Are airports open? YES
Are resorts operating? The resorts in the Ocho Rios and Negril areas are open and operating once again, many of them only had very minor to no damage at all. The Montego Bay area as well as Whitehouse are still repairing most of their resorts, with most expected to reopen in 2026.
Are you able to do excursions? Yes, the roads are cleared and you are able to get to those popular excursions you love.
I had the privilege of visiting Jamaica twice last month, once for business and once for a vacation. Both trips showed me several areas of the island as well as gave me the opportunity to talk to those who live there about what life has been like post-hurricane. Can I just say how blown away I am by the people of this resilient island? They inspire me with their courageous approach to rebuilding along with the selfless way they are there to help every person of Jamaica, whether they know them or not.
On my business trip, I was able to see Sandals Ochi, Sandals Dunns River, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril. All of them were fully operational and so happy and excited to welcome us to their property. While seeing the grounds and hearing of repairs that were done if needed and also talking to staff about their own lives and their homes that were damaged, it was clear that Jamaica needed the help of tourism to get life back to what it once was. I decided then to cancel my Spring Break trip where I was going someplace else, and come back to Jamaica so that I could bring my money to the area and help support all of the people in this beautiful area.
For our return visit for Spring Break, we stayed at RIU Ocho Rios, a resort that I have never stayed at before. This resort has a great price point and is seriously one of the cleanest resorts that I have ever been to. The cleanliness stood out to me right away and I was able to watch throughout the week and it was clear that this is an area that they excel in. This resort did not have damage from the hurricane and was ready for guests, and it was very busy, especially at the beginning and ends of the week. When I asked around a bit, this is a resort many pick for a quick 4-night escape. I think it is perfect for that.
What little things make a big difference? I scheduled private transfers to and from resort so that I was able to support a local businessman. I was able to finally meet Jefit in person, he is the owner of Bradshaw Tours in Jamaica, I have used him for years for my clients and myself but just met him in March in person for the first time. Not only did he do our transfers for both trips, he also took my daughter and I on a great excursion in Ocho Rios, and got us there and picked us up when we were done. Sometimes when you travel alone, as women, you can feel uneasy about not knowing your surroundings, but I never felt that way as I knew that I was in good hands with Bradshaw Tours.
We also booked Club Mobay for our arrival and departure services. This allows us the ability to skip to the front of the line with customs upon arrival in Montego Bay and gives us a beautiful lounge to hang out in upon departure. This lounge has access to Wi-Fi, food and drinks (alcohol included) and very clean bathrooms.
Tipping: I made sure that I was well-equipped with cash for these trips as I wanted to make sure that those who are able to accept tips, got larger ones from me while I was there. I saw that all around, being honest. So many of the guests were asking about the staff’s family and their home and how things were for them. The tipping was very generous and I know that it was appreciated.
