Jamaica is far more than a postcard of white sand and turquoise water. Beyond the famous beaches of Negril, the jerk chicken stands and the big-name resorts, the island has quiet bays, small guesthouses, lively markets, deep history and a culture that reaches the whole world through its music. This site is an informational guide for travellers who want to understand the island before they book anything, and who would like to see more of it than the standard brochure route.
What you will find here
The guide is organised around the questions that come up when a trip is being planned.
Where to stay
Jamaica offers tens of thousands of hotel rooms, which means the choice is wide: villas, small boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts and large resorts. Smaller properties are often as comfortable as the well-known names, and it pays to compare them. Our pages on all inclusive resorts and the all inclusive concept explain how the main resort brands differ, which ones suit couples or families, and what an all inclusive rate usually covers.
Getting there and getting around
Flights are usually the biggest single cost of a Jamaican holiday, so timing and flexibility matter. See the notes on finding cheaper flights, the overview of the island’s airports and the general page on travelling to Jamaica. Once you have arrived, getting around Jamaica compares taxis, buses, tours and driving, and the car rental guide covers the rules to know before you take the wheel on the left-hand side of the road.
Food and drink
Jamaican cooking is one of the island’s great attractions: spicy jerk, saltfish, fresh fruit, hearty soups and drinks built from local ingredients. Our page on Jamaican foods is a good place to begin, and it makes the point that an inexpensive local meal can taste every bit as good as a pricey restaurant dinner.
Things to see and do
There is plenty to fill a week or more: waterfalls, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, golf, snorkelling and diving, and beaches ranging from busy to almost deserted. Start with tourist attractions in Jamaica, then read about the climbing waterfall at Dunn’s River Falls and the sunken history of Port Royal. Check the weather before choosing travel dates, and see the seasonal pages for March and April events.
Culture, history and everyday life
Visitors who want to understand the place they are in can read about Kingston, the capital, the national heroes, the economy, the local blog and news from Kingston. There is also a practical page on working and job-hunting in Jamaica.
How to use this guide
You do not need to read the pages in order. Many readers begin with the topic that worries them most, usually flights or accommodation, and then work outwards. The menu at the top of every page lists the main sections, and each article links to related pages so that you can follow a thread from, say, airports to car rental to the road rules you will meet once you leave the terminal.
A different way to look at Jamaica
Many first-time visitors never leave their resort, and that is a perfectly valid way to relax. But the island rewards curiosity. A day trip to a historic town, a meal at a roadside kitchen or an afternoon in a museum often becomes the part of the holiday people remember most. The aim of this guide is to give you the background to make those choices with confidence, to explain how the different parts of a trip fit together, and to help you spend your time and money on the experiences you actually want.
Information on this site reflects the period in which the pages were written, so always confirm current details such as flight schedules, entry rules, opening times and event dates with official sources before you travel.