Travel

Runaway Bay is up there with Negril as far as pretty beaches

All week long, contributorLinda Marsicano will be reporting from Jamaica. Got a question about traveling to Jamaica or what to do when you're there? Put it in comments below and we'll answer it for you!

Two trips to Jamaica does not make us experts by any means but we have picked up a few tips that might help first-time visitors. Based on our experiences, here are some lessons learned (some of which we learned the hard way).

DO go off the resort. Jamaica is full of all-inclusives and while it's easy to sit back snd drink the day away at the beach or pool, don't miss out on what's outside of the cushy resorts. One of our favorites so far was our lunch at Leon's Lobster Hut . That said, do be careful. Yes, go off the resort but it's a good idea to ask shuttle drivers or resort staff before you wander off not knowing where you might be heading.

While our visit to Leon's was a blast, we had a less pleasant experience when we tried to visit another local establishment later in our trip. There was a much more aggressive tone in trying to sell us drugs (among other things) that was a bit uncomfortable. And, hey, it was broad daylight and we had kids in tow.

When we recounted the experience to a local at the resort, they said they would have warned us not to frequent that particular establishment (and told us a better option for some local fare which we plan to explore tomorrow).

All week long, contributorLinda Marsicano will be reporting from Jamaica. Got a question about traveling to Jamaica or what to do when you're there? Put it in comments below and we'll answer it for you!

This year I won and we spent Easter in Jamaica – and as it turns out celebrating a holiday away isn’t all that different from home, although it’s warmer, more fun and it features a strange but tasty delicacy called bun and cheese.