In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

[mokatee]

From the moment this trip was thought up to three weeks before departure, where I would be going, who I would be going with and how long my travelmate would be in Jamaica with me, changed liked the blowing winds. 3 people, 2 people, 4 people, 2 people...and after the first change, I was hoping for it to be 1 (me)

In the end it would be me and my friend Kat, who traveled with me as a newbie in October 07, splitting the trip between Ochie, 4 nights and Negril, 6 nights

I found a special on rooms at the Grande Contacted Pansy at Rayon and booked my hotel in Negril before I even confirmed my stay at the Grande. When the who, and how long was decided, we had just 2 days to book the Grande before the sale was over. (I tell ya, if it wasn’t for the last minute, there wouldn’t be enough time to get things done )

I hadn’t stayed in Ochie since my first trip to Jamaica in July 2005; been there for day trips, short and sweet with enough time to shop. I said that the next time I did stay, I would have to stay in an All-Inclusive. There were other newer, AI’s built in the last 4 years, so I had a few to choose from, but the Grande was centrally located to where I wanted to be, so the big yellow building won the vote.

[mokatee]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

This must have been the first trip that I didn’t stay in constant contact with my travelmate. Since it wasn’t her first time, I didn’t have to do all the prep stuff and find out more where, what and when information. 2 weeks prior to the trip we joked about Kat's last experience with the 3-1-1 bags and improper packing. “Nope, that won’t happen again” she said . That trip, the screener tossed out rubbing alcohol, body wash, shampoo, lotion and sunblock

<span style="font-weight: bold">Feb 4, 2009 departure day</span>

I worked a half-day today. I crossed my fingers, eyes and toes, that if my cell phone rings with any number, please don’t let it be Air Jamaica with some negative update, like flight delayed which I could handle, they are always delayed, but I sure didn’t want the dreaded flight cancelled please contact Air Jamaica call . I didn’t get it, one bullet dodged. It was chilly in LA and the forecast called for rain, glad I’m headed to Jamaica

Still can’t wrap my finger around the fact that the Airline that I had a love hate relationship with is leaving my city for good, taking its non-stop flight, champagne and imaginary cheese omelete, fish and callalou, and leaving me with 43 months of accumulated miles that are pain in the glute to use now. This flight is bittersweet.


Ms. Independent me, tells Kat that I don’t need a ride to the airport, I’ll take a cab. Her sister insists on picking me up since I live on the way to the airport. We arrive at the ticket counter close to 8:30pm. Good timing, the counter closes one hour before departure, and that gives us a lil over an hour. The line is short and my luggage is tidy and under the weight limit, good cause I didn’t check in online and I didn’t need to further halt the process. 2 checked bags and one carryon for me.

[mokatee]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

One day I will learn to pack like so many people I see in the AJ line, one carryon, or one checked bag, much smaller than mine, and a wristlet. Kat only checked one bag, and carried the other.

Short security lines. I am 2 people ahead of Kat. “Bag Check” I hear as I am putting my shoes back on. I don’t even blink until I see the people in front of Kat walk past me. I turn around and sure enough, the screener is preparing to toss, sunblock, rubbing alcohol, and Neutrogena face wash. She asks if Kat wants to recheck her bag, we don’t have time, so I tell her that whatever I don’t have in my bag to replace it, we can get in Ochie, no time for rippling this good wave. There was still time and room for the obligatory “ugh ohh” that seems to happen prior to getting the trip into full blast

We head to the bar so that I can practice my preflight ritual of 2 cosmos at the bar adjacent to the Delta gate where we depart.

Drink orders placed. While turning around to view the TV, I saw Mr. Big sitting at the end of the bar. Naw, not some phyne, big statured man, but “Mr. Big” of Sex in The City fame He was on his cell phone, but as the population in the bar grew by 6, he started to make his way out. The chick sitting behind me was one of example of why he may have run out. “Oh my Gosh, That’s Mr. Big” she nudges her boyfriend and motions her head in his direction. Eyes start to turn in his direction. He gets up from the bar and says to the person on the phone that his ride is here. I politely and quietly compliment him on his work as he exits and he responds with a “Thank you dear”.

[mokatee]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

Back to my drink and watching the clock. It is departure time and the passengers are just exiting the plane. I order drink #2 as we have at least 30 more minutes, even though the attendant made an announcement that we’d be boarding in 15 minutes; but I’m not worried, I am off work for the next 14 days and 11 of them will be in Jamaica. We toast to that.

