Tips for travel, packing, tipping, etc.

[benisa]

My fiancé and I are traveling to Jamaica for our Weddingmoon in March and will be staying at CSS. Once we chose Couples for our trip, I’ve been coming on here searching for any and all information which we thought might be beneficial to us as first time travelers to Jamaica. The wealth of information contributed by repeat visitors is priceless to us. I’ve actually started a word document just to keep some of it organized. I’ve only bothered copying that information which we felt would be of benefit to us in particular but I’m sure other first-timers would find it equally beneficial as well. So, in order to perhaps save other first-timers some search time, I’m sharing with you the following tips & packing list.

I especially would like to acknowledge the contributors to the following thread which is where I found a lot of this information: http://couples.com/mb/showthread.php...at-quot-thread

Regarding the Immigration/Customs section, I’m pretty sure this is a direct quote but I neglected to save the thread at the time. Whoever posted this, THANKS!

Travel Tips
Sign up for the “Smart Traveler Enrollment Program” (STEP) at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/...tion_4789.html

Sign up for Romance Rewards online on Couples website to check in online before your trip.

“Immigration/Customs form will be given out during second flight from Charlotte to Jamaica. Take pen(s) with you to fill these out during the flight. Sign and date everything including the departure information. The departure card will be given to you to give back on your departure.
After landing, try to get out before the other passengers do. Get off the plane and head to immigration. After immigration people usually go to retrieve their checked luggage if you have carry-on just head to customs. If you have nothing to declare, get in the “nothing to declare (green)” line. After clearing customs, head to Couples’ lounge and check-in. After leaving customs, head down a corridor then turn left and Couples’ lounge should be there.”

Make a cheat sheet with information needed for Immigration/Customs form. (Passport number and flight information) This might save some time and from having to rummage through your bags.

Once at the resort:
Make sure to take the resort orientation if you’re a newbie.

Do the Dunn’s River Water Fall on Sunday to avoid crowds from the cruise ships – confirm with front desk.

Use the in room safe for anything you don’t want to lose or have stolen. Make sure to wipe down the key pad each time you use it. The resort is very secure but it won’t hurt to take these small precautionary steps.

Please do read the FAQ’s found here: http://couples.com/faq.php


Drinks to try: (these seem to be the more popular ones and the few I’ve never had before)
Bob Marley
Jamaican memory
Dirty Banana
Hummingbird
Miami Vice
Jamaican Smile
Caribbean Sky

Don’t overdo it on the drinks! No fun wasting time in your room nursing a hangover.

What to Pack
We are checking 1 large garment bag and taking 2 small carry-ons and packing for a 7 night stay.

Hers: (wedding attire pertains only to those who might be getting married or doing a vow renewal)
1 pair of pants which convert into shorts which we’ll be wearing while traveling since we’ll be going from cold to hot
1 swim shorts w/swim top for Dunn’s River waterfall
2 tank tops
1 wedding dress
2 long sundresses
3-4 short beach dresses/cover-ups
3 bathing suits
Undies
Nighties
Flip flops
Water shoes
Sandals with straps
Dressy shoes (wedding)
Tennis shoes worn during travel.

His: (wedding attire pertains only to those who might be getting married or doing a vow renewal)
1 pair of pants which convert into shorts which we’ll be wearing while traveling since we’ll be going from cold to hot
1-2 lounging shorts
4-6 t-shirts or tank tops
2 pairs of slacks (dinner & wedding)
1 dressy shirt (wedding)
2 collared shirts (restaurant and private dinner)
3-4 swim trunks
undies
2-3 under shirts
Sandals
Water shoes
Flip flops
Dressy shoes (worn during travel for wedding and restaurant)

First Aid Bag (all pills are packed in smaller baggies which will be labeled properly to save on space):
Tylenol
Aleve
Zyrtec
Antacid
Mouth guards
Band-Aids
Aloe for sunburn
Neosporin
Any prescription medicine
Your preferred method of birth control if using any

Toiletries: (all toiletries will be in smaller travel sized bottles except for sunblock)
Leave in Conditioner
Regular Conditioner – Hotel provides shampoo but no conditioner
Mousse or Hair Gel
Facial Cleanser
Face lotion
Body Lotion
Perfume
Makeup – Only the essentials
Feminine Hygiene products
Bug Repellent wipes or Skin So Soft by Avon (works as a bug repellent as well)
Mouthwash
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Shaving gel
After shave lotion
Deodorants
Razors
Nail clippers
Tweezers
Q-tips
Blotter sheets
Floss
Sunscreen – bring more than you think you’ll need
Jewelry – bring only what you will wear and nothing too flashy
Hair accessories
Hairbrush
Washcloth or shower scrunchie (I would think the hotel would have washcloths available though)

