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How To Get Local In Jamaica

by Vicki
(USA)

QUESTION about: How To Get Local In Jamaica

I am coming back to Jamaica in 8 days. We are staying in Montego Bay.

I have been to Rick's Café, Dunn's River Falls, done Bamboo raft touring, and seen Sangster's rum plantation.

This may be my last visit and I want to see things I have not seen before.

I want to eat where the locals do, see the beautiful rainforests.

How do I plan doing something like that, but stay close to Montego Bay?

ANSWER: by Wellesley, Feb 2016

Hi Vicki!

Thanks for your question, and moreso for choosing Jamaica - so many times!

I'm truly impressed to hear the stories of others like you who have been here so many times.

Yeah, it sounds like you have already done most of the 'touristy' stuff, and so I agree, it is time to get local :-)

My recommendation?

The ideal would be to partner with a local friend or family; its the easiest, cheapest and safest.

I suspect that you would have met some close friends back here over the years, how about asking one of them to take you around?

You could always stay at a cheaper guest house/hotel nearby and get picked up in the mornings.

And better yet, spending the entire time with the friend as long as it is convenient.

No friend nor family? You could also look into getting a host family. I wrote about it in detail on the link above.

But either way, you could explore the rural communities, like mine ;-), and see, in real life, how the local live!

That would include its happening and events, including concerts, football, cricket, a game of domino, buy from the local shopkeeper/farmer, visit a local school, attend a morning church service, and of course, eat some good ole Jamaican food!

jamaican basic school

real_jamaica

drinking jamaican jelly

jamaican boy

That's the real, authentic Jamaican experience my friend.

I hope this helps! Thanks again for asking!

See also: Semi private villas in Jamaica & The Real Jamaica

Regards,
Wellesley Gayle, for My-Island-Jamaica.com

P.S. I invite our fans who are regular here to share their feedback so watch the comments below.
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About The Author

A patriotic Jamaican who adore its culture, Wellesley has been using this medium to share what he calls 'the uniqueness of Jamaica with the world' since April 2007.

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