J.amaica 2022

Trip Introduction

In December of 2022 we made our first trip to an all-inclusive resort on the island of Jamaica. While we had stayed at all-inclusive resorts before, this was our first time staying in Jamaica and our first visit to a Couples Resorts property. We spent a week at the Tower Isle Resort on the north side of the island just outside of Ocho Rios. The resort gets its name from Sapphire Island which sits inside the reef breakwater just offshore and has an old watch tower on it.




Sunday, 12/18/2022 – Running For Warmer Weather

We had an early flight out of Des Moines, so the day started pretty early. The alarm going off at 4:15a turned out to be one of the better things that happened that morning. At 5:05a James called the cab company because our ride hadn't shown up. After 15 minutes of being on hold we got in our car to head to the airport. As we were backing out of the garage, the agent picked up and let us know they were understaffed, and he was still looking for a driver to take our fare; we just had them cancel the reservation. We made it to the airport, got our bags checked and we're glad we had TSA pre-check as the line for general security check was down the escalator and probably a 30–40-minute wait. Once through security, we arrived at our gate around 6a for the scheduled 7:03a departure. Around 6:40a a gate agent announced they were understaffed, and the belt loader American uses was broken so the 3-person ground crew was having to manually lift every bag into the plane holds. There were also around six American airlines flights scheduled to leave between 6a and 8a. Around 7:30a they announced we could board the plane, but the ground crew had to get another flight loaded and deiced before they could start loading our luggage. They got everyone on board, and we sat; at 8:30a, the Captain announced the flight before us was taxiing to the runway and the ground crew was heading our way. He added a note of good news; one of the other airlines had agreed to loan American a belt loader since they had a break in flights. At 9:50a, the wheels of our plane left the runway. Our three-hour layover was now around 50 minutes and included a terminal change in Dallas.

One piece of good luck was a gate change for our flight from Dallas to Montego Bay while we were in the air from Des Moines. We ended up only needing to go six gates which is a minor miracle in Dallas. It was really a good thing considering by the time we taxied around, we only had about 35 minutes to exit the plane, go to the bathroom, and make it to our next gate. We ended up making it in time. The second flight left maybe 10 minutes late and didn't make up any time during the flight. Once we landed and got off the plane, we filled out the required forms, and headed to customs. We used some kiosks and then stood in line for about 45 minutes. When we got maybe 10 people from the front, an official who was doing preliminary checks pulled us from the line telling us we had been told to get in the wrong line. He sent us straight to an agent and we were through in another 5 minutes. We got our bag and headed out of customs to the Couples Resorts lounge. We didn't realize it, but our room included a private transfer so instead of getting on the 12-person mini coach, we got to ride in a small minivan with just us. We left the airport a little after 6:30p and pulled into the resort at 8:15p. We got checked in and a porter walked us to the villa where we unpacked and ordered room service because we just didn't feel like going back out. It was a long, sometimes stressful, day; but we made it.




Monday, 12/19/2022 – Getting Settled and Starting to Relax

We slept until 7:30a, or so, before getting up and getting around. We headed to the breakfast buffet around 9a and then participated in an orientation walk at 10a. Our room package included unlimited access to the spa so, after the tour, we stopped by to get more information on what exactly that meant. In addition to getting clarifications, we scheduled massages for 11:30a. Feeling very relaxed, we had a light lunch around 1p before spending some time deciding what days we wanted to get additional spa treatments or participate in other activities. We went back to the spa to verify what times we could get the various treatments we wanted and then stopped by the lobby to register for some off property excursions. After swinging by the resorts gift shop to see if anything caught our eye, we headed back to the villa where James decided to try out the private plunge pool while Julie read, messed with her phone, and generally relaxed. Having a "private pool" is great, but wherever the water was coming from it was heated; even though he hadn't put his head under water, James' hair was damp after about 15 minutes because he was sweating. After 20-25 minutes in the pool, James exited, and we spent more time reading and just relaxing before heading to dinner around 6:45p. After dinner we sat in some rocking chairs along one of the patios looking out over Sapphire Island and the ocean. We came back to the villa around 7:45p and both spent a little time in the pool. After some more reading and a few hands of cards, we turned in for the night.




