3 Ways to Maximize a Short Stay in a Resort
When my sister first told me she was having a destination wedding, beyond the initial excitement, my mind went directly to how expensive it would be. I am a budget traveler and like to make the most out of my money and time. When I saw the total price (flight & accommodation) for 3 days in Jamaica in April was close to the equivalent of my 2-week trips to Africa & Europe, my penny-pinching heart cringed. I know there are ways to go to Jamaica for cheaper, but your options are limited when a specific date and venue are already chosen. So naturally, given the amount of money I was spending, I made plans to do as much as possible during my stay!
Here are three ways to maximize a short stay in a resort:
1. Know What’s Included & Go in with a Plan
I’m not a sit on a beach/by the pool with a drink in my hand all day type of person. I’m more of an activity-based/get-out-in-the-town type of explorer. Luckily, resorts have activities to suit the needs of different travelers. Before you get to the resort, review everything you get “free”/ already paid for in your all-inclusive package. From there, note the top three experiences you want to have. During my stay at Beaches Ocho Rios, I received a daily circular listing the day’s events. They also offered tours of the resort grounds twice a day. Both were great resources for planning how I spent my time.
2. Reserve Activities in Advance
Some activities may require a reservation. This should be one of the first things you do at the resort to ensure you can get a spot during your short stay.
3. Know Activity Closing Times
I learn this the hard way! I wanted to go on the banana boat, and my mother wanted to go on the water slide. I incorrectly assumed that both activities would be open until sunset. I was wrong; both closed at 5 pm, our last day to do activities, and the opportunity was now forever lost. Ok, that was pretty dramatic, it’s not forever lost, we’ll get to do those activities some day! But learn from my mistake and know the activity closing times before you start planning.
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