Jamaica Vacations

Jamaicans enjoy tropical temperatures year-round, but May, October and November are rainier months, and some portions of the country are stormier than others. Hurricane season runs from June to November, so keep abreast of forecasts in advance.

If budget is a factor, plan your visit from May to November, when hotel rooms are generally cheaper. Holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and spring break come with higher prices.

Turn up the heat on your couples' vacation. The swim-out suites at Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay allow sweethearts to wade in the privacy of their own room-side pool.

Go ahead—bring the kids. At Franklyn D Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, every family gets a nanny.

Relive 17th-century Jamaica on a working plantation. Prospect Plantation offers open-air jitney tours through 1,000 acres blossoming with coconuts, bananas, cassava, coffee plants and sugar cane. You can even feed the ostriches and pet the camels.

If you're planning a pilgrimage to Dunn's River Falls, make sure you pack the proper gear: extra clothes and water shoes with good grips.

Before the end of your trip, pick up a bag of coffee at the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory. Its Blue Mountain beans are some of the most robust you've ever tasted.

Standing on the slippery rocks of Dunn's River Falls, you'll see waters spill into the Caribbean Sea -- the same spot where the English and Spanish battled in 1657. This major Jamaican attraction doubles as a prime photo op. Just walking through the thunderous, ice-cold blasts is a feat to be shared, especially with a travel companion.

Bob Marley is to Jamaica what Elvis is to America: In Kingston, his former home and studio is a shrine to reggae – complete with Rastafarian murals and a movie depicting his life. Walls detail his rise to fame, while a cafe and juice bar dish up tropical eats and drinks with flair. Bring back a piece of Bob's legacy, whether that's a trinket, t-shirt or CD at the gift shop.

This Jamaican beach town is the go-to oasis for topless beaches and adults-only resorts. Luxurious, all-inclusive properties on the north set the scene for romance, while smaller, boutique-style properties on the West End epitomize Jamaican irie. Savor the jagged cliffs and Seven Mile Beach, a former hippie haunt and one to capture on your digital camera.

Montego Bay, the second largest city in Jamaica, welcomes a steady stream of honeymooners and beach via the country's busiest airport. With low-lying mountains and picturesque beaches, the area is dotted with all-inclusive properties, authentic eateries and some of the best rum ever to cross your lips. Speaking of spirits, explore the Appleton Estate, an age-old rum distillery that gifts every visitor with a free bottle.

Even after multiple hurricanes destroyed the gathering spot entirely, locals maintained their sunny outlook and vowed to rebuild. The current structure is a testament to the Jamaican spirit, where the locals gather religiously for cocktails and sunsets. And the food -- like the famous broiled lobster -- is fresh and positively Jamaican. Watch fellow patrons dive off a 35-foot platform into the Caribbean. Like reggae, it's a longstanding tradition.

When the sun rises and the breezes kick in, beachcombers flock here to seize the low-key lifestyle that Jamaicans are known for. The arc-shaped beach fronts aquamarine waters, where canoers and surfers ride foamy crests. Landlubbers explore the turf for artisan-made crafts, herbal medicines and that perfect poison: the local rum.

A popular spot for honeymooners and fans of all-inclusive vacations, Runaway Bay is ideal for travelers who plan not to stray far from their resort. Well-rounded properties such as Gran Bahia and Breezes sport impeccable pools and kid's clubs. Offsite, guests find familiar Jamaican themes like casual eateries serving curried goat and Jerk chicken, and open-air bars playing live reggae.

If you like your cities rough and tumble, make a pilgrimage to Kingston, Jamaica's capital and the epicenter of reggae. Urban, open-minded travelers are in for the country at its most colorful, from shantytowns to sizzling nightlife. But keep your wits about you when sampling cultural hangouts, including tourist destinations like the Bob Marley Museum.

As a large port of call and hotel destination, Ocho Rios is ever the busy host. The one-time fishing village in the parish of St. Ann now bustles with cruise goers and street vendors. Stick to the beachfront strip, where palm trees and water sports keep the focus on R&R. Fun fact: Ian Fleming, the man behind James Bond, took up residence near Ocho Rios in an estate he named Goldeneye.

One afternoon on Treasure Beach could very well tempt you to stay for good. Focused on the basics -- sand, surf and beachfront bars -- Treasure Beach is known countrywide as community of fishermen and farmers who enjoy very little rainfall and bragging rights to Bob Marley, who was born there. Stay at Jake's Place, a bohemian hotel offering beachfront shacks, and you'll see what it means to be Jamaican.