My Four-Day Travel Itinerary in Kingston, Jamaica

Last week I traveled to Kingston, Jamaica, to comfort and support a friend whose father passed away, along with my Hub-Bae. We were there for four days and three nights, and even though we went to a funeral, we still had a great time exploring Kingston. I have traveled to Kingston before on a day trip from Montego Bay and visited the Bob Marley Museum and Port Royal docks. I always knew I wanted to travel to Kingston and stay to experience what the popular area had to offer. So now was my time!

 

 

Here is a look at my four-day itinerary in Kingston     

Arrival:

We stayed at the AC Hotel in Kingston by Marriott. A new hotel that screams Miami vibes. As you enter you are amazed by the palm trees, waterfalls, and sexiness of the décor. It’s a mix of Miami meets the Caribbean. You will quickly forget that you have just arrived in Kingston. The AC Hotel is also a short drive from Norman Manley International Airport.

The lobby is filled with a group of working professionals, families, young adults, and my favorite—STARBUCKS, like hello! Sign me up to stay here every time. Oh, and to all my single ladies . . . the men are FINE!!! They are dressed to the nines in their working-class outfits and/or suits with that heavy Jamaica accent—you can’t go wrong just sitting at the bar in the lobby admiring the view over brunch and cocktails.

After a quick tour of the hotel, I made my way upstairs, unpacked, and got ready to head over to Clarendon for my friend’s father’s nine-night celebration. Nine night is where loved ones gather around over food and drinks to celebrate the life of the deceased nine days after their death. To experience such passion and love for someone transitioning to their next journey is unreal. People are laughing, toasting to memories, dancing, and enjoying life.

A special shout-out to Courtney, who is the man to know in Jamaica. He can connect you to whomever or whatever you need; a must have in your contacts. Courtney was able to arrange transportation for our travels during the stay in Kingston. The driver (let’s call him “Bodyguard”—tell you why later) was also the owner of a security company so we got two for one. Since Clarendon is a forty-five-minute drive from Kingston, we wanted to ensure safety and to not get taken advantage of with the pricing or anything else.

 

Disclaimer: If you travel to Clarendon (which is in the countryside) wear a helmet. The roads are super bumpy. You can literally fly out of your seat. J/K, not J/K lol

Day 2: Travel Around Kingston

The following morning, I woke up and found myself realizing that I had forgotten my half bra and the dress I was wearing offered zero support for my girls. As you see from the pic below, I needed to find a bra store quick. After a quick Google search, Bodyguard drove us to La Belle Femme Lingerie on Musgrave Road. They specialize in bra fitting and are super helpful for making sure you get the best support you need. La Belle is priced on the higher end, but it’s worth it for the support you desire.

 

Once the girls were in check, we were starving, so we headed over to the authentic vegan spot Dr. Spice. Don’t let the size of his shop fool you. Dr. Spice gives you some down-home cooking with natural flavors and juices in his restaurant. This is also where I was warned by Bodyguard to not take videos with my phone out of the window, because the kids will snatch and run.

 

 

With bellies full, we climbed the curvy roads that lead to the famous Strawberry Hill, where the views will leave you speechless. Strawberry Hill Hotel is a mountaintop retreat in the heart of the Blue Mountains. Courtesy of my Bae, he arranged to have Courtney schedule a ninety-minute massage with Zeena, who made me a believer of the deep tissue. I usually dislike them because they are painful and will leave me sore for days. However, Zeena kept her word. “My massages are deep tissue, but you won’t feel any pain and will be relaxed and stress-free,” she said in her Jamaican accent through a perfect smile. She DID NOT disappoint! Her massage left me feeling relaxed, calm, tension-free, and sensual, but not in a sexual way (pervs lol).

After our massages, we took in the views from the mountaintop, took a few selfies, and changed for dinner at the restaurant. The dining experience at Strawberry Hill will completely change your mood. I went from calm and relaxed to feeling ready to grab a glass of wine and lay out on the lawn with a blanket and soft music. The views are 360-degrees wherever you walk at the top of the Blue Mountains. You go left, view, you go right, view!

The restaurant didn’t open for another few minutes, therefore we took the time to explore the property. On the lower floor you can see albums from producer Chris Blackwell, who is known for producing legendary musician Bob Marley and is also the owner of the Strawberry Hill Hotel.

The infinity pool grants the best views of the mountains and as the sun begins to set, the city’s lights meet its falling rays and it’s just a perfect view. I took the famous “walk on water” pic and then our table was ready for dinner. The food is on the higher end of the $$$ scale but is delicious.

 

 

We returned to the hotel to find a DJ posted up in the bar area where people were dressed super sexy; the drinks flowing; and the pool lights on high. I wanted to stay, but knew I had to regroup before being ready to club hop later that night. I swayed my hips over to the elevator, humming all the way to the third floor only to realize my feet wanted to continue moving. A quick outfit change and I made my way back downstairs (Dolo) for a quick drink.

