testimonials

How a gift changed my life…and started me on a journey as a Volunteer Adventurer!

maureen_small My name is Maureen and here’s my true story of how someone gave me a gift that changed my life.

At the age of twelve, I lived with my three brothers and mother, a single parent. My mother was a housekeeper/cook who worked in a Villa in the hills of the resort town San-San, Jamaica. As my mother was poor and could not afford supervision for me during her work hours, she would hide me after school each day in the staff quarters at her place of work. Unknown to my mother, I would wander on the beach and talk to the guests about Jamaica.

It was on one of those days when I was wandering on the beach that I met a couple from Windsor, Canada who was so impressed with the love for my country that they found my mother and offered to be my sponsor.

My education was covered from high school straight through to college and my life has never been the same again. Without realizing it at the time, it was this seed that has blossomed into my newest company, Jamaica Adventure Secrets.

Maureen Wright-Evans

CEO, Smokey Manor Guest House

Eric's Review

Volunteering in Jamaica

The most rewarding part of my trip to Jamaica was the opportunity I had to work with a faith based non-profit organization, Mustard Seed Communities. Mustard Seed is working to see that every mentally and physically handicapped individual in Jamaica receives the care that they need and deserve.

Having a friend like Maureen and Jamaica Adventure Secrets were very helpful. Contacting them before your travel will greatly increase the opportunities open to you. To have someone on the ground working for you before you even arrive is a priceless advantage.

We were treated like family members, and were always greeted with a warm smile when we came back from our volunteer work each day. I would quickly recommend the packages and accommodations available through Jamaica Adventure Secrets

Eric
Penn State University
Pennsylvania

Bill's Review

Delivered as ‘Advertised’…

Having just returned from Jamaica, I have been reminiscing on our trip. I must say, it delivered as ‘Advertised’…

Nine members of the group had the time of their lives also! Between the hard work of Community Service at Area Schools and the great fun at resorts like… Dunn’s River Falls, our experience was meaningful and balanced.

The efforts of you and your family truly made this trip for us and your unending enthusiasm for your country gave us a love for Jamaica we hadn’t had before.

The professionalism and hard work created a seamless and enjoyable experience… your magnificent gift of hospitality made us feel at home from the moment we arrived to the day, regrettably, we had to leave.

If you want to Experience Jamaica…. its Culture
And it’s People….. This is it!!! This is it!!!

Bill Ferguson
Chaplain Landmark School

Rosie's Review

You exude positive energy in a world where most people appear dull and lifeless.

I just want to say THANK YOU for the hospitality you showed to me while I was in Jamaica. I was so happy that I allowed myself the time and privilege to come to your beautiful Smokey Manor, do the Blue Mountain tour, and interview you at beautiful Devon House.

You are remarkable. Your husband, Audley, is a treasure and Marlon is the next rising star! Louise is the greatest housekeeper one could have and it is obvious that she is a part of the family from the way you speak about her with that twinkle in your eye!

Maureen, you exude positive energy in a world where most people appear dull and lifeless.

I am so happy that you have a product that we all need - locals, persons of Jamaican heritage living abroad, and tourists. I will do my best to expose my network to Jamaica Adventure Secrets, you, and your team!

Keep up the good work and do not change for anything.

Lots of love and longing to come back to Jamaica even though I just left yesterday:

Rosie "Peppy" Parke
Maryland

Spud's Review

Festival: Jamaica’s Best Kept Secret

My most memorable experience was the night when I visited Hellshire Beach just outside of Kingston.

We got to the beach around 9pm and could tell that the nightly dance party we had heard about hadn’t quite yet started. We walked into one of the many one-roomed restaurants lining the water and picked out our fish from a cooler on the ground. We then proceeded outside where we stood on the beach in the midst of all the locals, admiring the large stack of speakers standing beside us which would soon become a critical component of the party later that night.

A few minutes later our fish was ready and we sat down at a table with our food in front of us. Our food included the fish we had recently chosen and a festival. Now for those of you unfamiliar, a festival is much like a funnel cake but disguised in the shape of a hot dog, and it is probably one of the best things I’ve ever had.

After biting into the festival, my initial response to my Jamaican friends was: “out of all the things that Jamaica has to offer, this is by far the best …".

Spud Marshall
Penn State University
Pennsylvania

Nadja's Review

Each morning we woke up thinking of the Cornmeal Porridge, Festival, and the Ackee and Saltfish.

We were reminiscing on our most recent and exciting trip to Jamaica and have come the conclusion that we couldn't have done it without you and your family.

Each morning we woke up thinking of the cornmeal porridge, festival, and the Ackee and Saltfish. We remember the country walk. It was a lot of exercise, but we enjoyed our tour of the hills in Jamaica.

Another person that made our stay even more wonderful than it already was Marlon. Also his friends, Jemoi, Javere, and Lennox. They were great hosts and friends that we will all cherish forever.

Louise, the house keeper, was a big help and we thank her with much gratitude.

Last but not least, we would like to thank Mr. Evans for his engagement in the affairs of our trip. We look forward to next summer when we will know more about Jamaica and the people who live in it. We can't wait to go back to our respective schools and teach our peers what Jamaica has to offer.

Thank you again,

Nadja Shaw
The Brooks School
Class of 2008

Daniel's Review

Thank You for showing me the other side of Jamaica

I have been to Jamaica several times in the past years and have never really had this experience.

Thank you for opening your beautiful Guest House to me. I would really describe it as ‘my home away from home’. I feel as if I have not only found my Jamaican home but also a whole new family.

My most enjoyable memories are of sampling mouth watering Jamaican ‘Jerk Chicken’ and driving up the 30,000ft Blue Mountain

If you are a ‘Leader/ Traveler’ trying to getaway from the tourist oriented market and want a real cultural experience then this is the place for you.

Thank you again; I could never repay you for giving me the opportunity of seeing the ‘Hidden Jamaica’.

Daniel Hurd
www.slamem.com

Don's Review

You have a wonderful product that needs to be advertised

Coming to Jamaica and exploring the island is one of the most enjoyable and exhilarating experiences I have had in a long time.

Having lived away from Jamaica for over twenty years, I have never really seen the island as a tourist but through your tours I got a chance to discover Port Antonio, one of Jamaica’s most enchanting destinations.

If I were to select one highlight of the tours, I would say, a visit to Summerset Falls is a ‘must do’. It was so magical going on the boat and going through the under water cave.

As a Travel Agent, I would recommend that if you have an adventurous spirit and would like to experience the thrill of knowing Jamaica, its history, beauty and people, meet the Jamaica Adventure Secrets team who knows the ‘unique’ Jamaica.

Don Mcnaughton
Island Jewel Travel Vacation
Orlando Florida

Atiya's Review

Hellshire Beach: Where The Locals Go

Flying to Jamaica, just after the end of the college semester was very
therapeutic for me.

The wonderful climate and lush vegetation made me relax and get
some much needed rest

One of the most memorable parts of my trip, however, was going to the
Hellshire Beach.

It was fun seeing many families and other local people just laughing and
having a good time on the beach.

Eating ‘Fish & Bammy' (bammy made from cassava) was very special
I can’t think of anywhere else in the world you could go and have Fish
& Bammy on the beach.

Thank you Jamaica for moments like these!

Atiya Dixon
Temple University
Pennsylvania

Mary's Review

The Breath Taking Scenery and Water Was Enough For Me

Breath taking and rejuvenating are the words to describe my trip to Portland.

The highlights of my tour were going to Somerset Falls and Frenchman’s Cove Beach.

Going to the beach was the most memorable part of my trip. Just being in the water and having the wonderful weather was enough for me.

Mary Mercy
Washington D C

Jason's Review

Visit Bob Marley’s Former Home And Feel His Spirit...

Bob Marley often visited my school Jamaica College to play Football…

Visiting his Museum brought back a flood of the memories of
those early years…

I thought I knew so much about him but there is so much more… There is a vast reservoir of his life and work to study… Newspaper clipping, awards and other memorabilia.

The most amazing part of being there was seeing the bullet hole on the wall when he was shot at.

If you want to feel the spirit of this legend and understand better his life and work, then you should not leave Jamaica without visiting his former home.

Dr. Jason Scottie Hamilton
Clinical Psychologist
Professor
Florida International University

Patience's Review

I Can’t Wait To Come Back Again Next Year!

Patience_small I would like to express my deepest appreciation to you all for such a great time in Jamaica...

I felt like you were family to me… never strangers. It was a blessing being there.

You made my stay more than comfortable; you made it more like ‘Home away from Home’… I felt like I have always known you and your family.

Working at the SOS Children’s Village was a Life Changing Experience. Seeing the children waiting for me each morning and singing the songs I taught them made me realize how the simple things I did made such a tremendous impact on these lives.

My life will never be the same again….

From the bottom of my heart… ‘Thank You’ for a Great Life Experience…

Patience Amayau
Yonkers New York

Ann-Marie's Review

Coming Home… And Finding Something I Missed

As I walked into the grounds of the Ranny Williams Centre, there was a buzz of excitement and activity.

Suddenly, I had the feeling of 'Coming Home'… finding something I had missed for a very long time. Yes! The Jamaican Culture was everywhere and it felt different.

As my family and I walked through the booths, we saw unique Jamaican craft items. These were professionally done and unlike the mass production that I had grown accustomed to seeing from China

The most memorable part of the day though was seeing the wide array of Jamaican food… the flavour, aroma and spices used made the food mouth watering…

I ate so much… It was such a long time since I had seen all this type of food… Living abroad and eating Jamaican food there is not the same.

Leaving Heritage Fest that day was hard as I didn’t want to go back to Toronto. Today I carry happy memories and often reminisce.

Ann-Marie Banks
Toronto Canada

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