Jamaica Fast Facts

Best Time of Year to Visit
Mid-December through mid-April is the peak season to visit (and also the most expensive). The weeks around the holiday period are always in demand, with a slight dip in prices in early January. During these months, the weather in Jamaica is generally great, there's no risk of hurricanes, and the island is the perfect getaway from cold temperatures elsewhere.

The cheapest time to visit is during hurricane season, June through the end of November. Prices fall to all-time lows during September and early October, the peak months for hurricanes. Many Jamaican resorts offer hurricane guarantees, though, to give you a refund should a storm interrupt your trip.

Climate
The average annual temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit, but expect temperatures to be hotter during afternoon hours (and feel much hotter because of nasty humidity levels.) Fortunately, the island is blessed with northeasterly trade winds that keep you from sweltering no matter what time of year.

Rainfall varies with the season. Overall the island gets an average of 78 inches a year (one look around at the lush vegetation and you'll see that it's necessary.) The lion's share of the rain falls in the misty Blue Mountains, home of some of the world's best coffee. Usually along the coast, rain showers are brief and heavy, coming in mid-afternoon and clearing up before you can run inside.

Want to find out the weather forecast for your visit? Check out the Jamaica Tourist Board's website: http://www.visitjamaica.com.

Crime
Crime can be a serious problem in Jamaica. Use the same precautions you'd exercise at home and then some. Don't leave money on the beach while you swim; don't leave cash and valuables in your hotel room. Use your hotel safe. Don't go out for walks on lonely stretches of beach or on quiet roads after dark.

Crime is particularly a problem in Kingston, as in any metropolitan area. Use big city precautions and heed advice to stay away from downtown, especially after dark.

Currency
The Jamaican dollar fluctuates with the market. You'll find that most establishments welcome US and Canadian dollars. Throughout the island, prices are often stated in US dollars (especially in resort communities.)

Credit Cards
Major credit cards are accepted around the island but don't count on using your ATM card at the local bank.

Dress
With its strong British history, the citizens of Jamaica are modest, conservative people who generally frown upon displays of skin. Although nudity or topless bathing is permitted on some beaches, it is typically not practiced by locals. Most islanders follow a more conservative style of dress than seen in US beach communities.

Swimsuits are appropriate only for swimming; when off the beach grab a cover up. Bare chests are also frowned upon outside the beach. However, leisure wear -- T-shirts, shorts, sundresses and sandals--will be readily accepted in any Jamaican community.

Drugs
Marijuana, or ganja as it's known locally, is illegal throughout Jamaica. Drug penalties are becoming stiffer, and drug prevention measures more stringent in many countries. Customs carefully screens bags (using dogs in most cases) both when leaving the island and when returning to the mainland.

The come-ons to tourists vary from vendor to vendor but expect to be approached by friendly young men who introduce themselves by name, shake your hand, and ask "is this your first time to Jamaica?" Other approaches include "remember me from yesterday?" and "I met your friend down the beach." From there the offers extend from motorcycles rides up to see ganja fields to attempts to sell "party stuff" or "stuff I grew myself." Young men are prime targets for ganja salesmen.

Like dealing with market and beach vendors, dealing with drug entrepreneurs also just requires firm politeness. "No, thank you" will generally end the transaction. Stay cool, move on, and realize that these businessmen are just out to make a buck, which on this island is not always an easy proposition.

We also caution vacationers not to return home with any packages that they have not personally packed. We have been approached by locals asking us to mail packages for them once we arrived in the US. The requests may have been legitimate, but the risk is too great.

Electricity
Throughout the island, you'll find 110 volts/50 cycles. At a few hotels, 220 volts is used. Standard American plugs are used.

Entry Requirements
US and Canadian citizens can enter on a passport or a proof of citizenship, such as an original birth certificate with a raised seal, a naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship along with a photo ID (all documents must bear the same name). You'll also need to show a return or ongoing ticket. You'll be issued a visitors card on the incoming airplane. Complete this before you land to speed up your trip through immigration (lines can sometimes be long at the Montego Bay airport so scoot on out there as soon as you can).

Getting Married in Jamaica
Resorts and inns throughout the island offer all the assistance you'll need to turn your vacation into a honeymoon. Before your trip, give your resort a call and set the wheels in motion. The resort's wedding coordinator can explain your options, from food to wedding sites.

Getting married in Jamaica is easy and inexpensive, with just a 24-hour waiting period after you arrive on the island. No blood tests are required. You'll need to bring the following with you:
*Proof of citizenship. Bring along a certified copy of birth certificate (one with a raised seal), which includes father's name.
*Parent's written consent, if one of you is under 21.
*Proof of divorce (if applicable). Bring either a certified copy or original Certificate of Divorce.
*Copy of Death Certificate for widow or widower.

Harassment
Jamaica is one of our longtime Caribbean favorites, but not everyone shares our enthusiasm. For some, the beauty of Jamaica is overshadowed by the sometimes incessant demands of vendors selling everything from hair braids to necklaces to marijuana.

What's the best way to deal with hassling vendors? Firm politeness. "No, thank you." If you don't want to buy, don't look, even out of polite interest.Sexual harassment can also be a very real annoyance for female travelers. Jamaican machismo runs rampant and more than one "beach buddy" makes his living "escorting" lonely tourists looking for local action. Deal with sexual innuendo firmly but politely then move on.

Our advice is to look beyond the beaten path to the Jamaica that the Jamaicans enjoy. When you've had enough hassling, head to a restaurant enjoyed primarily by locals or hire a driver for the day and leave the resort areas for the quiet communities that most visitors rarely see. We've spent days away from the resort areas and never seen another tourist (and also never been approached by a single vendor). Jamaica beyond the resorts is quiet, dignified, and proper.

Immunizations
No immunizations are required unless you have visited on the following areas within the past six weeks: Asia, Africa, Central and South America, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Trinidad or Tobago. If you have visited one of the locales recently, check with the tourist board prior to your trip. We once came to Jamaica after a trip to Bangkok. We were told by the Jamaican consulate's office that a nurse would give us a card with symptoms to be on the look out for and a number to call if any medical problems arose, but on arrival in MoBay we were not stopped at immigration.

Internet Site
The official web site of the Jamaica Tourist Board is http://www.visitjamaica.com. Check out the Internet appendix at the back of this book for more Jamaica-related web sites including many with culinary information.

Language
What's the official language of Jamaica? English, spoken in a more proper manner than most Americans recognize.What's the language of the streets? Patois. If you feel like you're hearing a foreign tongue, it's probably the local patois, a combination of English, Spanish, Portuguese, African phrases and a good dose of Jamaican slang all in one. Spoken in a sing-song style, the result is as exotic as any foreign language. Jamaican patois is a fascinating use of the language. With patois, "You get more mileage out of your tongue," one Jamaican explained to us.

Here's an example of some patois you might hear on the streets:

a go foreign: to leave Jamaica
bendung maaket: a sidewalk market, a place where you would bend down or "bendung" to shop
boonoonunus: wonderful, beautiful
duppy: ghost
irie (eye-ree): all's well, good
mash up: sickly, tired
nyam: eat
wagga wagga: bountiful
winji: sickly

Time Zone
Eastern Standard Time is observed year around. Jamaica does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Tipping
You'll find that a service charge is often (make that usually) added to the bill at most restaurants but if not a 10-15% tip is customary. Remember that tips are part of the package at many all-inclusive resorts; check with yours. Tips are generally not expected for short taxi rides.