Tuesday, 12/20/2022 – Not What We Planned – No Worries

We had talked about going out to Sapphire Island early on Tuesday to take some pictures. Guests can head out starting at 8:30a, but if you're there after 9a, you're expected to be nude. We were planning to not be there more than 30 minutes. We decided not to go because we just didn't feel like getting up and around. We had breakfast and then prepared to go on a glass-bottom boat ride we'd signed up for. When we got there, we realized they hadn't disclosed you needed to walk through waist deep water to get to the boat and neither of us were dressed to get that wet. We headed back to the room for more reading and relaxing. We did spend a little time walking around the property taking pictures with the larger camera since James had it out for the boat trip. We stopped by the macaw cage where they keep three birds that have a limited vocabulary. This morning they were cycling through "Hello" and several close variations. We then walked through an area with flowering plants that create a tunnel like passage. We stopped and tried to capture pictures of the swallow-tailed hummingbirds that were flitting about the foliage. We returned to the villa and James moved one of the lounge chairs so he could hang his feet in the water while finishing his book. Julie read for a bit too before we decided to take some puzzle post cards (theenigmaemporium.com) we'd brought and go sit someplace with a breeze. We spent about an hour puzzling over the cards before grabbing a bite to eat and returning to the villa. Just before 2p, we headed to the spa; we had signed up to get European style facials. After being pampered (and scrubbed) from the neck up we killed a little more time before heading to an area where the activities committee had advertised a "sunset drawing" event. After about 10 minutes of no instructor, one of the other guests asked and found out the person who leads that activity wasn't there, so it wasn't going to happen. We sat along the beach for a while longer enjoying the warm temperatures and the breeze coming in off the water before returning to the villa for some more cards, reading, and general phone related activities. Around 6:30p we headed to dinner. After dinner we spent a little time in the plunge pool followed by more cards and reading before bed.




Wednesday, 12/21/2022 – A Day Full of Rocks

The resort offers each guest a free excursion to Dunn's River Falls and Wednesday was the day we had decided to make that trip. We needed to be in the lobby ready to go by 8:50a so got around a little earlier to catch breakfast before we left. The tour includes a guided trip climbing up almost 1000 feet through the various cascading waterfalls. The water was cold and at times it came up over our waists. It was pretty busy as a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship was docked in Ocho Rios as well. What was supposed to be a 9a-11:30a trip turned into a 9a-1p trip so we didn't have time to eat after getting cleaned up from the falls before heading to the spa for our 2p hot stone massage. We had opted for an 85-minute session and were both glad for the treatment after the exertion in the morning climbing the falls.

After the massage, we got a snack of black bean hummus and some kind of fruit-based chips (plantains maybe). Then James got into the plunge pool noting the water temperature was cooler than the previous days. We killed time reading, playing some Uno, and messing on our phones until it was time to head to the beach-party dinner. The staff had setup lots of tables on the beach as well as a stage for a couple shows later in the evening. They also setup the buffet on the beach showcasing traditional Jamaican foods. About half-way through us eating, however, the power went out. While a little disconcerting, James took the opportunity to get a picture of some of the stars. After dinner we returned to our room to figure out what we needed to prepare for Thursday's excursion and to just chill out before bed.

It should be noted that while we were in warm Jamaica, Des Moines was getting hit by a blizzard with 2.5 to 3 inches of snow, sub-zero temperatures, and winds between 20 and 30 mph Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning. The cold temps and winds continued through Friday.




