October Trip Report Catcha and Swept Away
The Background;
Our long awaited trip back to Jamaice started almost 15 months ago. A group of 3 couples decided to take a trip to celebrate life, marraige milestones and just each other. We are a very close group that don't hold anything back, say whats on our minds and have no secrets. We joke that in many states we could be considered to be married to at least one other wife (and no we aren't swingers), we're just really close friends. I being the planner was tasked to find 3 different vacation spots with great accomondations. I spent close to 4 weeks gathering data on different types of resorts/locations and types of excursions. They ranged from Isla Mujeres (an AI), to Los Cabos (an AI), to a friends enormeous 16,000 sq ft home in Dominican Republic (with a cook, maid, driver) and finally Jamaica. I put together a powerpoint with pictures (threw in the occasional hot model on the beach to get the guys vote for Jamaica), prices and some of my personal experiences. (A little back ground on me, I grew up in Puerto Rico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, spent lots of time in the US & British Virgin Islands so I'm not a stranger to the Island lifestyle that i have come to love) Deep down inside I wanted to go back to Jamaica, to me the trip 15 years ago was one of the best vacations I had ever been on in my life and I had never seen my wife so relaxed and at ease. We had stayed at the old Grand Lido when it was nice, had a big suite just above the C/O pool/beach. I didn't tell the wife that this is where I reserved, and the first day all I heard was OMG, look at all those penises!!! After that first day shock she loved the idea of the C/O area and we made our way back there every afternoon, me C/O and her topless. We got our JA groove on right away and just reconnected as a couple after having 2 young kids around the house and no alone time!
I have to admit I slanted the majority of the PowerPoint to Jamaica and made the trip look really good in order to jet the group to "vote" with me. I had already convinced the wife that this is where she needed to vote. She was excited but warned me not to pressure the group, it was a majority decision (hense the hot model pictures on the jamaica slides, and maybe a topless photo of my wife on the beach 15 years ago!LOL). The night finally came for my presentation, I took the projector home from the office, stopped and bought Red Stripe, made mojitos with Appleton Rum and found a place that made patties, but this was to be an objective presentation. After an hour of festivities I fired up the projector and went into my presentation on Jamaica, no I mean vacation. Mexico (both Isla Mujeres & Los Cabos) were voted out because we tend to go there alot being from AZ, now it was down to the DR and JA. While showing the large house in DR I made mention that the kitchen was great and the ladies would love to cook in it because we might not want someone in the house all the time, even though I would be the one to cook most of the meals. This comment went over like a joke at a funeral and immediately the thought of working during the vacation shut this location down. Finally we all agreed that Jamaica would be the best place to go. I was so excited on the inside, becaue I couldn't show it, I think I got wood!
The other two couples had never been to an all inclusive and decided that this is the way they wanted to go. Now there was no objection from my wife and I only because we know that a bar bill for the two of us over the course of two weeks could cost more than the room. Both appreciate top shelf liquor and neither are beer drinkers. From this point I immediately thought of Couples because of a friend who had stayed there a number of years ago. Quickly we determined that Swept Away on Long Bay was the better location for us. From here we decided the dates would be in October and the length (us 12 days the others 8 days) of the stay. Next I was asked to find the best pricing so i submitted a request for quote to at least 4 different wholesalers, to an Airline and to Couples directly. We found a great price from a guy out of Atlanta for under $320.00/day per couple (reinforced the idea for AI with top shelf liquor being calculated in my mind! LOL). We set the dates, made the reservations and proceeded to get fired up. Immediately I tried to think of a way to stretch our trip out longer, my job has been hell for a few years and I have a Partner who is an A**HOLE that thinks it's great not to pay me and use the money for his personal travels. I lobbied the wife a few times about the extension, she is a self employed Yoga teacher and was worried about her clients and the time away, finally we were able to agree on stretching it for 2 more days. I called our travel agent, he was only able to add a single day to CSA and recommended that we stay in Montego Bay for a night. I added the extra day and told him I would handle the first night myself, thats when I found Catch Falling Star!
The trip is up next!
