Destination:
Travelling there | Fly into one of Jamaica’s three international airports: Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) if visiting the capital, Port Antonio or the Blue Mountains; Sangster International Airport (MBJ) if going to Montego Bay, Negril or Ocho Rios; or the relative smaller and new Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ) in the Ocho Rios resort area, for small aircraft. |
Capital city | Kingston. |
Population | 2.807 million. |
Religion | The majority is Christian. |
Language | Jamaican Patois or Creole. |
Currency | Jamaican dollar (JMD). |
Climate | A tropical maritime climate with warm to hot days year round but cooled by the trade winds. The wet season is between May to October with the heaviest rains occurring in September and October. |
Transport | The local taxis (‘route taxis’ — licenced locals’ cars with red number plates) are probably the best bet for getting around even though one will have to share the ride with others. The bus service can be unreliable and chaotic. |
Best time to travel | December to April are the driest months with the best weather but is also peak season. If after fewer crowds, the weather is not much different from April up to July and the prices are much cheaper. |
What to wear | Most definitely pack swimwear for the beautiful beaches and resort casual for everything else. |