GET READY FOR WELLNESS ADVENTURES IN JAMAICA

When you think about a holiday to Jamaica, you’re thinking about sitting on a beach hearing to Bob Marley and eating jerk chicken perhaps. To be honest, that swishes astounding. But do you have any inkling how many breath-taking escapades are offered in Jamaica? 

From river rafting, ascending the waterfalls, ziplining over a crown of trees, hiking across the mountains or scuba diving in the Caribbean Sea, there is no dearth of life-changing activities in Jamaica.

Vacations in Jamaica offer the chance to go yonder the sandy beaches and outstanding scenery for thrilling adventures you will always reminisce. The terminus has a lot to offer to vacationers who pursue to accomplish better health and well-being on holidays! The Jamaican land instinctively lets you maintain your health during or as an outcome of their trip, which is why it is an impeccable destination for can’t-sit-still-on-a-beach lively voyagers! Envisage the escapade of an era. You feel hot blood pumping through the veins while your heartbeat matches the island drums. As you expect the indefinite, finally, you have gotten a blissful moment diverse with enthusiasm, fear, pride, and relief. Here’s a list of the top adrenaline pumping excursions in Jamaica to help lovers of nature and outdoor adventure plan their visit! 

Mountain Adventures let you look no more for a stimulating hike and a remarkable experience! If you would like to endeavour outside the treetops, cord up your sneakers and head for Blue Mountain Peak. Rejuvenate by raising your lungs with fresh air as you board on this mountain journey. The peak of Blue Mountain is the utmost in Jamaica and the sight is debatably one of the best you will ever witness!

Experience a bit more of a heart-pumping epinephrine rush on Treetop Adventures, wizard through trees on zip lines watching imposing views, such as YS Falls’, the majestic Martha Brae River, Dunn’s River Falls, and historic plantation houses or climb one of the several waterfalls.

Adventure Parks comes with plethora of turquoise waters, lush green lands, and profound caverns in all resort areas, conquering bumpy terrains with ATVs, soaring through the air on zip lines, and manoeuvring rushing waters are common adventure park activities. Popular picks Jamwest Speedway and Adventure Park, Yaaman Adventure Park, and Chukka Cove Adventure Park and Falls all offer these selections in addition to others that make each site an exclusive experience. Kool Runnings aka Jamaica’s major water park, bids go-kart sprinting and paintball activities as well. 

What shouts adventure like discovering the unknown of deep, dark caves? To experience the tales of Cave Adventures, discover the veiled secrets of Green Grotto Caves in Runaway Bay or discover the neighbouring caves of Roaring River in the core of a western town, or hike the craggy Cockpit Country where the Windsor Caves are found. Observe rock formations, feeble clicks of bats quivering high above, and glittery walls making spectral cavern ventures, more captivating.

At Dolphin Cove, intermingling with stingrays make this, a place where you come for the day but evoke for a lifetime! Get up familiar and intimate with incredible animals, swim with dolphins, loving the thrill and love of marine creatures in their biological environment. Remember to take along your wipe, sunscreen and be equipped to have fun! Encompassed are glass-bottom boat rides, kayaking, snorkelling with stingrays, watching Shark Shows and entrance to the beach!

 

 

TRAVELLING WITH A PARENT IN THE PANDEMIC ? HERE'S WHAT TO DO!

Covid-19 has transformed the scope of travel. Amid closed borders and cancelled flights, travel came to a near halt, but today boundaries are opening and international travel is not a vague dream anymore…. we travelled internationally as a family after nearly two years or probably more…. but it was smooth and easy, all thanks to proper planning in spite of travelling with a parent who needs a wheel chair as she can’t walk long distances.

READ THE FLIGHT RULES FOR YOUR DESTINATION

It really isn’t fun reading a drawn-out list of flight rules; but it’s even worse, reading them at the last moment. More so if you’re at the airport. I opted for the shortest route from Delhi to Male with IndiGo and also because I was travelling with my mother who needs a wheel chair at the airport and IndiGo never lets me down on that front. So, first things first, I read the travel rules for Male on the airline website, https://www.goindigo.in/which said that it is obligatory to enter the country only with a Covid Negative report from any ICMR https://www.icmr.gov.in/ listed lab not longer than 72 Hours prior to travel, post which the details are to be uploaded 24 hours in advance to the flight on https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/There is no isolation and it is one procedure less with visa on arrival. 

 

BOOK MEALS & SEATS WELL IN ADVANCE

It’s always a good idea to book in advance for the best fare and 

fast forward for priority in luggage as you really wouldn’t want to wait too long in a que; and most certainly the front row with XL seats on IndiGo. They do not cost too much and one is more relaxed with a preferred seat. We booked two window seats (to catch the landing views of the Island country) and two aisles and fortunately for us the flight wasn’t too full so no one sat on the middle seats in our row. We love the sandwiches which can only be prebooked, so I ensured to prebook meals for the four of us. 

