Lush hour
Jamaica has long been a favoured filming location. The brightly painted buildings and huts which form the towns, the colourpopping blooms, the crystal-clear ocean and the golden sandy beaches give it a glamorous onscreen presence and plenty of excuses for those famous swimwear scenes.
Who can forget a young Ursula Andress emerging from the ocean of Laughing Waters beach in the first ever Bond film, Dr No? The island also featured in Live And Let Die in 1973 and in The Man With The Golden Gun a year later. In the latest instalment, No Time to Die, due for release in September, Jamaica is where Bond is seen enjoying his retirement.
A beachfront hotel is all part of the classic Jamaican experience and The Excellence Oyster Bay is a standout Victorian-style abode in Montego Bay.
Set on a private peninsula, the five-star, all-suite hotel is geared up for romantic holidays and honeymoons, with in-room Jacuzzis, private plunge pools and 24-hour room service.
Offering more than 10 dining options and seven bars, couples may dine alfresco at The Lobster House, where, in the evenings, shellfish is king. There are classic tapas and paired wines at Flavor Market. Sipping sundowners is an evening ritual at X-Lounge, a sleek rooftop bar overlooking the sea.
Tour operator TUI offers all-inclusive packages here, as well as excursions including a trip to Frenchman’s Cove, one of the most alluring beaches on the island. With an idyllic freshwater stream at the rear and a cute curve of white sand sheltered by a vine-covered cliffs, it has real castaway appeal. But with a shack serving spicy jerk chicken, fresh juices and rum punch, there’s all you need to while away the hours.
If the west coast is your calling, TUI offers excursions to the Island Lux Beach Park in Negril, where watersports, a lively bar and restaurant, ruby red beach loungers and private cabanas await. Just down the sands is the powder-white perfection of Seven Mile Beach.
If you’re looking for a base on this vibrant area, the five-star Royalton Negril Resort & Spa is a ready-made dream holiday for families and couples.
Facilities include a beachfront infinity pool, a splashzone area with slides for the kids, watersports and cocktail bars. Graze your way around the world at the grand buffets or enjoy relaxed dinners in the reservationfree a la carte dining options.
There are professional live shows every night, as well as discos, live sport, a teen hangout area and a kids’ club. Our highlight was the steel drum performances in the evenings.
If you crave some local flavour, Rick’s Cafe is a classic cliff-top hangout which started life in the 70s and comes with a unique element of entertainment.
In the afternoons, there’s a party vibe as the liquid courage served at the bar fuels locals and tourists to jump from the hair-raising 65ft platform to the waters below.
Come sunset, rum cocktails bounce along with live reggae bands and the atmosphere switches to seriously chilled.
Visit Negril for the powder-white perfection of Seven Mile Beach