Your kids get to play in a larger-than-life sandbox, maybe get cornrows, while you're set for the week on a chaise. But even on blissfully lazy trips, you want a sense of place and culture. We've found two Caribbean hotels that deliver: Antigua's Carlisle Bay and Jake's, in Jamaica. At each place, you'll feel connected to the island, whether you're eating fruit grown just down the road or watching your kids join an impromptu local soccer game. So you truly experience your destination— without doing much more than putting on your flip-flops.
Jake's Jamaica
If you like the prospect of experiencing an authentic, quirky side of Jamaica, Jake's is your place. Located at Treasure Beach on the island's less-visited southern coast, the hotel has a community-driven ethos and a laid-back atmosphere. Owner Jason Henzell, a second-generation Jamaican, heads up a nonprofit called Breds—short for "brethren," Jamaican parlance for "friends." One dollar from the cost of every night you stay, every meal you eat, and every tour you book through Jake's goes to neighborhood schools and projects.
To a guest, the hotel's ease with its surroundings is palpable, and the simple act of hanging out will quickly make you feel like part of the Treasure Beach community. Sure, your family can hang solo in one of the casual Moroccan-style cottages, which are a few steps from both the beach and the saltwater pool. But you can also stroll down the road to speculate on the day's catch with the fishermen. Or dive into a plate of searing jerk shrimp at the lively neighborhood haunt Jack Sprat. Your family will feel instant camaraderie with the hotel's easygoing staff, who on any given day might help you master the fine art of preparing pepper-pot soup during a cooking class, challenge the kids to Ping-Pong in the game room, or impart a few useful words of local patois.
The Top Five Reasons to Visit Jake's
- You'll be greeted by name by the second day of your stay.
- Pineapple pancakes—you'll want to order them every morning.
- Sunsets so close and so spectacular, you'll feel as if they're being staged exclusively for you.
- You can belly up to a local bar for a Red Stripe—in the middle of the sea—at the Pelican Bar, built on a reef about a mile offshore, near the town of Black River.
- Your kids will get the chance to learn about pride of place, graciousness, and hospitality—all by example, on vacation.
Next Page: Jake's Fact Sheet
