Jamaica

JAMAICA OVERVIEW

Languages:English is the official language and the secondary language is Jamaican Patois
Airport:Norman Manley International Airport (Kingston), Sangster International Airport (Montego Bay)
Population:2,702,000
Time Zone:UTC-5
Currency: Jamaican Dollar
Entry Requirements: A passport is required to enter or leave Jamaica from the US

WHERE TO STAY

The Sunset Jamaica Grande is located in Montego Bay and offers a wide variety of all-inclusive features such as all meals (both buffet and a la carte), unlimited beverages and cocktails, non-motorized water sports, activities for kids, and access to the gym and aerobics classes. In your guestroom, enjoy cool Caribbean colors while overlooking the sea. At the Jewel Dunn’s River in Ocho Rios, you can get a massage at the full-service spa, test your swing on an 18-hole golf course, or sample contemporary Caribbean cuisine at the resort’s restaurant, Platinum. You can even lay out on Jewel Dunn’s private stretch of white sand beach and perfect your tan. At Sandals Whitehouse European Village and Spa, discover the best in all-inclusive traveling. Dine at one of the resorts 7 restaurants and bars, enjoy evening acts in the piano bar or amphitheater, go snorkeling, or take a ride in a glass bottom boat. For a fee, you can choose from a variety or local tours including dolphin encounter and off-road safaris.

POPULAR CUISINES

Jamaican cuisine incorporates African, European, Indian, and Chinese elements and is very healthy because it uses a variety of unprocessed foods like fresh fish, beans, and vegetables. One of the most popular culinary styles in Jamaica is “jerk,” where meat is dry-rubbed or wet marinated with Jamaican jerk spice. The two main ingredients in jerk seasoning are allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers, and the mixture also usually includes cloves, cinnamon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme, garlic, and salt. Some other traditional Jamaican dishes include curry goat, fried dumplings, beef patties, ackee and salt fish, and fried plantains.

CLIMATE

Jamaica has a tropical maritime climate. Temperatures in Jamaica throughout the year usually range between 80*F and 90*F, with July and August being the hottest months and February being the coolest. In the Blue Mountains, temperatures are generally cooler and can average around 65*F. Jamaica also is also located along the hurricane belt, with hurricane season lasting from June 1 to November 30. The annual rainfall is about 78 inches, and the eastern coast usually receives considerably more rain than anywhere else on the island.

INSIDER TIPS FROM OUR TRAVEL EXPERTS

There is a lot to see and do in Jamaica, including a variety of natural attractions, shopping, nightlife and entertainment, and restaurants and dining. Starting off in the capital of Kingston, adventurous travelers can explore the Blue Mountains and take a guided tour of the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory to delight in the famously fragrant coffee beans of the region. Visit Port Royal, just south on Kingston, to check out what was once referred to as “the wickedest city in Christendom” when it was overtook by Henry Morgan and other swashbuckling brigands during the 17th century. In Montego Bay, you can check out the “Hip Strip” which offers many bars and clubs for vacationers to enjoy. Moving southwest to Negril, vacationers can come here if they’re really looking to get away from it all. For those wanting to catch some rays, Negril Beach is arguably Jamaica’s finest. It boasts 7 miles of white sand and has many beach bars and open-air restaurants. For a unique swimming experience, you can visit the community of Little Bay and climb 22 feet down into the Blue Hole, a mineral spring which is said to have therapeutic properties. Even the mud surrounding the water’s edge is supposed to be beneficial for skin. The location also has a bar, cabanas, a grill, and a volleyball court.