Thursday, 12/22/2022 – A Trip Into The Mountains

We had booked an off-property excursion on Thursday that would take us up into the mountains where they grow coffee beans. We had eaten breakfast and were in the lobby by 8:30a waiting to be picked up. We were apparently the last resort on the pick-up list, so they were a few minutes late, but once on the minibus, we headed east. The tour was by Blue Mountain Tour company and there were two options: bus up the mountain and ride a bike part way back down or bus both ways. We opted for the bus both ways because we weren't sure what the road would be like, and we wanted to make sure we could enjoy the views without having to concentrate on not falling over.

We rode the bus for a little over 2 hours up into the mountains. This did include a "rest stop" where the driver also bought gas. The main road around the island is a wide 2 lanes for much of the time we were on it, with a few sharp corners, but not too bad. Once we got on the "mountain road" that changed and then the road was just wide enough for two cars going in opposite directions to squeeze by each other with lots of switchbacks and tight turns. The road also got pretty rough as we went higher up, and we were glad we had decided not to bike. We stopped at the company's main station at about 2,000 feet above sea level and were served a light brunch. This included bread knots, thin slices of French toast, scrambled eggs, and some cabbage. It was warm and good. The view was also stunning. Of the 13 of us on the tour, 8 were going to ride the bikes and got their helmets and elbow and knee pads here. After a quick demonstration on how coffee beans are traditionally roasted in the area, we got back on the minibus and headed further up the mountain side. After another 30 minutes or so of twists and turns we found where the bikes were staged. All of us got off the bus to take some pictures. The five us not biking got back on the bus along with a guide and went another 5 minutes up the mountain before we got to a spot where the minibus could turn around at about 4,000 feet above sea level. Our guide grew up in the area we were visiting. He talked to us about life in the mountains vs. down on the coasts and showed us several plants that were growing "wild" that are commonly used to treat various illnesses "on the mountain." He also had us eat some guava that was quite sour and explained that it stayed cool and cloudy so even though the tree would bear fruit, they would not get sweet. We stopped several places coming back down the mountain so he could talk about different plants and ended up catching the bikers about a mile from the tour company station. We stopped again and ate lunch while enjoying the incredible view.

After lunch the bus people headed out first as the bikers were continuing a little further down the mountain to a natural whirlpool below a waterfall. We had the opportunity to get in the water if we wanted either by a set of stairs, or just jumping off a rock. James opted for the rock because, for some reason, he felt it would be easier since the water was reportedly "refreshingly cool". James' opinion ran more along the lines of "(explitive), THAT'S COLD!" Based on his assessment, Julie decided not to even try going down the stairs and putting her foot in the water. It took the bike people 20-25 minutes to catch up with us and get their turns to jump in the water. Of course, we supported the "refreshingly cool" camp at this point because we wanted to see their faces. We headed back up to the minibus and left our guide behind around 2p as we headed back to our resorts. Along the way we discovered a young couple who were living in Lakeland, FL (he recently graduated college and she was finishing up) as well as two parents and a son close to our age that lived in the Kansas City area. Some of them had an additional hour each way on the bus.

We got back to the resort around 4p and went to the room to relax a bit. James also contacted the front desk as the water circulation system in our plunge pool had stopped working sometime Wednesday causing the water temperature to drop below our desired usage level. We killed some time reading and playing cards before heading back to the buffet area for supper. After supper it was back to the room for a little time in the, working again, plunge pool, more cards, and books before bed.




Friday, 12/23/2022 – All the Relaxing We Can Schedule

We got around and had breakfast then killed some time before our 10a spa appointment. We were trying something new, full body wrap treatments. After we checked in, they informed us that the wrap was more effective following a full body scrub and there was time if we wanted to add that service. Having nothing else on the calendar and all spa treatments included in our room, we said "sure." It was an interesting experience that left our skin feeling better, but James became aware he might be slightly claustrophobic given his level of discomfort being wrapped up like a burrito and not being able to move for 20 minutes or so. They had covered our eyes to help us relax, but James realized he felt better once he got that eye cover to move enough that he could see the ceiling and the fan a little. After the treatment was over and we were getting our water at the spa juice bar, the therapist who was helping with the exit process asked when we were leaving. She had helped us on several of the treatments so far and encouraged us to sign up for as many as we could before our Sunday morning departure.

