December 13, 2007

New surcharge at Jamaican hotels

Travelling to Jamaica? Confirm your costs before you go.

Planning a trip to Jamaica this winter to beat the cold? It may cost more than you think. According to recent travel advice and media reports, hotels in Jamaica will be adding an “occupancy surcharge” of USD$10 per night per room. Following suit with many cruise companies and other travel service providers, hotels are implementing the surcharge to cover the rising costs of fuel.

What can you do about it? Unfortunately, not much – The Jamaica Hotels and Tourist Association (JHTA) supports the move. Currently, organizations such as the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) are warning hotels against the surcharge on the grounds it could damage tourism.

What do to if you’ve planned a trip: A recent article on TravelMole notes that not all hotels and resorts will implement the surcharge and will instead focus on energy conservation. A recent update to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice for Jamaica recommends that travellers confirm the costs of their accommodations ahead of time to avoid any misunderstandings.

For the latest news and advice, see our Jamaica Travel Advisory page.

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