Coordinated tours through well-known companies are great. They show you what needs to be seen and encourage experiences you may not have otherwise experienced. That being said, some of the best and most memorable travel experiences I’ve had weren’t through established tour companies and didn’t include a checklist of well-known tourist attractions. One experience in particular that really resonates with me was One Love Bus Bar Crawl in Negril.

During a stay at RIU Negril in Jamaica, we looked into some day-trip excursions; and while the hotel offered plenty of great tours and trips, we decided to go with a tour that we learned about through word of mouth.

We mentioned the name of the tour to the hotel, and they of course could not recommend it as it was an outside tour company . . . and a relatively unestablished one at that. A small, brightly painted tour bus picked us up from our hotel and explained once we were on the bus that the tour was free. You simply tip according to how much you enjoyed yourself.

The bar crawl ran along Negril’s seven-mile beach; and while it does hit a couple well-known bars such as Rick’s Café, it also takes you to local spots that you would never find without the help of a local guide. We met some truly wonderful people on the tour, from the guides and those on our tour bus to the bar owners and locals we met along the way. Along with the great drinks and gorgeous views along the coast, the tour provided a glimpse into Jamaica’s authentic culture, its music, food and history.

The tour, which doesn’t even have an official website, was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had traveling, and I strongly recommend it if you happen to be traveling in Jamaica.

— Nicole Quasté, assistant editor