Jamaica Travel Advice – 12 Tips for Visiting Jamaican Resorts
Planning your first trip to Jamaica?
Here are 12 tips to help you feel more prepared for your first visit to a resort in Jamaica! From must-pack items to level-setting expectations for your arrival, follow this advice to make your first Jamaica resort vacation is as smooth as possible.
12 Tips for Staying at a Resort in Jamaica
Table of Contents
Tip #1: Don't Expect to Book an Uber in Jamaica
As of early 2023, the app-based rideshare market in Jamaica is very limited. Uber only operates in Kingston, meaning it is not a viable option if you’re flying into Montego Bay or staying anywhere else on the island.
If you’re staying at a resort, guest services will help you book independent transportation or an affiliated taxi / driver.
Tip #2: Book Your Transport to the Resort in Advance, but Consider Waiting to Book the Return Trip
If you’re landing in a new country for the first time, I highly recommend booking your hotel transport in advance. The tourism industry is so strong in Jamaica that when you exit the airport there are pre-booked tour buses on tour buses on tour buses waiting to transfer guests to their hotels. Booking a bus in advance is an easy and affordable way to go. But, depending on where your hotel is along the route, it can also be very time consuming.
From Montego Bay International Airport to my resort in Runaway Bay, the ride should have been just over an hour. After dropping off guests at about 10 other resorts and over two hours later we finally arrived at the airport. I don’t regret taking the shuttle bus there, but next time we would take a private car back to the airport on the way home. For three of us the shuttle cost about $60, and a private car would have been $100. Materially more expensive if you’re on a tight budget, but for us the extra $40 would have been worth spending an extra hour at the beach and not being stressed about missing our flight as we kept stopping to pick up more guests along the away.
Tip #3: Splurge on Club Mobay or Club Kingston VIP Airport Service
Jamaica’s two primary international airports both offer VIP concierge arrival and departure services. I do not usually opt for VIP-options, but I highly recommend paying for Club Mobay / Club Kingston service. It’s about $80 per person for arrival and departure access, and with the option to only purchase one. Cheaper rates apply for children.
Review from my recent experience at Montego Bay Int’l Airport:
Club Mobay Benefits Upon Arrival:
- A Club Mobay representative picked up my family directly from the jet bridge, individually escorting us from the moment we exited the plane all the way through immigration and customs!
- Club Mobay provides their own expedited customs and immigration processing lines. Despite being the literal last people off the plane, we were made it through to the Club Mobay lounge within about 20 / 25 minutes of stepping off the plane.
- Our escort led us to the hotel shuttle counter, connecting us with the company we booked for our hotel transport.
- Club Mobay has a private lounge after security, and you are able to wait there for your hotel transport. Clean restrooms, free drinks and snacks and a nice place to sit. (The food is not great, but the service is incredible.)
Club Mobay Departure Benefits:
- Club Mobay’s fast-pass line through security saved my family from possibily missing our flight home!
- The departure lounge is perfect for relaxing before your flight home.
Tip #4: At Many Resorts You Don't Need Local Currency / Jamaican Dollars
As an American staying at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, I went a whole week without handling any Jamaican Dollars. International tourism accounts for such a critical portion of Jamaica’s economy that in resorts and tourist sights prices are often listed in USD. The ATM at the resort didn’t even offer local currency, just USD.
If you’re from the US or Canada, don’t waste money on exchange fees unless you are planning to leave the resort on your own. If you really need Jamaican Dollars the resort will help you exchange them .
Tips for Your First Jamaican Vacation - Things to Know Before Leaving for the Resort
Tip #5: Bring Small Bills (especially USD & CAD)
Staying at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica means you won’t be paying for much once you arrive. But, make sure to budget and be prepared to pay for tips. A couple dollars for the airport transport crew who got your bags on the bus, tips for hotel housekeeping and wait staff, gratuities for tour guides or bartenders, etc. Tipping in USD or CAD is common, and it is very, very helpful to come to Jamaica with a wad of small bills. You’ll want a healthy stock of $1s and $5s to get you through your stay.
