Jamaica Survival Guide!

[Islandwoman 0]

So, after totally ignoring my emails, and my posting complaints and bad reviews on different shopping sites - I get an email that the phone has shipped today! Now I have two new phones coming - Unreal!

Hold onto it - DJ will probably need that one soon.

[sus 70]

So, after totally ignoring my emails, and my posting complaints and bad reviews on different shopping sites - I get an email that the phone has shipped today! Now I have two new phones coming - Unreal!

Hold onto it - DJ will probably need that one soon.

LOL - exactly my thought

[^KK^ 3]

So, after totally ignoring my emails, and my posting complaints and bad reviews on different shopping sites - I get an email that the phone has shipped today! Now I have two new phones coming - Unreal!

Hold onto it - DJ will probably need that one soon.

LOL - exactly my thought

Sus does the phone check directly to Jamaica? That's usually our problem...is getting stuff here and sending it down to Jamaica.

[sus 70]

I didn't even check if they would ship to JA, KK - I am bringing it down with me, part of his Xmas present -- His phone is shot again I got smart, though from talking to a friend - I bought a case and a chain - her son has the same dropping / losing issue - he clips the chain to his belt and hasn't lost it yet!

If I weren't going down, I wouldn't have bought it - I didn't get anything fancy, just an LG flip phone but it does have a camera, etc.. and it was $40 -

[^KK^ 3]

I didn't even check if they would ship to JA, KK - I am bringing it down with me, part of his Xmas present -- His phone is shot again I got smart, though from talking to a friend - I bought a case and a chain - her son has the same dropping / losing issue - he clips the chain to his belt and hasn't lost it yet!

If I weren't going down, I wouldn't have bought it - I didn't get anything fancy, just an LG flip phone but it does have a camera, etc.. and it was $40 -

The chain and the case is a good idea. We want to get a phone for his daughter. She is really responsible but better safe than sorry. $40 that's not too bad for a phone.

You know some people are just really rough on cell phones.

[sus 70]

You know some people are just really rough on cell phones.

That's the understatement of the year with DJ - we are on like phone #8000 since I met him!

[^KK^ 3]

You know some people are just really rough on cell phones.

That's the understatement of the year with DJ - we are on like phone #8000 since I met him!

Sus - I bet he'll be happy when they invent phones that are microchipped into out ears.

YOu think he'll still lose that?

KK

[sus 70]

Probably!

[^KK^ 3]

Probably!

I can see you screaming

[NatPatBen 3]

I added two more hotels for Negril. Charela Inn and Hidden Paradise.

I stayed at Hidden Paradise when I went to Negril during Hurricane Gustav. It was nice. However, I HIGHLY recommend Fun Holiday! It's on the beach, has HOT water, FREE wifi internet, and US-style windows that close all the way and keep the MOSQUITOES OUT! And it's not too expensive.

After staying at Point Village three times, Hidden Paradise once, and Fun Holiday once, I'd choose Fun Holiday over and over again. Matter of fact, I recommended it to my cousin who heads to Negril tomorrow. I'm going in February with my parents and we're staying there, too.

[Marie876 0]

((BUMP))

[sus 70]

I wouldn't recommend Seawind if you don't have a car - It is FAR up the beach from everything and not a short walk. Also, they only had about 10 beach chairs that weren't broken, and people would put their towels out early in the am to block the good ones off - so if you weren't up by 8, you didn't have a chair. The rooms were comfy and they are still working on the hotel, but for the price range I prefer NBCC.

I stayed at Fun Holiday once - never again. The restaurant food was awful and the staff had an attitude - they never cleaned the room until around 4 pm every day (naptime for us), and we had to fight to get more than two bath towels - even wash cloths, etc.... One night we had run into an old old friend of ours who happened to be in Negril doing some recording - He's a dread, but from Monteserrat - The security guard refused to let him on the property when we ran back to change (around 9 pm or so) and told me that I know how to lie good when I told her that he has been one of my closest friends for 15 years - Then the next am, they showed up to supposedly "clean the room" at 8 am - no knock, just barged in while we were sleeping. I went off, and would never ever ever recommend it to anyone.

[Marie876 0]

Making a JA LDR Easier

General Information on Jamaica:

www.VisitJamaica.com (new tourist board web site!)

Jamaica Dream Vacation: www.jamaica-dream-vacation.com

www.jamaicans.com

www.seejamaicacheaply.com

www.top5jamaica.com

Jamaican Word Glossary: www.speakjamaican.com/glossary.html

Jamaican Recipes with Video: www.jamaicatravelandculture.com/food_and_drink.htm

Jamaica Florist: http://worldwide-florist.com/Jamaica.html

Documents

- Police Record: http://www.mns.org.jm/ApplyingforPoliceRec...79/Default.aspx

- Dual Citizenship - http://www.congenjamaica-ny.org/citizenshi...20by%20Marriage

- Passport: Application http://www.congenjamaica-ny.org/Applications/ppapp.pdf

- From the US after he's here - http://www.jamaicanconsulatechicago.org/#Passport%20Renewal:

- Birth/Marriage Certificate: (Get at least 1 or 2 extra to bring to US )

- From JA: In person at local RGD office http://www.rgd.gov.jm/?q=locations

- From US: Online at http://www.rgd.gov.jm/

- Make sure to locate vaccination records

- Locate high school graduation certificate

- A recommendation from recent employer is helpful

Monetary

Banks:

- ScotiaBank http://www.scotiabank.com/jm/cda/index/0,,LIDen,00.html

- NCB Bank - http://www.jncb.com/index.asp

Sending Money:

- Greendot (Prepaid Debit Card): $10 for the card, $5 monthly fee www.greendotonline.com

- Western Union – http://www.westernunion.com

- Senvia - http://www.senvia.com/

Communications

Digicel:

- Chip $400

- Web text messages from their phone to their phones via the internet - http://webtext.digicelgroup.com/sendSMSForm.do

- International Calling Plan: 16 hours for $20USD per month - LINK

Ezetop: Send credit to mobile phones in Jamaica EZETOP

Cell Phones - Buy unlocked if you are purchasing in US: www.cellularblowout.com; www.wirelessgalaxy.com; www.ebay.com

Calling Card Options:

Ringyard www.ringyard.com

Sprint International Phone Cards

Rebtel phone cards

SoSoChat

News

Jamaica Gleaner - http://jamaica-gleaner.com

Jamaica Observer - www.jamaicaobserver.com

Power 106 - www.go-jamaica.com/power

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/

www.jumptv.com (CVM for free or TVJ for monthly fee)

Yellow Pages - http://jamaica.jamaicayp.com

Online Bill Payment

http://www.billexpressonline.com/bxonline/index2.aspx

https://www.paymaster-online.net/

Shipping

Barrel - Food/Toiletries/Supplies

- Dial A Barrel - online - www.dialabarrel.com

- Pack A Barrel - online - RIPPED OFF A VJ MEMBER!!!

- Finlays - Sells empty barrells and will also ship them for you - www.shiptojamaica.com

USPS vs FedEx vs UPS

Air Jamaica Cargo - http://airjamaica.com/Cargo

Order From US - PickUp in JA

Courts - Free Islandwide Delivery - www.courts.com.jm

SuperPlus Supermarket - www.superplusfoods.com

Hotel Recommendations

Trip Advisor - traveler reviews & opinions of hotels, vacations & more - www.tripadvisor.com

Negril: Detailed Map of Negril businesses / hotels - http://www.negrilinfo.com/

On the beach:

Beach Club Condos (studios available)- http://www.negrill.com/

Country Country - http://countryjamaica.com/

Kuyaba - (beautiful, great food!) http://www.kuyaba.com/

Rondel Village: http://www.rondelvillage.com/

Charela Inn: http://www.charela.com/

Hidden Paradise: http://www.hidden-paradise.com/

Seasplash- www.seasplash.com

Our Past Time- www.ourpasttimenegril.com

On the cliffs:

Blue Cave Castle - http://www.bluecavecastle.com/

Samsara - http://www.negrilhotels.com/

Xtabi (beautiful) www.xtabi-negril.com

Foot Prints www.footeprints.com

Kingston:

The Courtleigh Hotel & Suites - http://www.courtleigh.com/

Mikuzi Guest House - http://mikuzijamaica.com/index.html

Mandeville:

Mandeville Hotel - www.mandevillehoteljamaica.com

Golf View Hotel - www.thegolfviewhotel.com

Tropics View Hotel - www.tropicsviewhoteljamaica.com

Montego Bay:

Holiday Inn Sunspree - http://www.caribbeanhi.com/jamaica/

Royal Decameron - http://decameron.com/Eng/jamaica/montego/overview.html

Trelawny:

FDR-Pebbles - http://www.fdrholidays.com/pebbles/index.php

Starfish

Ocho Rios:

Rooms On the Beach

Sunset Jamaica Grande

Little Shaw Park Guesthouse

http://www.littleshawparkguesthouse.com

The Blue House

http://www.thebluehousejamaica.com/

SeaCrest Beach Hotel

http://www.seacrestresorts.com/

Hibiscus Lodge

http://www.hibiscusjamaica.com/

High Hope Estate

www.highhopeestate.com

These sites have hotel info for many areas

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/jamaica/93_indacc.html

www.homeaway.com

Negril Internet Hot Spots

Easy Rock Internet Cafe (West End) www.negril.com/ezrock

Blue Waters Internet Cafe (West End) www.negril.com/BlueWaters/2

Surf N Talk (Beach Road) www.surfntalk.com.jm

Possible wifi: Selinas, Fun Holiday, Alfreds

Ocho Rios Internet Hot Spots

Atmosphere - 1 Sandcastle Plaza, 1 Main Street 876-974-6676

Techie Website

http://www.techjamaica.com/</a>

US Caribbean Links: (restaurants, associations, etc…)

Connecticut: http://www.westindianfoundation.org/://http://www.techjamaica.com/</a&g...foundation.org/://http://www.techjamaica.com/</a&g...foundation.org/://http://www.techjamaica.com/</a&g...foundation.org/

Florida: http://www.jamaicanamericanassoc.com/

Georgia: www.ajaatlanta.org/

Maryland:

- Muffin Man http://www.gazette.net/stories/121406/ente...326_31981.shtml

- www.hotcalaloo.com/jam.htm

Michigan: Michigan Jamaican Association http://www.jam1.org/

US Shopping

Sam's 24-7 - Online Caribbean shopping for food and misc. items - Runs specials with free shipping - www.sams247.com

Golden Krust - Great patties, many locations and an online store - www.goldenkrustbakery.com

http://wifglobal.com

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

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[JAPrincess 27]

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