 

MEDICINES & ESSENTIALS CHECK

Always carry regular off the counter medicines like crocin, disprin, Ornof etc, some band aid, sprays like Moov etc for emergency use apart from the regular prescribed medicines. We bought a whole set of disposable and N 95 masks and pocket-sized sanitizers to carry along for both our check in and hand carry luggage.Since we were travelling to the Maldives we packed our sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, hat, slippers and costumes. For my mom I carried light pyjamas and shirts so she could get the whole feel of being in the Maldives.

 

CABS FOR THE WHOLE PROCESS

We had booked two cabs for our pick-ups and drops both ways

since we are four with luggage and I must say that the JW Marriott drivers follow their covid protocols to the T, right from sanitizing the car after each passenger use to keeping a mask and sanitizer for the passengers for use in the car and there’s also a transparent barricade between the driver’s seat to ensure social distancing. 

 

BOOK A HOTEL NEAR THE AIRPORT FOR PRE & POST TRAVEL

Our IndiGo flight was at 9Am so we decided to take stay at the JW Marriott in Aerocity https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/delap-jw-marriott-hotel-new-delhi-aerocity/ the night before. We left home after finishing all pending work at 4PM and reached the hotel well in time for a relaxed evening. Immediately upon entering the JW Marriott, our bags are taken care of and we are whisked away to our rooms for check in, (I have already emailed the hotel our id’s) and the most delicious lotus biscoff cheesecake I have ever tasted waiting for us and now we begin to unwind as we leave the hustle and bustle of the capital on the other side. This is where the expedition truly begins. I booked my mother in for a Spa, so she could sleep well and be fresh for the flight the next morning. There was an amazing live band at their restaurant K3 so after an early dinner we called it a night. Our wakeup call at 5: 15 Am came with morning tea and toast and we reached the airport all excited and fresh for our Maldives trip. While alighting from the cab, my mother looked at me proudly and said, “good we did this, now we can check in aaraamse!”. I smiled as I knew she’d be happy that on the way back too, I had booked us two interconnecting rooms for the night as it’s always nice to come back from a journey to a cosy bed and hot dinner.

 

AT THE AIRPORT

The hotel’s staff was waiting for us to help us with our luggage and a wheel chair and assistance until we checked in. At the IndiGo counter, a sanitized wheel- chair awaited my mother. 

The protection apparatus has advanced to permit you into the airport. Previously a copy of the ticket and ID worked. Now, the safekeeping workforces sit behind a glass divider to maintain distance and also scan your boarding pass bar code for a validity check. This somewhat breaks the procedure but it’s for our own wellbeing There are several IndiGo personnel at the airport terminal, just that the new procedures make everything contactless.  Thanks to the fast forward pass, our bags were checked-in …in a jiffy and since we all have cards with access to the airport lounge, we had breakfast there until it was time to board. IndiGo  goes an extra mile for its wheel chair passengers and having a parent well taken care of makes you feel at ease too.

 

IN THE FLIGHT

We all get a kit that encompasses a mask, a face shield and travel-size sanitary packs to safeguard the flight experience. Wearing masks is obligatory through the whole span of the flight outside any eating or drinking. I have pre-booked the food so there is no exchange of cash (another less contact). The crew is extremely efficient and kept checking in on my mother if she was ok. When we land, we literally scream, “Touchdown” with pure bliss athwart our expressions!  

 

AT LANDING AND CONNECTIONS

Once again IndiGo staff didn’t let me down, thanks to mom’s wheel chair we got precedence with immigration. Luggage was out in a jiffy as we had booked it in priority. They handed us over to our hotel’s airport staff before finally bidding us adieu. We had booked a family beach villa with two- bedrooms at the Hideaway Beach Resort https://www.hideawaybeachmaldives.com/maldives with the white platinum plan which entitled us to lounge use and butler service. The journey was smooth and we booked a domestic flight transfer instead of a Seaplane as it’s more convenient when you are travelling with a parent.

 

CHOOSE ACCOMODATIN WISELY

Selecting a resort was moderately easy. The vital measures for me were sanitation and maintenance, impeccable service and of course, a beach villa with two bedrooms!  Liberally spaced, this alluring tropical bliss, 575 sqm in size, is an indulgence villa which is cheerful with a glowing Californian vibe – whitewashed woods and coral stone stimulated interiors giving a pastoral Robinson Crusoe panache experience, seamless to feel one with nature. Retreat is significant, we were treated to a gigantic patio with seaside access. We equally enjoyed fluttering in our private swimming pool large enough for the entire family…. the perfect Hideaway. Owing to Covid Hideaway Beach Resort offers us an amended experience, but one still wrapped in a warm welcome, even if the smiles are hidden by masks. We felt protected, if sporadically dreamlike, but it does not take too long to get used to merge this ‘new normal’ into holiday routines.

 

EXCURSIONS

Travelling with a parent would mean to create memories with them and not let them feel left out, so the best way is to strike a balance with sightseeing and activities, make them a part of some and keep them busy if you are doing something else.

We had booked a Sand bank picnic but the sea was choppy on that day and it would have been difficult to take mom along so the hotel swapped it for a private beach villa picnic which actually turned out to be even better as the food was piping hot and the drinks chilled. 

