When most people think of Jamaica, they usually think . . . → Read More: Jamaica]]> Jamaica is a melting pot of culture that has a little bit of everything all in a perfectly easy-going atmosphere! Varied ethnic backgrounds, such as African, Chinese, English and Spanish, are of the Jamaican people and have influenced cultural traditions from wonderful food to jammin’ music.

When most people think of Jamaica, they usually think of the beach! Good thing there are plenty of preferences to choose from, such as the popular resort town and cruise port of Ocho Rios, the resorts and cliffs in Negril, or the relaxed, more remote Treasure Beach. Montego Bay and Kingston, the major cities of Jamaica, have ample times for some head bobbing reggae music and original delicious jerk cuisine. Grab some grub and head to the area of town where you can hear the music and dance!

The island has to airports, Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. But of course there is always a popular transportation choice, the cruise ship.

Jamaica is a wonderful island with climate that is warm and sunny year-round! Many snowbirds come down to Jamaica for their climate during winter months, making this a busy season. Summers attract families and honeymooners for the dry, warm weather. Even though these months are less popular for visitation, spring and fall can also be perfect times to find limited deals and spend time doing the same fun in the sun!

Weather

Jamaica’s weather is pleasing all throughout the year, with an annual average temperature of 82 degrees (Fahrenheit). While inland areas possess a tropical climate, the weather can drop to the 50s in the mountainous regions! The coast remains temperate due to northeast trade winds and mountain breezes. July and August are not only the driest months, but the warmest as well, so if you decide to visit then, hydrate! Hurricane season affects Jamaica and is during the late months of August through November, but rain falls year-round. Be sure to check the weather before your departure!

Crowds

Jamaica is a busy island year round but the busiest time is from mid-December through mid-April and from June through August, with March and July as the busiest visitors months. Events such as the ever-exciting Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in January, the Reggae Sumfest in July, and the Jamaica Carnival during the week after Easter also draw sizeable crowds. These festivals are a joy to partake in, making it easy to understand why the island gets so busy during these times!

Closure Information

Due to the fact that Jamaica is a tourist destination year-round, there are fortunately no specific times when hotels and shops close down!

Savings

The reality is, sometimes it is just hard to save up for a much needed vacation.  No matter how hard we try we just don’t end up saving enough. One way around this I’ve found is to set up separate bank accounts for a travel fund versus your personal fund, then have some of each paycheck get deposited directly into this account.  You can apply for a bank account online, or just visit a local branch and set up the direct deposit.

Often when you buy a flight to travel abroad you will be offered some sort of travel insurance.  It can be very easy . . . → Read More: Peace of Mind: A Precious Travel Commodity]]> You want to have peace of mind when you go travelling abroad. For this reason, it is advisable that you get a good insurance policy that will cover you and your possessions.

Often when you buy a flight to travel abroad you will be offered some sort of travel insurance.  It can be very easy to just go along with what is offered to you when it comes to buying tickets. However you should be cautious before you make your purchases and ensure that you are getting the best deal.

What to consider?

There are many considerations that you will need to make before purchasing travel insurance. You might be going travelling and therefore are looking to purchase backpackers insurance. Most importantly you will need to decide whether you are going to choose cover for a single holiday or whether you will invest in annual cover that will provide insurance for you on all the holidays you make within a certain period of time; subject to the limitations of the policy.

Sometimes annual insurance policies can be worth the investment and you don’t necessarily have to go on holiday a lot to make them worthwhile. Annual insurance policies are particularly suitable for people who like to take advantage of last minute holiday deals and want to save themselves the hassle of having to organise last minute insurance as well.

Exclusions and inclusions

Make sure that you look out for common exclusions in your travel insurance policy. You do not want to get half way around the world only to discover that you have a limited amount of cover after all.

There is usually a certain level of baggage insurance included in insurance policies. This will usually cover you in the event that your baggage is damaged lost or even stolen. There are limits on the value for which insurance companies will cover your baggage though so make sure you are clear of these restrictions before you depart.

Insurance companies will also normally put strict limits on the cover that they will provide in the event that your valuables are lost, stolen or damaged. Some travel insurance policies will pay for the repair of a damaged item whilst others will even cover the purchase of a replacement if the original is lost or stolen.

Make sure you know what the cover you select entitles you to and double check whether common items such as your glasses are included as these are often overlooked but can still be expensive to replace.

Travelling by train for many is . . . → Read More: European Markets to Visit by Train]]> Winter time and particularly Christmas is a fantastic time of the year to visit Europe. Rail networks in most European countries are set up to deal with expected snowfall and a visit to European Christmas markets by train is a romantic and memorable experience for all types of traveller.

Travelling by train for many is just a way to get to the eventual destination, but by booking a tour to a European market being on the rails will be an exciting and essential part of the experience. So what does Europe offer visitors at Christmas?

Bruges Christmas market

Photo by Flickr User slideshow bob

Bruges is a wonderful city to visit any time of the year, with its canals and picturesque pointed houses. At Christmas, the town opens up for ice-skating, with venues open throughout Bruges for the type of Christmas you have always imagined.

Walking around the various market areas spread throughout the city you can eat the local sweet produce, warm up on some gluhwein – a Belgian wine prepared warm – and browse the stalls for Christmas goodies or clothes.

There are bars and clubs serving traditional drinks and snacks too.

Lille Christmas market

Photo by Flickr User Erik Vanden

Ride the rails from November 21 to December 30 and you can enjoy everything that the Lille Christmas market has to offer. For more than a month this market offers visitors the chance to do some last minute shopping and to see Christmas as it is meant to be.

This charming town in northern France has lovely wooden chalets at Christmas that represent the market and it is easily reached by Eurostar. The markets offer festive gifts, locally produced treats as well as arts and crafts.

In the main square is a huge, imposing Christmas tree and a Ferris wheel surrounded by the Lille winter wonderland. There are thousands of shops in the city, with many offering their own take on Christmas.

Valkenburg Christmas market

Photo by Flickr User chris friese

Between mid-November and Christmas every year, you can ride on the train to the wonderful Christmas market of Valkenburg in the Netherlands. For the kids there is naturally Santa’s grotto; but he is there for the adults too!

Valkebnburg’s Christmas market it unique: it is the largest underground market in Europe and is set in the municipal caves. The caves are decorated as you have never seen before and inside are market stalls and stands selling gifts you would expect – and probably many you wouldn’t!

Aside from browsing the market, there is a twice-weekly parade full of floats and dancers, with Santa himself at the front of the show. There is a host of restaurants to eat in set at the heart of the Valkenburg Christmas market; a fantastic way to enjoy your time.