Tip #6: Bring Beach Chair Towel Clips
Even at large resorts, snagging a beach chair can feel like an Olympic sport. So if you’re going to compete with the other guests, come prepared with beach chair towel clips! Using a bright, colorful clip will make it abundantly clear to others that your chair is claimed. And no need to worry about your towel blowing away or ending up in a pile of sand.
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Tip #7: Save Your Confirmation Slips, Receipts & Tickets
If you receive a paper receipt in Jamaica, keep it. The confirmation slip from checking out of the hotel or the admission slip to enter a lounge – don’t just shove these slips of paper into the black hole of your travel bag or haphazardly into your back pocket. Multiple times during my week-long visit I ended up digging through my bags like a crazed badger when I was requested to show proof of check out or confirmation that I had a ticket to dine in the lounge.
Tip #8: Get Off the Resort At Least Once
There are so many gorgeous resorts in Jamaica, and if you opt for an all-inclusive, you don’t even need to leave to enjoy your vacation. But, there is so much more to explore than just the curated confines of your resort. I highly recommend that you go on at least one excursion or adventure.
I stayed at the Bahia Grand Principe in Runaway Bay. This all-inclusive resort has pools, beach front, restaurants, shops and even water slides for kids. The resort was fantastic for relaxing, but the highlight of my trip to Jamaica was hiking through coffee plantations in the Blue Mountains. Seeing another side of the country made me feel like I can say I actually visited Jamaica.
Tip #9: Ask If Your Resort Offers Free Activities and Book Early!
At the Bahia Principe all-inclusive, included with my 5-day stay were 2 opportunities to book dinner at the fancier restaurants on the resort. But, we learned that if you don’t book in advance you may miss out on getting the spot or slot you were hoping for! Since we have a 2-year old, snagging at 6 or 6:30 pm dinner slot was key. Luckily we booked about a week in advance, right when slots opened. During busy season these restaurants can book up.
Don’t forget to look into booking other potential complimentary activities such as water sport rentals.
Tip #10: Bring Nice Clothing
Spending a week at the beach isn’t usually an occasion that I would dress up for. But, when you’re packing for your Jamaican resort vacation, don’t forget to bring a few nice outfits. As a first-time resort goer, I was very surprised to see everyone looking slightly dressed up in the evenings. Polo shirts or button downs with slacks, casual dresses and nice blouses with dark jeans. I was very thankful I brought a few outfits other than my oversized beach shirt and sweats!
Tip #11: Bring Your Own Floaties from Home
Don’t waste money on over-priced pool toys at the resort, bring floaties or tubes with you! My resort-savvy family showed up to vacation with their own inflatable pool tubes. Floating up to the poolside bar was even sweeter and more relaxing knowing we didn’t overpay for pool toys at the resort!
Tip 12: Bring a Reusable Mug / Tumbler
If you’re staying at a resort in Jamaica, especially an all-inclusive, the drinks will probably be flowing. You’ll be enjoying vacation, and but it is the perfect time to put your favorite reusable mug to work! Having a sealable mug means that you can enjoy your drinks without having to juggle little open-topped cups or worry about knocking your drink into the pool. I spent my week in Jamaica trying to carry little cups of coffee from the resort lobby to the beach while pushing a stroller and carrying towels, bags, etc. Next time I’ll be filling up my reusable coffee mug instead!
I hope these 12 tips leave you feeling better prepared for your upcoming Jamaican resort vacation! Let us know in the comments if this advice is useful or if you have other tips to help make this post even better.
Thank you for this informative and helpful guide! I found your tips very useful. Your photos are stunning and make me want to book my trip right away. You have inspired me to explore this beautiful island and enjoy its hospitality.
You are so welcome! So happy to hear this post was useful. I hope you can make it visit Jamaica, and that you have a fantastic time!