State Department Issues Travel Advisory for Jamaica

If you are thinking about traveling to Jamaica for the holidays, DON’T. If you get in trouble or have a medical emergency, you might be on your own and the U.S. Embassy likely will not be able to help you.

The U.S. Department of State has issued a “Reconsider travel to Jamaica” notice because of crime and some locations have been assessed as “Do Not Travel.”

According to the State Department: The U.S. Embassy routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts. U.S. citizens report slow or unsatisfactory response to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a final verdict and sentence. 

Additionally, U.S. citizens should not expect the same level of health care available in Jamaica as is available in the United States. This includes generally lower levels of emergency service response times or routine care for illness or injury.

“U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance. Air ambulance service to the United States can range from $30,000-50,000,” according to its website.

Please note: Private hospitals require payment up front before admitting patients and may not have the ability to provide specialized care. Ambulance services are not always staffed with EMTs or always readily available, especially in rural areas. U.S. citizens should bring extra prescription medication as common medications such as insulin can be difficult to obtain.

Violent crime occurs throughout Jamaica. Tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country. The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Armed robberies and sexual assaults are common. 

If you decide to travel to Jamaica the department issued this statement: “We strongly encourage you to obtain traveler’s insurance, including medical evacuation insurance, before traveling. The Department of State does not pay medical bills.”

• Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition. This includes stray rounds, shells, or empty casings. The penalties for carrying firearms and/or ammunition, even inadvertently, are severe, and can include lengthy prison sentences.
• Avoid walking or driving at night.
• Avoid public buses.
• Avoid secluded places or situations.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
• Be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.step.state.gov to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Make a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

Please know that U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling to certain areas of Jamaica due to crime. Additionally, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from using public buses and from driving outside of prescribed areas of Kingston at night. 

Off-limits locations for U.S. embassy personnel throughout Jamaica – Level 4: Do Not Travel

St. Ann’s Parish - Steer Town and the Buckfield neighborhood near Ocho Rios

St. Catherine’s Parish - Spanish Town, Central Village, areas within Portmore, including: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park, and Waterford

Clarendon Parish - all of Clarendon Parish, except passing through Clarendon Parish using the T1 and A2 highways.

St. Elizabeth’s Parish - Vineyard District Community, between the communities of Salt Spring and Burnt Savanna, St. Elizabeth

Hanover Parish - Logwood and Orange Bay

St. James Parish/Montego Bay - Inland side of the A1 highway and The Queen’s Drive from San San to Harmony Beach Park

Kingston and St. Andrew Parish - Cassava Piece, Duhaney Park, Grants Pen, Standpipe, Swallowfield, Elleston Flats, August Town, and downtown Kingston, defined as between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads. Downtown Kingston includes Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens. 

Manchester Parish - Green Vale, Gray Ground, Red Ground, and Vineyard neighborhoods of Mandeville

St. Thomas Parish - Black Lane neighborhood in Seaforth, Grands Penn, Church Corner neighborhood near Yallahs, Town of Yallahs, except when driving through on the main highway.

Trelawny Parish - Clarks Town

Westmoreland Parish - Russia community in Savanna-la-Mar (The Southeastern quadrant of Savannah la Mar east of Darling Street and south of the A2 highway/Barracks Road), Morgan Bay, Kings Valley, The Whitehall, Bethel Town, and Red Ground neighborhoods of Negril

If you do decide to travel to the above-listed Do Not Travel areas, please visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.