Jamaica is one of the most popular Caribbean travel destinations. The climate is great, the beaches are beautiful and the people are pretty friendly. However, the locals don’t have much tolerance for people that are rude or don’t appreciate their culture. It is a good idea to understand the customs and expectations while traveling there. Here are some tips that you will want to follow.
Act Friendly
The locals tend to be a bit aloof and unfriendly to people they have just met. However, most Jamaican people are very pleasant to people after warming up to them. They are more than happy to teach tourists about the country or help them find popular landmarks such as these.
You will need to prove that you deserve their trust and respect. Show that you are genuine and you should get along fine. Here are some tips to help earn their trust:
- Family life is very important to most people in Jamaica. Asking questions about their family will help show that you sincerely respect them.
- Jamaicans have little patience for arrogant or cocky people. You will have a much easier time getting along with them if you are humble and down to earth.
- Show genuine appreciation for any help that they offer.
Being friendly is always a good idea when you are traveling abroad. However, it is particularly important in Jamaica because the people have a much lower tolerance for rude people than most other cultures.
Know How to Dress
You will need to make sure that you dress properly on your trip to Jamaica. Here are some of the things that you will want to keep in mind during your trip.
Dress in Light Clothing
Jamaica is a very warm place to visit, so you will want to wear light clothes on your trip. You will also fit in much more easily with the natives.
Know What Attire is Appropriate in Different Settings
You will also want to make sure that you know what types of clothes you should wear in different settings. Many people think that Jamaicans are open-minded about wearing beach attire at dinner, but they actually frown on that decision. You will need to be fully clothed with closed footwear when you are in a formal restaurant.
Understanding the Various Customs
Learning how to survive in Jamaica is a bit of a learning curve. You will need to take the time to understand the customs. Here are some that you will need to be aware of.
Understand Sense of Time
Jamaicans don’t feel the same pressure with time as most people. They often say they will often say that they will do something soon. It is hard to know what they mean when they say this, which means you could end up waiting a lot longer than you expect.
Acceptance of Gifts
You will also want to show appreciation when you are offered anything. This especially applies to any meals that you are offered. You will want to eat the entire plate, because that shows that you are grateful for the meal and truly enjoyed it.
About the author: Kalen has traveled frequently throughout his life. He shares tips that he has learned along the way.
