JAMAICA

 Jamaica lies 90 miles south of Cuba and is the third largest of the Caribbean islands. Many visitors are unaffected by the plague of crime, drugs and mugging because they are escorted from the airport to their heavily patrolled hotel grounds and venture out only on expensive organized tours.

Most Jamaicans have good humor and genuinely welcome visitors to the island. Jamaica has the best golf courses in the West Indies and fine diving water. It is well known for its Reggae festivals.

Getting Around

It is recommended to rent a car, use a taxi or bus and/or a bike & scooter.

Where to Stay (Montego Bay)

A. Very Expensive

Breezes Montego Bay

Half Moon Golf, Tennis and Beach Club

Round Hill Hotel and Villas

The Sandals Inn

Sandals Montego Bay

Sandals Royal Jamaican

Sunset Beach Resort and Spa

The Tryall Club

B. Expensive

Coyaba

Wyndham Rose Hall Golf & Beach Resort

C. Moderate/Inexpensive

Coral Cliff Hotel

Doctor’s Cave Beach Hotel

Reading Reef Club

Royal Court Hotel

Wexford Court Hotel

Winged Victory Hotel

Where to Dine

A. Expensive

Julia’s

Norma at the Wharfhouse

Sugar Mill Restaurant

B. Moderate

Ambrosia

Day-O Plantation Restaurant

Marguerite’s Seafood by the Sea and Margueritaville Sports Bar & Grill

Pier 1

Reading Reef Club Restaurant

Richmond Hill Inn

Town House

C. Inexpensive

Calabash Restaurant

Le Chalet

The Native Restaurant

The Pelican

Port Pit

 Beaches

Cornwall Beach

Doctor’s Cave Beach

Walter Fletcher Beach

Rose Hall Beach Club

 Negril is on the western tip of the island and is now famous for its Seven Mile Beach. It is a tourist mecca. It became famous in the late 1960s when it attracted laid-back American and Canadian youths, who liked the idea of a place with no phones and no electricity. Today, there are more sophisticated hotels and resorts.

There are really two Negrils: The West End is the site of many little local restaurants and cottages. The other Negril is on the east end. This is where the up-scale hotels are.

Getting Around

You may choose to use a rental car, taxi or bus.

 Where to Stay

A. Very Expensive

The Caves

Grand Lido

Hendonism II

Sandals Negril

Swept Away

B. Expensive/Moderate

Charela Inn

Negril Beach Club Hotel

Negril Gardens Hotel

Negril Inn

Negril Tree House

Sea Splash Resort

C. Inexpensive

Negril Cabins

Rockhouse

 Where to Dine

A. Expensive

Le Vendome

Rick’s Cafe

B. Moderate/Inexpensive

Chicken Lavish

Cosmo’s Seafood Restaurant & Bar

Margueritaville

Mariners Inn & Restaurant

Restaurant Tan-Ya’s/Calico Jack’s

Beaches

Seven Mile Beach

Hedonism II

Grand Lido

Ocho Rios was once a small banana and fishing port, until tourism became the leading industry. It is Jamaica’s cruise ship capital. Ochos Rios has long been associated with Sir Noel Coward and Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond.

It is known for its major fishing tournament every fall.

Getting Around

It is recommended to rent a car, use a taxi or bus.

Where to Stay

A. Very Expensive

Goldeneye

Grand Lido Sams Souci

Jamaica Inn

B. Expensive

Ciboney Ocho Rios

Club Jamaica Beach Resort

Couples Ocho Rios

High Hope Estate

Plantation Inn

Sandal’s Dunn’s River

Sandal’s Ocho Rios Resort & Golf Club

C. Moderate

The Enchanted Garden

D. Inexpensive

Hibiscus Lodge Hotel

Where to Dine

A. Expensive

The Casanova

Plantation Inn Restaurant

B. Moderate

Almond Tree Restaurant

Evita’s Italian Restaurant

Little Pub Restaurant

Toscanini’s

C. Inexpensive

Ocho Rios Village Jerk Centre

Parkway Restaurant

 Beaches

Mallards Beach

Turtle Beach

Dun’s River Beach

Jamaica Grande’s Beach

Couples Resort

James Bond Beach

 This small, bustling town is like many on the island, clean but untidy, with sidewalks filled with vendors where you can find craftwork, spices and fruit. Cruise ships come through this town, usually just for the day. Usually the titled and wealthy come here, i.e., Whoopi Goldberg and Peter O’Toole

It is sometimes called the Jamaica of 100 years ago. It is best known for the movie that Brooke Shields shot here, "The Blue Lagoon". The water is so deep, nearly 20 feet or so, that it turns cobalt blue.

Getting Around

It is recommended to either rent a car, taxi or use the bus.

Where to Stay

A. Very Expensive

Fern Hill Club Hotel

Trident Villas and Hotel

B. Expensive/Moderate

Dragon Bay

Goblin Hill Villas at San San

Jamaica Palace

C. Inexpensive

Navy Island Marina Resort

Where to Dine

Fern Hill Club

Trident Hotel Restaurant

Yachtsman’s Wharf

 Beaches

San San Beach

Boston Beach

Fairy Hill Beach

Frenchman’s Cove Beach

Navy Island

Crusoe’s Beach

Kingston is the largest English-speaking city in the Caribbean and is the capital of Jamaica. More than 650,000 people reside here.

The buildings here are a mixture of the modern, graceful, old and just plain ramshackle. It’s a busy city with the largest natural harbour in the world. The University of the West Indies has its campus on the edge of the city.

Where to Stay

Strawberry Hill

Terra Nova Hotel

Morgan’s Harbour Hotel & Beach

Where to Dine

Blue Mountain Inn

Beaches

Hellshire Beach

Fort Clarence

Naggo Head

Lime Cay