Jamaica Travel Guide for Couples

Why is the Jamaica a Good Destination for Couples?

When you think of Jamaica, what comes to mind? Bob Marley? The Jamaican Bobsled team? We think of walks on powder sand beaches, kayaking together in a bioluminescent lagoon, or just taking in the fun of a tropical island together. There are lots of options for all-inclusive resorts or boutique hotels in Montego Bay or Kingston. Soaking up a bit of the culture while you’re there will change you in ways you might never have imagined. A trip to Jamaica might be just with the doctor ordered!

What is Unique or Unusual about Jamaica?

Jamaica is the fourth largest Caribbean island (following Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico). And it is the largest English-speaking island in the region. It is considered the birthplace of Reggae. Jamaica was also the home to Ian Flemming, as he wrote a dozen or more of his James Bond/007 novels. It is also known for its exceptional coffee, rum, and local beer brand, Red Stripe.

Where is Jamaica/How do we Get There?

Budgeting & Ways to Save

• Be flexible with where you are traveling to. There is a lot of competition among resorts but if you just **have** to stay at the place with the full page ad in the travel magazine you’re reading, you may miss out on some great alternative options.
• Avoid Caribbean travel during the peak season between late December and February. Basically, it comes down to supply and demand. If you’re traveling when everyone else is, you’re less likely to get discounted pricing on your trip. If you’re flexible with your travel dates you may save 35 – 50% off peak season rates for the same vacation.
• All-inclusive vacations typically will not save you money if you want to spend most of your time exploring the island, eating in local restaurants, and otherwise spending time off-resort. Travelers interested in this type of vacation experience should consider staying in a hotel or rental property instead. Mosst all-inclusives don’t allow you to experience much outside the confines of the resort unless you pay extra.
• Assess what you’ll actually use. Some resorts offer horseback riding, parasailing, scuba diving, casinos or other amenities. If you just plan to hang by the pool with a good book, you may be overpaying for things you won’t use. On the other hand, if you’d like to try your hand at these types of activities, the premium may be worth it.
• If you do go the all-inclusive route, be aware of what ‘all inclusive’ means at your resort. Common exclusions include spa treatments, purchases at the resort shop, off-site excursions, and some premium activities.
• Save money, but beware of deals that appear too good. An amazing rate may mean that construction is being done at your resort or hotel. If so, you won’t be able to access some of the resort features or the room you prefer. Check the resort website or call to inquire about such activity before pulling the trigger on your booking.
• Bundled vs. unbundled airfare. Resorts and travel companies assemble packages that include airfare or you can just buy the stay. Check prices and itineraries both ways. You may find that you can travel on a lower cost ticket or assemble a better travel itinerary if you do it yourself. On the other hand, the resort or travel provider may have better leverage or the ability to include free perks if you bundle. It pays to check but don’t automatically assume you’re getting a better deal by bundling.
• Read the fine print about room occupancy. This blog is primarily about couples travel, but if you’re bringing kids along, you may find a hefty surcharge for each child, depending on age. If this is the case, focus on family-friendly resorts like Beaches which are geared toward family travel.
• Think about last minute deals. If you are flexible and really don’t care where you go (i.e. just somewhere warm), you can often find nice savings on unsold inventory at the last minute. This doesn’t really work if you have to plan your vacation time well in advance (or are a planner by nature).
• Consider travel insurance. This doesn’t, strictly speaking, lower your cost but does reduce your downside risk if weather, illness or emergencies crop up.

Places to Go:

• Kingston
• Montego Bay

Where to Stay in Jamaica

Are you leaning toward an all-inclusive resort? Maybe a private residence with room to spread out? We’re fans of Booking.com as a way to do a baseline search, get a sense of the available properties and price ranges, and spread out from there.

How to Get Around in Jamaica

Renting a car is by far the most flexible mode of transport on the island. You’ll find a mix of larger international car rental brands as well as local options available to you. Owing to its British heritage, driving is on the left and larger highways are in good repair. Minor roads are another story and you may dodge potholes or other obstacles, so taking it a little slower than you might back home is advised. If you plan to rent a car, grab an International Driving Permit at your local AAA or CAA before you leave home.

If you’re not really planning to travel between areas on the island, you might find it easier to take taxis. Look for official taxis with red plates on them. Uber entered the market in 2021 but with stricter regulations and more restrictions than other markets, so don’t rely on ridesharing just yet.

Buses are also an option. Look for Knutsford Express for reliable and well-maintained coaches with service between cities on the island. You’ll also see more eclectic minibus options that may or may not have amenities or safety features customary back home. So do a little bit of research before you book.

Special Considerations

Mobile phone coverage is good in Jamaica. Check with your wireless carrier to be sure of how your plan treats mobile voice, text, and data usage to avoid a big billing surprise when you get back.

We’ve had good luck personally with international service with T-Mobile. Their Magenta Plan offers free international data and texting as part of the package in 200 plus countries. The data is throttled but not terrible – it’s fine as long as you’re not trying to catch up on the latest season of whatever show you’re binge-watching. Voice calls are $0.25/minute at the time of this writing. They have an international upgrade that allows for faster data speeds and unlimited calling. Unless you’re planning to be on the phone constantly, their basic international service should be just fine for most.

Unlike other Caribbean islands and places like Cancun in Mexico, tap water is generally safe to drink in Jamaica. That said, bottled water is abundantly available at resorts, restaurants, and neighborhood convenience stores, so if you feel better about it, feel free to limit your consumption to a bottle of carbonated or still water while you’re traveling.

When to Go

The weather is warm year-round, with average temperatures clocking in between the high 70’s and low 80’s Fahrenheit depending on what part of the island you’re traveling to. The best weather months to visit are generally December through May.

The hurricane season starts around June 1st and runs through the end of November. Each season averages about ten hurricanes in the Atlantic and while you may have good luck, the possibility of bad weather throwing you a curveball is certainly a possibility. For those playing the odds, September is usually the number one month for hurricanes so that’s one to avoid if possible. The flip side to this weather-related risk is lower pricing – if you are looking to keep your costs a little lower and are okay with the idea of keeping a close eye on The Weather Channel, this might be for you.

You’ll find the biggest crowds from December to February, so if you have flexibility in your schedule, the months of March through May get our vote since they are a bit less crowded.

Currency

Jamaica uses the Jamaican Dollar as its unit of currency. Here’s a current snapshot of the conversion rate. It defaults to the dollar, but you can also use the drop-down to convert from Canadian Dollars, Euros, or Pounds.

A Little History about Jamaica

Since 1962, Jamaica has been an independent country and a part of the British Commonwealth. They have a Prime Minister and the British Monarch is considered their head of state.

It wasn’t always like this – around 600 AD, the “Redware people” came from islands east of Jamaica. Not much is known about them, but they left distinctive red pottery after which they’re named. After which, they were followed by the Taino people who settled in the region and survived by fishing and cultivating the land.

Christopher Columbus arrived on the island in 1494 (if he ‘discovered’ it, it was news to the Taino population already there) and was actually shipwrecked there for about a year from 1503-04. The Spanish enslaved the native Taino population and introduced African slaves to the island as well. The Spanish controlled it until 1655 when the British arrived and expelled the Spanish. They continued the tradition of slavery, creating a plantation system that produced sugar, indigo, and cacao for shipment back to Europe.

There is a history of strife and rebellion that gradually moved the country toward self-rule in the 1960s.

Safety and Security While Traveling

Planning a Trip to Jamaica

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Books and Other Resources