We headed back to the room and read some of the descriptions of other spa services and decided she was right. So before heading to lunch, we returned to the spa to add another massage for Friday afternoon (Julie aromatherapy and James a reflexology session). We also changed what we had booked for Saturday and added a session focused on the hands. The afternoon was spent reading and playing cards. We also realized with the change in time for Saturday's treatments we would be able to do the glass bottom boat; before heading to the spa, we returned to the water sports desk and signed up for Saturday morning's outing. After our spa treatments we returned to the room and freshened up before heading to dinner. The plunge pool still wasn't working so more relaxing with books, cards, and phones before going to bed a little after 10p.




Saturday, 12/24/2022 – Relaxing and Packing

Knowing we would be wading through seawater, we decided to hold off on showers and instead went to breakfast a bit early and try to catch the boat out to Sapphire Island before the no clothes rule went in to affect. The shore of the island is much rougher and made the tidal action more dynamic. You could also climb the tower and get some pictures looking back at the resort. After getting back to the main resort, we returned to the room to change into our water shoes and made sure we were ready for the glass bottom boat ride. The ride took us west of the resort to a large area with coral and diving. There's even on old Royal Navy mine sweeper that was used to ship bananas from the island to England that was sunk in 1991 to help reestablish part of the reef. It was hard taking pictures through the glass because of the reflections. The driver then took us further west and showed us several other resorts (Couples, Sandals, Jamaica Inn) along the northern coast. We also saw homes owned by singers Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and Bryan Adams before returning to our resort.

When we returned to our room, the staff was cleaning it; we also overhead bits of someone saying there was something wrong with the plumbing system that served the plunge pool. He didn't know if they had the necessary parts to get it fixed. Once they were done cleaning, we took our showers and relaxed some more before heading to lunch. After lunch it was some more cards, book, and phone time before heading to the spa for our 2p massage and hand care session. Our last treatments ended around 4p and we calculated we had each spent approximately 8 hours receiving some kind of spa treatment in the 6 days we were visiting the resort.

Before going to supper, we spent time getting things organized and packed for our return trip. We needed to be up relatively early on Sunday for the ride to the airport. The evening meal on Saturday was served buffet style, but this time around the main pool deck. It was themed as an "International Gala" so there were dishes from several different countries including pastas, roast duck, sushi, along with the US/British typical roast beef and potatoes. There was even a seasonal ice sculpture. After we ate, we returned to the room to pack a few more things and play some cards before heading to bed.




Sunday, 12/25/2022 – White Christmases Are Overrated

According to the checkout information, we needed to have our luggage outside by 6:15a and our ride was leaving at 7:15a. James set his alarm for 5:45a and we had the one large suitcase out about 6:10a. We did the rest of our morning activities, said good-bye to our feline host, and finished getting the carry-ons prepped before heading to the lobby a little after 7a. They hadn't picked up our luggage, so we brought that with us. We got to the lobby right as the driver who had brought us to the resort from the airport pulled up. James took one last picture and we headed to the airport. Traffic was much lighter early on a Sunday morning and we made it to the airport in about 90 minutes. We checked our bag, got through security, and were standing at our gate just after 9a for our 12:10p flight. We hung out at the gate for a bit and then went to get something to eat before the flight.

The incoming flight was a few minutes late which meant we were a few minutes late leaving. We landed in Dallas and made it through customs. While we had plenty of time, we were glad we had completed our Global Entry Interviews in Des Moines and not tried to do them as we returned. We did have to change terminals in Dallas this way but had close to 2 hours even after clearing customs and going through TSA. We got some food at a Panera and our flight to Des Moines boarded for an on time 6:59p departure. We pulled away from the gate and then things went downhill. The captain informed us there was an error light when they started the second engine they needed to address. We pulled back up to the gate and waited for maintenance. The good thing about this happening in Dallas is they have a huge maintenance depot and lots of parts. After 20 minutes of waiting for maintenance, 15 minutes of diagnostics, 20 minutes of getting the replacement part, and 30 minutes of replacing the part, we were ready to pull away from the gate again. The ride to Des Moines was uneventful, but once again, they were short-staffed in Des Moines, and we sat on the taxiway after landing for almost 40 minutes waiting for the ground crew to be ready for us to deplane. The captain turned off the seat-belt sign right at 10:50p, 2 hours after our scheduled arrival time. We then waited almost 30 minutes before luggage started to circulate the baggage claim. After we got our bag, got to a very cold car and drove home in light snow, we pulled into the garage at 11:55p. We had officially made it home on Christmas Day.

