Jet-skiing Through Jamaica

Jet skiing used to be quite an extreme sport, now it’s more of a way of getting around the island!  If you have the courage and the skill, hire a jet ski for the day and you can ditch the official tours and travel at your own pace.  You could even consider a vacation where you spend a few nights at a hotel, say in Montego Bay, and then jet ski across the Negril before returning back.  Think of it like a moped on the ocean!

As with a moped however, there are things you need to watch out for.  The first thing is to look out for swimmers, especially as you get nearer to the shore line, but even further out you need to watch out for divers who are surfacing around you.  If there are any boats in the area, this could be a warning of people below the water so be extra careful.

There are local laws and restrictions that cover jet skis – concerning such things as how close to the shore you are allowed to be in specific areas.  This could be at certain times of the year to protect wildlife, or could be year-round.  Make sure that you are aware of all the rules and restrictions that are valid in all of the areas you will encounter on your jet ski trip.

The sun’s rays can be really strong out on the water, especially with the reflection back from the ocean, so make sure that you wear the right kind of protection both in terms of clothing and sun screen, so that you avoid sunstroke from overexposure.  You should also carry sufficient water with you so that if you get stranded anywhere, you won’t dehydrate from the heat.

The most important thing to watch out for is not to run out of gas!  If you run out of gas in your moped, you will probably be able to walk to a nearby village to get help if someone doesn’t pass you on the road and help out.  If you run out of gas on a jet ski, it’s a little more dangerous!  Check how far you will be traveling and ask the experts who run the jet ski rental company how much gas you will need, and if you have enough to make it there and back.  If not, where will you be able to get the tank topped up on your travel route?  Don’t set off without being 100% sure that you have enough gas, or the possibility of getting more gas, to complete your trip.

Jet skis are loud, and they’re fun.  If you love the energy and have a yearning to try something a little bit “extreme” without it being too extreme, then you should certainly give it a try – but don’t plan anything too adventurous unless you’re very proficient in both the handling of the jet ski and navigating the waters off the Jamaican shore.

Is it Safe to Drink the Water on your Visit to Jamaica?

For the most part, the answer is yes.  In most of the main areas of Jamaica that are usually populated with tourists, it is “safe” to drink the water from the faucet or tap.  However the further you go from the cities and into the more rural areas of the island, the less safe the water becomes.  If possible you should always carry bottled water with you so that you’re sure that what you’re drinking isn’t responsible for any illnesses you pick up whilst you’re away.

There’s a bigger threat to your health than water however, because you see water and think “Water – is it safe?”  But it’s not always as easy to consider how safe the ice is when you’re hot and longing for something cool to drink.  Ice is a far bigger danger and in the Jamaican heat it’s far too tempting to just think “it’ll be ok” when you see a street vendor selling snocones.  It’s possible that it will be ok, depending on where you are when tempted, but it’s also possible that that moment of weakness will ruin your vacation – so stop and think before you buy!  Also beware of ice in your drinks.  If you are having ice from the bar in your hotel, and the hotel is a good standard tourist hotel that caters mainly for international guests, chances are that the ice will be just fine – as the water from the faucet there will be.  If however you’ve stopped into a local Jamaican bar that’s mainly frequented by the locals, or if you’re in a hotel in a smaller town, then skip the ice out – it’s better to be hot than sorry!

On what should be a fabulous holiday, there are certain precautions you need to take, and ensuring that the water you drink is clean is one of them – even if it means that if you’re camping, you boil the water and leave it cool before you drink it!

Is Holiday Insurance Necessary for your Vacation to Jamaica?

Whether or not to pay for holiday insurance is a big question when it comes to setting the vacation budget, and often it’s something that you can safely go without.  But should you go without it when visiting somewhere off the beaten track like Jamaica?

One of the things you’d need to consider is “how far off the beaten track” are you likely to be going in Jamaica?  The more extreme your vacation plans, the more likely you are to be at risk of accident.  If you have an accident, what would the options of getting back home be?  What kind of expenses would you be facing?

