Considering planning a trip to Jamaica and wondering what to expect? You’re in the right place. Jamaica is a popular Caribbean tourist destination for good reason; it has beautiful beaches, wonderful food and fantastic weather.
However, when planning a trip to Jamaica, there are several things travelers should know and consider. In this guide you’ll find everything you need to know when planning a trip to Jamaica!
1: Carefully choose your accommodations
Many travelers choose to stay in all-inclusive resorts when they travel to Jamaica and these types of hotels are certainly some of the most popular accommodations. There is usually a lot to do, they’re considered to be very safe and you don’t have to worry about planning as many activities or meals – it’s all taken care of.
While I’m personally not a huge fan of all-inclusive resorts, I did choose to stay in one while in Jamaica and I think it was a good option. While it is possible (and safe) to leave the resorts, I honestly only recommend doing it with a guide or if you’re going to a major tourist area. Because of this, all-inclusives are a great option to (likey) be beachfront, have activities on property, and also be able to go on tours when you want to.
All Inclusive Resort Options in Montego Bay and Negril:
- Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall – Montego Bay
- Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort and Spa
- Azul Beach Resort – Negril
If you want to stay in a hotel, but don’t want to pay the elevated price for an all-inclusive, or if you’re planning on eating off-property most of the time, then a “regular” hotel is a good option. While in many touristy parts of Jamaica, like Montego Bay and Negril, many accommodations are all-inclusive, there are certainly traditional hotels as well.
Some of these are also beachfront and will also be able to arrange tours and activities for you off property.
Hotel Options in Montego Bay and Negril:
- Takuma Boutque Hotel Hotel Rooms & Suites – Montego Bay
- semi-remote location, not beachfront
- Sandy Haven Resort – Negril
- The Cliff Hotel – Negril
- Travellers Beach Resort – Negril
If you’re looking for the most budget friendly option, or if you really want to immerse yourself in the local community, an AirBnb is a good option. However, read the reviews carefully and make sure the place you’re staying is safe to walk around and also is close to major tourist areas – especially if you’re not renting a car.
2: All inclusive resorts can be great, but they can also be not so great…
While there are many great all-inclusive resorts with amazing amenities, food and beaches, not all are so wonderful. Read the reviews carefully, think about what amenities you’d like to have during your vacation and compare different properties.
I stayed at the Hilton Rose Hall, and although the rooms were fine and there were activities available, it didn’t really live up to my expectations. Additionally, I should have listened to other vacationers’ reviews when they mentioned the low quality food.
Some all-inclusive resorts are great for families, others for couples and others for groups of friends. It’s important to make sure the resort you choose fits the vacation vibe you’re hoping to have.
3: Book Excursions instead of renting a car
Driving in Jamaica is not something I recommend unless you’re an extremely confident and experienced driver. In Jamaica, the driving is more aggressive than in the US and you also drive on the opposite side of the road, like in the U.K.
While many travelers do rent cars and it’s totally fine, it would have been very stressful for me to drive in Jamaica – and I’ve driven in many countries. After being in several taxis and going on guided tours, I am so relieved I didn’t try to rent a car. It would have been highly anxiety inducing and probably dangerous for me to attempt it.
Instead of renting a car, go on guided tours. This way, you still get to have amazing experiences without the stress of driving, and you also get a tour guide to share information with you.
4: Definitely plan to leave the resorts on tours or with a guide
While an all-inclusive resort can have great amenities, definitely try to get off the property at least a couple times to see some of the incredible natural sites in Jamaica. There is so much to do and see in Jamaica. It’s filled with beautiful natural wonders, gorgeous landscapes and wonderful people to meet and get to know.
If you’re staying in or around Montego Bay, where many travelers choose to vacation, there are so many incredible things to do nearby!
A few of my favorites include:
- Touring the Rose Hall Great House
- If you’re brave, take the nighttime ghost tour
- ATVing in the countryside
- Swimming in the Luminous Lagoon (bioluminescent bay)
5: Plan transportation to and from the airport in advance
When you arrive in Jamaica, at Montego Bay airport specifically, it will be quite chaotic when you walk outside to the taxi pickup area. While you can definitely get a taxi to your hotel upon arrival in Jamaica, and it’s totally safe, it’s nice to have someone there waiting for you.
I booked my pick up and return airport transportation online in advance through Viator and it was seamless and stress free. Someone was waiting for me outside with a sign with my name on it. I was able to pay online through Viator, and the price was the same (if not less) than a taxi would have been.
While some hotels will have their own shuttle to the airport, others don’t. Some also charge a huge fee ($50+ per person). Instead of relying on this, pre-book your transfers.
