as O Beach Club throws him lavish 'champion' celebration after Chelsea's Club World Cup win - just days since he and his girlfriend Connie Grace unfollowed each other on social media

Cole Palmer has thrown off his shackles and taken the plunge in Ibiza, visiting one of the party island's most decadent venues. Last week Mail Sport joined Cole Palmer as he visited his ancestral home of St Kitts in the Caribbean and now he is living it up at the Ocean Beach Club. The Chelsea star is enjoying some precious time off after scoring two goals in the final of the Club World Cup, which the Blues won 3-0 against PSG. And Palmer was pictured lounging on a sofa with O Beach founder Tony Truman and his daughter, Kiki Truman, 20, who he had with Eastenders legend Charlie Brooks. Palmer was decked out with a chain, a plain white tee-shirt, camouflage shorts, and trainers. Even the couch they were sat on tapped into the hedonism of the destination, with Grey Goose vodka's logo adorning the design. The Ocean beach club threw a celebratory party for the 'world champ' after Chelsea's Club World Cup triumph In spectacular fashion, O Beach threw a special celebration for Palmer, hiring dancers to hold up letter signs spelling out 'world champ' and dancing for him. Ibiza is a popular haunt for the 23-year-old - last summer he was spotted with his girlfriend Connie Grace, who he met aged 17 in Manchester. However, the duo have unfollowed each other on Instagram in recent days, leading to speculation that they have split up. It has been an eventful summer for Palmer, who wore a look of bewilderment as Donald Trump gatecrashed Chelsea's Club World Cup trophy lift at the MetLife Stadium. 'I knew he was going to be here but I didn't know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy so I was a bit confused, yeah,' he admitted. At least he has some time to get over that confusion until his next engagement with Chelsea, who begin their pre-season against Bayer Leverkusen on August 8. Due to the fact the Club World Cup occupied them until mid-July, the Blues will only have the Leverkusen friendly and one against AC Milan before their Premier League season kicks off against Crystal Palace on August 17. Palmer does not need to worry about that tight squeeze for now and has been letting his hair down in Ibiza, which is a popular haunt for the football crowd. Palmer's partner Grace jetted out to the US while he was playing in the tournament He scored 18 goals in all competitions last season as Chelsea also won the Conference League Jack Grealish is one of the many footballers who travels to O Beach to enjoy his time away from the game Liverpool boss Arne Slot was kissed on the cheek by Wayne Lineker on a trip to the club Lineker is known for partying his way through the summer with hundreds of guests each day Arne Slot was seen celebrating Liverpool's title out there in May while the likes of Jack Grealish, Wayne Rooney, and Frank Lampard have all enjoyed it down the years. Gary Lineker's brother Wayne was involved in the launch of O Beach in 2012 and has become a popular figure for footballers to spend time with. Jude Bellingham is one of the latest high-profile footballers to have been welcomed to the venue with open arms by Wayne. The Real Madrid star, 21, chose to celebrate his brother Jobe's promotion to the Premier League with Sunderland in Ibiza. Grealish is a regular at Ocean Beach with Lineker once joking about the prospect of a four-week loan deal for the Manchester City man at his beach club, following his omission from the England Euro 2024 squad.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store