Kingston Jamaica Housing/Hotels

[Forbes2006 0]

JGAY80,

Yes I plan on being there. I have already booked my ticket and our hotel. I'm getting our papers in order.

Thanks for the information

[Marlita 0]

Thanks for that info on the Indies Hotel Rox! I'm passing all these on to the Mister and he'll decide which he thinks is the best for us to get to embassy and then stay at after.

[Marlita 0]

Ok yall, so I STILL have no confirmed place to stay. I know, I am late. But whatever. We were gonna wing it, but now we think we should at least have some sort of idea. I am really looking at the Seahorse, since a couple of you stayed there. Plus I like the area of Portmore.

[*JG* 2]

Don't worry, Marlita. It will all come together for you!

[Marlita 0]

Bump for Island

Indies Hotel is the one that looked nice. There is a link in this thread posted by Rox on page 1.

[NatPatBen 3]

Bump for ME!

[JAPrincess 27]

Thanks for finding and bumping this thread Nat!

For those of us who don't know Kingston that well, I thought this map might help with orientation...

http://www.seejamaicacheaply.com/images/maps/kingston.html

[JAPrincess 27]

this one is even better:

[NatPatBen 3]

I like that idea JaPrincess. I wish I'd thought to print a map or two before we went to Kingston for the police record.

I'm actually liking Google maps, as they show some of the landmarks. Here's one that captures Devon House (top left), Emancipation Park (bottom left), NCB Towers (where you go for the police record) (bottom), and the US Embassy (not labeled, close to Old Hope Road & Munroe Rd, top right).

[BunzTheMagicSnail 2]

Nat have you found somewhere to stay yet?

[NatPatBen 3]

Nat have you found somewhere to stay yet?

I'm leaning toward Christar Villas, even though they cost more. It sounds nice.

[ToAliwithLove 0]

Just another suggestion: We stayed at the Prestige (Sandhurst Hotel)

Address: 70 Sandhurst Cresent, Kingston. 1-876-927-8294.

Note: Its not a fancy place its a home converted into a hotel. Its very clean, has a pool and its in a residential area. Similiar to a middle class area in the states which is really nice (quiet). There is parking, AC, hot water and the price is as low as $70 a night. It is also walking distance to the embassy, its right off of Old Hope Road. Close to the Soverign Center, Movies, Bob Marley Museum, Supermarket, you name it.

I was a little skeptical at first but, in the end, we were very pleased. If you dont have a car you can walk out to the main road and take the bus up to the embassy or taxi from the hotel (inexpensive).

The crowd. When we were at the hotel there was a group of college kids from PA and just us at the hotel, so maybe about 20 people in all. They have an old computer to use if you want the internet for a small fee, i saw it in the lobby but didnt use it. There is a kitchen but I the food wasnt that good, but they had a lot snacks like drinks and chips and stuff for late night.

Ok! Thats enough, I guess, I should be making a profit from The Prestige :-). Also, you can map the place on google maps as well.

[JAPrincess 27]

Thanks ToAli

The more suggestions the better in here!

This is a very helpful thread for those heading towards interview!

[NatPatBen 3]

Based on Ells' & ToAli's suggestions, I also stayed at The Prestige/Sandhurst. Locals seemed to call it Sandhurst. You'll see both names at the place.

My room was less than $50/night, but I shouldn't known there was a catch: no AC. To be honest, if I were to stay again, I'd probably stay in the really cheap room. I can go a night without air to save $25-$30. The room was very small as well, but was sufficient for one night.

Someone mentioned that the food takes a long time, and I'm GLAD I knew that. Our appointment was for 9am, so when we woke up at 7:30, I immediately went to the front desk to order breakfast (in my night clothes).

Even though we had a car, I didn't want to deal with finding parking near the embassy, so I asked the lady at the front desk about getting a taxi. She offered to call a taxi for us when we were ready to go. We got ready, packed, & loaded the suitcases in the car. By then (8:30am) the food was ready. We asked the lady to call a taxi for us. She told us that he'd charge $300 each for the ride. We had a typical Jamaican breakfast. It was fine. We ate VERY quickly, brushed teeth, & checked out.

We got outside with a minute or two to spare before the taxi driver showed up at 8:45. It took him 10 minutes to get us to the embassy, as there was a bit of traffic. When we handed him $600, he seemed quite surprised. After the interview, I found out why: that ride should've only costed $300. That's what we paid to get back to the hotel. I'm not mad, though, as I know the $300 JMD meant more to him than the $3.50 USD would've meant to me.

We caught the taxi back to The Prestige, got in the car, and drove to Negril!

FYI: This hotel is around the corner from the Bob Marley Museum. We intended to go, but ended up passing, as Steven was anxious to get to Negril after the interview.

[NatPatBen 3]

Bumped for Spanglas