Jamaica: The Trip Where I Basically Ate My Way Around the Island

Jamaica was one of those trips where I arrived with an itinerary… and then decided I didn't really care about following it.

Normally I have my trips planned out with a list of things I want to see, places I want to visit and food I want to try. For Jamaica, I was much more flexible. I wanted to relax, eat, enjoy the resort and experience the island without feeling like I had to be doing something every minute.

And that's basically what I did. I ate. A LOT.

Boston to Montego Bay

I flew nonstop from Boston to Montego Bay with Delta.

My flight routine is pretty simple: put in my iPod, get comfortable and sleep until we reach Jamaica. I flew down on February 2 and returned February 6. It was an easy way to start the trip.

One of the best decisions: my airport pickup

I booked my airport transportation ahead of time through Viator, and it ended up being much more than just an airport pickup. My driver was amazing.

I liked him so much that the next day, he took me on a tour around Montego Bay. This became one of my favorite experiences because I really felt like I was experiencing Montego Bay with a local instead of just being moved from one tourist attraction to another.

And, of course, food became a big part of the experience.

We also stopped for a fresh coconut on the side of the road in Montego Bay. I drank the water straight from it — and yes, I had the flesh too once I finished.

The Jamaican patty debate: Juici vs. Tastee

Of course, I had to settle one of the debates I kept hearing about in Jamaica: Juici or Tastee?

I tried a beef patty from both, and honestly, they were both good. The biggest difference for me was that Tastee was spicier — it had more of a kick than the Juici patty.

I wouldn't say one was good and the other wasn't. I enjoyed both. If you prefer a little more spice, though, Tastee definitely had more heat. Trying both was on my list before I even arrived in Jamaica.

Another food debate: Scotchies vs. Pork Pit

Apparently one Jamaican food debate wasn't enough for me. I also had to try Scotchies vs. Pork Pit.

And I might have the unpopular opinion here, but I enjoyed Scotchies more.

The jerk chicken at Scotchies was moist and flavorful, which made the difference for me. Pork Pit was flavorful too, so this isn't me saying the food was bad — my issue was the texture. The meat I had was more on the dry side.

• Scotchies

  Moist + flavorful

• Pork Pit

  Flavorful, but drier

If I had to pick one to return to? Scotchies.

My stay: Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall

I stayed at Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, an adults-only, all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay.

And, of course, I booked another swim-out room. But Jamaica made me rethink my love for swim-out rooms.

The pool itself wasn't the problem. The location was. My swim-out area was directly in front of one of the resort's walkways, so throughout the day people were constantly walking past my room. There was basically no privacy.

Breakfast was 10/10

Now THIS is where Hyatt Zilara got me. Breakfast and breakfast service: 10/10.

The service was consistently on time and the food was amazing. I tried both the American breakfast and the Jamaican breakfast, and I loved both.

And then there was the Blue Mountain coffee. OMG. I had to have it every morning. It became part of my morning routine in Jamaica and is one of those small details I still remember about the resort.

My original Jamaica planning notes had Jamaican breakfast on the list before the trip: ackee and saltfish, fried dumplings, callaloo, boiled bananas and avocado.

Urban Heatz by Flavor — so good I went twice

The Caribbean restaurant I ate at inside the resort was Urban Heatz by Flavor, and I liked it enough to go twice.

The first time, I ordered the oxtails. Then I came back and tried the beef stew. Both were really good.

With an all-inclusive, it's easy to feel like you need to try a different restaurant every night just because you have so many options. But if I find somewhere I genuinely enjoy, I have no problem going back. Urban Heatz was worth the repeat visit.

The spa: I would skip it next time

Not everything at the resort was a hit.

I booked a body scrub and facial at the hotel spa, and this is one experience I wouldn't repeat. The spa was very expensive, and more importantly, I didn't feel like the person providing my treatment listened to my concerns. For what I paid, I expected a much better experience.

Would I spend the money on the resort spa again? No. I'd rather put that toward another Jamaican meal.

My Negril day trip

I also booked a day trip from Montego Bay to Negril through GetYourGuide, and this experience was mixed for me.

My guide wasn't particularly entertaining, and he didn't seem to know his way around the island well enough to help me make an additional stop I wanted to make.

There was an ice cream spot in Negril I specifically wanted to try — the Ganja Ice Cream at Patsy's. It was already on my Negril list before the trip, along with Rick's Cafe and Flag City Seafood Grill. My notes literally said "Ganja Ice Cream at Patsy's – Rum raisin." Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity to stop there during the tour.

So that was one food stop I missed. But there was one destination I absolutely wanted to reach in Negril.

And I did.

Flag City Seafood Grill

Flag City Seafood Grill on Seven Mile Beach. THIS was the food moment of Jamaica.

I had lobster, rum punch, rice and beans.

And I still say it: that was the best lobster I've ever had.

I've eaten lobster since then, and I'm still waiting for somebody to beat the lobster I had at Flag City. That lobster alone became one of my favorite food memories from any of my trips.

Getting Jamaican dollars before my trip

Another thing I did differently was get my Jamaican dollars before leaving the United States. I ordered them through Bank of America before the trip.

Personally, I prefer doing it this way. I'd rather have my local currency ready before I arrive instead of landing in another country and immediately having to figure out where I'm getting cash or what exchange rate I'm being offered. It was something I'd specifically included in my original Jamaica notes.

My takeaway from Jamaica

Jamaica wasn't a trip where I needed to run from activity to activity.

Some of my favorite memories were the simplest ones: Blue Mountain coffee every morning. Jamaican breakfast. Oxtails. Beef stew. Juici and Tastee patties. Scotchies jerk chicken. Rum punch. That lobster. Relaxing by the pool. And driving around Montego Bay with a guide who made me feel like I was experiencing the island with a local.

The swim-out room taught me to pay more attention to privacy and room location when I'm paying extra for that experience. The spa wasn't worth repeating. The Negril tour guide wasn't my favorite — and I still need to get that Patsy's ice cream one day.

But the destination itself? Jamaica was amazing.

And if we're talking about food alone, Jamaica gave me some memories that are going to be very hard for another trip to beat.

Would I return to Jamaica?

Yes — the food alone is worth it.

Would I book the swim-out room again?

Only after asking exactly where it's located. Privacy matters when I'm paying extra.

Would I book the resort spa again?

No.

Best thing I ate?

The lobster at Flag City Seafood Grill on Seven Mile Beach.

Photos from the trip