Have you been dreaming about a holiday to Jamaica for a while?
Picturing the soft sand and azure sea?
Envisioning the lush green mountains?
Hearing the reggae vibes?
Anticipating the tingle of jerk spice on your tongue?
If you’ve been before, you’ll know that a couple of weeks never feels like enough – if it’s your first time, trust us!
The good news is that with enough prior planning (entry requirements permitting) you can plan a long-term trip to this legendary island nation and soak up the awesome ambience over a few months. Here are 5 tips for your long-term Jamaica travel adventure!
Check your entry clearance
Current circumstances mean you’ll have to check, double-check and triple-check the entry requirements for Jamaica. But in regular times, its visa regime is fairly relaxed and countries like the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana and Gambia enjoy visa-free entry for up to 6 months.
Jamaica is a small nation compared to many, but it makes up for it with a plethora of varied activities and diverse terrain in town and country – so you’ll have to plan ahead to make the most of it.
Check ratings and recommendations before pre-booking accommodation and consider spending some time in cultural hub (and capital) Kingston, tourist hotspots like Ocho Rios and Negril, and off-the-beaten-track spots in parishes like Portland and St Elizabeth.
Digital considerations
Wi-Fi coverage and speed across Jamaica is generally good. But it can vary in very isolated locations, so if you rely on consistent internet access for your Youtube vlog or ARU Distance Learning course, confirm accessibility with your host beforehand.
It’s also worth noting that Jamaicans are very au fait with social media, so following local celebs like Dutty Berry and Ras Mokko will provide unique insider insights to the culture.
Learn the lingo
The vast majority of Jamaicans speak standard English fluently, so you’ll have no problems making yourself understood.
However, Patois (a mixture of English, African, Scots and Irish) is the main language in everyday use – check out ‘Jamaican Patois’ videos on Youtube if you want to learn the lingo, immerse yourself more in the culture and really know ‘wha gwaan’ (‘what’s happening).
Try the food
Jamaica is a treat for foodies too and there are culinary delights to be found all the way from street food to haute cuisine.
When you’re in Kingston, you must try the beef, chicken, lobster or callaloo patties from The Bakery at Devon House, or the roadside jerk chicken cooked over steel pans at spots like the Harbour View roundabout (near NMIA Airport). Further, you’ll find high-end fusion food at hotels like Terra Nova and Strawberry Hill.
Follow these five tips for a long term trip to Jamaica and you’ll soon settle into one of the most creative and unique cultures in the world – bon voyage when the time comes!
I am always looking for the perfect escape, the perfect paradise, the kind of place that tosses your cares into the sea. Fortunately, I have discovered many! I created this site to show you where to go and how to get there. My goal is to show you that Paradise is only a plane ticket (or boat ride) away. I have inspired many others to travel and to create a better life. I am available for inspirational speaking, coaching, writing, travel planning, and photography.
