Jamaica Vacations

General Information about Jamaica Vacations:

All-inclusive Jamaica vacations generally offer good value, great weather, and laid-back Jamaican culture in the homeland of Reggae music.  All-inclusive Jamaica packages, featured at a variety of coastal destinations, are a favourite of Canadian travellers, appealing to singles, couples, families, the young, and the young at heart. From the laid-back serenity of Negril to the relative urban excitement of Montego Bay, all-inclusive Jamaica vacations offer something for everyone. Although the official language is English, and English is spoken throughout the island, local linguistic styles vary from place to place, as the ingredients of Spanish, African, English, and Rastafarian are blended to produce a language as unique as Jamaican culture.

The tourism infrastructure is well-established, and all-inclusive Jamaica package holiday resorts vary in age and construction from location to location. Like Mexico, a Jamaica vacation should be experienced at least once in a lifetime, and many travellers would agree that Jamaica is worth repeat visits. The warm, friendly, laid-back local people and culture must be experienced first-hand – this is a place like no other.

Delight Your Senses with an All-Inclusive Jamaica Vacation Package

Jamaican culture, influenced by the slave trade and European colonization, is truly unique, as seen in its language, music, dance, and other forms of expression. The official language of Jamaica is English, and English-speaking tourists will have little difficulty communicating in the resort areas. Jamaican patois, otherwise known as Jamaican creole – a blend of English and African languages – is not an official language of Jamaica, but is commonly spoken by the locals to varying degrees, based somewhat on education and class status. The local people are friendly, outgoing and extremely sociable. All-inclusive Jamaica vacations are often judged based on one's own appreciation (or lack of appreciation) for the local people and cultural customs – those who appreciate the locals tend to really appreciate an all-inclusive Jamaica package holiday. Locals like to interact with tourists, and it may take time for some tourists to come to appreciate the social nature of the local Jamaican culture in contrast to other, more reserved cultural practices found in other global destinations. Local vendors, eager for sales and accustomed to an 'in your face' approach have toned down in recent years.   

On an all-inclusive Jamaica package holiday, tourists can expect to find a rich variety of foods that reflect the diversity and uniqueness of Jamaican culture. Those who can appreciate spicy foods will enjoy the jerk seasoned pork and chicken, marinated with a blend of local spices that are known as 'jerk' seasoning. And no all-inclusive Jamaica vacation would be complete without sampling some of the local curries, rice, beans, and fish dishes. All-inclusive Jamaica packages also feature well-prepared resort food, which is generally well-received by tourists. For music lovers, particularly those who appreciate reggae and calypso styles, Jamaica vacations are most desirable. Where better to experience the sweet sounds of reggae music than in the homeland of Bob Marley! 

For true fans of Reggae music, February 6 should be a target date for enjoying an all-inclusive Jamaica vacation, when the Island comes alive in celebration of Bob Marley's birthday. Not only is does Marley's birthday present a great excuse for partying, it provides the opportunity to appreciate the music of this legendary musician and cultural figure in the home of Reggae music. Bob Marley's birthday celebrations are definitely not to be missed, and the party is sure to enhance any all-inclusive Jamaica package holiday.

Depending on the particular destination, all-inclusive Jamaica vacations are set in a landscape that varies from mountainous to comparably flat, all covered in lush greenery. The Jamaican mountains, also known for producing Blue Mountain Coffee, influence the climate to some degree across the island.

Sun and Sand on Your Jamaica Vacation

In general, all-inclusive Jamaica vacations feature great beaches, varying in width and quality to some degree from location to location, but all featuring white sands and beautiful warm waters. For the best beaches in Jamaica, stick with Negril and Montego Bay, as compared with the somewhat lesser quality beaches found in Ocho Rios.

All-inclusive Jamaica vacations generally feature good weather all year round. Jamaica vacations typically feature year round high temperatures that range between 85?F-90?F, with average lows typically sitting above 75?F. Temperatures do not fluctuate greatly through the year, and all-inclusive Jamaica vacations in the winter season still feature beautiful temperatures. The rainy season, from May through October, brings approximately four inches of rain per month to some areas of Jamaica, while impacting others less due to the situation in relation to the mountains. However, rainfalls are typically brief, followed by sunshine, and overcast days are not common for all-inclusive Jamaica vacations, even during the rainy season. It should be noted that, for any tourists interested in heading into the mountains on a Jamaica vacation tour, the temperatures can dip considerably lower at higher altitudes, and appropriate clothing should be considered.

