Fast Facts

Banks -- The most convenient bank is Scotiabank, Main Street (tel. 876/974-2311), open Monday, Thursday, and Friday 8:15am to 4pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday 8:15am to 3pm. It has foreign exchange facilities and an ATM.

Bookstores -- The best is Everybody's Bookshop, Shop 44 in Ocean Village Plaza (tel. 876/974-2932), open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5:30pm.

Emergencies -- Call police or report a fire by dialing tel. 119. The police station (tel. 876/974-2533 for routine calls) is off Da Costa Drive, east of the clock tower.

Laundry -- If your hotel doesn't have facilities, use The Laundry Market (tel. 876/974-5519), on Main Street, east of the center at the turnoff for Shaw Park. Hours are Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm.

Library -- The Ocho Rios Public Library is at Milford Road (tel. 876/974-2588), open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.

Mail -- The main Ocho Rios Post Office is on Main Street (tel. 876/974-2526), and it's open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm. You can send faxes or telegrams from here, too. The post office is crowded and not as efficient as it should be; many visitors send important mail via UPS. The local office is at Airpak Express, Shop 9, Ocean Village Shopping Centre (tel. 876/974-0910). Hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm. Include "Jamaica, W.I." in all island addresses.

Medical Services -- There is no hospital in Ocho Rios; the nearest is St. Ann's Bay Hospital (tel. 876/972-0150), 11km (6 3/4 miles) west. The Central Medical Laboratory (tel. 876/974-2614), at Shop #14 in the Carib Arcade on Main Street, in the center of town, offers basic services Monday to Friday 8am to 4:30pm, Saturday 9am to noon. So does Medi-Rays, at Shops #9-10, in the Carib Arcade on Main Street (tel. 876/974-6251), open Monday and Friday 8am to 6pm, Tuesday to Thursday 8am to 5pm, and Saturday 8:30am to 12:30pm.

Pharmacies -- The most central pharmacy is Ocho Rios Pharmacy, Shop 27 in Ocean Village Plaza (tel. 876/974-2398), open Monday to Saturday 9am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 7pm. Another good one nearby is Pine Grove Pharmacy, in Simmons Plaza (tel. 876/974-2023), open Monday to Saturday 9am to 8pm, Sunday 10am to 3pm.

Travel Agencies -- The most reliable travel agent is Trafalgar Travel Ltd., 69 Ocean Village Shopping Centre (tel. 876/974-5130), open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm and Saturday 9am to 12:30pm.