Jamaica Vacation
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Unlike other nearby Caribbean islands, Jamaica caters to everyone from beach bums to honeymooning newlyweds. A Jamaica vacation might be a private villa with your own secluded beach, or spent laughing your vacation away at a party-intensive resort, or just maybe involve throwing yourself headfirst into island life while experiencing the three R’s: reggae, relaxation and rum.
Jamaica is a true year-round destination; winter is usually warm by day and semi-cool by night, and summer months are hot. The rainy season extends from May to November, with peaks in May and June and again in October and November. Rain usually only falls for short periods (typically in the late afternoon), and it’s quite possible to enjoy sunshine for most of your Jamaica vacation during these months. Peak tourist season is from mid-December to mid-April, which of course means that hotel prices are at their highest. Many hotels will also charge rates close to that of peak season during Christmas and Easter.
There’s a whole lot more to a Jamaica vacation than the generally clichéd view of spring breakers drinking the night away in Montego Bay. Not that this isn’t a major happening, but definitely not the only instance of Jamaica’s lively atmosphere or fierce outdoor-centric activities. Hiking, camping, snorkeling, horseback riding, backpacking, swimming, and jet skiing are some of the more common ways to experience that vacation side of Jamaica. However, you can also venture into the cities to sample unique foods and drinks (especially the spirits), and take time during your Jamaica vacation to mingle with the generous and warm people who inhabit the island. Then again, nobody is going to give it a second thought if you’d rather hang on the beaches and in the grottos, leaving your cares behind as you soak up the tropical atmosphere.
Driving as a tourist in Jamaica is an adventure in and of itself. Jamaican roads are not particularly known for their upkeep, any more than their drivers are for their caution. Roads in and around major cities are generally congested, and rural roads can be quite dangerous, even more so in inclement weather. As a former British colony, Jamaicans drive on the left. If it doesn’t seem worth the potential hassle, there are many ways to see Jamaica that won’t put you behind the wheel of a car. Jamaican local buses, for example, are cheap and will save you the headache of negotiating with tourist taxis. Train service is pretty much nonexistent, and air travel across the island will cost you an arm and a leg, so it is probably best to exclude these two right away as an option during any Jamaica vacation.