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Are you looking for the perfect tropical getaway this winter?
Here’s why this cultural Caribbean island should be your top choice!
Jamaica has been breaking tourist records This year, and according to the Caribbean country’s tourism minister, Edmund Bartlerr, 2023 is expected to be the “best year in the history of tourism” for the island, with record numbers of visitors.
Jamaica is known for its vibrant culture, from music (it’s the birthplace of reggae) to food (you can’t miss trying jerk chicken or Jamaican rum). It is also known for its friendly people and relaxed way of life.
Here are the top reasons why Jamaica should be the destination for your winter vacation this year:
1. New and affordable resorts
Jamaica is a great destination for all-inclusive resorts where you can relax and unwind. At an all-inclusive resort, your meals, snacks, and drinks, as well as some activities, are included in your room rate.
Several new resorts will open in Jamaica in the coming months.
The luxury adults-only Hideaway at Royalton Blue Waters will open in Montego Bay in November, perfect timing for a winter trip.
Two more resorts (the family-friendly Princess Grand Jamaica and Hotel Riu Palace Aquarelle) are expected to open in the first half of 2024.
Jamaica is also one of the best destinations for affordable all-inclusive resorts, many of which are available for less than $300 per night.
2. New flights from the US
Jamaica is a convenient getaway from the United States, with direct flights from many cities in the country.
Southwest Airlines is about to launch once-weekly nonstop flights from Kansas City to Montego Bay just in time for the winter season, while United Airlines will launch a new once-weekly nonstop flight from Denver to Montego Bay in November .
Earlier this year, budget carrier Frontier Airlines launched new nonstop flights to Montego Bay from Denver, Chicago, St. Louis and Dallas.
There are currently nearly 20 cities in the US with nonstop flights to Montego Bay, making it an easy and accessible destination this winter.
3. Best weather in winter
Many travelers want to escape the cold during their winter travels, and there’s no better place to do that than Jamaica. Winter is the best time of year to visit this Caribbean paradise.
You can enjoy warm, sunny weather in the mid-80s in winter – perfect for lying on the white-sand beaches or swimming in Jamaica’s clear, aqua-blue waters.
The high season for travel to Jamaica actually runs from mid-December to mid-April. Travel starts just before Christmas and doesn’t cool off until after spring break.
However, winter travelers looking for good airfare and resort deals should take advantage of the “shoulder season” from mid-November to mid-December. This period is perfect to score better deals while still enjoying Jamaica’s great winter weather.
4. Safe despite travel warnings
If you look at the headlines, you may have seen that much of Jamaica was placed under a state of emergency earlier this year due to increased crime rates. This warning affected nine of the fourteen parishes in Jamaica, including the parishes where Montego Bay and Ocho Rios are located.
But instead of deterring tourism, American travelers continued to flock to Jamaica in record numbers. Despite the increase in crime, Jamaica is on track to receive a record number of visitors this year, and remains one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean.
This is because most travelers in Jamaica stay at all-inclusive resorts in tourist areas. These resorts are largely isolated from the crime that plagues the country.
Resorts may not be the most ‘authentic’ or off-the-beaten-path way to travel, but in Jamaica they are a sure-fire way to experience a hassle-free vacation in paradise.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
