- Fun facts about Jamaica
- Jamaica was the one of the first countries in the Western world to build a railroad
- There are VERY FEW snakes on Jamaica thanks to the Mongoose and they are non venomous
- Jamaica was the first English speaking Caribbean nation to gain independence in 1962
- Jamaica has its very own Bobsled team. Recall the movie Cool Runnings?
- Only Jamaica and one other country does not share common colors of the USA flag
- Jamaica’s largest mountain range, The Blue Mountains get their distinction from a gentle mist that surrounds them
- The Blue Mountain range is home to the world’s second largest butterfly, the Jamaican Swallowtailu
- The Blue Mountains is home to the renowned Blue Mountain coffee
- Traditional Jamaican clothing is bright with amazing prints for both men and women
- Jamaica produces the most music per capita
- Jamaica is the undisputed authority for reggae music, but that is not the only form of music indigenous to the island. There is also ska, rocksteady, one drop, mento, Nyahbinghi, folk, drum and bass, soca, reggae-gospel, dub, festival, rubba-dub, roots reggae, calypso, and dancehall. Dancehall music is the most popular in Jamaica.
- Jamaica has the most rum bars per square mile….and then…
- ……..Jamaica has the most churches per square mile
- Jamaica is the 3rd largest island in the Caribbean (Can you name #1 and #2?)
- The majority of Jamaican people trace their roots back to Ghana and Nigeria
- Reggae’s popularity is due to the talents of Bob Marley, pioneer of reggae
- Jamaica is home to over 200 species of the exotic orchid
- Jamaica’s Manchester Golf Club, 1865 is the oldest in the Western Hemispher
- The “healing waters of Jamaica” are made up of several natural mineral baths and hot springs that are thought to have therapeutic properties.
- Kingston Harbor is the 7th largest in the world
- Jamaica is known to be one of the “Happiest places in the World”
- The most common greeting in Jamaica is a genuinely warm smile.
- A laid back people, their phrase “No Problem” depicts their attitude
- There are 50 public beaches along the beautiful coastline with seven miles of pure white sand in Negril
- On Jamaica driving is on the left side of the road
- Ian Flemming wrote all 14 of the James Bond novels while living on Jamaica
- Goldeneye is a unique remote intimate resort dedicated Ian Flemming
- Food and Drink
- Rum is the first drink of choice – no surprise here!
- Jerk Chicken originated and is still one of the most popular dishes
- The national dish is Ackee (local fruit) and salt fish
- Run Down is not a description of how you feel, it is a traditional fish stew made with coconut milk
- Order bammy if you see it on the menu for breakfast, it is a traditional flatbread made from the cassava root
- My fave, Rice and Peas is a common dish referred to as Coat of Arms, a staple at Sunday dinner
- Avocados are called pears in Jamaica
- Much of the traditional food in Jamaica is either a stew or soup. Almost all foods in Jamaican cuisine is grown or fished on the island, so you’ll always get locally produced food in Jamaica
- Language phrases
- Wah Gwaan is a casual greeting to enquire how somebody is or what’s up.
- The most common greeting is the handshake with direct eye contact, and a warm smile. Use the appropriate salutation for the time of day: “good morning”, “good afternoon”, or “good evening”.
- Boonoonoonoos is a Jamaican saying to express love
- You’re welcome. Yu welkom
- Zeen – ok, yeah, yes
- One love is an expression of unity and inclusion, often used by Rastafarians, Jamaicans, and reggae musicians.
- Holiday Traditions
- Homes are repainted, cleaned, extra special touches added for Holiday season
- Jonkanoo is a street parade showcasing scary characters
- Grand Market, observed on Christmas Eve is a market of artisans in the town’s main square. Everyone goes dressed in their best outfits
- Christmas dinner includes fruit cake, ham, sorrel and pigeon pea rice, known as gungo peas with rice
- Boxing Day, the day after Christmas the traditional Pantomime theater open
- Easter traditions include eating Easter buns with cheese as well as fried fish specialty
- Top things to do in Montego Bay. MoBay, as it’s affectionately known, brings the reggae spirit to its world-class resorts, gorgeous beaches, and historic landmarks.
- Rose Hall Great House –
- Built in 1770, the house is said to be haunted by the ghost of Annie Palmer, the White Witch of Rose Hall! If that gives you the creeps, don’t tour the colonnial mansion by night!
- Doctor’s Cave Beach
- The bay began attracting tourists in the 20s when a British doctor declared that the water here had healing powers! Does it? All we know is that the scenery is as dazzling as ever!
