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Rhythm, dancing, and plenty of sunshine are reason enough to vacation in Jamaica … but add shopping to the mix and what you’ll have is an island vacation that’s super indulgent and gratifying! It’s a great idea to prioritize shopping in Jamaica because there are many places where you can shop around on the island such as craft markets, boutiques, and shopping malls. Some of the best areas for shopping in Jamaica include Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and Kingston. With that said, no matter where you choose to shop on this island you can find something worthwhile and uniquely Jamaican to bring back home.
Some of the popular items that travelers love picking up while shopping in Jamaica include handmade hammocks and hats, local artwork, clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, perfume, cosmetics, and even food items like jerk sauces, rum cake, and authentic Blue Mountain coffee. Since there is a currency difference between the U.S. dollar and the Jamaican dollar, you’ll get more bang for your buck, making the whole experience even more worthwhile.
Keep reading if you want to know where to shop while in Jamaica. We've compiled some of the best locations!
Good to know: Montego Bay and Ocho Rios have more shopping malls and luxury shopping options while Negril, Kingston, and Port Antonio are better if you want to go shopping at local markets.
Jamaica is great for shopping - not only because the prices tend to be reasonable, but also because there are quite a few locations where you can make awesome shopping finds. If you want to experience the best craft markets, boutiques, souvenir shops, and high-end shopping in Jamaica, here are some of our favorite spots:
Once you arrive at the Half Moon Shopping Village in Montego Bay, you’ll find a charming and well-manicured space with pastel buildings and pretty gardens. You can either start off your experience by diving into the shopping right away or checking out the popular Bob Marley exhibition first. If you choose the exhibition, you’ll have the opportunity to watch a film about Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley. A new showing begins every hour.
You’ll love the way Half Moon feels like the perfect introduction to island shopping. This location has lots of vendors, shops, and even restaurants, all in one place. Whether you’re looking for perfume and fragrances, jewelry, cigars, liquor, or clothing, you’ll likely find a shop to suit you at Half Moon. There are over 25 shops at this location.
Main Street Jamaica is best described as a shopping spot where you can get the best of Jamaica without having to search much. This is an outdoor shopping center, so you can enjoy the tropical ambiance of Jamaica while sifting through the stores to find what you need. The stores at Main Street Jamaica offer a wide range of items from local handmade goods to more high-end items from luxury brands, such as Dior, Chanel, Cartier, and others. Main Street Jamaica is sometimes referred to as The Shoppes at Rose Hall, so keep this in mind when making your way there.
Times Square Mall in Negril is ideal if you're looking for good duty-free shopping. This is a great location to pick up souvenirs and gift items as well. Despite the name of this spot, it is actually more plaza-like in terms of its size and offerings. Even with that said, you’ll have many options for souvenir shopping, and you can find Blue Mountain coffee, Jamaican rum, clothing, towels, shot glasses, wood carvings, jewelry, and more.
The offerings and prices at Times Square Mall’s souvenir shops are similar and bargaining is expected. It’s good advice to know what you want before you get there and have a general idea of the price, you're willing to pay as well. Before you leave this shopping center, take a moment to snap a photo with the giant Bob Marley Statue on site!
Expert tip: It is possible to do a combination tour to explore Time Square Mall in Jamaica. One such option is a Rick’s Café experience combined with a visit to Time Square Mall. This can be especially worthwhile if you want to pick up some authentic Jamaican souvenirs after a day of fun elsewhere.
Musgrave Market is open every day except on Sundays. So, if you're in Jamaica for a couple of days, you should be able to make it to this market on at least one of your vacation days. Musgrave Market is an open-air style local market where you can purchase everything from fresh produce to clothing, shoes, jewelry, and other handmade items. Musgrave Market tends to be entertaining as well. Sometimes you might spot local artists and crafters in the midst of bringing their creations to life, adding something special to the whole experience.
In Jamaica, Musgrave Market is very popular with the locals. This spot, often referred to as just ‘The Market’, is described by some as the ‘go-to’ spot in Port Antonio for just about anything. When you get there, be prepared to bargain for the items that catch your eye. The busiest days at Musgrave Market are Fridays and Saturdays, particularly in the morning.
Good to know: It can help to walk with your own reusable shopping bags when headed to Musgrave Market as some vendors charge extra for bags.
While on your Jamaican shopping trail, you can check out Island Village, which features a combination of stores, restaurants, and entertainment. Island Village is near the Ocho Rios cruise terminal, and it is open-air by design. Duty-free shopping is possible here and you can purchase anything from Jamaican rum and cigars to Blue Mountain coffee, jewelry, clothing, souvenirs, and more.
While at Island Village, you should definitely make a point of visiting the local Margaritaville. It’s always a good time there, and you can enjoy tasty food, dancing, cold drinks, a swim-up bar, and even a 60ft waterslide. There's also a water trampoline, live entertainment, and VIP Beach Service available.
Since Island Village is near the cruise ship terminal, it can sometimes get crowded, particularly on days when cruise ships are in port. If you'd prefer to avoid crowds, have a look at the day’s cruise ship schedule before heading to this location.
Expert tip: Staying in Ocho Rios while in Jamaica? Don’t miss a chance to take a dip or snorkel in the glowing waters of the Luminous Lagoon. The Luminous Lagoon is just over an hour from some of the best all-inclusive resorts in Ocho Rios.
Devon House in Kingston, Jamaica is a colonial mansion that was the home of Jamaica’s first black millionaire, George Stiebel. While on the island, you can explore this mansion as part of a tour. A visit to Devon House includes the opportunity to do some shopping as well. The shops on this property sell things like souvenirs, fashion and beauty items, and jewelry. There are also some restaurants at Devon House where you can indulge in authentic Jamaican cuisine before or after shopping.
