How to Stay Safe in Jamaica

Jamaica is a beautiful country that many people liken to paradise. The beautiful beaches and tall mountains create the iconic look of the Caribbean. While on a vacation in Jamaica, it is important to take a few measures to stay safe.

Instructions

1. Travel through the area with a group of people when you leave the resort sections of Jamaica. Three or more people traveling together with at least one male present prevents a lot of potential problems.

2. Protect your purse and wallet when shopping or walking around town. Women should loop their purses over their heads and keep their purses under their arms at all times.

3. Avoid displaying physical affection in same-sex relationships. In Jamaica, same-sex relationships are against the law and are culturally unaccepted. The Jamaican police will not protect the hurt homosexuals and may even legally punish the victim(s).

4. Call 119 if you need help from the local police. Remember, even the police are on Jamaican time and will show up to help you when they are ready.

5. Stay at your resort facilities or tourist areas at night instead of venturing out into the inner cities. Stay safe during the day by avoiding neighborhoods known for problems, such as Spanish Town, Trench Town, Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

6. Watch your step when you walk along the beaches, particularly in the water. Sea urchins will sting your feet and legs while you are in the water. When snorkeling or scuba diving, never touch any of the natural wildlife for both its protection and yours.

7. Bring lots of bug spray to cover yourself and your luggage to keep mosquitoes off you and ants off your luggage. This will help keep you safe from tropical diseases that are spread through insects.

8. Drink bottled water whenever possible, but wipe off the mouth of the bottle before using it. Jamaica recycles water bottles but doesn't always clean the part of the bottles under the cap. Most of the time, Jamaica says its tap water is drinkable.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave your nice jewelry at home. Don't bring any jewelry to Jamaica that you aren't willing to leave in Jamaica. Nice jewelry will increase the amount of people wanting to sell you things and can increase your odds of being robbed.

• Lock your suitcases when they are in your hotel room.

• Never pull out a large wad of cash in Jamaica or any other country. Instead, divide your money for the day into several smaller amounts so you can reach in your pocket to grab $10 to $20 at a time.

• Don't buy drugs in Jamaica, even though you will likely be offered marijuana several times a day. Some "ganja" or "herb" dealers will report you to the U.S. DEA after selling you the drugs. Some people working at the tourist destinations also serve as informants.