Crazy, Sexy, Chill: These Jamaica Baecation Itineraries Have Something For Everyone
Who doesn’t love a good baecation, especially if it involves taking flights and knocking back shots in an international locale? And where, in the world, is more alluring—with diverse options for almost every couple—than Jamaica?
It is undoubtedly my favorite island in the world, and recently I got the chance to try out a few amazing new experiences with my man, taking us from the east to the west, from sexy excitement and fun mayhem, to alluring sightseeing and connection. If you’re looking to take your bae to the Caribbean (or give your partner a few hints for your next trip), try these itineraries curated by yours truly.
CRAZY… BUT WORTH IT: Cross-Island Road Trip
Start your road trip in Westmoreland Parish and make your final destination an oasis of rum. On this trip, bae and I drove through nine of the island’s 14 parishes in 24 hours. Rent a car or hire a driver and get on the road. Jamaica is best seen and experienced by car for sure!
Where To Stay
Traveller’s Beach Resort, Negril
Start in Negril on Seven Mile Beach, and skip the big resorts to enjoy a bit more bang for your buck with the vibes, modern amenities, and beachfront access here. It’s affordable, the rooms are cute, and you’ll be in a prime location to take the main roads for this trip.
Hot Stops
1st: Cool Oasis, Negril
It’s the largest indigenous fuel provider in Jamaica, the prices are great, and the gas price matches the quality. It's a great place to get all the snacks, extra cash for tolls, and drinks you need to enjoy a road trip for two. After gassing up and getting snacks and drinks, we hit the road along Seven Mile Beach, on through Hanover and into the next parishes of St. James, Trewlawney, and St. Ann, and on into Clarendon.
2nd: Murrays Fish And Jerk Hut, Clarendon
Located in Clarendon, this stop is a must if you’re taking any sort of trip west to east. And while there are dozens of jerk centers across the island, this is one of the best simply due to the unique taste and smoke of the meats. Bae likes the chicken but this is the only time I cheat and eat pork ever. (When it's your turn to order, just say "I want a quarter pork please." It's a portion perfect for one.) Add festival, (a fried slightly sweet bread that tastes a little like hushpuppies but better) to your order, and thank me later.
3rd: Worthy Park Estate Rum Distillery, St. Catherine
Just getting up the winding hilly terrain for this attraction is scenic (and borderline scary) enough, and once you arrive, you’ll find the trip was well worth it. The lushness of the expansive property embraces you, and your tour, which originates at their welcome center, begins with rum punch served by the in-house bartender.
You’ll then be immersed in the history of the company, how their diverse brands of rum are made (with my favorite being Rum Bar Rum Cream), and a full walking tour of their distillery (which could actually give any California winery a run for its money when it comes to the alluring atmosphere, cool-comfy valley breezes, and the delightful sticky-sweet smell of fresh barrels of liquor).
The tour, of course, ended with a tasting of four samples of different types of rum (and a bottle of water to sip in between). And of course, one of us had to take one sip and call it quits since we had some more driving to do.
We headed on through St. Catherine (passing near Linstead and Spanish Town to be exact), then through the southern part of Clarendon, and then on to Manchester (where there are big beautiful homes and the weather can get cold like in the States). We then went through St. Elizabeth to pass through my second-favorite town, White House, then finally to Savanna-la-Mar, and on to where we started, Negril.
SEXY & CHILL: Club-Hopping, Cocktails, And Cannabis
For this trip, bae and I wanted to let loose and explore a little wild fun. We hadn't had a crazy, drunken, throw-caution-to-the-wind weekend since the day we met, so we wanted to lounge, do a little partying, and try a few new things. To spice things up, we were able to check a few things off our "We Ain't Too Old Yet" bucket list.
Where To Stay
Deja Resort, Montego Bay
It’s right on the Hip Strip, across the street from Doctor’s Cove Beach and literally steps away from any and every popular restaurant (think, Margaritaville). You can enjoy the open bar and the complimentary breakfast, and after one too many rum-punch rounds, slide on into a little secluded rendezvous with your boo in the upper-level hot tub. The area gives sensual vibes by sunset, and the added shade of the palm trees and other greenary around the pool just adds to the allure. (Again, keep it on the hush, sis, and take heed to discretion. There are several little hidden nooks that it’s just irresistible, but if you get caught, you’re on your own!)
Where To Go
Taboo, Montego Bay
I’d heard about the location in Kingston, but since I’m always traveling to the western parts of Jamaica, I’d never visited. I’m no stranger to strip clubs (well, the ones that employ women) so I thought it would be a good idea to check the Montego Bay location out.
We went on a Wednesday, and it wasn't too crowded. The entertainers there were fun, down-to-earth, and beautiful in a way that was inviting and relatable. They really didn’t hold back, to the point where my man—a born-and-raised Jamaican who is 10 years my senior, has several children and has been well around the block several times— was even blushing. We both got private as well as couple's dances and enjoyed every minute of it.
Added bonus: The drinks were exotic, strong, and worth every penny.
Lounge 2727, Montego Bay
This is another spot on Montego Bay’s Hip Strip, and if strippers aren’t your thing, you can get your party, drink, and eat on here. They have hookah, beer, wine, and cocktails, and again, the views, the views, the views! Depending on the night, you can dance (or lounge) to the soundtrack of dancehall, hip-hop, and R&B hits, and, as a bonus, it’s steps away from Island Strains, a marijuana dispensary that, on my first visit, I actually accidentally walked into thinking it was a lounge. (And do I have to spell it out for you sis? This has all the makings of a potentially Hangover-worthy spontaneous sexy adventure waiting to happen.)
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy