Breezes Runaway Bay's Camellia Walker (standing right ) and public relations manager, Patricia Clarke, join guests Asafa Powell and Yendi Phillipps during their recent stay at the flagship Breezes property, one of the jewels in the Issa group of hotels. - Contributed

For years, it has been and remains one of the favourite resorts of vacationing Jamaicans, or just those wishing to get away for a weekend.

And really this is no surprise as it is easily one of the more fabulous resorts in all of Jamaica. Its beaches are the best to be found along the Runaway Bay corridor and ranked among the best across the island. Now, add to this an old-world charm and a sprawling golf course as part of the many amenities available to the vacationer with that discriminating sense of élan, and you know we could only be talking the ultra fab all-inclusive SuperClubs Breezes Runaway Bay Resort and Golf Club in St Ann!

St Ann is termed the 'Garden Parish' for the most beautiful of reasons. It is blessed with an abundance of lush and exotic vegetation, numerous rivers, springs and rainforest-style natural gardens, beautiful and verdant hills, and boasts its own exotic fauna and wildlife. Over the years, a number of entrepreneurs and the state have been studious in their creative diligence in seeking to tap into the natural beauty and resources of the parish. All in an effort to broaden the productive base of the parish by way of expanding the appeal of it as a leading tourist destination. In this respect, when resorts were conceived and constructed, this was done by maximising the appeal of the natural surroundings. One such property that was built with these considerations is the fabulous Breezes Runaway Bay Resort and Golf Club.

never lost the charm

Built on a sprawling 22 acres of lush gardens that give way to a rolling white sand beach and the ever-inviting lazy waters of the Caribbean Sea, the resort is a thing of beauty and a joy to behold! To begin with, this jewel of a resort has undergone quite a number of transformations since its heady days as Jamaica Jamaica, but through it all, it has never lost the charm and or appeal that has made it a favourite over the years. In more recent years, however, the resort was closed for refurbishing, and after an extensive period of that, not unlike a butterfly, it emerged from its cocoon as regal and as beautiful as ever, its staff, always the resort's best ambassadors, even more faultlessly so.

Managed by avid golfer and hotelier, Kenneth Minton, we are talking a 266-room hotel that is the flagship resort in the SuperClubs Breezes portfolio. It is the epitome of relaxed living in a setting that evokes fantasy and the high life, and is, in reality, a dream adult playground, where the toys are windsurfing, kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving, glass-bottom boat rides, cruises, Infinity pool and swim-up bar, beach, pool, volleyball, bicycle tours, tennis and of course golf. Then, there is the Hurricane Disco, the piano and karaoke bar, garden and beachfront Jacuzzis®, five fabulous bars (all serving premium libations and vacationers cocktails), dining that runs the range from the fab Japanese restaurant, the Munasan, set faultlessly in lush garden setting to the grand beachfront/poolside terrace for buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. There's also a Jamaican restaurant, The Reggae Café, which serves up Jamaican specialities, an Italian restaurant, The Pastafari, and The Starlight Grill. Plus, there's a midnight buffet and snacks for the late-nighters.

But, the pièce de résistance is without a doubt, the fab new three-storey ocean-front wing, boasting some 30 rooms and suites, that takes vacationing to another level in style and service!

I guested at the resort recently and while it was my intention to play a few rounds of golf, the temptation of simply lazing about, enjoying one of the resort's veranda suites with private plunge pool while sipping on mimosas for breakfast, pina coladas during brunch and margaritas during cocktail hour, was too much to resist!

And so it was, golf, was out the door, martinis, yellow-birds, mai-tais and champagne were all in, along with lazy three-hour lunches, three-hour dinners and in between sips, dips and grand buffets, time out for the thrill of some delicious treats by the beach and pool grill. That was all just dee-vine!

sheer pleasure

We are talking a rendezvous with the sense here, the sense of taste that is. Whether it was dining in the Munasan, or lunching on the Beachfront Terrace, the dining experience was one of sheer pleasure. The resort's food and beverage staff, not only cater to its guests, they literally pamper you throughout the dining experience and it made golfing that much more makes a future prospect than an in-the-moment thing! And when evenings ran into late nights, there was room service with continental breakfast, not just providing a doorway to a new day, but also serving to crown the previous.

Talk about fab living! Well, for that y'all need to live a little, by taking time out for some sun and fun, and at this resort, not only is the living easy, it is luxury made affordable! Definitely one of the hottest places to holiday here in Jamaica!