Fort George Village Shopping Arcade (downtown Port Antonio – across from the court house) – opened in 1997, this three-level shopping center houses various types of retailers – from jewelry to PCs and other electronics, to jewelry, souvenirs, etc.
Carlos’ Café (22 Belmont Road, New Kingston) – this is bar in the uptown part of Kingston, frequented by well-heeled locals, along with some tourists passing by. Thursday is Karaoke night, and Friday is Latin night. It draws a professional after-work crown on Friday evenings.
Almond Tree Restaurant (Hibiscus Lodge Hotel, 83-85 Main Street, Ocho Rios) – located within this seaside resort, this is a charming upscale two-tiered patio restaurant with its eponymous almond tree growing through its roof. Seafood and other items are served here, including some with local influences, such as jerk lamb.
CAR RENTALS – the following car rental agencies function in Jamaica: Avis Car Rental: (876) 952-0762/979-1060 Budget Int’l Rentals: (876) 953-0534/952-3838 Hertz Car Rental: (876) 952-4250/979-0438 Island Car Rental: (876) 952-5771/952-7225 Thrifty Car Rental: (876) 952-1126/812-5989
Appleton Estate Rum Tour (Appleton, Siloah, Maggotty) — Appleton Estate Rum Tour gives the visitor an inside look at the rum-making process. Visitors watch resident donkey “Pax” demonstrate how juice was extracted from sugarcane in the 18th century. From there the tour takes visitors to the Distillery & Aging House where the different methods of […]
Kingston – now the capital of independent Jamaica, Kingston’s history goes back to 1692, when nearby Port Royal was destroyed by a massive earthquake, which spurred gradual redevelopment at a nearby area. Nowadays, Kingston (as the largest city on the island) acts as the country’s business center, as well as most government ministries being located […]
Half Moon Shopping Village (Half Moon, North Coast Highway, 11 km. east of Montego Bay) – this shopping center, located within Half Moon resort and housed in bright yellow buildings, has a mix of pricey boutiques, as well as more affordable wares. Along with the shops, there are also restaurants, a bank and a post […]
Blue Beat Jazz Lounge (Gloucester Avenue, Montego Bay) – located on Montego Bay’s so-called “Hip Strip”, this upscale venue offers more mature vacationers and locals live jazz music in a cozy setting with atmospheric lighting and cool blue décor.
Boston Jerk Centre (Boston Beach, Route A4, east of Port Antonio) – the main attraction to this open-air restaurant is its popular jerk pits. Healthy portions of jerk chicken, pork, goat and fish are served here – a great introduction to BBQ Jamaican cuisine for first-time visitors. Side dishes typically include rice and peas.
TAXI – over the years, regular visitors to Jamaica advise visitors to make arrangements with their resort to arrange for their taxi needs. This, since they will have long-standing relationships with reputable local taxi companies, in particular what are known as “charter taxis” (a.k.a. tourist taxis) – which have red license plates with white lettering. […]