How to Find Hotels in Kingston, Jamaica

Kingston is the capital of Jamaica, a tropical island that draws vacationers, honeymooners and anyone who wants to sit back and sip an umbrella drink while listening to reggae. Don't forget to pack your hibiscus shirt, mon.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Passport

Know Your Destination

1. Understand that Kingston is a very large city, a major port and the economic center of the country.
2. Make friends with the locals. Jamaica does not have an official language, but English and a delightful patois English are commonly spoken throughout the island.

Find Transportation

3. Fly into the Norman Manley International Airport. The facility has many amenities, including a post office, money changing, gift shops, a help center and taxi/car rentals.
4. Drive on the left side of the road. Most roads are paved but not well maintained. Do your driving in the daytime if you leave the city, since there is little breakdown assistance in rural areas.

Select Your Accommodations

5. To book accommodations, contact Jamaica Tourist Board at (800) 233-4JTB or visit their Web site (see Resources below).
6. Choose from a wide range of accommodations. Kingston has several very opulent luxury hotels, with surprisingly reasonable rates. Mid-level hotels are numerous, and prices range from $35 to $70 per night.
7. Consider staying at one of the many resorts just outside the city.
8. Save your money for Red Stripe by staying at one of the two officially registered youth hostels in Kingston.

Local Information

9. Learn about the Rastafari movement. This religion arose in the 1930s, and is based on the belief that Haille Selasse, then ruler of Ethiopia, was an incarnation of Jah, or Jehovah. Many things associated with Jamaica, such as reggae music and the use of marijuana, are tied to the Rasta way of life.

Tips & Warnings

• Visas are not required for foreign visitors for up to 90 days, but all American visitors must have a passport for reentry.
• Jamaica is known for its drug trafficking, which has contributed to the formation of gang violence in some areas.
• Avoid the public bus system in Kingston. The U.S. Embassy advises that it is an overcrowded venue with frequent occurrence of crime.
• Stay in the main tourist areas, especially after dark, since pickpockets and robbers are fairly common in the Kingston area. Some violent crime has been reported against foreigners away from main tourist areas.
• Schedule your vacation for December through June. Jamaica is subject to an annual hurricane season that is most active between the months of July and November.