Hurricane season, with its unpredictability of storm events, typically lasts from July through December, peaking from mid-August to mid-November. Although Jamaica vacations are not often impacted by hurricanes, the possibility remains. However, when booking Jamaica vacation packages, you can rest assured that tour operators will not fly you into a hurricane, will act fast to get you out in the event of any development. You can find great Jamaica vacation package deals during hurricane season, and the economic advantage is well worth considering. We recommend that you speak with one of our tripcentral agents to fully understand the great value benefit vs. limited risk associated with travel to this region during hurricane season.

Jamaica Vacation Highlights: Finding the Destination that Best Suits Your Needs

In general, all-inclusive Jamaica vacations offer great overall value. But to maximize value, it is important to choose a particular destination that offers the best balance of options to suit your particular needs. Those in search of a serene environment, such as Negril, may not be concerned with the quality of the local golf courses in Montego Bay while on their Jamaica package holiday, or vice versa. Speaking with one of our tripcentral agents is the best way of ensuring that your travel needs are met, as they can greatly assist you in filtering through each of the various destinations' strongest qualities. The information on this page provides a good starting point for measuring up each of the Jamaica vacation destinations. Reading the individual Jamaica vacation destination pages, available on our tripcentral web site, will help to expand on the various qualities of each destination. However, due to the large volume of information to filter through in coming to a decision, it is recommended that you speak with one of our "agents who've been there."

In general, the cultural experience of a Jamaica vacation is something to be experienced, and is often the reason why many tourists return to the island repeatedly. Whether situated in the urban setting of Montego Bay, the more secluded surroundings of Negril, laid-back Jamaican culture is pervasive. All Jamaican destinations offer their own unique attractions, but Ocho Rios offers the greatest access to all points of interest, including Dunn's River, sightseeing, golf, and other attractions to enhance an all-inclusive Jamaica package holiday. For snorkelling and scuba diving, all Jamaica vacation destinations have something unique to offer, including Negril Reef and above average diving out of Montego Bay. For the avid golfer, Jamaica vacations are a great option, and a trip to Ocho Rios or Montego Bay provides access to many professionally designed golf courses.

For those interested in great nightlife, Jamaica packages, particularly in Ocho Rios, are a good option. Other Jamaica destinations, such as Negril, offer fewer options for nightlife, limited to resorts. For the greatest variety of dining and shopping options away from the all-inclusive resorts, the urban setting of Montego Bay is the place to be on an all-inclusive Jamaica package holiday. Although options may be limited compared with other sun destinations, Jamaica vacations provide access to the unique cuisine and craftwork of Jamaican culture.

All-Inclusive Jamaica Packages: What to Know Before You Go

Before you go on your all-inclusive Jamaica vacation, it's good to know some basic information to ensure that your time away is hassle-free. Before you can enter Jamaica for your all-inclusive Jamaica vacation, you will need to ensure that you have proof of Canadian citizenship in the form of a birth certificate and photo ID, although a valid passport is the best option. Also, there are no medical shots required prior to a Jamaica vacation. It is best to stick with bottled water to avoid any health-related issues.  Regarding tourist safety on a Jamaica vacation, it is important to note that many of the problems that occur stem from Kingston, a big city with a population in excess of 1 million. But Kingston is a long way from the all-inclusive Jamaica vacation resort areas, and problems may easily be avoided by using a bit of common sense – this is not a place to venture out alone at night. 

Banking/commerce on Jamaica vacations is primarily conducted in US currency. Credit cards are accepted in restaurants and hotels, but U.S. cash should be on hand for other uses. Although it is not necessary to have Jamaican currency on hand while on a Jamaica package holiday, tourists should be aware that change provided in a consumer transaction may be given in Jamaican currency. Many of the all-inclusive Jamaica vacation properties implement a no tipping policy, although tipping is otherwise expected, and is generally 15%. If you are taking any electronics along on your all-inclusive Jamaica vacation, you'll be glad to know that Jamaica shares the 110 volt North American standard, and no special adapters will be required to power your devices.

All-inclusive Jamaica vacations are widely available, with good frequency and variable durations. All Jamaica package flights to tourist destinations fly into Montego Bay, and transfers to final destination vary in length, but can be considerable – 90 minutes to Negril, 2 hours to Ocho Rios, and 90 minutes to Whitehouse on the south-west coast.

For those planning an all-inclusive Jamaica vacation wedding, there are a few details to be attended to in making arrangements. It is important to book your all-inclusive Jamaica package wedding early to ensure availability and allow for adequate planning. All-inclusive Jamaica packages, particularly in the serenity of Negril, are the perfect solution for those planning a wedding in the sun, but good planning and attention to detail is required, and we are here to help. Speak with one of our tripcentral agents to ensure that you are aware of all of the requirements for a Jamaica wedding, and ensure that your special day is hassle-free.