- Gloucester Avenue
- Near Doctor’s Cave Beach is the city’s “Hip Strip.” Nowadays the shops are dominated by souvenir vendors, but it also boasts some of the city’s best cafés, bars, and art galleries.
- Martha Brae River
- The picturesque river is one of Montego Bay’s top attractions. Relax on a bamboo raft and learn about Martha Brae’s history and wildlife from a local guide.
- 6. Rocklands Bird Sanctuary
- Hummingbirds descend on you upon arrival at this immersive bird sanctuary! It’s home to thousands of exotic and endemic species, many of which guests can feed by hand.
- Bellefield Great House and Gardens
- The restored mansion grants visitors a glimpse at 18th-century plantation life. Tour its antiques, sugar mill, and tropical gardens, then finish with a traditional Jamaican lunch!
- Rose Hall Great House –
Please join us on the beautiful Caribbean Island of Jamaica for the 7th David Tutera Experience
with David Tutera and Joey Toth!
This page will provide travel related details . Please review this page thoroughly as there is lots of information.
For the convenience of all attendees to attend the educational and evening events,
staying at our host hotel is MANDATORY during the 3 experience nights.
We hope that you will seek out your DTE friendships you have made and consider roommate stays if possible. Hotels in the immediate area will be higher priced than the host hotel and also staying further away would incur sizable taxi rates, transportation inconveniences and limited access to the benefits of the property.
This decision is thoughtfully presented for your experience with us.
As your dedicated travel professional, l am here to help you with your travel plans.
Please email me with any questions.
See you soon!
♥
Linda Mitchell
Room reservations are only available through the procedure on this site.
Read on for all the amazing details
Please visit the EVENT PAGE to register for the event and additional event info.
HOST HOTEL
Ocean Eden Bay is the host hotel for DTExperience Jamaica! This brand new ADULTS ONLY, All Inclusive hotel represents the luxury and beauty of Jamaica! Ocean Eden Bay is the sister hotel to Ocean Coral Springs, which is the family friendly hotel located on same property, in close proximity and all within walking distance. Our room block is at Ocean Eden Bay. PLEASE complete the form below to request your room at Ocean Eden Bay
Attendees that wish to bring families with them to enjoy their hotel stay while you are at the Experience, may choose Ocean Coral Springs if family member(s) are below the age of 18. Please email me for details and our exclusive group rates and reservations specifically for our attendees bringing families in mind.
Please complete the form below to request your accommodations at Ocean Eden Bay – Jamaica.
Ocean Eden Bay is the DTE Jamaica host hotel and location of the education events.
Once you have completed the form, please allow up to 7 days for confirmation and credit card deposit payment request link which will be emailed to you to complete the reservation process.
Ocean Eden Bay reservation request
Reservation details
- Ocean Eden Bay
- Rooms are blocked for arrival March 20 and departure March 23
- Attendees may request to arrive up to 3 days prior to March 20 and also may choose to depart up to 3 days after March 23 if they wish to extend their stay. The extra nights are based on availability so please make your request early. The extra nights ARE CONFIRMED at the exclusive discounted group rates
- Check in time is 3pm on day of arrival. Be thoughtful on your arrival day of the following
- Welcome and registration is 3pm – 5pm
- Evening welcome party is at 7pm
- Reservation procedure
- 1. Complete reservations request form above
- 2. Confirmation and secure deposit payment link will be emailed to you, from Luxury Destination Travel within 7 days of request
- Deposit required is 2 nights room rate total
- 3. Once deposit is completed a full email confirmation of your stay will be provided
- No reservations will be honored for emails sent, form above must be completed for Ocean Eden Bay
- Cancellations made up to 30 days prior to arrival will receive “Cancel for any reason” refund
- Cancellations made within 30 days of arrival will forfeit the 2 night deposit
- Balance of stay for third night plus any additional nights is payable 30 days prior to arrival, an additional credit card link will be sent
- Accommodations
- The following accommodations are held in room block with limited availability of each category
- Jr Suite Pool View – 1 king bed or 2 queen beds plus sofa bed
- $269.20 (single) $437.60 (double) $623.58 (triple)
- Jr Suite Ocean View – 1 king bed or 2 queen beds plus sofa bed
- $278.40 (single) $456.00 (double) $649.80 (triple)
- Junior Suite Swim Up – 1 king bed or 2 queen beds plus sofa bed
- $310.00 (single) $519.20 (double) $739.86 (triple)
- Jr Suite Pool View – 1 king bed or 2 queen beds plus sofa bed
- Rates are all inclusive
- 24 hour all inclusive
- Safety box, LCD TV, air conditioned, coffee machine, mini bar stocked daily with water, soft drinks and beer
- Full meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks daily at all restaurants
- Domestic and International alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages
- Nightly shows and entertainment
- Activity programs
- WI-FI in room and public areas
- 24 hour gyn
- Guests of The David Tutera Experience enjoy 10% discount on all spa treatments
- The following accommodations are held in room block with limited availability of each category
TRAVEL INSURANCE
With travel and the uncertainty of our every day lives, we all know that the best intentions may be confronted with unforeseen circumstances.With this in mind we suggest when making your travel arrangements with Linda that you request the travel protection plan that will be quoted exclusively for your travel.
