Jamaica Vacation: 10 Things to Pack
What do you need to pack for your vacation in Jamaica?
Anyone who travels knows that you have to pack differently for each location. What can be useful in one country, for example, is a waste in another.
Time spent searching for necessities is vacation time that is lost. It can often cost you a pretty penny to boot. Let’s make certain that doesn’t happen on your trip to Jamaica and help you put the true necessities on your packing list. I’ll start with a little story from personal experience.
The first time we went to Jamaica we traveled with my brother-in-law and his wife in February, the deepest part of winter where we live. At home in New Hampshire, the ground was covered in snow, the earth was frozen solid and the plants slept. Obviously, we realized that we would be going to a sunny place. I mean, that WAS the point, right?
In our minds, “sunny” meant warmth, sunshine and a chance to thaw out. We didn’t really think much beyond that.
So, we packed our summer clothes. This was not an easy task because we needed a few items, like mens shorts, and discovered it was hard to find summer clothing in the dead of New Hampshire winter. Into the bag went swimsuits, flip-flops, sunscreen and a few nice outfits for the fancier restaurants in our all-inclusive.
I also stupidly packed a hairdryer, flattening iron, high heels and some other useless items. No matter how much time I invested in my hair, it went wild when I hit the humidity. High heels aren’t great foot wear in a sandy area. All of those items merely took up suitcase space.
By the first evening, I discovered that even the “cool” month of February was very hot. I could not wear some of the blouses I brought because they were made of heat-trapping nylon. In fact, about the only thing that felt good to me was 100% cotton clothing.
While they may have been wrinkle free and beautiful, I MELTED within minutes of putting nylon shirts or dresses on. Like, I seriously thought I was going to rip them from my body to let my skin breathe. Not a nice feeling. Maybe you can wear synthetic fabrics in extreme heat but I discovered that I cannot.
One of our biggest mistakes was not taking into account the fact that the plants would be in full-bloom.
1. Allergy medications
Yes, we saw the pictures of gardens and flowers, but, when the earth is frozen beneath your feet, allergies are the last thing on your mind. So, a chunk of our first day was spent taking a taxi into town while my husband laid in bed, barely able to breathe with pollen allergies.
Not only did it waste a great deal of our brief vacation, but the resort “set us up” with a taxi driver who charged us $20/person US to make the three-minute drive. If you’ve read my post, 6 Ways to Get Around Jamaica, you’ll know what a complete ripoff this was. I blush now to think of our naivety, but we just didn’t know.
Long story short, do NOT forget to pack allergy medicines, even if you don’t normally suffer. Traveling to different countries means exposure to things your body may have never dealt with before. You never know what you might suddenly “discover” you react to.
If you are going out to see waterfalls, you won’t want to forget these fashion statements.
2. Water shoes
Well, if you want to go to any of the attractions like the beautiful YS Falls, the busy Dunns River Falls or the idyllic Mayfield Falls, you need water shoes. Although sometimes they are merely “highly recommended,” most places practically shove those dorky shoes on your feet…for a rental fee, of course.
I don’t know about you, but nothing gives me the heebee geebee’s like wearing shoes that someone else’s warm, soggy feet have been in. Add to that the tropical heat and humidity, where nothing EVER completely dries, and they become a veritable smorgasbord of germiness. Yuck, times ten. Take your own. Some of these destinations really will tear up your tootsies without protection.
Will your sun-starved skin sizzle like a piece of bacon?
3. Sea-safe sunscreen
Okay, so I’m a redhead by birth (now a, ahem, “blonde,” the redhead version of gray) and my skin is usually lily-white. In the winter months? I look like I’ve just gotten off a submarine that has been down under for 6 months straight. It’s a ghastly sight.
Do take a good sunscreen but PLEASE choose one that is safe for the coral reefs
And, by the way, take PLENTY of sunscreen. If you run out, regular old spray sunscreen is about $20 US per bottle. Seems a country of melanin rich inhabitants doesn’t really need it so it’s seen as a luxury item. Plus, the resorts know you’ll die without it…supply and demand, baby.
Have you ever walked a mile in “cruel shoes?”
4. Proper foot wear
No, I’m not saying you have to forsake all style and go out and buy grandma-like Hush Puppy walking shoes. What I AM saying is that we, women at least, tend to think those strappy sandals we got on clearance last fall will be just perfect for the walk to town. This is not the time to sacrifice your feet. Don’t ask me how I know.
By the way, if you ignore my advice, get blisters and walk into a shop asking to buy bandaids, chances are they will ask you how many you want. It’s common custom in Jamaica for small shops to buy packaged items like pencils, razor blades, rolling papers, and even bandaids and then sell them by the piece.
Unless you plan to never leave the resort, take some well broken-in sneakers or other comfortable walking shoes. Hiking around in the Blue Mountains or perusing the little shops is no fun if you wind up hobbling the next day. Let me tell you, sea water in open blisters sucks. Again, don’t ask me how I know. If you choose carefully, your water shoes can double as comfy walking shoes.
Jamaica is called the “land of wood and water” for a reason.
5. Waterproof camera, camera case and/or dry sack
Hello. You are going to an island, which, by definition, is a piece of land completely surrounded by water. Not only are you going to be surrounded by water, but, chances are, you will be carrying around wet towels, catching a raindrop or two and tossing bottles of water into your bag. Why risk it?
This is especially true if you plan to take a boat ride out to the Pelican Bar, a trip I highly recommend and that you can read about here. Having a dry sack like this
Recently, I snatched a beach bag out of the water when a woman dropped it while climbing out of the boat and onto the steps of the Pelican Bar. Luckily, it floated briefly…with her phone sitting on top of her towels. Crap happens.
