by Belt Drive Betty | Aug 21, 2026 | Travel Tips
Negril is Jamaica distilled — Seven Mile Beach, cliff sunsets, rum punch, reggae, and a pace of life so resolutely unhurried that two days can feel like a week in the best possible way. If you have 48 hours in this corner of the island’s west coast, here’s how to spend them beautifully.
Day 1: Seven Mile Beach and Rick’s Café
Start at Skylark Negril Beach Resort — right on the beachfront, with a breakfast menu at Miss Lily’s that puts proper Jamaican cooking front and centre: Jamaican rancheros, vegan ackee cook-up, coconut pancakes. Then step directly onto Seven Mile Beach, one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful stretches of white sand, with calm turquoise water ideal for snorkelling, kayaking, and paddleboarding. The afternoon belongs to Rick’s Café — the legendary cliffside bar where the sunset is obligatory, the rum punch is legendary, and watching cliff divers plunge into the water below is genuinely thrilling.
Evening: Unexpected Italy in the Caribbean
Dinner at Kenny’s Italian Café is one of Negril’s most delightful surprises — authentic pasta, brick-oven pizza, fresh herbs and Jamaican spices, all served al fresco. As the evening progresses, DJs take over and the vibe shifts into something lively and unexpected. It’s a perfect example of how Jamaica’s cultural blending creates genuinely unique experiences.
Day 2: Blue Hole, Sailing, and Ital Food
Start the second morning at Blue Hole Mineral Spring — a natural pool 24 feet below the ground in a limestone cavern, with electric blue mineral water believed to have healing properties. Cool off after with artisanal frozen treats from Chill Pops, made from fresh local fruit. The afternoon deserves a Tiki Pon Da Sea cruise — a custom motorized tiki bar that floats along Seven Mile Beach for a boat party unlike anything else in the Caribbean. For an evening of contrast, Just Natural serves pure Ital (Rastafarian plant-based) cuisine — the original Jamaican vegan food, full of flavour and fresh local ingredients.
Getting to Negril from Alberta
Negril is a short flight from Montego Bay (MBJ), which has direct Air Canada and WestJet routes from Edmonton and Calgary. Most trips can be built as a 5–7 night package combining Negril with another Jamaican destination — Montego Bay’s Rose Hall Great House and Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios are both worth the detour.
by Belt Drive Betty | Jul 15, 2026 | Travel Features
Jamaica isn’t just a beach destination — it’s a whole sensory experience. The smell of jerk spice drifting from a roadside grill. The sound of reggae rising from a beachside bar. Rolling Blue Mountains disappearing into the mist. Waterfalls you can actually climb. And yes, some of the most beautiful stretches of Caribbean beach you’ll find anywhere.
Water Adventures
Jamaica’s coastline is built for water lovers. Snorkelling and scuba diving reveal vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life. Glass-bottom boat tours are perfect for families. The more adventurous can try parasailing, catamaran cruises, windsurfing, or paddleboarding. For something truly memorable, book a horseback ride along the beach that ends with you and your horse plunging into the sea together — one of those experiences that stays with you forever.
Waterfalls and Rivers
Jamaica’s interior is laced with rivers and waterfalls that beg to be explored. Dunn’s River Falls — where you can climb the terraced cascade from bottom to top — is a bucket-list experience. The Martha Brae and Rio Grande rivers offer romantic bamboo raft rides guided by skilled local raftsmen. And for adrenaline seekers, tubing the rapids of the White River or Rio Bueno delivers a completely different side of the island.
The Blue Mountains
Home to some of the world’s most sought-after coffee, the Blue Mountains offer hiking trails through misty peaks, hidden waterfalls, and panoramic views over Kingston. A sunrise hike to the summit is a rite of passage. The cool mountain air and lush green trails feel worlds away from the beach resorts below — and that contrast is exactly what makes Jamaica such a rich destination.
Take It Easy
Of course, Jamaica is also the ideal place to do absolutely nothing but lie in a hammock with a rum punch. World-class golf courses overlook the Caribbean Sea. Jamaica gives you everything from full throttle to total stillness — and everything in between. That contrast is rare, and it’s exactly why people come back.
Ready for Jamaica?
Renée Charbonneau is a Certified Travel Agent and proud member of CMTA Travel Services in Grande Prairie, AB. She can put together the perfect Jamaica resort or cruise package for you.
📩 Contact Renée at CMTA Travel Services
by Belt Drive Betty | Jul 8, 2026 | Travel Features
The Maldives is on almost every traveller’s dream list — and for good reason. Turquoise lagoons, overwater bungalows, white sand that squeaks under your feet, and a pace of life that makes you forget everything you left behind. RIU Hotels has made this paradise accessible with two exceptional properties in the Dhaalu Atoll, offering 24-hour all-inclusive luxury on one of the most beautiful archipelagos on earth.
Two Resorts, One Perfect Location
RIU operates two connected properties on the islands of Maafushi and Kedhigandu in the Dhaalu Atoll — the Riu Palace Maldives and the Riu Atoll. Linked by a walkway and surrounded by the Indian Ocean, both offer overwater and beachfront rooms with views that you simply cannot believe are real until you’re standing in them. The 24h All Inclusive service means everything from gourmet meals to cocktails at the pool bar is included, day or night.
Riu Palace Maldives — For Extra Luxury
With 176 rooms and four themed evening restaurants — fusion Krystal, Japanese Yu Hi, Italian Sofia, and a Steakhouse — the Palace property takes all-inclusive to a genuinely luxurious level. Add a pool bar, Sports Bar, and Lounge Bar, and you have everything you need without ever feeling like you need to go anywhere. Though you absolutely should venture out to snorkel the reef just offshore.
Riu Atoll — For More Space
The Riu Atoll offers 264 rooms with a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, the Italian Sofia restaurant, a Steakhouse, and the same incredible Indian Ocean setting. Both properties share access to water sports, entertainment programmes seven days a week, and Club RiuLand for families travelling with children.
Perfect For…
Couples on a honeymoon or anniversary trip. Families wanting an all-inclusive experience without the chaos of a large resort complex. Friends celebrating milestones. Or honestly, anyone who has been telling themselves “someday” about the Maldives — this is your someday.
Time to make the Maldives a reality?
Renée Charbonneau is a Certified Travel Agent and proud member of CMTA Travel Services in Grande Prairie, AB. She can build you the perfect Maldives package — flights from Alberta included.
📩 Contact Renée at CMTA Travel Services
