Jamaica

One of the Caribbean's largest islands famously has its problems, but also plenty of rewards, from the cliffs of Negril to the waterfalls near Ocho Rios and Port Antonio. and of course vibrant - and underrated - capital Kingston.

The country and its people are in our thoughts following parts of the island´s devastation from Hurricane Melissa at the end of October 2025. To help, click on the Jamaican government´s website SupportJamaica.gov.

Cover photo: Peter

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From Kingston streets to Blue Mountain peaks: key highlights of Jamaica

Stepping off the plane in capital Kingston earlier this year, I was immediately greeted by a symphony of sounds: reggae beats drifting from open-air cafes, the chatter of street vendors, and the distant buzz of traffic weaving through the city. The colors of murals, tropical flowers, and painted storefronts created a kaleidoscope that dazzled the senses. The air smelled of salt, spices, and something uniquely Jamaican, a promise of adventure waiting to unfold. This journey was set to be more…

Started by Tripatini

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Sandals Royal Plantation one of ´3 of the Caribbean´s Best Sandals Resorts for Honeymoons´

Sandals Royal Plantation One of seven Jamaican Sandals properties, this even more intimate resort in Ocho Rios is a romantic favorite because although it offers fewer amenities - just one pool and five (!) restaurants, along with a fitness center, Red Lane Spa, and a Champagne-and-caviar bar unique in Jamaica, for example - its luxurious "boutique inn" feel appeals to couples, with just 74 oceanview suites (all with private butler service) on ten peaceful acres, adding up to what we found to…

Started by Tripatini

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The tropical, enduring appeal of Montego Bay

Grahampurse Served by its own very nearby airport (the Caribbean's biggest and busiest), the third largest city in Jamaica (as well as the English-speaking Caribbean, with a population of around 110,000), MoBay has since the 1960s been an anchor of Jamaica's tourism industry, and one of the island's most visited spots, as well as a very popular cruise port of call. Located in the island's northwest, the city's main draw remains the gorgeous, white-sand beaches with tranquil, aquamarine…

Started by Tripatini

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2 Jamaica properties in '9 of the Most Romantic Hotels for Valentine's Day in the Caribbean'

Palm Island Resort These tropical isles usually rank high on the list of V-Day getaways, and offer an embarassment of riches when it comes to hotels and resorts. So this year a writer for USA Today put together a list of nine for couples to consider for a romantic Valentine's weekend. You may not agree with all of them - and, indeed, I find the list skews too much toward bigger resorts and largely ignores charming smaller inns, but I can attest to one, Palm Island (above) in the Grenadines…

Started by David Paul Appell

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Max Pesling April 30, 2023 at 11:31am

Wow, it looks like Jamaica (along with a number of other countries) is really on a tear with all the pent-up post-pandemica travel demand: https://www.traveloffpath.com/this-tropical-caribbean-island-with-a...

This Tropical Caribbean Island With Amazing Culture Sets New All-Time Tourist Record - Travel Off P…

Coming off a record-breaking 2022 of welcoming 3.3 million visitors, Jamaica just had its busiest winter season in history.
Jordan Simon January 12, 2023 at 11:27am

I'm familiar with the south coast's Treasure Beach, but not this town, Black River, 40 minutes away. An under-the-radar gem, it seems, as Condé Nast Traveler reports: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/an-insiders-guide-to-black-river-j...

An Insider's Guide to Black River, Jamaica

Named after the longest river in Jamaica and largest wetland in the English-speaking Caribbean, the seaside town is home to mangrove forests of croco…
- Dave Acton > Jordan Simon November 13, 2025 at 12:57pm
  
  And just now Black River was the epicenter of destruction from Hurricane Melissa. Very sad.
- Hal Peat > Jordan Simon January 12, 2023 at 6:19pm
  
  Kind of interesting, and maybe not in a good way, for the typical cultural dynamic of competing - here, the south coast is "better" than the "north coast". Why even compare? There is more in the way of both accommodation and points of interest than this article includes as far as the south coast. Swaby used to be on the north coast at Swaby's Swamp Safari near MoBay before he migrated to the Black River. I would never mention all-inclusives in an article that also wants to focus on sustainable tourism. Just not. Specially not the one she mentions:)
Helen Brown July 27, 2022 at 8:52am

Jamaica's tourism areas have remained fairly stable over the years, but now the country has created a new one, the "Revere Zone," covering the north coast from Oracabessa to Port Antonio and including the likes of Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay. According to this piece, The idea here is to appeal to "high-end" visitors, although the detail this post mentions is a bit vague. Check it out at https://www.travelawaits.com/2783299/jamaica-revere-zone-targets-hi...

Jamaica Creates New Tourism Area On Island's North Shore To Attract High-End Travelers

Jamaica is hoping to protect a portion of the island nation from high-density development and make it attractive to high-end tourism.
- Hal Peat > Helen Brown August 7, 2022 at 5:27pm
  
  Hi Helen - you're right, it's vague and I'd also add the whole description is misleading. I have more to say on all that and from a first-hand perspective, if it's okay to post on your site at travelawaits?
- Tripatini > Hal Peat August 15, 2022 at 9:14am
  
  And would you mind posting the link once you do share? Thanks!
- Hal Peat > Tripatini August 31, 2022 at 9:09pm
  
  I didn't mean to infer that I was actually going to write anything for publication myself on this particular outlined "zone" - just noting that the definition of "high-end and low-density" given what they include in terms of St. Ann/St. Mary/Portland is not realistic and in fact outright inaccurate. If in fact they wanted to create a "low density/high-end" concept", they'd really have to just narrow it down much more to points within only St. Mary and Portland at the most. St. Ann? It's the home and birthplace of the original mega-size all-inclusive - the former Tower Isle Hotel that became the prototype for the all-inclusive model back in the Seventies. And then Ocho Rios, its location, being the present-day hub of many another huge all-inclusive - a reality to be found on the St. Ann coast continuing both east and west inside that parish.
- Tripatini > Hal Peat August 14, 2022 at 9:26pm
  
  Absolutely, Hal, be our guest
Darryl Musick September 29, 2014 at 6:15pm

At The World on Wheels, it's the final chapter of our Jamaica saga. 13 hours in economy and waiting in airport lounges is not appealing, let's see what we can do to alleviate it. It's a First Class...Almost...Exit From Jamaica.

The World on Wheels

An ongoing adventure of travel and living while using a wheelchair. Tim has been disabled from birth. Darryl is his father and caregiver who travel…