Jamaica

Finding Wellness Travel in All the Exotic Places

Published June 6, 2016 | By Clark Norton

Laos’ Pak Ou Caves are a site for Mekong River-based meditation. Photo from Travel Laos.

In recognition of Global Wellness Day — June 11 this year — I thought it would be apropos to mention a few of the more unusual ways to promote health while traveling. As a baby boomer, I’m prone to the usual stiff joints and other nagging ailments, and love the idea of medical tourism, even if it’s mostly an excuse to go somewhere exotic.

Water-based Meditation.

While I don’t practice meditation, I have a few good friends who do, and they always seem focused and calm. Does meditation have this effect, or are naturally calm and focused people drawn to meditation?

I don’t know, but I do know I could use a little more calmness and focus in my life, and I love being on water, so maybe I’ll try:

The Mekong Spa at Belmond… Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Baby boomer travel, California, cultural travel, health, Luxury travel, Medical tourism, Wellness travel | Tagged andBeyond Vamizii, Calistoga, Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France, Connaught Hotel, Costa Rica, GoldenEye, Jamaica, Laos, London, Luang Prabang, luxury spas, Meditation, Mekong Spa at Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao, Mozambique, Napa Valley, Nayara Springs, Silverado Trail, Solage Calistoga, Spas, St. Bart's, wellness travel, yoga retreats | 2 Comments

A Pirates’ Tour of Jamaica

Published June 18, 2015 | By Clark Norton

Negril, Jamaica — former pirates’ lair. Photo by Shannon Kaiser, on Flickr.

Second in a Series:

Long before it was the land of reggae, Jamaica was pirate central, and Port Royal was its capital.

Edward Teach (Blackbeard), Calico Jack and Henry Morgan all liked to prowl the brothels and taverns here when they weren’t out scourging the high seas.

Dubbed “the wickedest city in the world” before being swallowed up by an earthquake in 1692 — much of the old town lies beneath the water now — Port Royal today is a small, pleasant fishing village a few miles from Kingston on Jamaica’s southeastern shores. But enough remains that you can still relive the days of its vile past, when some of the most infamous characters of the age stalked its streets.

When the English captured Jamaica from Spain in 1655, the new colony’s governor invited the Caribbean pirates of… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, Caribbean, Countries, cultural travel | Tagged Blackbeard, Calico Jack Rackham, Henry Morgan, Jamaica, Kingston, Negril Bay, Pirates, Port Royal | Leave a comment

According to government and private surveys:

Leading-edge baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1955) and seniors account for four out of every five dollars spent on luxury travel today.
Roughly half the consumer spending money in the U.S.--more than $2 trillion--is in the hands of leading-edge baby boomers and seniors.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) travel more than any other age group.
When asked what they would most like to spend their money on, baby boomers answered “travel” more than any other category, including improving their health or finances.