The Jamaica Tourist Board has re-launched its Meet-the-People program. Originally introduced in 1968 and later abandoned, the program is back. It teams up Jamaican hosts or volunteers with visitors who share a common profession, hobby, or interest. Guests might get to meet a family, get to know a fellow musician, business person, photographer, nurse, teacher, artist, whatever. Sometimes visitors are invited to go hiking, shopping at a local craft market, or might even be invited to enjoy a simple Jamaican meal or a visit to a church or the countryside. Outings are uniquely Jamaican. Before going to Jamaica, seek out more details by visiting www.visitjamaica.com.
In another development, Air Jamaica (tel. 800/523-5585; www.airjamaica.com) the island's national airline, has resumed service to and from Canada. In 2004 flights from Jamaica to Toronto were re-inaugurated for the first time in 14 years.
In other news, Air Jamaica has increased service from Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport to Montego Bay. There was twice daily non-stop service before. Now the airline is operating a third non-stop five times weekly.
In yet another inaugural flight, Air Jamaica is now offering morning champagne service from Houston to Montego Bay. Flights from Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston now operate four times a week -- Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The return service from Mo Bay is on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Once in Mo Bay, passengers can easily connect with Kingston and Ocho Rios, as well as Air Jamaica's other Caribbean destinations, including Barbados and Curaçao in the southern basin.
A competitor, Continental Airlines (tel. 800/525-0280; www.continental.com) is also offering nonstop service from its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport, winging its way to Montego Bay before flying on to Port-of-Spain in Trinidad. The new flights from Houston operate four times a week. Continental times its flights on its 124-seat Boeing 737s for convenient Houston connections to dozens of destinations in the U.S. and Canada.
There are developments on the sea as well as in the air. The Jamaican Port Authority has signed an agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises (www.rccl.com) guaranteeing the island a minimum of two million cruise passengers over five years. Before this agreement, Jamaica had signed an agreement with Carnival guaranteeing a total cruise passenger load of 2.5 million passengers. In the past 12 months, a total of 491 cruise ships called at Jamaica ports.
New and affordable travel packages to Jamaica are now being offered by Air Jamaica and Vacation Express in a combined effort. These packages include a dozen U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Boston, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark, Orlando, and Philadelphia. These packages feature hotels ranging in price from luxury to budget. For more information visit www.vacationexpress.com.
Gay and lesbian travelers might want to think elsewhere in planning a trip to Jamaica, which remains one of the most homophobic islands in the Caribbean, if not the most anti-gay. Of course, if you visit Jamaica, it's best for the LGBT community to remain in the closet with the door locked. That became evident once again on June 10, 2004 when Brian Williamson, Jamaica's most vocal advocate of civil rights, was discovered in his apartment lying facedown in a pool of blood. He'd been stabbed several times in the neck. The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, founded by Williamson, branded the murder a hate-related crime. Gay sex remains illegal in Jamaica and Jamaica has been cited numerous times by international human rights groups for its intolerance toward the gay community. P.J. Patterson, the prime minister of the island nation, was recently requested to denounce violence against gays. He was also urged to repeal the anti-sodomy law. Patterson noted that he will not attempt to change the existing law.
Montego Bay
Those seeking affordable prices in expensive Montego Bay can check into Ridgeway Guest House, 34 Queens Dr. (tel. 876/952-2709; www.ridgewayguesthouse.com), which has been taken over by new management and is better run than ever under the second-generation ownership of the previous family. The guesthouse lies in a tropical garden on the ridge of the hills of a resort, offering panoramic views of the sea. The property is only a few minutes from Doctors' Cave Beach. All the comfortably furnished bedrooms have private patios or balconies. Even at the peak of the winter season you can stay here in a double at prices that range from $55 to $70 a night, a real Mo Bay bargain.
Falmouth
Good Hope at Falmouth (tel. 876/610-5758; www.goodhopejamaica.com), outside Montego Bay, is one of the most famous of the 18th century Great Houses still standing, a holdover from the plantation era. On a site of 2000 acres (809 h), Good Hope is part of a farm estate. The main house was constructed in the classic Georgian styling of 1755. Launched in the autumn of 2004, Good Hope is now open for a Great House garden lunch where guests can sample a wide selection of island specialties. Cooks use the freshest of local produce whenever available. In addition to dining, visitors can explore the Great House with its 18th and 19th century antiques. Horseback riding, mountain biking, and nature trails are optional activities. This is one of the great ways to spend a day if you're staying at one of the resorts at Montego Bay. Additionally, for overnighters, Great House Coach House offers 5 bedrooms, plus 3 bedrooms in the River Cottage.
Ocho Rios
Classic Custom Vacations, the leading American tour operator for upmarket holidays, has honored Jamaica Inn (tel. 876/974-2514) in Ocho Rios as the top quality resort for delivering the greatest "customer satisfaction" of all the Caribbean properties in its inventory. Indeed, this famous inn is better than ever after many improvements. Annually 4- and 5-star hotels compete for this honor. Set on one of the island's best white sandy beaches, Jamaica Inn is currently on Condé Nast Traveler's "Gold List" as well. It's come a long way since it used to shelter such illustrious guests as Sir Winston Churchill and King Peter of Yugoslavia. Additions and improvements are an ongoing thing here.
Sandals Resort (tel. 800/SANDALS; www.sandals.com) is merging two major resorts at Ocho Rios, the Grande Sport Villa Resort and Spa and Sandals Ocho Rios, to create a new 522-room hotel. It is scheduled to open in the winter of 2005, and will be named Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach & Villa Resort. The resort will embrace Grande Sport's 50 acres (20 h) of lush surroundings, romantic private villas, and 90 private pools. Grande Sport closed in the summer of 2004 to undergo an extensive $10 million refurbishment. Major renovations are occurring in the public areas, including the Great House, restaurants, spas and pools. At the heart of the newly created resort will be a large swimming pool complete with Sandals signature swim-up bar. The new resort will offer the guest a choice of beachfront rooms or secluded villas and suites. Guests can also take advantage of two full-service spas and an array of land and watersports. There is also a new concept introduced called "Stay at One, Play at Three." Guests at the Grande will also be allowed to enjoy the amenities at the Beaches Boscobel Resort and Golf Club and the Sandals Dunn's River Golf Resort and Spa. Sandals continues its rather misleading advertising that it is a "couples only" resort. It actually caters only to male/female couples -- not same sex couples.
Port Antonio
The best historical, cultural, and personally guided tours along the north shore area, especially around Port Antonio, are offered by Joanna Hart. Highlights of her tours include tales of Errol Flynn's residency on island, a visit to Princess Nina's island, and a tour of Folly, the ill-fated mansion of the Tiffany heiress. You'll also swim in the bottomless blue lagoon and walk in a cave one and a half million years old. Not only that but you'll get to see the Caribbean's only castle. Ms. Hart will also show you the best places to swim, surf, snorkel and scuba. Most tours are 3-1/2 hours, costing from $40 to $50 per person. Call 876/831-8434 or 876/859-3758 for more information.