Practical travel information on Health in Kingston - Lonely Planet Travel Information

Health & safety

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Dangers & annoyances
While you're there

Dangers & annoyances

Owing to internationally publicized periods of social strife that engulf Kingston every now and again, the city has a reputation as a dangerous destination. In truth, visitors to the city can enjoy its sights and sounds in reasonable safety as long as a few commonsense guidelines are followed.

It’s true that Kingston has a notoriously high murder rate, but most take place in the ghettoes and are drug related or the product of violence between politically affiliated gangs. New Kingston and upscale residential areas such as Liguanea and Mona are generally safe for walking, as are most main roads and downtown (though it’s certainly not an area to be wandering alone at night).

Avoid Kingston entirely during periods of tension, such as elections, when localized violence can spontaneously erupt. If you’re in the town when street violence erupts, absolutely avoid downtown and adhere to any curfews that police may impose.

Stick to the main streets – if in doubt ask your hotel concierge or manager to point out the trouble areas. Have the front desk call you a taxi from a service known to them, rather than flagging down the first driver to pass. Avoid West Kingston (especially Trench Town, Jones Town, Greenwich Town and Tivoli), particularly west of the Parade, downtown.

Foreigners, especially white tourists, will stand out from the crowd. Fortunately, visitors to Kingston are not hassled by hustlers and touts to anywhere near the degree they are in the north-coast resorts.

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