Kingston (Jamaica)

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Street in Kingston

Kingston is the capital of Jamaica.

[edit] Understand

Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, is located on the southeastern coast of the island. There are two major sections to this city: 'downtown' and 'uptown.' Kingston was for some time Jamaica's only city and is still the commercial and cultural capital. You will notice that the city is assigned the equivalent of zip codes, (Kingston 5, Kingston 10, etc.) which is a good representation of how truly large this city is, especially for an island such as Jamaica.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

• Norman Manley International Airport (IATA: KIN), Phone: 1-888-247-7678, [1]. Located in the southeastern part of the island, overlooking Kingston Harbour on the Palisadoes peninsula. As of June 2006, Manley International Airport is served by Air Jamaica, British Airways, Air Canada, Continental Airlines, Cayman Airways, Copa Airlines, BWIA, Spirit Airlines, US Airways, Delta Airlines, and American Airlines.

[edit] By car

Island Rental Cars has offices at the NMIA airport, in downtown Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, and will allow you to do one-way rentals. Remember to drive on the left!

[edit] By bus

Kingston has an extensive bus system that is not too well documented. Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) runs the bus system for the government, while private contractors also run the same routes. Buses generally go through one or more of the 3 central transportation hubs 1 downtown, 2. Half-Way Tree or 3. Cross Roads. Maps of the bus system can be found on whagwan.org.

[edit] By boat

[edit] Get around

[edit] Public Transit

Kingston has an extensive bus system. It's crowded, un-airconditioned, and somewhat unpredictable, but it's cheap and mostly safe (watch out for pick-pockets). Usually the worst thing to happen is to have a fiery bus preacher. Check out this interactive bus map for some guidance.

Route Taxis (a taxi that has a set route and picks up multiple people along it) are also common and often mirror bus routes. These are a bit more complicated to get used to, so ask for help.

Charter Taxis (normal taxis) - negotiate a price before getting in the car. Fares range from J$100 to J$1000 for long routes.

[edit] See

• Bob Marley Museum, 56 Hope Road, Phone: +1 876-927-9152.
• Devon House, 26 Hope Road, Phone: +1 876-926-0815. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Nice classic Jamaican mansion. The courtyard has craft shops, a restaurant and an ice cream shop with Jamaican fruit flavors. US$6 includes tour.
• Hope Botanical Gardens The Largest Botanical Garden in the Caribbean.
• Hope Zoo Next door
• Institute of Jamaica, 12 East St., Phone: +1 876-922-0620. M-Th 9:30AM-5PM, F 9:30AM-4PM. Home to the museums of Jamaican national and West Indian history, art galleries and a West Indian Reference Library with the world's largest collection of its kind.
• National Gallery of Jamaica, 12 Ocean Blvd, Phone: +1 876-922-1561, [2]. Works by Jamaican artists on display.
• Port Royal Area, Notorious 17th century pirate haven
• Lime Kay, Beach off the coast of Port Royale must take a boat from Port Royal fisherman or the hotel to island. Island is famous as the location for final scene in The Harder they Come. Crowded party spot on the weekends with food and drink available for purchase, much more sedate and often deserted on weekdays. You can camp overnight if you pre-arrange a next-day pickup time, but be careful, as you can't exactly swim to shore!

[edit] Do

Kingston is the host of many great clubs. Found in New Kingston, there are many clubs that party until the early morning hours. The Quad, and Asylum are only a couple of the very popular clubs.

[edit] Learn

[edit] Work

[edit] Buy

• Kingston Crafts Market
• Blue Mountain Coffee from the supermarket for cheap or get premium beans direct from the JABLUM manufacturers or craft/single estate roasters. Look into Rum Roast and Royals at Devon House for some better selections.
• Parade's Coronation Market on weekends, where you can buy fruit and vegetables from across the island.

[edit] Eat

• Jerk, curried, fricassed or brown stew chicken, pork or fish
• Escoveitch fish -- Warning, spicy!
• Ackee and saltfish (codfish) -- the national dish of Jamaica
• Curried mutton (goat)
• Fruit: Mangoes, sugar cane, paw-paw (papaya), guava, june plum, jackfruit, star apples, guinep, naseberries...
• roasted corn
• bammy
• patties from a bakery (Devon House makes excellent curried chicken patties, and both Juicy and Tastee are "fast food" patty restaurants. In Liguanea there's a vegetarian/vegan patty restaurant, across the parking lot from the Wendy's
• ice cream from Devon House

[edit] Budget

• Tastee Patty, Juicy Patty, Mother's - fast food, mostly "patties", though Mother's also does hamburgers and fried foods (Various places around town)
• Island Grill - upscale slightly westernized Jamaica fast food and jerk, in New Kingston.
• Jerk pans - see them on the street smelling good - get Jerked Chicken, rice and peas!

[edit] Mid-range

• Akbar - Tasty Indian cuisine, Holborn Rd.

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Drink

Drink Red Stripe and Appleton Rum. If you've got the guts, try some Wray & Nephew overproof white rum (locals refer to it as "whites"): a drink that is usually around 180 proof.

There's also refreshing coconut water, cane juice, sorrel (only served around Christmas time), Irish Moss, and tamarind drink or genuine Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee (according to experts it is perhaps the best tasting, most expensive and most sought after coffee in the world). You can get premium beans from Rum, Roast and Royals in the Devon House complex.

Good bars include:

Red Bones Blues Cafe (also a good restaurant)

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Chelsea Hotel $40 USD.
• Indie's and Mrs. J's Guest House on Holborn road

[edit] Mid-range

• Altamont Court Hotel, : 1-5 Altamont Terrace New Kingston Jamaica, W.I., : +(876) 929-5931, Website: http://www.altamontcourt.com/index.php. Conde Nast Traveler-recommended Jamaican hotel promises strategic location, top-notch accommodations, fine facilities and world-class service. US$110

• Christar Villas Hotel, : 99a Hope Rd., Kingston 6, Jamaica, W.I., : +876-978-3933, Website: http://www.christarvillashotel.com/. Fascinating mid-range Jamaican hotel with a wide range of facilities and Jamaican mojo. US$115

[edit] Luxurious but Affordable

[edit] The Courtleigh Hotel & Suites

85 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5 (876)-929-9000.[3]

Luxurious hotel with a warm and friendly staff. If offers fine dining and has the best rates in Kingston. The Courtleigh Hotel is the only address you will ever need to make the righ timpression when in Kingston.

[edit] The Knutsford Court Hotel

16 Chelsea Avenue, Kingston 5 (876)-929-1000[4]

Quiet, exquisite and affordable. The Knutsford Court Hotel offers a garden style atmosphere and today's modern conveniences in a relaxed tropical setting catering to business and leisure travelers alike.

Perfectly suited for the value conscious traveler, you'll always find clean, airy and well-appointed rooms.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

It should be noted, however, to exercise general safety precautions while in Kingston. Like any large city anywhere in the world, it is home to a higher number of crimes than the rest of the island. Common sense and precaution should ensure a pleasant experience. If you find yourself in need of police, the emergency number is 119.

[edit] Cope

Tourists, especially white tourists, tend to stick out and garner lots of attention, not all of it positive. Hissing and cat calls at women (even accompanied ones) is common.

Homosexuality is not at all condoned and can illicit violent reactions.

[edit] Get out

[edit] Island wide Public Transit

Buses leave from Half-Way Tree (HWT) and the massive Parade country bus park to all of Jamaica. For Port_Antonio, there are buses leaving from HWT. For Negril/Montego Bay and Ocho Rios ("Ochi"), the Parade country bus park is the best bet. Only totally packed buses leave, so try to get on the fullest you can find, and keep a tight hold of your bags.

[edit] Rental Cars

With some practice, bravery, and chutzpah you can rent a car (Island Rent a car allows for one-way car rental). Take a good map and be willing to ask (and keep asking to get a consensus) for directions along the way. It's not safe to drive in the countryside after dark. If you get in a wreck/hit someone, drive to the nearest police station.

Wikipedia:Kingston,_Jamaica