Once you’ve made your rounds at the shops, you’ll have plenty of time to take in the historical appeal of this restored Jamaican treasure. You can also visit the on-site ice cream parlor. Here you’ll find award-winning (and delicious!) ice cream flavors that’ll be the perfect way to wind down your tour. Be sure to take lots of photos to capture the fun memories you'll make here.
If you want arts and crafts items, try visiting one of the markets in Montego Bay, like the Old Fort Craft Market. This spot is a hub for local artists and artisans, so you'll find all sorts of items including paintings, jewelry, pottery, and other handmade crafts. This is a fairly large market, and you can regularly find hundreds of vendors there selling their goods.
The Old Fort Craft Market is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Haggling is expected and often necessary. When you walk in, you may be approached by vendors all wanting to sell you something. It’s best to know what you’re looking for and stay focused!
Expert tip: Want to visit the best shopping locations in Montego Bay? An all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay will put you right at the heart of the action and make it easy to organize your shopping trips while on the island too.
At the Taj Mahal Shopping Center in Ocho Rios, the stores are stocked with souvenirs and other useful items you might need during your Jamaica vacation. Anything from t-shirts and hoodies to silver watches and diamond jewelry - you can sift through the goods at the duty-free shops to find what you need.
The Taj Mahal Shopping Center has three Jamaican restaurants, namely Mama Marley’s, Reggae Ally, and Café Express. There’s also a currency exchange and an ATM machine that doles out both U.S. dollars (USD) and Jamaican dollars (JMD). When it comes to shopping, the vendors at the Taj Mahal can be a bit pushy at times. Be prepared to be very assertive or avoid this spot altogether. Bargaining and haggling are expected here.
Insider tip: Try all-inclusive resorts in Negril or all-inclusive resorts in Ocho Rios if you want to stay at a resort with quality inclusions like day and night entertainment, land and water sports, gourmet dining at multiple restaurants, and so much more!
When planning a shopping expedition in Jamaica, it is important to first decide what you’re looking for, and how far (distance-wise) you’re willing to go to get it. You might also want to do your own research on the various shopping location recommendations you’ll get if you ask around. Additionally, you should be aware that some locations are better for bargaining than others.
While Jamaica does not have huge shopping malls like the ones you’ll find in the U.S., the smaller shopping centers offer a variety of shops, restaurants, and more. When selecting a shopping location in Jamaica, being familiar with the safest spots is critical. You should also be aware of the local exchange rate. Though many locations will accept USD, converting a sum of money just for your shopping day can come in handy for more straightforward sales. Here are some other useful tips for shopping in Jamaica:
● Know what you want — Before arriving at the various shopping locations in Jamaica, it helps to have an idea of what you're looking for. Setting a budget can also be useful so you don’t splurge on items you don't really need.
● Expect to haggle — At some locations vendors will give you a higher initial price expecting that you will try to bargain with them. If you don’t, you could end up spending more on an item than it’s actually worth.
● Be prepared to stand your ground — Some vendors can be aggressive and a bit pushy when it comes to making their sales. A simple ‘no, thank you’ should suffice if you're really not interested in what is being offered.
● Do your research — Find out as much as you can about the various shopping locations before you go and how much time you’ll need to shop there. Some locations will take no more than 20 minutes to get in and out with what you need. At others, you might want to shop around, dine and explore for a little bit longer. Resort staff can provide some insight on this.
● Plan carefully — If you love shopping but hate crowds, you should plan your shopping trip more precisely. Pay attention to things like cruise ship schedules because shopping locations tend to be more crowded when there are cruise ships in port, especially in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.
● Carry small bills — It is definitely worth converting some of your money into Jamaican currency (JMD) when planning a shopping excursion. Bring smaller bills with you so you can have exact change when purchasing various items. This will come in particularly handy if you plan on bargaining!
● Wear comfortable shoes — Comfort will be key when shopping in Jamaica. The amount of walking you’ll need to do will depend on where you go, but it can't hurt to wear comfortable shoes and clothing as shopping trips can sometimes be prolonged. Wear something lightweight that’ll help you stay cool throughout the day. This will keep you from abandoning your shopping trip prematurely if the day gets too sunny!
Pictured: Sandals Montego Bay is conveniently located just minutes away from the Montego Bay ‘Hip Strip’ and Sangster International Airport, making it a great place to begin exploring the wonders of shopping in Jamaica.
As far as the Caribbean goes, Jamaica is one of the better islands for shopping. On this island, it's not hard to find local craft markets, shopping centers, or shopping malls. Whether you decide to go to Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril, Port Antonio, or to multiple locations for shopping, you’ll definitely be able to go home with something you’ll love.
Ahead of planning where you'll shop during your Jamaica vacation, you should book conveniently located accommodations! If shopping is on your agenda, it’s worth staying at a Sandals all-inclusive resort. All Sandals Resorts have their own gift shops, so you can shop ‘til you drop even if you don’t plan to leave the resort. Plus, you can easily plan your shopping trips and tours through your resort.
Sandals Resorts staff will be more than happy to provide you with local insight, as well as shopping tips and tricks. They can also arrange transportation for you and answer any questions you may have on the best places to go. Once your shopping urges have been satisfied, you can relax under the shade of a palm tree with an ice-cold (and always unlimited!) cocktail in hand.
Get a FREE Sandals Vacation Package QuoteExpert tip: Still not sure what to purchase during your shopping trip to Jamaica? Check out these 18 authentic souvenirs to bring home from sunny Jamaica for some great ideas.
To learn more about planning a Sandals Resort vacation, contact one of our Vincent Vacations Representatives directly, or call 1-888-976-0061
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