If you’re flying into Montego Bay and staying in a hotel n Negril, check out this transfer.
6: Don’t plan on taking Ubers
Ubers operate (kind of) in Kingston and Montego Bay, however, I wouldn’t plan to rely on them. In Montego Bay, specifically, every time I looked for an Uber (just to see how expensive they’d be), there were none available.
This may change in the future, but for now, definitely plan your transfers and transportation in advance.
7: Carry some Jamaican dollars
While most tourist areas in Jamaica accept USD, you will get a way better deal if you pay with Jamaican dollars.
As soon as you pay with USD, expect to pay double what you would with local currency. For example, a fresh juice may cost you $5 USD – but if you’d paid with local currency, with the conversion, it would be around $1.50-$2.00 USD maximum.
Often, prices will only be shown in Jamaican dollars, which makes sense, however, this means you won’t know the price in USD until it’s time to pay.
8: Bring small bills for tips (USD)
While I do recommend getting some local currency, you’ll still certainly want to carry USD. I specifically recommend small bills for tips both at your hotel and for tour guides.
Something I noticed with all the tours I went on in Jamaica, is that there are several different guides you’ll interact with during the tour. Usually, a driver will pick you up and then you’ll have a tour guide for the activity you’re partaking in. However, on several occasions, there were more than one guide for different sections of the tour. Sometimes there would even be several guides with you the whole time.
In many cases, it felt like there were way more guides than necessary, but hey, it’s great that companies are employing lots of people! The only downside to this is that it can be very confusing who to tip. Instead of tipping one person $20, for example, I started carrying $5s so that I could tip everyone individually.
9: Jamaica is vegetarian/vegan friendly
Many people think of Jamaica and immediately think of Jerk Chicken – which makes sense, it’s super popular. While there are many meat-focused dishes in Jamaica, there are also tons of great vegetarian options.
In addition to the vegetarian dishes, the fresh fruit (and juices) in Jamaica are amazing. I recommend trying as many of these as possible.
Must try vegetarian dishes:
- Jamaican chickpea curry
- Rice and peas (kidney beans)
- Jamaican veggie patties
- Fried sweet plantains
10: Marijuana isn’t legal
Interestingly, marijuana is still illegal in Jamaica, although it’s decriminalized. Medical marijuana is permitted and there are dispensaries around the country.
I have absolutely no experience with weed in Jamaica – but I know it’s something many travelers are interested in. With the understanding that a small amount of marijuana is decriminalized, but possession of large amounts can result in arrest, I would proceed with caution.
Additionally, smoking in public is still considered illegal and it’s never advised to buy marijuana from strangers.
Note: For obvious reasons, never try to take marijuana out of the country with you.
On an ATVing tour we went on with RastaSafari, they showed us some of the plants they were legally growing now that cultivating a small number of plants is decriminalized. A tour like this is a great way to learn more about the history of marijuana in Jamaica and the current restrictions and uses of it in the country.
11: Jamaica isn’t necessarily a budget destination
There are several islands in the Caribbean that are considered to be excellent for budget travel. Jamaica isn’t necessarily one of them. Although Jamaica can certainly be very budget friendly if you stay outside of resorts, go to local restaurants and shops and avoid guided tours, this is not the experience most vacationers will have.
Most travelers who visit Jamaica will stay in resorts, eat at more touristy restaurants, and go on guided tours. Because of this, the prices will be much higher. Plan to spend around the same amount as you would on vacation in the US. The one exception is that restaurants may be slightly cheaper.
Besides that, hotels are relatively expensive, tours can be expensive and the tourist shops are on the pricier side as well.
This isn’t to say that you can’t visit Jamaica on a budget, you will just need to plan carefully and be aware that most services set up for tourists will be expensive.
12: While Jamaica is fairly safe for tourists, be cautious
Jamaica often finds itself on the US State Department’s list of countries where tourists should “Reconsider Travel,” usually due to violence. While Jamaica is usually safe for tourists, especially in tourist hotspots like Montego Bay, be cautious. This is especially true if you’re outside of popular tourist areas. Don’t walk alone at night and avoid secluded areas. This is true for almost anywhere you travel.
Research exactly where you plan to go and make sure that the town isn’t on the list of Parishes that the US State Department has marked as “Do Not Travel.”
I still visited Jamaica with the travel warning, however, I stayed at a resort, only left the property on tours and only visited tourist-centered areas.
Now it’s time to book the trip! Now that you’re planning a trip to Jamaica, be sure to check out my outfit guide and packing guide.
If you have any questions about planning a trip to Jamaica or anything to add to this post, let me know in the comments.
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♡Kate
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