Among other things we most enjoy our frequent visits to Jamaica, which is indeed our 2nd home.

As frequent travelers to Jamaica, and as owners of multiple properties in Ocho Rios, we can assist the novice or frequent traveler to this area based on extensive experiences.

We started going to Jamaica in 1972. Back then, the exchange rate was US$1.19 to J$1. Things have changed dramatically since then as the Jamaican inflation has wrecked havoc on the Jamaican economy. The current exchange rate as of this writing (Oct 2011) is approximately J$85 to US$1.

We first stayed (in 1972) in a villa with another couple in Mammee Bay on the North Coast. It only cost each couple US$585 which included airfare from Philadelphia, PA (USA) to Montego Bay. Also included was a Ford Cortina (*very* small, underpowered car), a cook, maid and gardener. Our villa was "CoCo Palms" in Mamee Bay which looks almost as nice today as it did in 1972.

We tried quite a few other islands and locations in the Caribbean after that trip, not really knowing which was the best in our younger years. After all, who really knows what is best until they've seen it all!

Over the next few years, we sampled the Bahamas twice (Nassau), Bermuda, Puerto Rico 3 times (San Juan where both my brother and sister currently have condos), Alcapulco, Mexico 3 times (all in the beautiful Princess Hotel), and The British Virgin Islands where we sailed on a catamaran for a week visiting each island. Nowhere did we find the charm and beauty of Ocho Rios, Jamaica! The people of the island or nation where we visit always play an important part in our stay as we are not the type to stay in a hotel.... We would rather get to know the people and culture in any place we visit. Only in Jamaica did we find the right blend of people and atmosphere that told us, "This is Home!".

Unfortunately our next few stays in Jamaica were less than comfortable. We stayed at the Hyatt in the latter 70's which would later change to be the Sheraton, then the Mallards Beach Hotel, and finally would become the Jamaica Grande in 1993 (which it is today). The country and its economics changed radically, and during the later 70's Jamaica leaned towards Communism and Fidel Castro's Cuba. We began to feel it to be quite dangerous to visit, and we decided not to be on the island for an extended period. We did not return to Jamaica until 1983 when things settled down and the government moved away (thankfully!) from Communism and returned back to a democratic society.

From that time until January, 1993 we exclusively vacationed in Jamaica and always stayed at the Sheraton, which was later the Mallards Beach Hotel, and is now the Jamaica Grande. It was at the Grande Opening of the Jamaica Grande in January 1993, where we were special invitees of the hotel for the special occasion, that we came upon a realization. We love the island and people of Jamaica to such an extent that we decided it MUST be where we spend the rest of our lives when we retire! And we certainly cannot expect to be able to afford to live in Jamaica if we were to stay in a hotel!

So, on that last trip to Jamaica Grande, we spent as much time as possible looking for a property which we could call 'home' in our retirement years 'down the road'. After looking at many properties on a vacation which turned into what felt like a business trip, we found Carib Ocho Rios..... And completely fell in LOVE!

Gaining many friends over the years, we asked a friend in the Ocho Rios real estate community to get in touch with the owner of a particular property at Carib Ocho Rios, and inform him that a deal can be made, but only if we have agreement before I left the island in a few days. The deal was subsequently struck after three tortureous meetings, and the last meeting was about 1 hour before my departure from the hotel and island. That was Apt. #306, and in May 1993 after settlement on the property, our 1st 'stake' was planted in Ocho Rios for our future.

In 1995, I discovered my next door neighbor was selling his property for a variety of reasons. Realizing the value of prime property on the North Coast with a view of the beautiful Caribbean Sea and RIGHT next door, I quickly entered into negotiations with the owner and shortly thereafter purchased our 2nd property, Apt. #307.

Carib Ocho Rios is a Strata Plan, much the same as a Condo Association in the U.S. Since 1993, I've served on the Executive Committee of the Strata Plan for 8 of those years, serving as its Chairman multiple times. I feel it's in the best interests of owners and their guests for Carib Ocho Rios to remain second to none on the North Coast. This is what I strive to achieve since there is no place on earth more beautiful to me than Carib Ocho Rios, and it should be allowed to remain that way, while being improved as needed without changing or infringing upon the natural beauty and environment of the 17 acres of property.

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Last revised: October 1, 2011