Jamaica is one of the most frequently visited islands in the Caribbean. While this island nation has a great reputation dealing with international tourists, there are a few things visitors need to be aware of before they book their flight to Jamaica. If you’re planning a trip to this tropical paradise, you owe it to yourself to read through these eight Jamaica travel tips. A thorough understanding of the points listed below will ensure you have a wonderful time on your Caribbean adventure.
1. When Is the Best Time to Visit Jamaica?
The first consideration on any list of Jamaica travel tips is when you should visit the island. Most travel experts recommend visiting Jamaica between November and December. Not only is the weather ideal during this time of the year, it’s also relatively easy to find an affordable hotel room and airline ticket.
Usually temperatures range between 70°F and 80°F during this time and the threat of hurricanes is reduced. Peak tourism season in Jamaica is between January and March. This is because of the comfortable temperatures and the cool breeze by the beaches. There are also a great deal of popular festivals between January and April that attract tourists like the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival and Bob Marley Week.
While it’s cheapest to book rooms between July and October, it’s also one of the worst times to visit Jamaica due to the threat of hurricanes.
2. Take Necessary Health and Safety Precautions
While touristy areas like Montego Bay and Ocho Rios are safe for visitors, you should know that Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Just like with any other international trip, it’s a good idea to get in touch with your home country’s embassy while in Jamaica and let them know how long you are staying there.
If you find yourself in an emergency situation while in Jamaica, use the number 119 to get in touch with safety officials. You should also make a photocopy of your passport and keep it on your person at all times.
Be sure you leave home with all the medications you’ll need for your vacation and purchase travel insurance to protect you in case of a medical emergency.
3. Don’t Forget to Pack Mosquito Repellant
Most people traveling to Jamaica remember to bring a high-quality sunscreen with them. Just as important as a good sunscreen, however, is an equally strong mosquito repellant. Jamaica has tons of pesky mosquitoes you’ll have to contend with on your beach excursions. To be on the safe side, consider packing a few repellants with different strengths to avoid getting itchy bumps from these blood-sucking critters.
4. Weed Is Illegal
Next on our list of Jamaica travel tips is to avoid smoking weed at all costs. Although you might come across a few people on your tour of Jamaica offering to sell you cheap marijuana (aka ganja), please avoid the temptation. No matter what you believe about the medicinal properties of weed, the Jamaican government considers marijuana an illegal substance. If you’re caught with marijuana in your possession while in Jamaica, you can face serious jail time.
5. LGBTQ Tourism In Jamaica
One of the more controversial Jamaica travel tips concerns LGBTQ travelers. As of today, Jamaican law considers sexual intercourse between gay or lesbian couples a crime. Although it’s not technically illegal for gay couples to kiss or hold hands in public, it’s highly advised you don’t engage in these activities for own safety.
Public displays of affection between homosexual couples, especially men, will get you in trouble with locals. Unfortunately, gay bashings aren’t uncommon in Jamaica. There are very few rights LGBTQ travelers have on their side that can protect them in a court of law.
If you identify as LGBTQ and are traveling to Jamaica with your partner, please be careful how you display your affections on your vacation. You might also want to contact your embassy and let officials know how long you’re staying in Jamaica.
6. Order Ackee And Saltfish With Caution
Out of all the Jamaica travel tips listed here, this tip could literally save your life: be very careful when ordering ackee and saltfish. In case you haven’t heard, ackee and saltfish is the national dish of Jamaica. Ackee is a special fruit that is native to West Africa, but it has been grown in Jamaica ever since the late 1700s.
We understand that you want to “eat as the Jamaicans eat” while on your vacation, but you have to be extra cautious with this local favorite. Only order ackee with saltfish from a professional chef in a highly reviewed restaurant. If you eat an unripe ackee, then you’re putting yourself at risk of death. That’s right, unripe ackee fruits are poisonous and have been known to put people in comas.
If you don’t feel like taking the risk of eating ackee and saltfish, there are plenty of other Jamaican dishes that are just as delicious and authentic. A few safer Jamaican delicacies to test out include jerk chicken, fried plantains, and locally grown Blue Mountain coffee.
7. Local Jamaican Patois Dialect
Although English is the official language in Jamaica, you’ll soon notice that locals speak a mixture of English and a unique Jamaican patois dialect. It can be helpful to learn a few patois phrases to better understand locals in daily interactions. However, don’t try to speak patois. Trust us, if you attempt speaking Jamacain patois, you’ll only embarrass yourself.
A few common phrases it might help to understand include “nyam” (to eat), “Jamrock” (Jamaica), “whe yu a seh?” (what’s up?), and “likkle more” (see you soon).
8. Local Terms Of Respect
Going along with the theme of the local dialect, Jamaicans place a high value on addressing elderly citizens with respectful terms like “ma’am” and “sir”. You should also address elderly citizens using these terms to gain some respect with locals.
By the way, Jamaicans often address all Asian tourists as either “Miss” or “Missa Chin”. While these terms might not seem very respectful to most foreigners, most Jamaicans don’t mean any harm using these titles.
A Few Final Jamaica Travel Tips
Before you order your boarding passes to Norman Manley International Airport, here are the most frequently visited cities in Jamaica: Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Negril, and Falmouth. While it’s not as frequently visited by tourists, the capital and largest city in Jamaica is Kingston. A trip to any of these cities is sure to supply you with everything you’d expect in a Jamaican holiday. This means great cuisine, music, and, of course, beautiful beaches.
Hopefully this list of Jamaica travel tips has helped you better understand how to plan your dream Caribbean holiday. As long as you use common sense, you won’t have anything to worry about in the touristy areas of this island nation.