Product Description

The Rough Guide to Jamaica is the complete guide to the Caribbean''s liveliest island. The full-colour introduction includes the ''Things Not To Miss'' section with photographs of the island''s highlights from the Bob Marley Museum in bustling Kingston to rafting the Rio Grande. The guide contains detailed and discriminating reviews of the best accommodation, restaurants, bars and cafes - and the latest spots to catch the hottest reggae and dancehall. There is informed coverage of Kingston and the major resorts of Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril, as well as the lesser-known beaches in Portland and the south. Expert advice and practical tips are given on everything from where to watch the cliff divers at Negril to finding secluded waterfalls and mineral baths. The Contexts section provides detailed coverage of Jamaica''s history and fabulous music scene from Marcus Garvey to Beenie Man.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #171732 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781843536918
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
Jamaica is a small but complex island. Famous for her beaches and music, there is an abundance of stretches of white sand bedecked by palm trees and lapped by turquoise waters. Reggae, Jamaica's other celebrated quality, is alive and happening. It is necessary to have a good guide to find your way to the Blue Mountains and Back River, check out the wildlife, and understand the island's culture--as well as to navigate your way through Kingston to the best reggae haunts, drinking holes, and Jamaican food stands. Jamaica: The Rough Guide does justice to all the major resorts and beaches, and to Jamaica's lesser-known charms.

About the Author

Polly Thomas is a freelance writer, full-time editor for Rough Guides in London. She has also co-written the Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago.

Adam Vaitilingham is a barrister, writer and occasional sax player who lived in the West Indies from 1989 to 1993.

Polly Thomas is a freelance writer, full-time editor for Rough Guides in London. She has also co-written the Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago.

Adam Vaitilingham is a barrister, writer and occasional sax player who lived in the West Indies from 1989 to 1993.

Polly Thomas is a freelance writer, full-time editor for Rough Guides in London. She has also co-written the Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago.

Adam Vaitilingham is a barrister, writer and occasional sax player who lived in the West Indies from 1989 to 1993.

Polly Thomas is a freelance writer, full-time editor for Rough Guides in London. She has also co-written the Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago.

Adam Vaitilingham is a barrister, writer and occasional sax player who lived in the West Indies from 1989 to 1993.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
WHERE TO GO Most of Jamaica’s tourist business is concentrated in the "big three" resorts of Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril which, between them, pull hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Probably the most evocative name in the Caribbean, Montego Bay is a busy, commercial city with hotels lined up along its main strip, a stone’s throw from a couple of Jamaica’s most famous beaches. Though "MoBay" has lost some of its old lustre, the place retains an appealing vitality, with a busy street life and a great entertainment scene, most obvious during the annual Reggae Sumfest festival. West of here, its low-rise hotels slung along seven miles of fantastic white sand and two miles of dramatic cliffs, Negril is a different type of resort – younger, more laid-back, and with a longstanding reputation for unbridled hedonism that still carries a hint of the truth. East of MoBay, and the least individualistic of the big three, Ocho Rios embodies high-impact tourism – purpose-built in the 19! 60s to provide the ultimate package of sun, sand and sea. It’s not an overly attractive place, and the beaches don’t compare favourably with Negril and MoBay, but tourist infrastructure is undeniably strong – the place is packed with shops, restaurants, bars and watersports – and you’re right by some of Jamaica’s leading attractions, including the famous Dunn’s River waterfall, dramatic Fern Gully and the lovely botanical gardens at Shaw Park. Away from these resorts, you’ll have to look a bit harder to find your entertainment – Jamaica’s quieter east and south coasts offer a far less packaged product – but there are plenty of real gems worth hunting out, particularly if you’re keen to escape the crowds. In the island’s east, lush, rain-fed, sleepy Port Antonio, and it’s increasingly popular neighbour, Long Bay, provide gateways to some of Jamaica’s greatest natural attractions, like the cascading waterfalls at Reach and Somerset, and outdoor activities such as rafting on the majestic Rio Grande, and hiking through the dense rainforest of the John Crow Mountains. The south coast offers different pleasures, from gentle beach action at the terminally easy-going Treasure Beach – the perfect base for exploring local delights like the YS waterfalls and the gorgeous lagoon and beach at Gut River – to boat safaris in search of local wildlife on the Black River. Last, but in no way least, Kingston is the true heart of Jamaica, a thrilling place, pulsating with energy and spirit, that is home to more than a third of the island’s 2.5 million population. This is not just the nation’s political capital but the focus of its art, theatre and music scenes, with top-class hotels, restaurants and shopping, a clubbing scene that is second to none and legendary fried fish on offer at the fabulous Hellshire beach. A stunning backdrop to the city, the cool Blue Mountains are a captivating, gentle antidote, with plenty of marvellous hiking possibilities, while the nearby fishing village of Port Royal, once a great pirate city, and the former capital of Spanish Town, with its grand Georgian buildings, provide more historic diversions.

WHEN TO GO For many visitors, Jamaica’s tropical climate is its leading attraction – hot and sunny all year. The weather is at its most appealing during the peak tourist season, which runs from mid-December to mid-April, when rainfall is lowest and the heat is tempered by cooling trade winds, known locally as the "Doctor Breeze". Things can get noticeably hotter during the summer and, particularly in September and October, the humidity can become oppressive. September is also the most threatening month of the annual hurricane season, which runs officially from June 1 to October 31, though it’s worth bearing in mind that, on average, the big blows only hit about once a decade. As you’d expect, prices and crowds are at their highest during peak season, when the main attractions and beaches can get pretty busy. Outside this period – from Easter to early December – everywhere is quieter and, though the main resorts throb with life pretty much year-round, quieter tourist areas like Port Antonio and Treasure Beach can feel a little lifeless. The good news is that hotel prices everywhere fall by up to 25 percent, there are more bargains to be had in every field of activity, and a number of festivals – including the massive annual Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay – inject some summertime zip.

Customer Reviews

Everything you need to know
I have been to Jamaica many times since 1972, doing research as an anthropologist, which includes reading everything I can about its people and culture as well as traveling about and living in various communities. I picked up this book shortly before my most recent trip, hoping to get some hints on places to stay as it's been awhile since I've been back. I read it thoroughly as I traveled extensively around the island for 18 days. And I'm quite impressed. It is an extremely informative and accurate guide to the history, culture, things to see and do, places to eat and stay. The hotel reviews are brief but to the point. The advice is sound. The maps are very helpful. The only criticism I can make is that in at least two cases I found the directions to be wrong. I am most impressed with the fact that the book can really get you out of the tourist areas and into the real Jamaica. It is a great guide for those who want to EXPLORE the island and come to know it well. This takes time, a car, and money, though. Finally, I'd like to add that the book is just the right size, easy to carry, and has a very sturdy cover and binding, so it'll survive more than one trip. I suppose the greatest compliment is that a Jamaican friend wanted me to give it to her after she discovered it had information on her own town that she didn't know.

Invaluable guide
This book was absolutely indispensable on my first trip to the fascinating island of Jamaica. All sections of the island are thoroughly covered, including recommendations for lodging, restaurants, and the multitude of places to visit.

This is a must-buy guide to anyone traveling to Jamaica for the first time or the tenth.

a good choice
A good all around Jamaica travel guide. Add to it the following: 1] DO NOT rent a car and drive in Jamaica. 2] The locals drive like banshees, death or dismemberment on the highways is common. 3] there are numerous drivers willing to take you around cheaper than you can hire a car with insurance and they give out great tips and advice 4] There are no roadsigns you will get lost, then try to find gas stations and the Jamaician Police write lots of tickets--especially to tourists who are expected to pay in cash roadside.