All-inclusive vacations in Jamaica, Caribbean

Jamaica is a favorite destination for travelers seeking to spend all-inclusive vacations in the Caribbean and many of them come back every year. From Negril's beautiful beaches to Duns River Falls, from tours in Ocho Rios to shopping in Montego Bay, from accommodations in rustic inns to lodging in all-inclusive hotels, vacations in Jamaica, Caribbean Sea, have all that a tourist could ask plus much more...
Jamaica's cultural center is in its capital city - Kingston. Kingston is also a preferred travel destination for those interested in Jamaica's history.

Hotels & Inns

Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea covering 4,244 square miles and being 146 miles long. The width varies between 22 and 51 miles.
The island is very mountainous, with the highest point named Blue Mountain Peak standing at 7,402 feet. The average annual rainfall is 78 inches and the average year-round temperature is 82F.
Jamaica features fine beaches, scenic beauty and has more as 120 rivers. The island has several mineral springs including four with bathing facilities. The two public springs are Bath, in St. Thomas, and Milk River Bath, in Clarendon.
Jamaica is populated by over 2 million people, mostly descendents of the freed African slaves. Tourism and mining are the two most profitable economic sectors along with agriculture and manufacturing. This Caribbean island has been an independent country since 1962 when it ceased to be a British colony.
Being a favorite destination for tourists seeking affordable all-inclusive vacations in Caribbean, Jamaica has many well developed beach resorts dotted with inns, vacation rentals and luxury hotels.

Reggae music

From beach parties to the raw "sound-system" discos of the working-class suburbs, Jamaica reverberates to the soul-riveting sounds of calypso, soca, and above all, reggae. On this island the music is everywhere it's very, very loud!
Reggae may have put Jamaica on the musical map, but the nation's musical heritage runs much deeper. Inspired by the country's rich African folk heritage, music spans mento (a folk calypso), ska, rocksteady, "roots" music, and contemporary dancehall and raga. Kingston is the "Nashville of the Third World", with recording studios pumping out dozens of new titles each month.
Jamaica has also a strong heritage in military bands, from which notably is the Jamaica Military Band. This band dates back to England's first West India Regiment in 1795 and still uses its unique Zouave (light infantry of North African origin) uniform.
Reggae is the heartbeat of Jamaica. To Jamaicans, reggae has two distinct meanings: first, it is a generic term for all popular Jamaican music, and more particularly, it refers to specific beat and style popular from about 1969 to 1983. Reggae evolved from romantic-themed rock-steady but was fired in a crucible of tensions and social protest simmering violently in the lat 1960s and early 1970s. The music expresses a yearning for respect, self-identity, and affirmation.

Weather

In planning a vacation, one of the most important considerations is the weather at the destination. This is because the weather conditions in a certain location can help you decide on when would be the best time to go to the location and it can also help you prepare the things you need to bring, especially your clothing. This is true even for places where the climate seem to follow a general trend throughout the year like Jamaica, which has weather that is generally sunny all year round. This is because despite the fact that such a place like Jamaica is considered to have good tropical weather, being aware of the "perfect" or ideal time to go to Jamaica with regard to weather conditions can help you maximize your vacation to the island.
To be able to determine which would be the best time to go in Jamaica, there are a number of things that you need to know about the weather profile in the island. This includes knowing that there are only two seasons in Jamaica, which are the wet season and the dry season. In relation to this, you also need to be aware of the rainiest months in Jamaica, which are usually the months of May, June, September and October. Given that Jamaica receives 78 inches of rain fall every year, it would be best of you avoid going to the island during these wet months, which could last up to November. It is also worth knowing that during April, the winds in Jamaica can be pretty strong, which can prevent you from doing activities like scuba diving and snorkeling due to strong waves. Finally, you should also be aware that Jamaica also has a hurricane season that stretches from June to September. Given these, it can then be said that the ideal time to go to Jamaica is during the dry season, which stretches from December to early April. The weather in Jamaica can play a major role in the activities that you could do while you are on the island and the quality of the vacation experience that you get from your trip.

Jamaica's government

Jamaica inherits its political institutions from Britain. It is a stable parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth. Although Jamaica is independent its titular head of state is Queen Elizabeth II of England. She is represented by a Jamaican-born governor general, who is appointed on the advice of the prime minister and a six-member Privy Council. The governor's duties are largely ceremonial and include appointing the prime minister, who is always the leader of the majority party after each national election.
Executive power resides with a cabinet appointed and led by the prime minister which is responsible to Jamaica's Parliament. Parliament consists of a bicameral legislature - a 60-member elected House of Representatives and a nominated 21-seat Senate, of which 13 members are appointed by the prime minister and eight by the leader of the opposition. The Senate's main function is to review legislation sent forward by the elected House. The House may override a Senate veto, but a two-thirds vote in both houses is required to change Jamaica's constitution. A full parliamentary term is five years. The governor, however, may call a national election at any time the prime minister requests.

Jamaica's people

Jamaica's population is currently estimated over 2,5 million, of which about 800,000 live in Kingston. At least another two million Jamaicans live abroad. Emigration has served as an escape valve to help balance the high birthrate of 20 per 1000 (down from 25.2 per 1000 in 1990). One-third of the population is under 14 years of age.
The nation's motto "Out of Many, One People" reflects Jamaica's diverse heritage. Tens of thousands of West Africans, plus large numbers of Irish, Germans, and Welsh arrived throughout the colonial period, along with Hispanic and Portuguese Jews and those whom Jamaicans call "Syrians" (a term for all those of Levantine extraction). Following emancipation in 1838, Chinese and Indians arrived as indentured laborers from Hong Kong and Panama. A new wave of Hong Kong Chinese has settled in recent years, bringing new vitality to retail trade.
Some 91% of the population is classified as being of pure African descent; 7.3% are of Afro-European descent; the remainder are white (0.2%), East Indian and Middle Eastern (1.3%), and Afro-Chinese and Chinese (0.2%).
Jamaica proclaims itself a melting pot of racial harmony. Still, insecurities of identity have been carried down from the plantation era. Class divisions in Jamaica are still related to color and there is much lingering resentment - as well as prejudice - against whites, particularly among the poorer segment of society.
Whites are divided into "white Jamaicans" (immigrants from Europe, mostly England) and island-born "Jamaican whites", most of whom are really "off-whites" who contain at least a trace of black blood. You will also come across many brown-skinned, green-eyed, blond-haired mulattos (so-called "red" people, a pejorative term), notably around Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth.