Jamaica Vacation
If Jamaica were compared to a painting it would be a masterpiece of tropical splendor. Jamaica is framed by towering blue
mountains, the landscape is filled with the multi-colored hues of exotic flowers and plants, and subdued by the various greens of dense jungles, woody meadows and misty valleys. Countless waterfalls on Jamaica
tumble and cascade downward over boulders and gorges feeding the rivers which spread out like hundreds of fingers across the island. Jamaica is a paradise for the adventuresome traveler seeking the many unique
outdoor treasures and for those wanting to be pampered at the island's many spas.
Jamaica is the third largest island in the West Indies and is a narrow outcrop of a submerged mountain range. Jamaica is
crossed by a range of mountains reaching 7402 feet at the Blue Mountain Peak in the east and descending towards the west with a series of spurs and forested gullies running north and south. Most of the best beaches
on Jamaica are on the north and west coasts. The island''s luxuriant tropical and subtropical vegetation is probably unsurpassed anywhere in the Caribbean.
General Information for your Jamaica Vacation
Currency: Jamaican Dollar (J$) = 100 cents.
Electricity: 110 volts (same as U.S.) is standard. 220 volts used at some hotels. Adapters are available at some hotels, although hair dryers and irons work without
adapters.
Language: The official language is English in Jamaica. Local patois is also spoken.
Drinking Water: All drinking water in Jamaica is purified and filtered by modern methods.
Time Zone:
Jamaica is located in Eastern Standard Time and does not observe daylight savings time (therefore it is one hour earlier than Miami during the summer)
Climate
Tropical all year. Temperate in mountain
areas. The rainy months are May and October, but showers may occur at any time. Cooler evenings.
Beaches
Jamaica has a huge assortment of spectacular, world famous beaches. The most popular are found along
the north coast, stretching 150 miles from 7 Mile Beach in Negril over to Port Antonio in the Northeast. People are beginning to discover some hidden beach gems on the south coast; the Kingston area does not offer
much beach activity. Some of the finest beaches are right outside the major resorts.
Sports & Activities
Watersports: The best beaches for bathing are mainly on the northern coast of Jamaica. Surfing is also best on
the north coast, east of Port Antonio, where long lines of breakers roll into Boston Bay. Most beach hotels have sunfish, sailfish and/or windsurfing boards for hire. Larger boats are available for charter.
Facilities for water-skiing are offered at most beach hotels.
Diving: Jamaica has many attractions for divers, including close-to-shore wrecks, sponge forests, underwater caves and coral reefs. In some
areas, visibility is exceptional, reaching 100 feet. Popular dive sites include the Throne Room near Negril, where it is possible to see corals, sponges, nurse sharks and cubera snapper; Ricky''s Reef,
with brightly colored fish; and the wreck of the Kathryn. There are many professional dive operators on the island; Shops are equipped for rentals and offer guided snorkel and scuba trips.
Fishing:
Fresh and sea-water fishing are popular. Deep-sea fishing charters can be arranged through hotels in main resorts.
Golf: Jamaica has developed some of the Caribbean''s most beautiful and challenging
golf courses. Montego Bay is the best area and it is not necessary to be resident at a hotel to play on its three courses.
Food and Drink: Jamaican food is full of fire, taking advantage of pungent spices
and peppers. Rich and spicy as the pepperpot soup that originated with the Taino Indians, Jamaican cooking is a culinary melting pot that combines a hint of Spanish, a dash of English and a heaping teaspoon of
Indian and Chinese with a cup or two of African ingredients to serve up the Caribbean's most creative cuisine. Jamaican rum is world-famous, especially Gold Label and Appleton. Rumona is a delicious rum cordial. Red Stripe beer is excellent, as is Tia Maria (a
Blue Mountain coffee and chocolate liqueur).
Nightlife: There is no shortage of nighttime entertainment on the island that is the home of reggae music. Every town or village in Jamaica has some sort of
nightlife, and there are regular street dances. Folkloric shows at larger resort hotels are held and steel bands often play.
Shopping: Special purchases are locally made items and duty-free bargains.
Crafts include hand-loomed fabrics, embroidery, silk screening, woodcarvings, oil paintings, woven straw items and sandal making. Some shops close half day Wednesday in Kingston, and Thursday in the rest of the
island.
Tipping: Most hotels and restaurants on Jamaica add a service charge of 10%; otherwise 10-15% is expected. Chambermaids, waiters, hotel bellboys and airport porters all expect tips. Taxi drivers
receive ten per cent of the fare.
Clothing: Casual wear is suitable during the day, but shorts and swimsuits must be confined to beaches and poolsides. Evening dress varies from very casual in Negril to
quite formal during the season in other resorts, where some hotels and restaurants require men to wear jackets and ties at dinner.
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