Montego Bay, Jamaica
December – January 2011

Tryall's infamous Gazebo and delicious beach club with the driving range behind
This winter marked my 20th time to the Tryall Club, a Beach and Golf resort just outside of Montego Bay in Jamaica. My count may even be under two or three times, but since I am fortunate enough to have celebrated almost every birthday there since my thirteenth, in addition to extraneous trips for celebratory events, I know I’m not that far off. (Lordy, I believe I just advertised my age, online)
Anyway…this time was special regardless of its number simply because it was the FIRST time my son, Winslow visited. What has long become an annual fixture vacation for my family, Tryall has now seen its third generation of my family, making its mark utterly indelible. It was also pure delight to see firsthand what a real family spot Tryall truly is. Clearly, having spent years growing up there myself, I can ascertain how welcoming the resort is to families of all ages, but now, as a new mom, I am thoroughly convinced that this is a spot I want to share with my own family and continue the tradition for as long as possible.
Comprised of 84 villas set around 2200 acres of luscious Jamaican hills, a manicured 18-hole championship golf course, a full tennis performer5 coupon code facility and gym, an 18th-century clubhouse complete with daily tea service and a mile and a half of sparkling waterfront, Tryall Club surpasses other family-friendly resorts with its scenery, level of hospitality (the Jamaican way), level of amenities, cuisine (Jerk, anyone?) and overall feel. I am lucky to have been introduced to Tryall by my family and even luckier to still be invited to go along. Although I write about places like this for a career, I feel that having had Tryall as a consistent benchmark for the family vacation, my sensibilities and critical eye are that much sharper towards the competition. For more personal and in-depth details on Tryall, please check out a copy of my Caribbean Hideaways book. The intro reads like an homage (as does the above, in fact) while the description of a particular villa gives an insider perspective into villa life at Tryall.

Tryall's Great House, nobly positioned at the top of the hill
Over Christmas week, Richard and the folks at Tryall were kind enough to host a booksigning of Caribbean Hideaways. I am happy to say we sold out of the inventory and I hope those that purchased the book are happy with their own totem to this very special spot in the Caribbean.

My books on display at the greathouse
