Here you will find all the essential advice and information you will need before and during your stay in Jamaica.
Jamaica, like much of the Caribbean, is at its best from mid-December through mid-April, when there is less rainfall and the heat is tempered by cooling trade winds. June through November is hurricane season, with the threat reaching its peak in September. The summer months, particularly July and August, can get uncomfortably hot. Rates tend to be cheaper at these times.
Jamaica is well served by direct charter and scheduled flights from Europe, the US and Canada, which land at Donald Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, or Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.
Caribbean Airlines and Fly Jamaica fly from several US and Canadian cities to Kingston and Montego Bay, and American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines also offer direct services from the US. There are direct flights from Toronto and other Canadian cities with WestJet, Caribbean Airlines, Sunwing, and Air Canada. From the UK, British Airways and Caribbean Airlines fly to both Kingston and Montego Bay, as do several charter operators.
The island is not altogether crime-free and there are incidents of drug-related violence especially in Kingston. It is best to avoid the town during any tension. Keep to the main streets and avoid lonely areas. Do not walk alone late at night in the cities or along beaches. Women travelers can expect to receive very graphic and forward comments; these tend to be directed at all women in Jamaica.
Jamaica is generally safe health-wise. Visitors may bring their own prescription medicines. No vaccinations are required to enter the island unless visitors have been to an affected area.
Citizens of the European Union, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, South Africa, South Korea, and Mexico have no visa requirements for a stay of less than three or six months depending on the country of origin. All visitors need a valid passport and an onward ticket. Citizens of other countries may require a visa, which can often be obtained on arrival in Jamaica with production of a valid onward ticket.
Jamaica , generally considered the most violently homophobic nation in the Caribbean, has become slightly more liberal towards the LGBT+ community in recent years. However, sexual relations between males (but not women) remains illegal, and violent acts against LGBT+ individuals are frequent in Jamaica’s stereotypical macho culture, where dancehall lyrics are often explicitly homophobic. Displays of affection between same-sex couples should be avoided.
The local currency is the Jamaican dollar (J$), with notes available in the denomination of J$1,000, J$500, J$100, and J$50. Bureaux de change are widespread in the resorts, generally offering better rates than the banks. There are ATMs at all banks and also scattered around the big resorts; in the latter, some dispense US dollars rather than local currency.
Visitors bringing their own cell phones should check with their service providers to determine if they will work in Jamaica. Most international cell phones will work, but you may incur hefty roaming charges with your carrier. Local pay-as-you-go SIM cards are widely available from supermarkets and convenience shops, either from Digicel or FLOW, the two main cell-phone operators in the country.
Most hotels have Internet service; many have Wi-Fi. Internet access tends to be restricted in rural areas.
The best option for getting around the island is to hire a car or a local driver. If you’re thinking of hiring a car, there are outlets in all the resorts. AVIS and Island Car Rental are the major players. In terms of public transportation, with the exception of Kingston, where city buses are government-run and quite efficient, all buses (usually minibuses) are owned and run by private individuals and tend to be chaotic with no set schedules. Routes are painted on the front or the side of the bus. Knutsford Express offers a regular bus service from Kingston to Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios. Route taxis running set routes are great for short trips. Taxis are freely available in all the resorts; the national association of drivers is JUTA.
Jamaica’s tour companies range from one-man shows to huge outfits with fleets of buses that ferry visitors between the island’s most popular attractions. There are plenty of outfits in the middle of these two extremes. Some of the renowned ones are Barrett Adventures, Caribic Vacations, Sun Venture Tours Jamaica, and Treasure Tours.
Barrett Adventures
Caribic Vacations
Sun Venture Tours Jamaica
Treasure Tours
The Jamaica Tourist Board has offices in Montego Bay and Kingston, as well as booths at cruise ship ports and at the airports. Their website also provides detailed information.
Jamaica Tourist Board
Need to know Jamaica
Jamaican dollar (J$)
Need to know Jamaica
Eastern Standard Time, 5 hours behind GMT. It does not observe daylight savings
Need to know Jamaica
English, but everyone also speaks the patois version, heavily accented and sprinkled with local slang
Need to know Jamaica
The electric current is 110 volt but some hotels may have 220 volt, 60 cycles. Plug sockets usually take two flat prongs
Need to know Jamaica
AMBULANCE & FIRE SERVICE
POLICE
Need to know Jamaica
Water purity is unreliable so, to be safe, drink bottled water