The travel plan will included in coverage:
- DTE tuition, pre-paid non refundable
- Airline fare, prepaid non refundable
- Hotel room cost, prepaid non refundable
Coverages are based on meeting the criteria for “covered reasons for cancellations” which will be presented to you to fully review when you request the policy quote from Linda Mitchell. Please complete the requested information on the hotel booking form to receive additional details.
The truth is that LIFE HAPPENS! and when it does, if it happens to you, having travel insurance that is just a fraction of the cost of your trip can mean the world of difference between these situations stealing all of your hard earned vacation travel money or the confidence and security of that travel policy in your pocket to reach out to when the need arises!It is far better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it!
Once you have your hotel and flights booked please email Linda the following
- Full name(s) on reservation
- Dates of travel
- Airport traveling from
- Full cost of airline tickets plus 2 nights hotel deposit
I will email you insurance details and quote to complete purchase
- KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TRAVEL DETAILS
- Covid protocol entry requirements
- Please check Jamaica Entry Requirements link for travel protocols to enter Jamaica. Note that the requirements are subject to change as we get closer to travel dates.
- Please be sure if you are traveling across time zones, your 72 hours (or whatever is applicable when traveling) for testing, if still required starts from the day you will be entering Jamaica not the day you depart your destination.
- Example – If you are flying a red-eye from CA that departs on March 20 and your connecting flight into Jamaica is on March 21, your 72 hours or whatever the timing is for testing would be calculated from March 21 not March 20.
- Airlines – American Airlines group discount code
- DTE Attendees will receive a 5% off of the base fare when booking travel from anywhere in the US to MBJ Jamaica
- Once you have chosen your flights and click through look for the PROMOTION box and add the code 7732EI
- The Promotion code box will look like this
- At the payment page you will see the discount in the calculations line
- Any questions please contact American Airlines directly, tickets must be booked online for discount to apply
- AIRPORT
- MBJ – Sangster International Airport
- All major airlines flying into MBJ
- Club MOBAY
- VIP arrivals – Meet & Greet
- Fast track escort through immigrations, customs, baggage claims and transportation desk
- Fast track through security on departure
- Private access to CLUB MOBAY lounge at gate area
- Click through to Club MOBAY site to purchase
- IMMIGRATIONS
- Please complete the Immigration Form while in flight. Write legibly and keep all related travel documents together. Customer Service Agents are available to assist you on arrival.
- Visitors will be required to present the following documents to the Immigration Officers:
- Immigration Form Customs Declaration Form
- Valid Passport – valid 6+ months beyond the date of travel to Jamaica
- Proof of return Tickets (non-residents only).
- PASSENGER SERVICES | CURRENCY EXCHANGE
- TRANSPORTATION
- Transportation from airport/Return
- Please check back closer to travel dates
- Transportation from airport/Return
- Covid protocol entry requirements
- Visit Jamaica
- For more information please visit VISITJAMAICA.COM
- Currency
- The Jamaican dollar JMD is the currency abbreviation for the Jamaican dollar, the official currency for the island nation of Jamaica, and is subdivided into 100 cents.
- The currency symbol for JMD (Jamaican dollar) is J$ or JA$.
- Quick Conversions from United States Dollar to Jamaican Dollar : 1 USD = 150.57687 JMD.
- USD is accepted – you can request USD in return
- MC and VI are widely accepted. AX is lesser accepted. Discover and Diners Club are not accepted
- Be sure to contact your card company for any associated fees and also to make them aware you may be doing international purchses
- Mobile phones
- Please check with your provider for fees and international call and data programs
- Verizon users they offer an international program that is $10/day to use your data and make calls without extra charges. The $10/day only activates when you are out of the country so you can add it and leave on your account. Check with Verizon for questions
- Electrical outlets
- For Jamaica there are two associated plug types, types A and B. Plug type A is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and plug type B is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin. Jamaica operates on a 110V supply voltage and 50Hz.
- Time Zone
- UTC -(5:00)
- Language
- English
