I'm curious...

[Lola]

... as opportunities arrived I took them.

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!

Around 2004 when I knew I wanted to go to Jamaica more often and I didn't know HOW to make that happen, I declared that I was going to TRAVEL more often, because I knew if I was open to traveling more often, that would naturally HAVE to bring me to Jamaica more.

Whereas I used to decline opportunities, I started taking them, mostly through work, some personal. Even if it was a reason to drive somewhere in my state, I went. The following year I went to England for business. One year I ended up in Los Angeles 3 times for trade shows and software training and I had never been to California before. I finagled a 'business' trip to China through our local chamber of commerce. And yes, I did get to Jamaica more frequently! For me, money was an issue but time was a more significant issue, as I could not seem to allow myself to be away from work for as long as 3 weeks.

In 2009 I really hit a wall in my life, and I declared that I was getting out of here for part of the winter (it took the prodding of a good friend to break my resistances). At first I thought it would be for a month (breaking the 3-week barrier, lol) and soon into my planning I realized that was not enough - by departure time I was booked for THREE months! My doing that kind of 'forced' or maybe released some changes at work, giving other people the opportunity to grow in their skills which in turn took some of the load off of me. I realized my body had a problem with cold weather and that's why I was so miserable after summer passed each year; and I felt and took care of myself so much better in JA. I came back to the US for 7 weeks and went back to Jamaica for another 2 months, and it just kept getting easier and more possible to do. Last year I went to JA for 6 months straight. This year things have been falling into place in even more amazing ways.

These experiences have shown me, its all about ENERGY and INTENTION which have no limits; not so much money or time, which we have a tendency to perceive as being limitED.

It was the folks on the various message boards that were taking long and/or frequent trips to Jamaica, that inspired me to find a way too. Everybody had a different story, it wasn't just that they all had a ton of money. If they could find a way, I wanted to find one too.

[brasi]

I'm a single dad, and the "one" thing I absolutely selfishly do (without regret) for myself is Negril (Jamaica). I'm lucky enough to have a job where getting time off is fairly easy with advanced planning, but having LOTS of time saved up has been hard since my divorce/having full custody five years ago. Kids' doctors, sports games, etc etc eat up a lot of time.

Then there is the cost...which I think most boardie regulars know is a VERY hard number to pin down. You can get a great 9-day vacation some years for $1000, AI....it all depends on what you want...but for me, AI is mwah. I want to be free to roam and when I've gone AI, I ended hovering around the food trough. LOL I've found I can spend less, and eat better, with more variety on my own. Eating patties for lunch a few times is a HUGE savings. A hotel with free continental breakfast is what I love...saves $10 a day, or three GREAT dinners on a ten day trip. Neither of the options is suffering!

For my next trip (January) I have done things decidedly different. It's going to cost more in some ways and less in others. By flying out of an airport in the NY City area, I saved a few hundred bucks. But that adds a three hour commute on each end. I also booked my own hotel (and got a deal, but took the savings and added two days, LOL). So I am staying for my longest reach, 11 days...no doubt splurging a bit versus the past...you only live once.

In the past, I've done my booking using the 'one click' Travelocity air/hotel packages. Longest stay was 10 days.

To me, 9-10 days is the minimum now...I don't seem to relax, and enjoy everything, until Day 3...I have been for as few as 6 days but felt like it was all travel and getting settled. So...after I book my flight I get stingy with taking time off. (:

From now on, I hope to always KNOW when my next trip is, by booking a flight very soon after I come back. The planning is a huge part of the fun.

In January, I am splitting my stay 5 cliffs/6 beach. Absolutely excited! Trip 6.

Beachgirl! Soon come!

[Rumrunner]

I would love to go more than once a year but we have a house and huge garden that needs tending during the summer months. And then there are our two daughters who've decided to move to opposite sides of the Midwest. Our oldest lives in Virginia, close to Washington DC and our youngest lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. We have 3 grandchildren so we try to see them all at least once a year. This year we decided to stay home for Christmas because traveling in the past has been nothing short of a nightmare. Cancelled flights, lost luggage, stuck on the interstate in a blizzard, you name it. (If the kids want to come here they are more than welcome ) And then there is my family in Germany. The next visit there is planned for the fall of 2012.

My husband retired at the end of last May and we honestly didn't know how things would be on a fixed income. But we are doing quite well and booked 14 days at Seastar for March 2012. Last week we sat around talking about the next trip and said: what were we thinking? We are retired and don't have to come back after 14 days. So I contacted Christ to find out if we could extend our trip and he said our room was available until the end of March. So now we're staying for 18 days and I could not be happier.

[ohliz]

I'm a single mom too and I work for myself. So work doesn't hold me back at all - I can do it in Jamaica, in fact, and i have a couple of times. But my kids have a lot going on and I'm the only one who can help them with a lot of it.

But both are in high school now so in just 3-4 years (gack) they'll be off in college and I'll be free to travel more.

I have mixed feelings about that

[beachgirl66]

Beachgirl! Soon come!

Yeaaahhhhhh... can't wait Brasi!

[gerryg123]

Brasi, I am right with you, a divorced dad who saves and scrimps for Negril -- twice a year, if I can pull it off. I figure I've been to Jamaica for a total of about four to six months through the years at a an average clip of seven days per reach -- best times I've ever had!

[beachgirl66]

best times I've ever had!

That's what its all about... a little self care goes along way. I can't wait for us all to be down there and performing a whole lot of self care!!!! Sooooooon

[rastagirl777]

Different strokes for different folks - I've only gone to Jamaica and stayed less than 2 weeks twice. My minimum amount of time because I'm travelling from California was always 3 weeks. As time went on and my life allowed I started staying first for a month, then 6 weeks and now we stay for 3 months. Since my work is somewhat seasonal the time span when I go is exactly when I CAN go and rather than travel 3 or 4 times for short periods during that three month span I prefer to just stay. I have a great situation with a house rental, I'm a part of a community there...so now its really just about going "home" for the winter.

For me multiple trips are not only spendy but the travel time would kill me - 12 hours door to door 3 or 4 times in 3 or 4 months? Thanks, no. I spend enough time on airplanes and in airports throughout the year!

[Orchid]

I go twice a year so that I can get my fix every six months, simple as that. Every time I return, I say to myself "OK, wait a year now, save some money on airfare, save your vacation time to use all at once, save more money to spend", but then a couple of months go by and the itch begins....gotta scratch it!

[Craig123]

[QUOTE=We fly out of Chicago and the most we ever paid was $435.00. This time around we're looking at almost $600 pp. That's quite a jump, don't you agree? I'm watching the fares very closely and know that the airlines don't discount tickets until approx. 6 weeks prior departure. Even if the prices don't drop we'll go. The Midwest Winters are too long and harsh.[/QUOTE]

I could only wish it was $600 pp. Flying direct from Saskatoon, SK Canada, which is the only way I'll fly, costs $1,150 pp. For that reason it's 14 days or stay home.