Since my mother can’t swim or snorkel, we booked a Dip and Dine evening where the table is placed in a swimming pool and you can dip your feet and enjoy the meal and the breath-taking ocean views …. best way to get a feel of being in the Maldives.

We couldn’t take mom along for the Sunset & Dolphin Cruises but she was happy to be in the Villa by herself as we set up a movie and high tea for her while we were gone.

 

RETURN LEG

We get our PCR tests done for our return voyage too and fill in the Air Suvidha self-declaration forms https://www.newdelhiairport.in/  which is mandatory along with uploading a Covid negative report. I am more self-assured than ever as IndiGo  safeguards the essential safety defences at every touchpoint through the voyage, from the luggage drop counter all the way till it’s claimed and made the whole travel experience contactless and hassle-free. Life can’t get any better than this, more so during a world-wide pandemic. 

 

My story first published in 

 American Bazaar

 

FIRST DOMESTIC FLIGHT IN THE PANDEMIC ON A FAMILY VACATION WITH INDIGO

 

Inspite of 2020 playing havoc in everyone’s lives. I still want to hug the time we have and make reminiscences that last forever. By being brave as a family, acclimatising to amend and endure to succeed in situational stress, overcome hurdles and accomplish great things for the several escapades that lie ahead.

Flying down to discover an Indian city to ring in the New Year is a ritual, being a family who loves to travel. This time round after several days of research and ponder I decide to plan this vacation post the New Year celebration chaos is over and I am not even going to lie — if there’s one thing that I like about the pandemic, it’s having my own space with flights.First things first, I zero in on Udaipur as it’s a short haul flight, hoping to minimize time at the airports and contact with other travellers. I chose IndiGo based on my previous experiences with them handling my mother who’s a wheel chair passenger. It is natural for anyone to be nervous about travelling during the Pandemic, but my mother is glad to be flying with IndiGo as I ensure her that all safety precautions are in place. Coming from a family of doctors, some even forefront soldiers during the pandemic, along with her will-power, made it easy for me to convince her to join us in this voyage. I Web Check in a day before, select seats of my choice, fill health insurance forms, print baggage tags, in order to remain as contactless as possible.

Getting to The Airport

We are not confident to take a public cab and the park and fly option doesn’t work for us as we fly in from Terminal 2 and arrive at Terminal 3 on our way back….so I have booked a cab from Andaz Hotel Aerocity…believe me it is the best decision. The driver is bang on time and the car is well sanitised. In my opinion, the best thing to do when flying is being fully prepared. We are all wearing our masks from i-protect and carrying our individual sanitizers, sanitizing wipes and sprays (I use Svish as it is non-gassy unlike the rest). Andaz goes the extra mile and co-ordinates the wheel chair for my mother with IndiGo, right at the entry.

At the Airport

We made sure to arrive an hour and a half before our scheduled departure since, so that we could comply with the new airport safety measures and the new normal. My mother’s wheel chair is well sanitised in front of us, we drop our bags at the counter and the best part is everything is contactless.I am extremely impressed with IndiGo not only is it inexpensive but is dependable and proficient too; the staff ensure lines flowed safely, efficiently and effectively. As we make our way to the boarding gate, we straightaway notice the inflow in hand sanitizer places near all touch points. You’d be surprised at what can find to touch during a brief walk through the airport, so this is one safety measure I am truly happy to see implemented and would be even better-off to see stay.

In The flight

Everyone is given a kit that comprises a mask, shield wearing and travel-size sanitary packs to ensure their flight experience is safe and comfortable. Wearing masks and face shield is compulsory during the complete length of the journey outside any eating or drinking. Food- wise, I have booked from the food options online in advance. The Chicken Junglee Sandwich is a family favourite. The flight attendants are friendly and helpful, checking in on my mother if she was ok. All this really helps ease any anxiety we were experiencing and our one hour flight is extremely pleasant. When we land, we literally yell, “Touchdown” with pure happiness across our faces! 

Where we stay

Situated by the tranquil Lake Pichola and bordered by the visions of the Aravalli mountain range, Leela Palace Udaipur is a modern-day palace hotel which brings the magnificence and extravagance of the Land of the Mewar. All 80 guest rooms and suites relish picturesque views of the lake, heritage city and mountains. Our indulgent holiday here is quite breath-taking, along with spotless butler services and gorgeous dining options.  The Leela Suraksha Program in conglomerate with Bureau Veritas India, shapes on The Leela’s current rigorous cleaning procedures and is intended at inspiring sanitisation, cleanliness and wellbeing measures to supply a safe atmosphere for everyone that works or visits. I am glad we to stay at Leela Palace (also the winner of Travel + Leisure USA’s World’s Best Hotel Award)! All in all with so many effective safety measures in place, I am at peace with our decision to fly with IndiGo as a family and begin the New year with more hope to fly!

First published in Travel And Leisure

https://www.travelandleisureindia.in/people-and-personalities-in-the-know/family-vacation-during-the-pandemic/