The Jamaican Polo delegation is on a whirlwind tour to see the best of the City-by-the-Sea on its brief tour. The jam-packed itinerary starts with the players’ arrivals starting on Wednesday in time for a welcome reception by their newest contingent of centerfield supports, and dinner on the town before a great night’s sleep at Team Headquarters, the iconic, Hotel Viking, to freshen up for all the Newport must-dos.
Thursday: After some much-needed rest, Team Jamaica will start their day with electric bike rentals from Island Adventures that will allow them to explore all that Newport has to offer. Highlights of the trip include lunching on the lawn at Castle Hill, and kite flying at Brenton Point on Ocean Drive.
The day will culminate in a friendship tournament with Team USA at Newport Polo’s private practice fields. The prohibitively high cost of transporting horses overseas means the players will be on borrowed mounts, and this will be the only opportunity to get to know their fellow equine athletes before the Saturday contest. Friendships will be forged to last a lifetime as the teams mix up with the locals for camaraderie on the field. A field-side burger bender will gather players to swap stories of their polo exploits.
Friday: Team Jamaica will start the day with an invigorataing Cliff Walk as they embrace a full day to explore all of Newport’s treasures. Then, no better way to cover the territory than with a personal guide in the comfort of a classic British Jaguar from Newport Jaguar Tours.couples convertible tour for one player and fiance, on the Winery Tour, starting at the acclaimed Newport Vineyards while the others head to local favorite Gooseberry Beach for sea kayaking and a picnic from Newport Picnic Co.
An afternoon harbor cruise onboard Newport Picnic Charters will be the perfect ending to share the day’s adventures before the beginning of the night’s festivities! The 5-star experience cruising the coast of Newport in an iconic yacht, with embarkation from the heart of Newport Harbor will prime the Jamaican team for their big night on the town to Meet & Greet supporters for a Jamaican Sunset cocktail reception at the Top of Newport rooftop lounge at Hotel Viking from 6:30-8:30 by RSVP
The last stop of the day will take the team to dinner at the Midtown Oyster Bar for some of the freshest New England seafood and the largest raw bar in town. Time to break bread with USA counterparts for the traditional team dinner and a valiant effort by each side to wear out their competitors before the big match.
Saturday: A relaxing morning on the wharves, and leisurely downtown brunch await, to set the players at ease ahead of the grand challenge at 5 PM for USA vs. Jamaica in the Newport International Polo Series, Presented by Turkish Airlines. The audience is encouraged to embrace a green, black, and yellow theme, and rewarded with a prize if their efforts win the Stella Artois Tailgate Contest! Meanwhile, field-side, Newport’s own Hummingbird Cafe will tempt the hungry with a delectable jerk grilled cuisine, offered during the match or après Polo with the players by advanced RSVP. DJ and a complimentary ABSOLUT toast around the firepit in the Modern Luxury Lounge salutes the gladiators for their valiant efforts.
Sunday: After the excitement of the big match, Sunday morning brings another wild adventure, this time at the Roger Willaims Zoo for special animal encounters and experiences. The zoo is home to over 100 rare and fascinating species from around the world.
An iconic sail in Newport’s legendary deep waters with reliable afternoon breezes will complete the team’s itinerary!
Evening departures with Rockstar Limo will take the worry out of their exit plans and will leave Team Jamaica the chance for a parting shot of the iconic Pell bridge to send the players off on a high note as they carry fond memories, and possibly the perpetual cup across the back to Jamrock.
Make your plans to enjoy the same VIP weekend in Newport, and maybe you’ll even catch up with Team Jamaica or the next team on their excursions with these Newport attractions that are truly not to be missed.