Article and photographs by Jim Byers.
The Caribbean is one of the most romantic places on earth, with swaying palm trees, gentle tropical breezes, and beaches that go on just shy of forever. Here’s a look at how to have a romantic getaway on two great Caribbean islands, Jamaica and Dominica.
What could be more romantic than a wedding on a beach? Photo courtesy of the Jamaica Tourist Board.
OVERWATER LOVE (Jamaica)
Few things in life are more conducive to romance than an overwater bungalow. Sandals has outstanding units suspended over the water at their Royal Caribbean resort outside of Montego Bay, Jamaica with massive bathrooms and wooden decks big enough for a game of touch football.
Overwater bungalows at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Photo courtesy of Jim Byers.
Slip into your private pool with your favourite someone and watch the sun dip into the inky Caribbean while the sky lights up in dreamy shades of orange, purple and mauve and small waves gently whoosh over the reef.
RELAXING NATURE
Enjoying a rafting trip down the Rio Grande River in Jamaica. Photo courtesy of Jim Byers.
A rafting trip down the Rio Grande river on a flat, wooden raft lets you enjoy beautiful valley scenery and a few minor rapids that local guides navigate with ease. You can stop for a fine lunch on a nice stretch of beach before you resume your trip down the river. It’s also a fine spot for a swim.
A GLEAMING LUXURY HOTEL
Trident Jamaica is a posh spot on the water owned by Jamaican-Canadian Michael Lee Chin that feels more Miami than Montego Bay; with gleaming, modern touches all around and a sleek, sexy feel. There’s a protected lagoon for swimming and snorkelling. My room had a private plunge pool just a few feet from the ocean. Excellent food and superb craft cocktails are on offer at Mike’s Supper Club, one of several on-site dining options. There’s also a spa. Don’t feel like leaving your villa? Room service menus are available for 24-hour in-room delivery.
A DREAMY BEACH
You’ll find an amazing stretch of secluded sand at Frenchman’s Cove near Port Antonio, a small sliver that’s been gently placed between a pair of high cliffs. A small, freshwater stream can be found behind the beach, complete with a rope swing. Idyllic doesn’t begin to describe this place.
A HORSE BACK RIDE IN THE SURF
Half Moon Resort is a splendid place to stay near Montego Bay, with tropical flowers all around and a variety of rooms, including top-notch, luxury villas. One of the great activities is a horseback ride to the beach and then out into the surf. The horses love the cool water, and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most visitors.
A CHAMPAGNE SWIM (Dominica)
Bubbling Champagne Beach in Dominica. Photo courtesy of the Discover Dominica Tourism Authority.
Nothing says romance like champagne, and Dominica is home to a great diving/snorkelling spot called Champagne Reef, where natural bubbles pop up from under the ocean floor and float to the surface. There also are bubbles close to the shore at Champagne Beach. It’s like swimming in a bottle of Dom Perignon.
LOCAL CHOCOLATE
Don’t miss a stop at The Point Baptiste Chocolate Factory in Calibishie, a casual mostly outdoor spot that looks nothing like a factory. Workers can show you how they turn cacao into luscious chocolate, and how they infuse it with ingredients such as coffee and ginger. There’s a secluded beach just a few steps down the hill, past a jungle-enclosed villa where the likes of Princess Margaret and Mick Jagger have stayed.
A SECLUDED BEACH
A couple strolls Batibou Beach on the island of Dominica. Photo courtesy of Jim Byers.
You shouldn’t try to reach Batibou Beach without a four-wheel drive vehicle, but it’s well worth the trouble. I was there on a gorgeous day in January last year and there were maybe seven people on a wide, pretty beach. If you are hungry, sisters Irma and Jacqueline Douglas have a thatched roof tiki hut and fire up amazing lunches served on a deep green banana leaf.
JUNGLE BAY RESORT
Tucked into the southwest corner of the island, Jungle Bay Resort has hillside units surrounded by scads of thick greenery. There are two beautiful infinity pools, a nice restaurant and a lovely spa in a garden setting, where I had a wonderful massage with the windows wide open to the Caribbean breeze. The sunsets here are spectacular.
WONDERFUL WATERFALLS
Emerald Pool is a lovely, pale green pool fed by a small waterfall and surrounded by lush greenery. It’s a super romantic place for a swim, and it’s only a short walk from a paved parking lot. It’s a bit more hilly, but the walk to Trafalgar Falls isn’t hard. You can get up close to two parallel falls, one that tumbles 38 meters and the other 23 meters, but with more oomph behind it.
Article and photography Jim Byers.
Travel is a big part of who I am. My parents often told me I was conceived in Rome, which is too much information for a kid if you ask me. I met my wife on a train trip, oddly enough, while travelling to Rome. I grew up in California but have lived in Toronto for more than three decades, and I try to bring the world to my readers with a bit of a Canadian perspective and a generous dose of humour. (Sorry, U.S. audience, that would be humor for you).
I was travel editor for five years at the Toronto Star, which has the largest travel section in North America, and I’ve had my own travel blog for years. I now write destination stories for several publications, including five items a month for Postmedia and Sun Media websites and newspapers across Canada. My work also appears in the Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Zoomer magazine, Canadian Traveller and The Australian newspaper, as well as Travelzoo Canada’s website. I love every kind of travel, from Canadian mountains to European cities. I also adore a good beach, old time rock and roll and a nice glass of red wine, though usually not at the same time.
JimByersTravel.com: travel writing, photography, and consulting. Regular contributor to Open Jaw Network, Vancouver Sun, Zoomer Magazine, AARP magazine and other publications. Frequent radio and TV guest. Board member, Society of American Travel Writers
