From resorts to the real thing

 Five days. Eighteen resorts. One travel agent; now full of knowledge on the best Jamaican getaways.

Taking “familiarization trips” is an important part of what Stacey Hachey does. The travel expert said experiencing far-off destinations firsthand allows her to help travellers make the most informed decisions before boarding a plane.

When she visited Negril this November, the travel agent said she experienced it from all perspectives — from the luxury of five-star resorts to the quaint comforts of smaller, privately-owned establishments.

No matter what “dream getaway to Jamaica” means, she now knows how to help travellers find exactly what they’re looking for.

Staying at big resorts that are part of chain operations do have their perks — they often have several restaurants, enough on-resort activities to keep everyone entertained and far more on-resort “options.” However, larger facilities sometimes neglect to let travellers really experience the place they are visiting. While visiting some of the chain resorts, Hachey said she didn’t get to sample traditional Jamaican fare the way she had hoped to.

“It was really hard to taste anything Jamaican while we were there,” she said.
On the other hand, Hachey said many of the smaller resorts did offer authentic meals.

“You are getting more ethnic service (in terms of) food, drink and knowledge,” she said.

It’s only a small part of what must be considered — there are many other trade-offs travellers must weigh before deciding where to stay when travelling.
Hachey said a stand-out part of her resort-hopping trip was the opportunity to meet the owners at some of the smaller places.

“To actually see an owner walk around ... is a lot different than being a number at a resort with 2,000 rooms,” she said.

For a regular traveller like Hachey, staying at a smaller resort makes sense.

“I’m not a sit-on-the-resort-and-do-nothing sort of person,” she said. “When I go somewhere, I want to see how people live.”

In Jamaica, there are several options for people who feel the same way. The country’s tourism board has programs in place where visitors can spend time with a local family, experiencing a true day in their life. Hachey said of all the tropical destinations, Jamaica is one of the safer places, meaning visitors can leave the resort without excessive worry.

And of course, there are options for those who like the idea of only moving to ensure they get tanned equally on both sides.

“It (all) depends on what people are looking for,” she said.

For more information about where to stay in Jamaica, visit shachey.travelonly.com. 

Posted by Laurel Myers