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Montego Bay FAQ Click here to return to the main Montego Bay page Dining and Drinking Jamaica is not known for having a wide variety of restaurants. Most of the hotels have their own little kitchen offering local dishes. We recommend that you participate in the meal plan to get the best value and the best food selection. The legal drinking age is 18 yrs. Of age. The water is safe to drink, as it is purified and filtered, but bottled water is always recommended.Dress Code There isn't one in Jamaica; Jamaica is known for being the "capitol of casual." Shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops will work just fine.Electrical System Most hotels have the same electrical outlets as we have in the United States.Government Jamaica is a constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is represented by a Governor-General. The island's government is patterned on the British Parliamentary System, with an Upper and Lower House. A general election is held every five years. There are two main political parties, the Jamaica Labour Party, (JLP) and the People's National Party, (PNP). A new party, the National Democratic Movement, (NDM) has emerged, although it is not represented in parliament.Language English is the official language, although Jamaicans speak a local dialect of English that incorporates African, Spanish, and French elements. Jamaicans speak English with their own unique sentence patterns and some words that have survived from West African languages. When Jamaicans speak Patois, a blend of English and African, the discussion may be almost incomprehensible to the visitor at first, but after a while you'll catch the rhythm and begin to pick up expressions.Money The U.S. Dollar is also widely accepted around the island. You may also change your currency into Jamaican dollars at banks or exchange bureaus in airports and hotels The official currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican Dollar. If you exchange money, do not exchange all of your money at one time. It's best to exchange it as needed; you will lose money converting Jamaican dollars back to U.S. dollars when you depart Jamaica. Use traveler's checks whenever possible; it is the safest way to travel with money. Keep all exchange receipts. They will be required when exchanging any unused Jamaican money to U.S. money prior to departure. Most shops and restaurants accept all major credit cards. You may want to notify your credit card company in advance to be sure you are set up to access your card outside of the country.Phone Calls Collect phone calls to home are expensive, about $10 U.S. for every 3 minutes. The best way to call home is to purchase a Jamaican Calling Card when you arrive. A 5-minute calling card usually costs about $200 Jamaican; U.S. it's about a dollar a minute. Email is another way of letting home know you're still alive. Look for Cyber Cafˇ locations.Prescription Drugs Keep all medication with you at all times. Do not put it in with your checked luggage and keep them in their prescription bottle.Time Zone Jamaica is in the Eastern Standard Time zone, but does not recognize daylight savings time.Tipping Restaurants do not include a tip in your bill. Please be sure to tip the people who take care of you. Your waiters, bartenders and room maids are vastly underpaid and many of them rely on your tips as their sole source of income.Transportation It's not hard to find a taxi in Jamaica; they are everywhere. Official taxis have red license plates with white numbers; they are the safest ones to use. Be sure to negotiate the exact cost in Jamaican currency before getting into a cab. Better prices can be negotiated with large groups. Don't ride alone; always stick with the buddy system. Some clubs offer free shuttle service.Vendors/Locals It's best to keep a "No Problem" mind set while in Jamaica. Nothing happens in a hurry in this laid-back country. While the Jamaicans will do anything for you, it will be on their time. Just about every local you see will offer to get you anything you want; some will stop offering when you say "no thanks" and some will be overly persistent. Don't get annoyed or angry. Try to keep in mind that this is a third-world country and they are just trying to make a living. Their key word is RESPECT; show some and they will undoubtedly do the same.Weather In March, the temperature in Jamaica ranges from the low 70's to high 80's. Don't forget your sunscreen! The sun is extremely hot and overpowering compared to the sun in the U.S. Bad weather during spring break is almost unheard of! The nights can get a bit cool and a light jacket or sweater is suggested. |
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