Product Description

The Rough Guide to Jamaica is the complete guide to the Caribbean's liveliest island. The full-colour introduction includes the 'Things Not To Miss' section with photographs of the island's highlights from the Bob Marley Museum in bustling Kingston to rafting the Rio Grande. The guide contains detailed and discriminating reviews of the best accommodation, restaurants, bars and cafes - and the latest spots to catch the hottest reggae and dancehall. There is informed coverage of Kingston and the major resorts of Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril, as well as the lesser-known beaches in Portland and the south. Expert advice and practical tips are given on everything from where to watch the cliff divers at Negril to finding secluded waterfalls and mineral baths. The Contexts section provides detailed coverage of Jamaica's history and fabulous music scene from Marcus Garvey to Beenie Man.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #143708 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

About the Author
Polly Thomas is a freelance writer, full-time editor for Rough Guides in London. She has also co-written the Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago. Adam Vaitilingham is a barrister, writer and occasional sax player who lived in the West Indies from 1989 to 1993.

Excerpted from The Rough Guide to Jamaica by Polly Thomas, Adam Vaitlingham. Copyright © 2000. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
WHERE TO GO Most of Jamaica’s tourist business is concentrated in the "big three" resorts of Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril which, between them, pull hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Probably the most evocative name in the Caribbean, Montego Bay is a busy, commercial city with hotels lined up along its main strip, a stone’s throw from a couple of Jamaica’s most famous beaches. Though "MoBay" has lost some of its old lustre, the place retains an appealing vitality, with a busy street life and a great entertainment scene, most obvious during the annual Reggae Sumfest festival. West of here, its low-rise hotels slung along seven miles of fantastic white sand and two miles of dramatic cliffs, Negril is a different type of resort – younger, more laid-back, and with a longstanding reputation for unbridled hedonism that still carries a hint of the truth. East of MoBay, and the least individualistic of the big three, Ocho Rios embodies high-impact tourism – purpose-built in the 1960s to provide the ultimate package of sun, sand and sea. It’s not an overly attractive place, and the beaches don’t compare favourably with Negril and MoBay, but tourist infrastructure is undeniably strong – the place is packed with shops, restaurants, bars and watersports – and you’re right by some of Jamaica’s leading attractions, including the famous Dunn’s River waterfall, dramatic Fern Gully and the lovely botanical gardens at Shaw Park. Away from these resorts, you’ll have to look a bit harder to find your entertainment – Jamaica’s quieter east and south coasts offer a far less packaged product – but there are plenty of real gems worth hunting out, particularly if you’re keen to escape the crowds. In the island’s east, lush, rain-fed, sleepy Port Antonio, and it’s increasingly popular neighbour, Long Bay, provide gateways to some of Jamaica’s greatest natural attractions, like the cascading waterfalls at Reach and Somerset, and outdoor activities such as rafting on the majestic Rio Grande, and hiking through the dense rainforest of the John Crow Mountains. The south coast offers different pleasures, from gentle beach action at the terminally easy-going Treasure Beach – the perfect base for exploring local delights like the YS waterfalls and the gorgeous lagoon and beach at Gut River – to boat safaris in search of local wildlife on the Black River. Last, but in no way least, Kingston is the true heart of Jamaica, a thrilling place, pulsating with energy and spirit, that is home to more than a third of the island’s 2.5 million population. This is not just the nation’s political capital but the focus of its art, theatre and music scenes, with top-class hotels, restaurants and shopping, a clubbing scene that is second to none and legendary fried fish on offer at the fabulous Hellshire beach. A stunning backdrop to the city, the cool Blue Mountains are a captivating, gentle antidote, with plenty of marvellous hiking possibilities, while the nearby fishing village of Port Royal, once a great pirate city, and the former capital of Spanish Town, with its grand Georgian buildings, provide more historic diversions.

WHEN TO GO For many visitors, Jamaica’s tropical climate is its leading attraction – hot and sunny all year. The weather is at its most appealing during the peak tourist season, which runs from mid-December to mid-April, when rainfall is lowest and the heat is tempered by cooling trade winds, known locally as the "Doctor Breeze". Things can get noticeably hotter during the summer and, particularly in September and October, the humidity can become oppressive. September is also the most threatening month of the annual hurricane season, which runs officially from June 1 to October 31, though it’s worth bearing in mind that, on average, the big blows only hit about once a decade. As you’d expect, prices and crowds are at their highest during peak season, when the main attractions and beaches can get pretty busy. Outside this period – from Easter to early December – everywhere is quieter and, though the main resorts throb with life pretty much year-round, quieter tourist areas like Port Antonio and Treasure Beach can feel a little lifeless. The good news is that hotel prices everywhere fall by up to 25 percent, there are more bargains to be had in every field of activity, and a number of festivals – including the massive annual Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay – inject some summertime zip.

Customer Reviews

Going Jamaican? Read this first.
Rough Guide to Jamaica is essential reading - the insiders guide - I'd say, to making the most of travelling in and around Jamaica.
This book has everything you need to know from the food to the lingo to finding the real non-tourist hideaways that are all too often missed when taking a package holiday.
With comprehensive and upto date accommodation and transport listings this is ideal if you want to get the most out of your holiday, particularly if you are on a budget.
Rough Guide is easy reading and has all the info you need to know for an unforgettable visit to the island.

Very Useful
Bought a Berlitz guide last time, however, this seems to have a lot more content and a lot more of what i wanted which is handy hints of local customs traditions, laws etc etc. Looking forward to my holiday now, bet i forget to pack it! Recommended.!

Very useful guide to a wonderful country!
In keeping with the other Rough Guide books...this is a highly informative and excellent book on Jamaica. Although, naturally some things are a little out of date. For example, the book recommends an arts and crafts shop in Saint Ann which doesn't exist anymore.