Must Have’s:
Cash - make sure to bring plenty of small bills for tipping non-Couples staff and for beach vendors
Credit Card, Debit Card
Water proof money holder
Passport, itineraries, I.D.’s and copies of these plus copies of birth certificates keep originals in hotel safe. (Leave extra copies at home with a trusted family member or friend.)
Snacks for trip – cuts down on cost since airport/airplane food is usually overpriced
Beach Tote (can double as carry-on)
Pens – for filling out customs/immigration forms
Books – for reading on plane and when sitting at the beach
Sunglasses
Travel journal
Cameras – our DSLR and a waterproof camera.
Camera tripod and remote
Laptop (maybe load a couple of movies to watch in our room)
iPod
Phone chargers – won’t really use cell phones but just in case
A few 1-2 gallon ziplock bags for dirties and wet clothes

Extras: (most if not all of these are from the "wish I thought of that" thread)
Small flashlights – for walks on the beach at night
Small Binoculars
Water bottles – fill up with water and take down to the beach. NOT FOR ASKING BAR TENDERS TO FILL UP FOR YOU.
Towel Clips – Keeps towels in place on loungers
Watch which clips to side of beach bag
Spot Remover
Woolite – for washing out bathing suits and other clothes if needed
Luggage Scale
Electric candles for mood lighting
Wallflowers from BBW or other kind of air freshener
Smaller bags for leaving food in fridge or gladware
If bringing gladware, bring a bit of dish soap
Kitty snacks – to feed the cats that roam the resorts.
Easy Breeze Doorway Screen – Uses a tension rod http://www.amazon.com/Saint-Gobain-B.../dp/B00438SFLQ

Tips on Tipping:
DO NOT TIP ANY COUPLES STAFF!
Airport Porters per bag - $1 - $2
Shuttle Driver - $10 – $20 each way
Tour bus driver - $10 – $20
Tour Guides - $10 - $20
Minister - $40 - $60 (if you’re getting married or doing a vow renewal)
Photographer(s) - $30 (if you’re getting married or doing a vow renewal)
Videographer(s) - $30 (if you’re getting married or doing a vow renewal)
Spa employees 15-20%
Beach Musicians
Cat cruise staff – I guess it doesn’t apply to CSS but thought I’d add it for others

Gift for Wedding Coordinator. (if you’re getting married or doing a vow renewal)
Candies for other staff.

Make sure you fill out the “Customer Satisfaction” survey at the end of your stay and name staff members you felt excelled in their performance.

There were many more tips on what to bring but a lot of them did not pertain to us or I just don’t think I want to try at this time. For example, some suggested Christmas lights for the verandah. Cute, but not something I want to bother with. Also, a lot of people have mentioned that they don’t care for the taste of the ketchup in Jamaica and that they bring some from home. We won’t bother with this since we don’t care for ketchup anyways.

Feel free to add to this list or to correct any information on here.

[yookster]

Thanks, thats a pretty good list and you hit on probably the top things. There are things on there that I havent really thought of, like the towel clips. Thanks!

[DespyMic]

Do you think it would be possible for the moderator to sticky this to the top of the page?

[jdanjou]

Something I do when traveling, is print off all itineraries and confirmation numbers and put them in a folder in my carry-on. That way I don't have to rummage through a bunch of stuff to find what we need. It came in really handy when filling out the immigration forms on the plane. It also came in handy when my bag didn't arrive and I needed the resort info to give to the airline. Again, it was helpful when we had to report our return flight info at check in.

[kurt and Angie]

Great thread! Thank you for sharing.

[randi&sherri]

take 100 in 10s 100 in 5s and 100 in 1s this way you always have small bills for tipping non-Couples people, buying gifts etc...

[siamese58]

What a great list, that must of taken some time to put that together. Thank you so much...

[Vickyj]

benisa,

I would recommend that with checked baggage, you each check a bag with some of his and some of her stuff in each bag. That way IF a bag is delayed you will hopefully have the other bag. Mind you in 12 trips to JA, our luggage has never been delayed going down and only once on the return trip.

[LittleO]

I don't think you can fit all that in 1 check and 2 carry ons. I tipped the bag guys $5 each way, the shuttle driver $15 each way, and I gave the musicians on the beach about $15 a day. I appreciated the music and know that the $ means a lot more to them than it does to me. I got to know many of them, bought their cd's etc. I took my laptop, but not my phone. I didn't lock stuff up, I never have in Jamaica and have never had anything stolen. I know that this is not Always the case though. Have Fun!

[katiecollette]

Great thread! Thanks I emailed this to myself so I can use this as a reference when I pack.