Normally, this is where the trip would end, but this one gets bonus coverage (if that is what it should be called) so keep reading…

Christmas tree in the resort lobby with windows overlooking the ocean with a small island in the distance
Christmas morning as we are leaving the resort



Monday, 12/26/2022 – It's Cold In Here

It was effectively Monday morning by the time we got stuff out of the car and stepped into the house. It was cold; not just outside (4 degrees), inside too. The temperature on the ground floor of our house was 34 degrees (F). James rushed out to make sure the furnace exhaust was clear and then went downstairs to restart the furnace so the house would heat up. He then went upstairs to discover it was only 28 degrees on the second floor. As a reminder, water freezes at 32 degrees and water expands when it freezes which is not a great thing in pressurized piping systems. For the next two hours we tried to stay warm, watched some 30-minute shows and checked things regularly as the house started to warm up for signs of plumbing issues. Around 2a we discovered water on the floor in the upstairs guest bath from a busted valve by the toilet. James immediately turned the water off at the meter in the basement and ran some water downstairs, where it hadn't gotten as cold, to drop the pressure. There wasn't a lot of water, so a few bath towels soaked it up before there was damage to wood, carpet, or drywall. We then looked more closely at other things. We noticed the valves on the water lines to the sink in the same bathroom had been pushed off the copper lines and were being held up by columns of ice. Sounds picturesque, but not something you really want to see. We setup a towel to catch those lines as the ice columns thawed. We couldn't see any issues in the master bath, but some of those connections were under the cabinets after our remodel in 2020 so we had to hope the "out of site" connections were still in good shape. We went back downstairs and tried to rest; about 30 minutes later we heard water dripping in the downstairs laundry room. While James had looked at the downstairs bath, kitchen, and laundry room wash basin, he hadn't looked at the actual connections to the washer and dryer. The braided hose that ran from the valve to the splitter for these had broken and was now hanging by the wall. Because this was on the lower floor, there was still some water pressure from the pipes above to push water out of the valve. James quickly shut off the valve to stop water flow. By this time the temp on the lower level was around 40 degrees and it was just above freezing upstairs.

Julie tried to sleep on the couch with her travel clothes + sweatpants and two sweaters covered by 4 blankets. James had donned the thermally lined pants he uses to shovel when it's below 20 degrees outside and a sweatshirt over his traveling shirt. He paced for another hour before trying to lay down and get some fitful sleep. Both of us jumped at just about any sound and the house made a lot of sounds as temperatures continued to rise. James finally stopped trying to sleep around 7a and couldn't find anything else besides the issues described above. A call to the plumbing company we typically used failed as their offices were closed until Tuesday the 27th and they weren't taking emergency calls over the long weekend. We reached out to a contractor friend who gave us the name of the plumber he uses on projects and around 10a they let us know they could get someone out later that day. The plumber arrived at the house around 12:30p and by 1:15p the 3 valves were replaced, the water was back on, and there were no signs of other leaks. The hose for the laundry is a specialty item that can only be purchased in special accessory kits for dryers with steam capabilities. After he showered, James went to the nearest hardware store to get what he needed and got that fixed around 3p.

Needless to say, Monday was not nearly as relaxing as the trip had been. While we loved visiting Jamaica, unfortunately the stories we have about this vacation are mostly about the actual travel and what we found when we made it home.