Best sleep I’ve had on a flight in years, guess so it’s my last one, non-stop from LAX

More construction since August, a new display as we head to customs. My camera was ready and fired up from the moment we landed. Kat hates for me to take her picture so I did anyway.

[mokatee]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

Tropical Tours was used for the round trip MoBay-Ochie leg of the trip. Since we’re the only flight in at that time, there were only a few of us on the bus. It was raining out, so our first chat was about the weather we were leaving at home (rain) and the weather were experiencing now. One of the ladies on the bus was returning to LA the same day that we were; she lives in Los Angeles but still maintains a home in Jamaica. We bid her farewell and a great vacation at her dropoff point (at a gas station on the road).


When I saw the RIU I knew that we weren’t that far away. Then other familiar sights started to come into view. My giddy meter was running at full steam. We were the only two left on the bus so the driver became engaged in chatting with us. The man couldn’t stop smiling from the questions we asked. Like, what night is the night for <span style="font-weight: bold">Shades</span>? We weren’t in a rush to get anywhere soon, so he took us to run a few errands that could be accomplished at that time of the morning before dropping us off.

[mokatee]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

<span style="font-weight: bold">Arrival at the Grande</span>

It was my first stay at an AI in Jamaica. My expectations were rather...well lets say, heightened, but enough to totally disappoint if it wasn’t all that and 20 cracker jacks.

It was windy and very rainy. The open air lobby provided protection from the elements but still allowed you to feel like you were in the open. Our room wasn’t ready at check in so we keep a serious eye on our luggage and explored the bar and the tour desk. We book our dinner reservation and reservations have to made 2 days in advance so we opt for the Italian restaurant and decided to check back the next day for the Asian restaurant.

We sat at the bar until our room was ready. First drink... pretty, but weak and wayyy too sweet, but I drink it anyway. So I tell the bartender a few words that gets him excited and he says strong coming right up He makes sure that the rest of my drinks have enough alcohol to keep me smiling, and chatting.

[mokatee]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

Our room was ready. Knowing that we booked resort view, I didn’t expect to see the ocean but we did have a partial view. I opened the door to our room, and my giddy meter feel waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back

We must have gotten a bad room was my first thought. I did the once over with my Lysol wipes, and it was definitely clean. Good, cause the cracks and imperfections in the room made me doubt that at first glance. No need to change the room, we could live with that. The air was on full blast to bone chilling. It was chilly and raining out so we shut it off ASAP. Opened the balcony door and got a work out and a surprise. The door needed WD40 and Mr Big to open it

My arms are kinda big but I didn’t want to have to exert that much energy every time I wanted fresh air. Kat is smaller than me so she was having a struggle with it. We considered asking for another room after we went back down to eat. The surprise was our view. I had envisoined that we’d have a view of the resort’s INTERIOR. We had an exterior view, I wonder if the interior view was not on sale







<span style="font-weight: bold">Rooms on Sale</span>

[Nanook]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

Hey Mokee, looking forward to more of this fun trip report and gawd I sure hope something was done about the room condition!

Please say you moved...

[R00TS]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

Ochee!

[diabolical_Tanya]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

Lawd what a way mi alma mater studets dem artistic

[Luvsdaislands]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

Goodness...what was up with the room??

Sitting patiently waiting for more.

[R00TS]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Luvsdaislands</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Goodness...what was up with the room??</div></div>

I've been told that the hotels will give us these
rooms if booked on sale or thru priceline and others.
More than half the people dont complain or change rooms. We change rooms 99% of the time. Have gotten to the point I dont want my luggage hauled in till I see a couple different rooms availabe.

[StarGirl]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

I lover the Grande. Rooms are hit/miss, but location is everything in Ochi.

I wanna know what you told the bartender to get him to make you some stronger drinks....?!?

[LovelyLua562]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

Yay, a mokatee trip report
Okay, now my friday workday is really going to be quite unproductive! lol.

[mokatee]

Re: In Search of Sun and Dry Sand

Good morning Good people

Nanook, we patiently waited till the next day (as suggested by the front desk since nothing was available) to see about a new room

Hi Lua welcome to the board beautiful

R00TS, thank you for your travel guidance I kept my notes and numbers handy

Luvs hey gurl, more's on the way, figure I better post before youleft again

Tanya go ahead and start an alumni wall and show them what you got

StarGirl, it was all about location