Kingston

This article is about Kingston, a city in Jamaica. For other uses of Kingston, see Kingston (Disambiguation)

Introduction

Kingston is the capital and largest city in Jamaica. It has about 700,000 inhabitants and is located on the southeast coast of the country. It was founded over 300 years ago. It is an ethnic diverse city with most people originating from their African ancestors, but with large quantities of Indians, Arabs and caucasians as well. Christianity is the main religion and the city has numerous churches to prove it. Although it can be a bit rough around the edges, with normal precautions it makes for a great experience to get to know the Jamaican culture and the Bob Marley Museum (there even is a Bob Marley statue) might just be the highlight of a trip to this city.

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Events and Festivals

Kingston Test Match is the big cricket match of the year. April sees the West Indies cricket team take on an international challenger.
Bob Marley Week - The legendary Jamaican reggae singer is commemorated for a week in early February. The event spans his would-be birthday, February 6, and includes concerts and talks about the famous Rastafarian. All Bob Marley attractions liven up at this time, including the Bob Marley Museum, Kingston (his former home) and the Bob Marley Mausoleum in Ocho Rios, his birthplace.
Jamaica Carnival - The biggest event of the year shows off Jamaican culture in all its glory, with street parades, soca, calypso music and dancing. The multi-day festival in mid-February takes place all over, but with the main street parade is in Kingston. See ladies on the beach for the Beach Jouvert and the Road March for the finale.
Africa Jamfest - Arty types will love the Africa Jamfest, which showcases art, music and fashion at Montego Bay, Kingston and other destinations in Jamaica in October.

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Weather

Kingston's climate is tropical, with hot and humid weather in summer months. Winter days are usually warm with mild nights. Fairly consistent temperatures are experienced throughout the year, around 25 °C to 30 °C and usually 5 degrees cooler at night.
The rainy season is from May to November, peaking in May and June and in October and November. Rainfall is usually for short periods in the late afternoon and it is still quite possible to enjoy the sun on a visit during these months.

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Getting There

By Plane

Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) is a hub for Air Jamaica. Destinations of the national carrier include the Caribbean, Florida, New York, Toronto and Washington, D.C..

Foreign airlines also fly into KIN from main cities in the region, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, London and Toronto.

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!

By Bus

The bus service in Jamaica has now been upgraded with express buses cost ranging from JMD80 to JMD100, and another bus also air conditioned can be found in yellow with the Jamaican flag at the front costs for regular fares JMD150 and for children under 12 JMD50 12+(prices are expected to raise for the new buses soon because of the increase of gas). The original non air con buses still function, but who knows when will they last?

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Getting Around

By Public Transport

Kingston has an extensive and modern bus system. The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) runs the bus system for the government, while private contractors also run the same routes. There are also minibuses and route taxis which are very affordable. Whenever in doubt, ask a bus driver how to get somewhere or where to find a certain bus; they are generally very helpful.

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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 Café (also a good restaurant).

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.

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Sleep

Upscale

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Keep Connected

Internet

Some resort areas and cities have internet cafés, but wifi is on the rise. It's not alway free though and many luxury places charge for wifi as well. On te other end of the scale, guesthouses and cheaper hotels usually offer free wifi.

Phone

Post

Jamaica Post offers service in the country. It has fairly reliable and affordable services. Postcards and letters take at least a week to 10 day before they arrive in North America, longer for European or other destinations. Most post offices have opening times from 8:00am to 5:00pm Mondays to Fridays. Hotels and resorts usually are able to collect post for you as well. If you want to send a package overseas, use reliable and fast companies like DHL, UPS, TNT or FedEx.

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