Wednesday, April 23, 2008

ACURIL XXXVIII JAMAICA General Information

LETTER OF INVITATION

If you need an invitation letter, kindly send the details to: jamlibs3@yahoo.com and we will deliver the letter by post
or e-mail.

ACCOMMODATION

A block of rooms has been secured at the conference hotel, the Rose Hall Resort & Country Club, just outside of Montego Bay.

The following rates per room per night, and which include, Breakfast and Lunch offered in Resort restaurants, and not including specialty items in the gourmet restaurants, will be honoured:

Single Rate US$180

Double Rate US$210

Triple Rate US$291

These room rates do not include additional 24% taxes, resort tariff and gratuities.

Please Note: Hotel Rates include breakfast and lunch only

All attendees are responsible for their own charges. A deposit of two (2) nights room and tax will be charged by credit card debit upon reservation. The direct phone number to the Reservations Department of the Rose Hall Resort & Country Club is 1-866-831-1313. Reservations can also be made by calling 1-977-597-9696. You must identify yourself as part of the ACURIL to receive the Group Rate.

Reservation: https://reservations.ihotelier.com/crs/g_reservation.cfm?groupID=43513&hotelID=6573

TRANSPORTATION TO HOTEL FROM AIRPORT

All attendees are advised to arrive and depart from the Sangster International Airport (MBJ). Sangster International Airport is ideally located on the northcoast of the island, and is within easy driving distance of the Rose Hall Resort & Country Club, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios as well as the popular tourist town of Negril.

Jamaica Tours Limited (JTL) charges $24 net per person, roundtrip, (airport porterage not included, from the Sangster International Airport.. Upon request, the Rose Hall Resort & Country Club will coordinate roundtrip airport transfers to/from the Sangster International Airport through JTL.

The Norman Manley International Airport near Kingston is a four-hour drive away from the Montego Bay area.

A Departure tax (which may be collected at the time of the ticket sale) of J$1,000 is payable for international travellers.


VISA, PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

United States citizens and nationals of the United Kingdom must have a valid passport. No visa is required.

Canadian citizens must have a valid passport or any documents that establish nationality and identify will be accepted.

Commonwealth citizens and CARICOM nationals must have a valid passport, but do not require a visa.

All visitors must have an onward ticket or return ticket to their country of permanent residence.

Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.

CURRENCY AND BANKING

Jamaica is well supplied with ATMs, banks and bureaux de change.

Banking hours are usually Monday to Thursday 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and Friday, 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Cambio exchange offices open later than banks. Retain receipts as proof of legal currency exchange. Exchange bureaux at the airport and hotels also offer currency exchange facilities.

Major credit cards and Travellers’ cheques are widely accepted. Both cash and travellers’ cheques are best taken in US dollars.

JAMAICA BASICS

Time: Local time is GMT –5 hours.

Electricity: Electrical current is 110 volts, 50 Hz. Flat two- and three-pin plugs are in use.

Language: The official language is English, but a local patois is also spoken.

Health: Medical facilities are of a reasonable standard. No vaccination certificates are needed for entry into Jamaica, but yellow fever certificates are required from travellers coming from an infected area.

Safety: As in most metropolitan cities, visitors should be alert, not resist in the event of attempted robbery, and avoid walking alone at night or in isolated areas.

Tipping: Outside the all-inclusive resorts, where tips are part of the package, visitors should tip 10 – 15% for taxis, personal services, room-service and restaurants where a service charge is not already included in the bill. Parking attendants, bellboys and porters also expect a tip. US$1 per bag is customary.

Customs: Contrary to popular beliefs, possession of and smoking of ganga is illegal.

Communications: The international access code for Jamaica is +1, in common with the United States, Canada and most of the Caribbean, followed by 876. Direct international telephone services are available, and operators can also facilitate calls.

The local mobile phone operators use various networks, including GSM, which is compatible with most international networks.

Internet access is available from most hotels and parish libraries.

See websites:

http://www.nlj.org.jm/acuril/ACURIL08.htm

http://acuril.uprrp.edu


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