Christi Ruddy (third from left) and her extended family made the choice to spend the holidays in Jamaica. Christi shares her top five reasons why you should consider family vacation travel too.

Over Christmas break this year, I had the pleasure of traveling with my extended family to Jamaica. We started making reservations for this trip in July but I would seriously recommend starting in March or April for the best selection of accommodations. We rented a villa in the resort community of Tryall, near Montego Bay. With a magnificent view of Caribbean and temperatures in the low 80’s, “Life Is Good” there. This villa was staffed by a cook, gardener/pool attendant, housekeeper and laundress. No more worrying about fixing meals or cleaning up.

We were able to find a villa with just the right sleeping configuration (king vs. twin vs. double). At Tryall we had amenities such as spa, an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, beach, water sports and a golf cart to roam the 2200 acres. Best of all, we thoroughly enjoyed our own private pool at the villa. We also loved taking our meals al fresco on the terrace overlooking the Caribbean. On Christmas Eve we hooked up an iPad to the television and chatted with my nephew in Vietnam via Skype. Christmas Day my Dad spoke with his brother in Juneau, Alaska. The world is so “accessible” these days.

Give Family Vacation Travel a Try

For those of you that have said, “I’ve always wanted to go away for Christmas,” here are the top five reasons you should seriously consider it.

5) Bonding – It so much easier to enjoy the company of parents, children, nieces & nephews in a relaxed resort environment. Other than the above mentioned Skyping, our mobile technology was turned off and we enjoyed each other’s company. 

4) Type of trip – My sister convinced me to “get on board” when she advised that I wouldn’t have to do any of the menu planning, cooking or cleaning up. “It will be so much easier,” she said. Staying in a villa with a staff of four was fabulous. We had all the amenities of a hotel including making beds, turndown service, daily laundry and pool maintenance.

3) Create experiences –Enough with the Xbox; it is time to give a gift that everyone will remember indefinitely. After all, the Xbox will be obsolete in a few short years. The Zipline experience my nephew had in Jamaica will stick with him forever. Last time we were in Jamaica we climbed the Dunns River Falls in Ocho Rios, which is another fabulous excursion.

2) Carpe Dieum: Seize the Moment – There is no time like the present to travel. As the Baby Boomer generation matures and considers retirement, and the Greatest Generation ages but is still able to enjoy travel, they shouldn’t miss an opportunity to visit new places and enjoy time together.

1) Enjoy the Tropics – You can’t beat lying around in a bathing suit while it snows back home. “I’ll take another Rum Punch, please.”

Christi Ruddy is an Event Planner with Covington Meetings & Events.

Contact Covington’s vacation advisors if you would like to know more about Jamaica or family vacation travel.