From: paul.graveline@travel.com (Paul Graveline)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.caribbean
Subject: CARIBBEAN TRAVEL ROUNDUP7
Date: 29 Sep 92 14:27:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: travel.1319.168.uupcb
Reply-To: paul.graveline@travel.com (Paul Graveline)
Distribution: world
Organization: Travel Online / St. Louis Online - St. Louis, MO

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browse  through  of  UNEXCO-they  have  some  great  T-shirts, I don't  
recommend  going  snorkeling  with  them!!  They  cater  to divers and  
snorkelers  are strictly second class citizens with them. I have found  
this  to be the case over the years but since it had been quite awhile  
since  my  last  snorkel with them I decided to give it a try. Believe  
me,  nothing  has  changed!  Go  with  the  operations  that  cater to  
snorkelers. 
 
When  we  came  in  from  our Close Encounter we stopped in the UNEXCO  
video  room  to  watch  the videos of the members of our group who had  
made  advance  reservations  (30-60 days) to swim and snorkel with the  
Dolphins.  The  film  is shown 5-10 minutes after you get back. If you  
are  not  in a hurry it is worth the time to do this. The film is very  
professionally  done  and  of course available at $29 to participants.  
Next time we go I plan to book this experience.  
 
 
Jamaica (Jamaica-Jamaica and FDR) by Brad Hill 
--------------------------------------------- 
On  arriving  at  the  Sangster  Airport,  we  had  to wait at least 2  
minutes  out  of  customs  before  being  offered  a Red Stripe and/or  
Ganja.  The  ride  was  uneventful  as  our driver made the trip in 30  
minutes  less than the promised travel time and missed everything that  
came at us. 
 
They  placed me in a room as far away from the desk as is possible. It  
turned  out  to  be  the VERY BEST ROOM in the house; beachfront room,  
standard  room  price.  Room  3236  is an end room on the second floor  
with  balcony.  It  is  also  very  close  to  the  beach  terrace for  
entertainment  and  meals. Most importantly, it is the room closest to  
the  entrance  to  the  nude beach and the nude jacuzzi. To me, a fine  
location. Very fine. 
 
The  rooms  are  large  with  king  beds, dressing area and large bath  
area.  Hot  water  was sometimes a problem but "No Problum Mon" you go  
with the flow and it all works out.  
 
The  activities  people  seemed  to always have things happening. They  
gave  away  enough  T shirts to dress the Jamaican army. Tia Maria and  
rum  were  favorite  prizes  too.  All activities were optional so you  
could  miss  something  if  you wanted too. I participated in the goat  
races  but  feel  very  sad  about  my goat. We came in last. Goat was  
served for dinner the next night.  
 
Several  weddings  were  held  at  Jam  Jam  the  week  we were there.  
Weddings  are  performed on the Nude Beach. This may sound strange but  
the  nude  beach has the nicest grassy area and private backdrop for a  
wedding. No nude weddings were observed. 
 
Activities  at  Jam  Jam  are many. A person can participate in all or  
none.  Horseback  riding  is available as well as horse drawn carriage  
rides  (sign  up early only limited space is available). Bike tours go  
each  day  to  the  countryside in the pm and to some caves in the am,  
aerobics  are held M - F at 8:30 and 5:30, a complete natilus facility  
is  available  in  the  main  building.  Tennis  and  golf lessons are  
available every day. 
 
Every  day during the lunch buffet various contests were held with the  
guests,  best  swim  suit,  hairiest  chest  (men), best tan, best tan  
without  tan line, design a costume using only toilet paper as a wrap.  
Other  events  included beer drinking, swimming for items in the pool.  
Prizes were awarded for everything, 
 
One  night  they  have  a  outdoor dinner with Bar-B-Q lobster for 600  
guests.   Much   like   an   extravaganza  night  on  a  cruise  ship,  
entertainment   with  dancers,  flame  walkers,  limbo  experts,  etc.  
Afterwards  it  was  dancing  on  the  beach  with  team  contests. On  
Fridays,  they  have a staff / guest talent night. This is lots of fun  
and very well attended. 
 
The  food  is good on the terrace buffet; several salads, breads, many  
meat  choices,  many  desserts. The best evening dining is in the main  
dining  room.  A  dress,  slacks,skirts  are fine for ladies. Men must  
wear  a  shirt  with  sleeves  and long pants. Not too dressy but they  
call that casual elegant. After tank tops all day, I tend to agree. 
 
The staff at Jam Jam does not seem to say No to any guest. 
 
Regarding  the nude beach, I am a spud from Idaho. Such things are not  
in  my  previous vocabulary. It took us all of two hours from arriving  
to  make  it  to  the beach and 15 seconds more to be 100% in the sun.  
Amazingly,  the  world did not stop turning. In a short while, we were  
talking  to  other  people  on  the nude beach and after awhile no one  
seemed  to even notice that no one had any clothes on. My mother might  
not  have  approved  (she's  70)  but  I  would suspect that she would  
probably  join others on the beach if she had been there. The jacuzzis  
are not real large 8 to 10 is estimated capacity. 
 
 
I  golfed  5  times  while  I  was there, the course is nice with fast  
greens  if  played  after  10  am.  I took my clubs as I prefer not to  
rent,  this means one less bag for purchases in town. Rental clubs are  
$13.50  per  day.  Golf lessons are 8-10 and 4-6. Of course these will  
mess up your game until you get a chance to work on it.  
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