Yup, people were staring—who is this American girl at the bar by herself, a few smiles and air cheers and I’m walking around the pool enjoying all the positive energy that the hotel was exuding.

Okay, the night was young, and we were club ready now. Our first stop was Janga’s Soundbar, where the music is live, the crowd vibrant, and they have an indoor/outdoor area, so you don’t feel smothered. Now, lovelies, this is where Bodyguard got his nickname. From the time he escorted me from the car to the club, he was on my heels to ensure my safety yes, but for a free spirit like me who likes to wander and dance all over, it was a bit much. Let me be free to fly and roam, LOL. He was not having it. I had to walk on the inside of the street, I couldn’t put the windows down in the car, to ensure no one would know who was in there, and when we went places, he made sure he had assessed both inside and outside first before we could exit the vehicle.

Now is all this necessary, you’re asking?! Honestly, I have no idea. Kingson has this image of being this dangerous city, which is probably true if you land in the wrong place or wrong crowd.

To answer your question, do you need security? Not if you plan on staying in certain areas. Because we needed to travel to a variety of locations and wanted to ensure we got back to America lol, we opted for it. However, for my next travels if I’m only doing the hotspot attractions, I probably wouldn’t do it again. Plus, everyone realized I could never be in politics or a celebrity because I would drive my security detail nuts!

Back to the night . . . Janga’s Soundbar closed at 1 a.m.—super early, so we headed over to club MECA. We were waiting on another friend to join us who was running late, so Bodyguard of course said we couldn’t leave the car until she arrived, so we could all enter at once (again for safety). Have you ever seen The Bodyguard with Whitney Houston? At this moment, I’m feeling very Rachel right now in the scene where her bodyguard (Kevin Costner) is talking about her safety and why security is important, and she turns on the blender to tune him out. Yup, that’s me right now! Like, I just want to dance!!

Finally, our friend arrives, and we go upstairs to a VIP area. Honestly, the music was okay, but not what you would expect from a Kingston club. We went in close to 2 a.m., but the club wasn’t packed for a Friday night. The hotel lobby was way more popping than this club. Maybe it was an off night, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I love a good party where you can dance and turn up. Here everyone just stood watching, swaying side to side, or sipping on their cup. NO ONE DANCED! A few couples would grind every now and then, but nothing to write home about.

We called it a night around 3:30 a.m.

 

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Day 3: Back to Clarendon and More Time in Kingston

Today was the funeral service for my friend’s father. Armed with helmets and knee pads lol, we traveled back to Clarendon, where the sun was extra spicy. It was so hot that the ice cream man was parked his cart right outside the church.

After the services, everyone was starving and drained from the heat. We went to the Courtyard in the MarketPlace and dined at the China Express in Kingston. Hands down, the best Chinese food I have ever tasted. The Courtyard Market has a plethora of restaurants for your selection, depending on your craving.

 

 

After dinner my mind wanted to go out and celebrate 4/20 at the street parties, but my body passed out around nine thirty.

Day 4: Travels around Kingston

Our last day! Let’s make it count!

Our first stop was Devon House, where we checked out the famous bakery and ice cream shop. Most of the crew had the rum cake, curry goat, and grapefruit ice cream. Delicious! Since we arrived early, we missed the rush.

 

 

Next stop, Emancipation Park. We were on a tight schedule, but I would love to go back and spend more time here. I was able to capture a few stories and highlights, but it wasn’t nearly as much as I wanted.

 

 

Lastly, we went to Gloria’s Seafood at Port Royal for brunch. We opted to sit upstairs where we could have the waterfront view and breeze. The food was lovely, and the staff super friendly. One thing I did notice about the dining culture in Kingston was they take a very long time to make the meals, but this is because everything is freshly made.

Related Link: Medieval Times Lyndhurst NJ Review

 Conclusion

I have visited Jamaica every year since the first time I came went in 2021, and it’s a second home to me. I would love to go and spend time there several times throughout the year if I could. The culture, the vibes, the people, I love everything about the island. Just like anywhere, you have your bad parts and bad people experiences, but can choose to protect your peace here just like anywhere else.

We didn’t have time to get any jerk options, but I did ask for you guys and the two best places are 22 Jerk, or if you feel like a drive, you can visit Boston Jerk in Portland Parish. From what I hear they respect the process of making jerk the authentic way.

I purchased the VIP Fast Track passes for arrival and departure, but honestly there wasn’t a wait either time. Not sure if it was a slow travel week, but I don’t know if you will need to get this.

If you are considering visiting Kingston or any part of Jamaica and have questions or want Courtney’s or Bodyguard’s information, don’t hesitate to email me.

Thanks for reading, lovelies!