If you are taking expensive equipment with you, such a digital camera, or laptop, then you should certainly have insurance in case these are stolen while you’re away.  With expensive individual items such as these however, you need to make sure that these are specifically covered by your insurance policy for everything from accidental damage (such as that which could happen in transit), to theft of the item.  You should also be aware of what paperwork you will need to produce in order to claim for the items so that you have any receipts at hand before you leave and you bring back any copies of official documentation from the Jamaican authorities such as a police theft report.

When traveling to parts of the world which are noted tourist destinations, but which are not as commercial as some more popular destinations such as Paris, London or Sidney, it’s wise to have some form of holiday insurance.  Just make sure you read all the small print before you sign up for the policy so that you are covered for everything you think you’re covered for, and you won’t be faced with any hidden policy financial excesses/penalties should you need to make a claim against the insurance policy upon your return from holiday.

How to Avoid Harassment on your Vacation to Jamaica

One of the worst things about any vacation is being harassed by local traders.  It’s bad enough when they shout at you as you walk by, not deterred by your ignoring them they shout louder making a comment that clearly identifies you in the crowd of other tourists, but when if they follow you, or come up to you when you’re clearly not wanting to be disturbed, it’s enough to make you wish you’d went somewhere else!  For the most part however, there are some simple things you can do to avoid being constantly pestered.

The first one is not to make eye contact with any of them, especially if you see them trying to sell to someone else.  They are bound to take your eye contact to mean that you’re interested in buying from them, and will come after you once they’ve finished trying to sell to the people they’re with.  If you’re in a market area, or even just minding your own business on the beach, don’t stare at anyone!  You have to keep looking around, but don’t look long enough in any one direction to give the hustlers the wrong idea!

The next is simply to make it a policy never to give money or anything else for that matter to anyone who asks for it.  If you are in an area of high poverty, it’s not easy to turn away from the children, but the mistake that many tourists make is in giving something to these children, and then more children arrive and the grown-ups follow.  As harsh as it sounds, for your own peace and quiet you have to turn away.

Many hotels are situated on private land that they own and it is illegal for the hustlers to try and harass the hotel visitors.  Find out the policy your hotel has on day 1, and if you are bothered anywhere within the confines of the hotel property, you can tell the vendor that you will report them to the hotel staff if they bother you again.

Last of all, and probably the most wearing, but it will work is that the hustlers make their living by harassing people.  They hope that by persistently dogging you, they’ll wear you down and you’ll buy from them just to make them go away.  Do so, and you’re sending up a flare to the other vendors!  Be calm and equally persistent in your right to ignore them.  Eventually they’ll find another tourist to bother and leave you alone – and hopefully will get the message that they’ll be wasting their time with you and won’t try again!

Taking Children to Jamaica on Vacation

Although there’s no real reason not to take children to Jamaica on vacation with you, there are two important issues that you need to keep in mind when it comes to health and safety.

The first of these is that you need to keep a check on where they are and what they’re doing.  Even if you are in a resort, and there’s a children’s activity center or club, you should check on the security measures in operation to ensure that your children are not at any kind of risk.  In this Jamaica is not unlike many other countries, but because of the relaxed atmosphere, it’s easy to let your guard down.  Don’t!  If you aren’t staying in a tourist orientated compound type resort, you need to be extra vigilant as it’s easy for your children to be at risk not only from people, but also from the natural environment if they should wander off alone and become lost.

The second of these could actually determine whether or not you choose Jamaica as your vacation destination.  Although there’s nothing physically preventing you taking your little ones, there’s a big issue with the necessary vaccinations.  Some vaccinations are not advised to be given to children under a certain age, and if you find that you would need these particular vaccinations in order to go to the location you’ve chosen, you will probably need to revise your plans, or find some way of protecting your child against the disease(s) covered by the inoculation.

Jamaica is a country of extravagant color and culture, and it’s a place where children will experience the holiday of a lifetime.   However, unless you want some of the memories they bring back to be negative, you need to be on your guard both before you go, and whilst you’re there, to ensure that they are kept safe and healthy.