You want to look beautiful for those vacation photos, right?
6. Shampoo and conditioner
You will likely shower multiple times per day. Sea water may give a few lucky women gorgeous “beach hair,” but most of us look more like damp mops as it dries. Make certain that you take plenty of shampoo and conditioner.
Although you may find replacements in stores, it’s unlikely that you will find the brands you are used to. If you do manage to hunt them down, you may have to harvest a kidney to pay for them.
Hopefully, you took my advice about the dry sack and haven’t ruined your camera so you can get great photos to show off your shiny locks.
Nobody takes a vacation in Jamaica without SOMEBODY pointing out safety concerns.
7. Door alarms
Most areas of Jamaica are as safe as anywhere else in the world…okay, at present time, that’s not saying a whole lot. I wrote “Let’s Talk About Crime in Jamaica” a few months ago, dedicated to explaining the ins and outs of personal safety in Jamaica. But, better safe than sorry, right?
The alarm that goes off if the door is opened against them is VERY loud and likely to deter an intruder. It will also nearly give you a heart attack if you forget to remove the battery and accidentally set them off in your bag.
Keep in mind, stun guns, pepper spray and mace are illegal in Jamaica. (So are camouflaged clothes, by the way.) Better to simply avoid dangerous scenarios or scare thieves off than to try to defend yourself. Alarms come in styles that hang on the door, wedge against the door and many other variations. I take them everywhere.
What’s in YOUR wallet?
8. Cash versus credit cards versus debit cards
First of all, other than your resort or possibly a rental car company, very few places in Jamaica accept credit cards. Unless you are planning to take out cash advances, they are really pretty useless. Bring it with you to pay “the big bill” but leave it locked in your safe.
Most Jamaican establishments will happily take foreign bills, especially American cash…at a not so favorable exchange rate. Trust me, they see you coming and pray that you don’t have Jamaican currency.
Carrying cash comes with its own security issues and is one of the big reasons why all-inclusive resorts are so popular. But even within a resort, you need a little cash. How do you know how much or what currency to bring?
I used to carry in a wad of American currency and then go to a “cambio,” bank or money exchange stall to get Jamaican dollars. The bank experience is one akin to watching paint dry, taking forever, so I now avoid that method as all cost.
I always feel like the “cambios” and money exchange stalls are in spots that make me nervous as soon as I walk out. It’s like I’ve painted a target on my back or am carrying a sign that says “Rob me now. I am carrying cash.” Not my favorite feeling. So what do I do?
Well, I discovered after MANY visits that automatic money machines (we call them ATM’s) are popping up all over Jamaica. The ATM owner charges a small withdrawal fee (around $3) and many US banks also charge a small fee for an international transaction.
The thing I like about the ATM is that I can choose to take out only what I need and get a fairly decent exchange rate, even including the fees. It saves me tons of time over the banks and I don’t have to show any ID paperwork.
I also find that I feel less “watched” at most ATM’s than at the big exchange places. Just make certain your bank knows you are going to be on vacation in Jamaica or you’ll be caught high and dry.
Another option I just recently learned about from a friend is to order Jamaican dollars through AAA. Members just order a few weeks ahead. My friend got an incredible exchange rate through them. The only drawback is that they don’t buy back any currency that’s left over. All the more reason to buy that last-minute trinket you were eyeing, right?
More power to you.
9. Batteries, chargers and power strips
Yes, I know it sounds like a no-brainer, but I’ve lost track of the number of special shots I missed because my camera battery went dead. I always tell myself that I don’t need to drag around the extra weight of camera batteries. Just. Plain. Dumb.
In our phone-centric culture, it seems bizarre to think we’d forget chargers for our gadgets but we do. This issue in Jamaica is that although you can buy them, they are very cheaply made imports that can damage your precious items. Not. Worth. The. Risk.
It would then stand to reason that if you are plugging in and charging multiple items, you need ample outlet space. But, hold the phone. Jamaica building codes do not require the typical socket every six feet along a wall. You will be lucky to find two in an entire room.
This means you’ll have to make the most of what you have. Oh, and did I mention that power failures and “bumps” are VERY common in Jamaica? Nothing fries electrical goodies faster than rapid pulses of power going off and on, especially through often less than top-notch wiring. Can you say “surge protector power strip?”
Are you going to eat that?
10. Favorite snacks
After spending what now accumulates into about 3 years or more worth of time in Jamaica, I’m convinced that even when you FIND that Snickers bar, it’s not the same as the ones at home. Granola bars? Oreos? They don’t taste the same and you need to take out a second mortgage to afford them.
This may seem silly for you as an adult, but if you are traveling with picky kids, trust me, I just saved your life. If you have diabetes or other conditions that cause you to need certain foods at certain times, take them with you. The local versions of snack foods are generally loaded with extra sugar, food dyes, salt and chemicals.
Maybe this is overkill, born out of my deep desires for certain snack foods while I’m actually living in Jamaica for months on end.
Ignore me if it seems silly. However, I proudly admit that I managed to portion out my bag of bite-sized Snickers perfectly. Stored in my freezer, I left with a few to spare during my last 6 week-long stay. I even shared a few with friends. My “Kind Bars
The heart wants what the heart wants. What can I say?
I hope that this packing list allows you to enjoy your vacation in Jamaica.
I know that people fuss about paying for a checked bag and you may be tempted to dismiss my comments. But look, the cost of a full-sized bottle of sunblock alone can cover the baggage fee. Don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
If, like me, you are moving to Jamaica, honey, we need to talk, because I’ve got an entirely different list for YOU. Drop me a line and let me know what you wish you had taken on your last trip.
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