For my fellow expats new to Kingston.

New to Kingston? Here are a few tips on how to get by for your basic requirements. These are all places or services I can personally recommend but of course there is more for you to discover. :)

Which provider to use for your cellphone services:

• Lime http://www.time4lime.com/jm/
• Digicel  http://www.digiceljamaica.com/

*Both companies are good. They always compete with each other to offer the best prices, you can choose the one who fits your needs better.

• For your TV, landline phone and Internet services, the only existing major company is Flow. http://discoverflow.co/jamaica

Where to buy your groceries: (You need to have a few options since sometimes only one of them has the ingredients you want)

• My personal favorite: Loshusan Supermarket at the Barbican Centre > 29 East Kings House Road
• My second choice: Sovereign Supermarket at the Sovereign Centre > 106 Hope Road
• Other option: John R Wong Supermarket directly in New Kingston > 1-5 Tobago Avenue (can have a lot of people begging for money at this one though).

Wholesale clubs:

• MegaMart (annual membership is JM$1200 but you can also pay without having one) > 29 Upper Waterloo Road
• PriceSmart (annual membership is JM$3000-3500) > 111 Red Hills Road

Specialized food products:

• CPJ Market > 71 Lady Musgrave Road
• Uncorked > 29 Barbican Road
• Fromage Gourmet Market > 8 Hillcrest Avenue

Where to shop for clothes, shoes and more:

• The Village Plaza and Tropical Plaza (Pumas, Adidas, Payless, Xtras, Go West, Rituals…) > Constant Spring Road
• Sovereign Centre > 106 Hope Road

Drugstores:

• Monarch Pharmacy * You can find them at the Barbican Centre, the Sovereign Centre and at the Tropical Plaza.

Health care:

• Winchester Medical Centre >  3A Winchester http://winchestermedicaljm.com/
• Andrews Memorial Hospital > 27 Hope Road http://www.amhosp.org/index.aspx

Where to get in shape:

• Chai Studio > 88 Barbican Road in the Barbican Business Centre http://www.chaistudiosja.com/

• Core Fitness > 29 Barbican Road http://www.corefitja.com/

• Spartan Health Club > 9 Lady Musgrave Road http://www.spartanhealthclub.com/

Where to go to the movies:

• Palace Cineplex (Only 2 theaters but greatest location) > Sovereign Centre 106 Hope Road
• Carib 5 (Much more like an American movie theater but less attractive location) > Cross Roads, Kingston 5

http://www.palaceamusement.com/

Hardware stores:

• Super Valu Home Centre > 137 Old Hope Road
• Rapid True Value > Sovereign Centre and The Village Plaza

Furniture stores:

• Courts > Hope Road in front of Sovereign Centre
• Singer > 21 Constant Spring Road

I hope this post can help anyone moving to Kingston feel more comfortable getting out there and explore the city for your simple needs. Remember to look at my restaurant reviews, and Kingston related posts for more activities!

http://isabelleinjamaica.blogspot.com/p/restaurants-reviews.html
http://isabelleinjamaica.blogspot.com/2013/05/one-day-visiting-kingston.html
http://isabelleinjamaica.blogspot.com/2013/04/lime-cay.html

One day visiting Kingston.

Every time I have a friend or a family member visiting us in Jamaica, I take the time for them to discover some of Kingston’s attractions. It usually takes one day.

I always start the journey with a visit to Hope Gardens and Zoo. I love this place; there is something about it that makes it special. Even if you are not into flowers, plants or nature, I think it is impossible not to feel good in those gardens. The official entrance to the Gardens is now closed so it is a bit confusing but if you continue on Hope Road about 2 km after, there is a green sign on your left and this is where you can access the parking.  The entry to the Gardens is free but there is now a small charge for parking. It is open every day from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. The Gardens also hosts events such as weddings, yoga sessions, live music shows and more.

Up the Gardens, you will find the Zoo. The entry for a visit is 500$JAM (5$US). The Zoo is expanding and so there is some construction and renovations, but it does not come in the way of the experience so much. The Zoo has a good variety of animals: find the Spider Monkey, he is quite a performer! The Zoo plans to welcome more animals when the time comes. The site also has great installations for lunch breaks and group visits. This beautiful place is perfect for kids (or kids at heart :P) but also for any animal and bird lovers. Bring comfortable shoes and bottles of water because it is HOT and you are walking a LOT.

 

Another must-visit in Kingston is the Devon House. This Heritage Site and national monument was built by Jamaica’s first black millionaire George Stiebel. You have the option to pay for a tour of the mansion furnished with antiques and learn more about the fascinating history of this property. But there is more to Devon House; you can relax in the park and gardens or shop and dine in the commercial complex. 

This is where you will find the famous Devon I Scream (ice cream), a bakery, some cool bars and restaurants. Try the wine and cigar bar - Bin-26. Unfortunately, their greatest restaurant for fine dining, The Terrace has closed since last December or January without any notice. Great little boutiques are also selling souvenirs and arts, I recommend the Starfish Oils shop for its popular Blue Mountain coffee candle.

