Spending the Yuletide season in a hotel is a growing trend among many Jamaicans. These include returned residents who want to eliminate the hassle of cooking and lavish preparations. Some even make it a vacation and extend the stay well into the New Year. Jamaicans who reside in countries like England, also use the opportunity to escape the winter temperatures and opt for a Caribbean cruise.

This is what Olive Willis and dozens of members of her church and community seniors' club in London, England, will be doing in another few weeks. They will tour several islands over a two-week period.

One high-profile corporate executive, who requested anonymity, told Lifestyle that he worked so hard all year, he just wants some peace and quiet and a chance to catch up on his reading. He will get a chance to enjoy his entire family who will be with him for a wedding come mid-January.

With the fall in expected arrivals for the winter tourist season, some of the local properties are using the holidays as an opportunity to offer discounted rates to locals. Why not lock up the kitchens and head off to your favourite spot this Christmas?

SuperClubs

SuperClubs Grand Lido Braco near Rio Bueno in Trelawny - file

Popular all-inclusive chain SuperClubs published a range of specials for the season (See The Sunday Gleaner, November 30). The special began on November 10 and ends on December 26. Seven properties across the island are offering double occupancy rates from as low as US$44.50 (J$3,426.50).

Rooms on the Beach Ocho Rios is a bed and breakfast resort (continental breakfast is included in the package)

Reservations are going well for Christmas; we still have 30 rooms available under the categories Junior Suites and Ocean View Balcony rooms. The rooms are comfortably equipped with all the modern conveniences such as room service, cable television Internet access, coffee making machine.

Come and enjoy Christmas Jamaica style at Island Breeze Restaurant where there will be a scrumptious Christmas feast with all the traditional Jamaican favourites that include: turkey and ham, gungo rice and peas, sorrel and Christmas puddings. Enjoy Christmas dinner with live entertainment.

These rates are for Jamaicans only and conditions apply so contact them at: 1-888-Go-Super or 684-8090.

Sandals

Sandals Dunn's River - file

Equally popular resort chain Sandals' best offer is at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios. It currently has a 50 per cent sale and guests you must stay a minimum of three nights and it is also blacked out for December 27-31. So at the moment three nights cost US$240 (J$18,480) per person per night and that is in a one-bedroom villa suite with semi-private pool. This includes concierge service and the works. Sandals resorts in the Ocho Rios area are usually popular with locals. (Call: 974-5691-6)

Franklyn D Resorts' (FDR) Pebbles hotel in Trelawny is also offering special discounted rates for the Christmas season. For details call (973-4591-5).

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com

10 reasons to go to a hotel for Christmas

1. You do not have any cooking and lavish all-day dinner preparation to do.

2. You do not have to worry about any cleaning up of the kitchen and washing of all those special-occasion dishes after dinner.

3. There are no obligatory after-dinner drives to visit friends and relatives so you save on gas.

4. If you are single, you are in relative peace and quiet and can do absolutely nothing if you so desire.

5. If you make it the family's Christmas gift, there will be nothing else to shop for or gift-wrap.

6. If you recently married someone your parents dislike and you are not comfortable taking him/her home for the holidays, this is the perfect alternative.

7. If you are going through your first Christmas after divorce and your spouse has the child(ren), a hotel is a great neutral environment to be in.

8. You have at least three days of not having to make up beds or tidy the house.

9. Since you will not have any cooking to do, there will be no reason to go shopping for all that extra food.

10. If you are a single father and it's your turn to have your child(ren), it's a great time and place to bond.