Destination Guide

Jamaica top rated attractions and travel guide.

Jamaica was discovered by Christopher Columbus on the 4th of May 1494, at the time the country was inhabited by Arawak Indians. Spanish colonial rule lasted up until 1655 and the legacy of this period can be seen in some historical sites, why not visit the fortifications, houses and museums? Remnants of the British slaving colonial times are also salient in Jamaica, the country has a rich supply of coffee, spices and sugar.

Flights to Jamaica from the UK

To Kingston                                                                                           To Montego Bay

Jamaica gained independence in 1962 and is now a top rated destination amongst luxury holiday seekers. It is one of the largest Caribbean Islands and offers excellent tourist attractions. It is an intense, busy, lively and beautiful island. The climate it perfect, offering hours of sunshine and good temperatures. Jamaica offers a wide range of beaches, notably the magnificent five mile long, sunset facing stretch of beach called Negril beach. In Jamaica you will find plenty of top rated fun activities both on land and on water. Try caving, biking, scuba diving or golf, you will find Jamaica can supply these attractions. VIPvillas offer luxury  holiday villas in Jamaica, accommodating up to twelve persons in six star luxury. 

VIPvillas quick travel guide to Jamaica

Jamaica Capital: Kingston is a lively capital, surprising travellers with elegant, old colonial houses against the stunning backdrop of the Blue Mountains. It is located on the south coast of Jamaica. The city offers world class business hotels, upscale shopping and top rated entertainment and dining.

The Best Jamaican beaches:

Jamaica offers a full variety of beaches, ranging from perfect white sandy beaches at Negril in the far west, through the meandering curves and bays of the north shore. Most have the usual beach attractions available. On the eastern end of Jamaica you will find stunning beaches in hidden coves. The sand on the north shore is brilliantly white and is usually protected by an offshore reef, making it safe for swimming. The south coast has some dark sand beaches among the white ones and it is usually protected from the weather, so it is often calmer. The beaches tend to be quieter too, mainly because there are far fewer travellers, though the beaches nearest to Kingston can be extremely lively on the weekends. Montego Bay is probably the best known holiday beach resort.

Jamaican Bars & Nightlife.

With a large population in Jamaica that includes both residents and travellers and such a strong tradition of music, Jamaica has a vibrant nightlife, one of the best in the Caribbean. Nightlife is most definietely an attraction. You will find a top rate selection of bars and clubs from the upbeat, themed bars of the main tourist towns to the uptown bars of Kingston and from local rum shops to the near limitless beach and cliff bars of Negril. There is even a bar several miles out to sea, on a sand-bar off Treasure Beach.

VIPvillas recommend you visit Montego Bay, Gloucester Avenue at night, it epitomises Jamaica’s nightlife with a stretch of hotels, bars and clubs.

The top restaurants

In Kingston you will find a great selection of restaurants that will serve many tasty local dishes, based on fresh fish, exotic vegetables and fruit. Outside the capital you will not find a great deal of quality restaurants, we therefore recommend you try eating in the restaurants located in the holiday resorts where our VIPvillas are situated.

Jamaican Activities and Attractions:

Jamaica offers attractions for all interests across the island. If you seek adventure, Jamaica has over a thousand caves to explore; you will find that the largest caves have guided tours, such as Nonsuch Cave and Green Grotto. 

The Blue Mountains provide excellent spots for biking, horse riding and hiking, with various paths, roads and plains for all abilities.

Jamaica has ten top quality golf courses that are both challenging and beautiful. You will find some excellent course in the Montego Bay area.

Jamaica also has much aquatic leisure, such as fishing, rafting and scuba diving.

There is plenty to do in Jamaica and here at VIPvillas we seek to provide accommodation for all types of holiday parties.

Shopping

The shopping in Jamaica has all that you would expect of a major cruise ship and hotel destination. There are malls, craft markets, hotel shops, many providing duty free shopping. As a large island with a strong culture of its own, Jamaica also has many more original things to buy. You will find top designers have shops on the island and you are never far away from shops when staying in a holiday villa.

 Jamaica villa holidays

Useful holiday Information and travel advice

Jamaican Currency: The US dollar is the most commonly used form of currency and you can atain a good exchange rate on all of the islands. You can exchange your money at Hotels, the airport and all banks. ATMs are widely available and all major credit cards are accepted throughout the islands.

Trading exchange rates available at XE.com, this is not what you will get on the high street but is the trading rate. It will give you some bargaining power!

Languages spoken in Jamaica: The official language is English, but Patois is the local dialect Jamaicans usein daily life.

Travel Flight time: Between 9-14 hours depending on stopovers and which island you choose to visit. Direct flights are available from the UK.

GMT: During the winter Jamaica is five hours behind Britain (GMT) and six behind mainland Europe, and during the summer (British Summer Time) it is six hours behind Britain and seven behind Europe.

Jamaican Weather: The Caribbean offers good weather all year round. Temperatures are summerlike all year, Average temperatures range from 19C/66F to 32C/99F

Dialling code: Jamaica 001 876

Electricity: 240V. Electrical outlets on Jamaica do not follow a standard. Expect 110 volts or 220 volts AC (50 Cycle), 60Hz, single phase with American two-pin plugs or 220 volts AC, 50Hz, single phase, from three-pin sockets

Passport information: You will need a full 10 year passport valid for 6 months beyond your date of return.

Visa information: Not required for UK passport holders for stays of less than three months as long as you have a return ticket.

Vaccinations: Vaccinations are strongly recommended. For further information, please consult your doctor.

Water:
The drinking water in Jamaica is filtered and purified by modern methods and is therefore safe to drink straight from the taps. If you prefer to drink bottled water, there are many brands of Jamaican spring water readily available.

Tipping: Jamican restaurants often incorporate an automatic gratuities charge into the final bill, which is usually 10 percent of the total cost of the meal.

  Jamaica Villa Holidays.