Another great attraction to stop over in Kingston would be the Emancipation Park. It is like an oasis of nature in the New Kingston area. It is somewhere safe where you can run on the jogging track, or just walk, relax under a tree, enjoy solitude or make friends. The Park is also well known for the glorious bronze sculpture representing a naked couple looking at the sky, it is called ‘’Redemption Song’’. This is why the Emancipation Park is one of Kingston’s significant landscapes.

Erik and I always take our guest eat dinner at Kingston Marketplace since it has a great number of restaurants with a large variety of different cuisines; Italian, Chinese, American, Japanese, Asian fusion, Indian and of course Jamaican. You can always satisfy everyone’s taste. My next visitor is coming next month, I hope she will enjoy her stay, I know I will. :)

Lime Cay

Lime Cay is THE beach you need to go to when you are in Kingston. It is located on a small island not so far from Port Royal. To get to this beach, you have to drive passed the Norman-Manley International Airport, and turn right just before the Morgan’s Harbour Hotel, which leads you to the parking lot. The place looks sketchy but you don’t need to worry, you really are at the right place. You pay 1000$ JAM (10$US) at the small bar down at the marina, for your round-trip boat ride to get to Lime Cay island.

When they decide to leave (no regular schedule, Island time ;) ) they will help you get into a small or medium boat. The 15-20 minutes boat ride is sometimes very bumpy and you cannot wait to get there…. hopefully alive. Haha but seriously, as soon as you are on the beach, you know it was worth it. You can agree with your ‘’captain’’ on a time for him to pick you up. You can also take their phone number, but they are usually punctual and reliable.

Lime Cay is the only place near Kingston where the water is so beautiful and clear. I recommend bringing water shoes since there are sea urchins on some rocks and Erik can tell you that…it hurts when you step on one. You also need to bring your own lunch and drinks since there is no restaurant anymore. Phone service and 3G Internet is available on the island, YES! Lime Cay is busier on Sundays and feels like a party island but you can also have the place to yourself on weekdays! For a day at the beach, Lime Cay is the nicest option in the area.

CRU, Kingston

CRU is a GREAT new bar in Kingston. It is on the roof-top of the new CPJ Market. It really is the perfect place to spend the after-work cocktail hour. You can also appreciate a great view of the mountains. I love the modern design of the place. 

The lounge music is not always for every taste but it fits with the place and still gives a good ambiance. Here is a glimpse at their cocktail and food menu: 

They also have a large selection of wines. The food is good, you still have to keep in mind that you won’t eat a full meal at a bar. I absolutely loved the Bruschetta, and so did Erik…even more than his mini-burgers!* :P 

I really enjoyed this bar and we will go back every now and then for sure! I would rate this one 8 out of 10.

* The CRU food menu is changing every now and then.

Strawberry Hill Hotel

We made our Valentine weekend special at the Strawberry Hill Hotel in the mountains. We wanted to escape the city without having to drive to the other side of the island. This was only a 30 minute drive from Kingston. It was the perfect escapade. 

You are surrounded by nature, fresh air, and an amazing view of the city. You can relax on the long beach chairs by the infinity pool or take a quick dip in its cold river water to refresh your body. The food at the restaurant is delicious and the service is really good. 

We booked the GONG room, which apparently was Bob Marley’s room. It was great, two private balconies with a wonderful view, an outdoor shower, small kitchen and bathroom, tv, desk, etc… it had the feel of a cottage which I really liked. 

Being in the mountains, it can get colder at night than in the city. Luckily for our cold feet, ladies, their mattress has heated pads under the sheets with personal controls for each side so our men can choose not to use it. ;) 

Because this is not a cabin made of concrete but wood, you can hear a lot of what is going on outside of your room. We did not sleep well because of it but we still appreciated our short stay. Strawberry Hill Hotel is a luxury hotel with luxurious prices. We only spent one night and it costs us as much as would 2 nights on the north coast beaches, but really, I can assure you that the place is worth it. If you are staying in the Kingston area, you have to consider and try a one night stay at Strawberry Hill Hotel or at least a dinner at the restaurant (arrive early to enjoy the sunset)! And if you don’t mind spending more money, I am sure you can also enjoy their spa on site! I would rate this hotel a 9 out of 10.

Welcome!

Travelling is a dream that almost everyone wishes to pursue. Some had the chance to do it multiple times. Some never dare to leave their hometown. I have the amazing chance to not just travel but live in another country! I never once let myself dream I could live such an amazing and yet difficult experience, down south in the beautiful Caribbean Sea, where a struggling but beautiful and strong island stands, Jamaica. The thing is, I am not living on the beach like you can easily imagine, I am in the capital city Kingston which is far from what you can expect of Jamaica. No tourism here, or at least a lot less than the popular destinations on the north coast beaches like Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril. In this blog, you will find more information about Kingston but also my personal stories, the challenges of an expatriate spouse, the experience of living in such a different country, reviews of hotels, restaurants and attractions of the island and finally a real view of Jamaica outside of an all-inclusive resort. My objective is to share my own experience here, the good and the bad. Enjoy!