Currency:
You don’t need to get Jamaican money before you get to the island. In all resort areas, licensed cambios and bureaux de change are easily and readily accessible, and just about all currencies can be exchanged in banks. The official rate of exchange varies daily, so it’s not a bad idea to shop around for a rate that suits you before changing large amounts of cash. Many Jamaican ATMs accept international bank cards with Visa, Mastercard, Cirus and Plus logos, and banks give credit card advances, change traveller’s cheques and offer other financial services. At the end of your trip, you may take Jamaican currency with you (for your next time in Jamaica!) or you may exchange it at the airport.

Languages:
The official language of Jamaica is English, although most Jamaicans speak a local patois influenced by a combination of several different languages. It may take some time for you to become accustomed to it. When that happens, though, you’ll have fun trying the local expressions.

We speak English, but with a truly Jamaican twist. Uncover a few clues to understanding our patois…So much more than a means of communication, the language emerged as the expression of a people torn from their roots and oppressed. It was as much a part of them as the dark hue of their skin – their way of communicating the exclusion of others. Centuries later what we have is not a language of defeat and depression but a colourful lingo spoken by a people with a gift for vivid imagery, ridicule and irony, down-to-earth humour and bawdy cuss-words. A creative intermingling of words which have their roots in the English of the colonizers and the African tongues of the majority.

A lot of it is quite easy to adapt to. Jamaicans tend to drop the ‘r’ at the end of words, so that dollar becomes ‘dolla’, and water becomes ‘wata’. Double “t’s” within words sometimes become double “k’s”, changing little to ‘likkle’, and bottle to ‘bokkle’. We often add or subtract ‘h’ at will so that when you ‘harrive’ at your ‘otel’, ‘heverybody’ will tell you ‘ello’. For simplicity, men and women alike become ‘im’ or ‘dem’. ‘Dem’ is quite a versatile word. It also acts as a modifier to pluralize everything, so ‘yuh new fren dem’ will accompany you to the ‘place dem’ that you need to visit. Jamaicans also have an interesting system of adding words - your ‘frock tail’ may ‘hitch up’ under your ‘foot bottom’ causing you to ‘drop dung’ and hurt your ‘neck back’.

Many words and phrases are unique to Jamaica. When in Jamaica you ‘nyam’ (eat) your ‘bickle’ (food) and ‘labrish’ (gossip) with friends. ‘Jam’ (hang out) on the beach with your ‘likkle boonoonoonous’ (someone you love) or ‘bush-out’ (dress up), ‘touch di road’ (leave your house) and ‘go sport’ (socialize). In the market you’re sure to get ‘brawta’ (a little extra) with any purchase. Enjoy ‘ital stew’ (salt-free rastafarian/vegetarian dish) and a good ‘reasoning’ (discussion) with your Jamaican ‘Idren’ (friends). ‘Skank’ (Rock to Reggae music) at a local ‘dance’ (street party) and drink a ‘stripe…well cold’ (very cold Red Stripe Beer). At the end of it all --- “it sweet fi talk”.

A few good words to know…
Wha’appen? (What’s up?) – Greeting used among friends.
Seen (Yes, I understand / It’s OK) – response used in the affirmative or to reassert understanding
Nuff (Plenty) – used to represent volumes…of just about anything; also to describe an overbearing personality eg. “memba fi buy nuff tings” at the craft market (remember to buy lots of things); “how da gyal so nuff?” (why is that girl so overbearing?)
Bashment (Excitement/Party) – used as a noun, adjective, adverb eg. “Mi a go a ‘bashment’ (I am going to an exciting event), “Im roll up inna one bashment car” (He arrived in an impressive vehicle), “What a bashy piece a outfit yu wearing!” (The outfit you’re wearing is gorgeous)
Rhaatid (Wow) – used as an expression, adjective or to intensify eg. “ Rhaatid, di gate drop down” (Wow, the gate fell), “she get a rhaatid lick” (she got a bad hit), “A figet di mango to rhaatid” (Oh no! I forgot the mango)
Walk Good – Departing salutation, issued with good wishes (Good-bye, Take care, Safe travel)

Jamaica is well connected to the rest of the world. Direct international telephone service operates in all areas 24 hours a day, and telephone operators will gladly facilitate collect, third party or credit card calls. International faxes, cables and telegrams can be sent from most hotels and post offices. Email and Internet access is available too, usually at hotels and parish libraries, but also at local Internet Cafes. There are three daily national newspapers and five weekend newspapers, all available at hotel front desks, newsstands and vendors islandwide. Some hotels and gift shops receive the international editions of major newspapers and magazines such as the New York Times, TIME, The Economist and the London Times. There are about five local television stations, all of which broadcast islandwide, showing a combination of local and international productions. Radio is immensely popular in Jamaica, and with close to 20 FM stations, one can get up-to-the-minute local and international news, sports and weather, as well as continuous music of all genres.

Health:
When people plan their vacation destination, an important consideration can be the availability of good medical care in the event of an illness or accident. Those concerned about these health issues can rest assured when considering Aruba.

Many Hotels are equipped with handicapped facilities and tourists have the possibility of renting a large assortment of healthcare products such as wheelchairs (both standard and electric) walkers, crutches, bed pans, concentrators, scooters etc.

Aruba is well equipped to handle virtually every medical problem. In unique cases where the island’s own medical services do not cover the emergency, a patient can be quickly airlifted to nearby facilities (ie. In Curacao).

Aruba boasts the Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospital, a medical facility equipped with reputable medical staff, 280 beds and modern equipment. The hospital, opened in 1976, is located across from Punta Brabu Beach, and is within walking distance of some of the hotel district. It functions as a general hospital with established ties to the U.S., Colombian, Venezuelan, Puerto Rican, and Dutch hospitals for specialized treatment and care.

Electricity:
The electrical supply in Jamaica is 110 volts/50 cycles standard, and electrical appliances use plugs that are two-pronged and flat (such as those used in the United States and Canada). If your appliances do not use 110 volts or flat two-pronged plugs, bring the requisite adaptors and converters with you. Although adaptors and converters are available in Jamaica, they may not be easy to come by. Most laptop computers have built-in converters and can be used with an adaptor. If the idea of lugging all this equipment around seems daunting, leave it behind. Most hotels have hair dryers, alarm clocks, radios and clothes irons available, and in any case you probably won’t need many appliances. You are, after all, on holiday…

Climate:
Jamaica has a tropical climate at sea level and a temperate climate towards the highlands of the interior. As a popular Jamaican poem says, “we have neither summer nor winter/neither autumn nor spring…” and it's true. Instead, each year the island sees two rainy seasons from May to June and September to November. Many Jamaicans characterize the seasons according to the fruits available at that time! Some of the most important ‘seasons’ are mango season (May to July), guinep season (July to late September) and cane crop season (late October to about January). Of note also is the hurricane season from June to September, during which time large storms may, but rarely do, pass over the island. (Don’t worry about hurricanes, the last hurricane to directly hit Jamaica happened in 1988 and before that in 1952!) Although there is little real variation in temperature year round, between December and April the weather is practically perfect for any activity every day. The average temperature ranges from 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit) to 32 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) all year. Will it rain during your holiday? If it does, don’t worry. Most times, the short tropical showers provide a welcome break from the afternoon heat – just look at it as liquid sunshine, not rain!