Jamaica on a Budget: Ya Mon!

Posted by Natasha Jervis on 18 July 2011

Ya mon! Jamaica is a popular tropical paradise that welcomes thousands of visitors to its land of Caribbean turquoise waters and glistening gold sandy beaches every year. Whatever your travel budget is, you can find a way to enjoy the island of Jamaica and all its beautiful sights and historic culture. 

Surf, hike, golf and mountain bike across the island or listen to the Jamaican beat of steel drums, sip pina coladas and lounge around on one of Jamaica’s many beautiful beaches.  A visit to Jamaica doesn’t have to break the bank and a well-planned vacation can actually be wallet-friendly.

Staying on the island of Jamaica can be quite cheap if you know where to look and where to book.  It is always travel smart to organize your vacation time during the low season. Jamaica has a variety of hotels to stay at which feature lower room rates.  Avoid the luxury hotels unless you can afford them. Treasure Beach, Negril, Portland and Montego Bay have a variety of low-cost hotel options such as the Bananas Garden Bed and Breakfast which ranges from $85 to $125 a night or the Beach House and Villas in Negril that has villas anywhere from $40 to $110 per night. You can check out the Jamaican exchange rate here.

When it comes to dining in Jamaica, make sure you check out budget-friendly Billy's Grassy Park and the Boston Jerk Centre which has cheap, but top-of-the-line tasty jerk-spiced Jamaican cuisine and low cost drinks. The Island Grill in Ocho Rios is superb and a visit to the famous open-air jerk eatery in Montego Bay called Scotchie's should not be missed by any means. If you have taste buds that crave spice, Scotchie's is a top choice to sample authentic Jamaican cuisine.

Seeking adventure and fun-filled days while in Jamaica? You don't have to shovel out loads of green to enjoy all that the island offers. There are a variety of free activities and sights to see while on the island such as exploring the cumin-coloured sands of Seven Mile Beach and powder-white Boston Beach in Port Antonio. If you have a little extra money in your Jamaica budget, swim with friendly dolphins at Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios or enjoy an irie 'natural' stew at Bob's Cafe at the King of Reggae's popular Bob Marley Museum in Montego Bay for only 3 to 6 dollars.

There is so much fun to be had when visiting the tourist-loved island of Jamaica. When you book your next vacation ask about free activities, low-cost flights, budget-friendly packages and hidden gems to visit. Also, remember to do your research about the island of Jamaica, while every area of the world has its crime, it is always travel smart to be safe, know what areas to avoid and what your healthy and safe food options are. Travel smart, be safe and most of all soak up the sun and reggae of this tropical island escape.