Location: Pineapple Villas are located 45 minutes east of Montego Bay and Jamaica's International Airport, and 45 minutes west of Ocho Rios. Our villas are situated on the Silver Sands Estate, a private resort community which includes a restaurant and bar which overlook the private white sand beach. Car rental and airport transfers are available by arrangement. Please request upon making your reservations with us. Immigration: A United States valid passport or an original birth certificate with raised seal, along with a photo identification bearing the same name, is required for U.S. citizens to enter Jamaica. Airport Arrival: You should plan to arrive in Jamaica at the Montego Bay International Airport (MBJ). All passengers: clear immigration - you need to know that you are staying at Pineapple Villas in Silver Sands (Duncans) claim luggage then clear customs Foreign currency may be exchanged for Jamaican dollars at the Airport Bureau of Exchange. After clearing customs leave the Main Terminal customs area through large doors and enter the transportation pick up area. Go to the dispatch desk (or dispatcher near customs doors) and ask for your driver (we will provide you with this information). They will ask for your name and locate your driver. If you use porters tip them $.50/bag. Villa Arrival: Your driver will take you from the airport to Pineapple Villas. The drive time is about 30 minutes. When you arrive at your villa go inside with the driver and fill out the paperwork (if you are renting a car). They will ask you to inspect the car...do so carefully. No need to get extra insurance if you use a credit card that covers car insurance outside the US. Check with your credit card company to find out for sure. Don’t count on your personal car insurance to cover anything in Jamaica. The staff will have ordered food for evening dinner and basic supplies for the week. You will be given a bill that can be paid at the local grocery store. Phone Number: The Pineapple Villa phone number is: 876-954-2479 and the number for Pineapple Two is: 876-954-2629. To access an overseas operator, call AT&T USA Direct at 1-800-872-2881. You may also purchase a World Talk Calling card to expedite overseas calls. Credit cards and prepaid phone cards may or may not be accepted in Jamaica. Check with the operator. Most US cell phones will not function in Jamaica, but some wireless providers have agreements with Jamaica that may allow your phone to work: check with your local provider before planning to use your wireless phone in Jamaica. Meals: You should arrange with the Cook the details of meals, dinner hours etc. The staff likes to have some set hours that they can then work around. Remember they stay until everything is cleaned up in the evening. This is what is typical: Breakfast: 8:00-10:00 am 1st course: Fresh juice, Blue Mountain Coffee, and fresh fruit. 2nd course: Main entree - eggs or omelets, waffles, pancakes, etc. Main entrees are generally served with toast and a breakfast meat of your choice, or try a real Jamaican breakfast of ackee, Calaloo, and Johnny cakes with guava jelly. Lunch: midday Some visitors like a hearty lunch and others prefer a light lunch after a large breakfast. Please plan this with the cook. Typical lunch menu - salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, Jamaican beef/ vegetable patties, or Jerk Chicken and Festival. Dinner: 6:00-7:30 pm First course is a homemade soup including pumpkin, pepper pot, fish tea, chicken, beef, etc., served with bread or biscuits, or salad with your choice of dressing. The second course is a main entree served with fresh vegetables, potatoes or rice. The third course is homemade dessert such as key Lime pie, sweet potato pie, banana cream pie, cakes, tarts, fresh fruit, etc. Food Shopping: The staff will do all shopping, and present the bills to you. We also find it fun to go with the cook when she shops for fresh food in the market at Duncans or Falmouth (15 minutes away). If you want the staff to food shop you will need to pay for a cab or provide a ride. Food costs average $200-250 per person per week. The size of the group and menu and liquor choices will affect the cost, so please remember that this is just an estimate. Feel free to stop anywhere along the road if you see interesting fruits or vegetables. All market foods should be paid in Jamaican dollars. Electricity: 110 volts; 50 cycles (US is 60 cycles). Use your appliances as you would in the States – converters are not necessary. Use the bedroom air conditioners for your comfort. But please turn all units off when you are not in your room. Security: The villa has excellent security...and as required at all Jamaican villas a night security guard. Please make sure all the doors are locked at night. You need to take the same care with security that you would in your own home. Remember to bring personal items in at the end of the day. Do not leave jewelry, cameras, radios or cash lying about. The staff cannot take responsibility for safeguarding your valuables. For your safety, please do not run on the stone floors when your feet are wet. All floors are extremely slippery when wet. It is not advisable to wander into unknown areas without a guide. Remember that a private driver will take you wherever you want to go. Tourism is the Island’s largest industry and most Jamaicans adore their foreign visitors. However, tourists who are reckless can become victims … so use the same common sense here you would as a visitor to any unfamiliar environment. Street Stuff: Just politely say no if you do not want a service someone is offering you as you walk about. Staff: The staff should not be tipped until you leave. Treat them as you would someone working in your own home. The maid will clean house every day, make bed, clean bathrooms etc. The gardener will tend the garden, pool and helps as required in serving, cleaning fish etc. The laundress will wash clothes daily, or as needed.. Last Day Tipping: It is customary to tip your staff at the conclusion of your stay. An appropriate gratuity is 10% of the villa rental in High Season and 15% of the villa rental in Low Season. This would be divided among the staff members according to their seniority and service provided. If you employed a van/car driver or nanny, it is also appropriate to tip them when you settle your account. Typically the largest tip percentage would go to the cook (30-40%) with the remained divided up among the other staff members. We typically place the tip in individual envelopes for each staff member. We give it to them when the van picks us up for the airport. Airport Return: On your final day at the villa enjoy a leisurely breakfast before your driver arrives to take you back to the airport. Your driver can advise you on the time you need to leave the villa based on your airport departure time. But plan to be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.