The Savvy Villa Traveller

1. Lock your doors and windows before you leave. This sounds like a no-brainer but you would be surprised how many people forget to lock the upstairs bathroom window that they had opened just a crack.

2. Leave your house keys with someone you trust so that they may have access in an emergency. Also, leave your itinerary with them so that they may be able to contact you should the need arise.

3. Consider using timers on lights and/or appliances. One trick to using a timer is to set it so that it imitates normal household activity. Some timers are sophisticated enough to allow you to pre-program a different pattern for each day you are away.

4. Ask the post-office to hold or re-direct your mail while you are away. There is a simple form to fill out. You may even do it online from their website. And, even better - it is a free service by the post office! The same holds true for newspapers. To do otherwise would be a dead giveaway that you are away.

5. Don’t forget to make arrangements for services if you will be away long enough. For example, if your lawn will need to be cut, either cut it before you go or make arrangements to have it serviced as usual.

6. Be careful with electrical appliances. Unplug anything that may be a fire hazard. Do you have an automatic coffee maker? There is no reason to leave it plugged in. Do you have a space-heater? Plug it out.

So, be safe and have a great vacation!

Well, it depends. At any rate don’t change too much of your money into Jamaican currency. Unless you are buying groceries, the “best” and most widely accepted money to have is the US dollar. Most tours and entrance fees are in US dollars. Tips are expected in US dollars or British pounds. Smaller establishments are less comfortable with the Euro. ATMs are widely available. Debit and credit cards are accepted at many places.

Over the past year, I can’t remember an occasion when I didn’t have to have my shoes screened. Expect to take off your shoes. That is, as they say, a sign of the times. Even the baby’s shoes had to be removed and xrayed.

I’ve learned a few things over time to handle this unpleasant aspect of airport travel.

1. Wear shoes that slip on and off easily. You don’t want to be the one holding up the line - people are only patient to a point.
2. Don’t wait until you are walking through the sensors to take off your shoes. Please start early. See number one above.
3. If you can, wear socks of some sort. The floor is always cold. And, if they pull you aside for further search, you will be walking barefoot on the cold floor in an area that for some ungodly reason, rarely has floor mats. They won’t be kind enough to return your shoes until they have satisfied themselves that you are not a terror-risk. Did I say how cold the floor was? Plus, where there are mats, everyone walks on the same mat, barefooted. I simply don’t like that. At least the socks provide an additional barrier. (I’m the germ patrol. That’s not a bad thing – it means the villa has to be spanking clean all the time!) But, the all time top reason for wearing socks is … If you forgot your pedicure … only you will know – ha ha!

P.S. If someone from the TSA is reading this, please hear me loud and clear. I think I speak for millions of otherwise cooperative-want-to-fight-terrorism-will do almost-anything-for-a-safe-country people. I understand why you have to make me take off my shoes but please show some consideration and not have me walk around on your cold hard tile floor barefoot while you search my stuff. If my shoes have tested to be free of whatever you are looking for, please give them back to me and allow me to put them on while you continue your search.

So I am flying out of JFK. They scan my luggage and hello, I get searched. The woman proceeds to take my 2oz bottle of Purell from my diaper bag despite the fact that I have my now 2 year old in tow. I said, “Why? It is below the 3oz limit.” She said, “Yes, but it is a liquid or gel and we don’t allow Purell.” I said, “Well, I am traveling with an infant. What am I supposed to do if I have to change the baby? It is a hand sanitizer. Can you imagine all the nasty bacteria that will be on my hands that will get on e-v-e-r-y single thing that I touch?” During all this time I am creating the appropriate facial gestures to go along with the disgusting picture I am painting. All of a sudden I guess she thought of all the dirty hands and items that must be coming through her checkpoint plus saw that my point was valid and she let me go! Really though, that was just ridiculous. I put up with all sorts of things in the name of national security … but an E.coli or other dreadful outbreak? I’m not contributing to that! By the way, I do think she was misinformed. I didn’t see anything on the TSA website which says Purrell under 3oz size was not allowed.

You may love your digital or video camera but make sure you don’t commit a major faux pas.

Opportunities abound for great photos in Jamaica. A word of caution, however. Be careful when photographing people.

Someone sent me an email asking me if it was true that Jamaicans had an aversion to having their pictures taken. I wouldn’t say that is true. What I would say is that Jamaicans do not like to be photographed by strangers unless they are asked for their permission BEFORE-HAND. Think about it. You are going about your business in your hometown. Would you want a stranger coming up to you and snapping your photo without your permission? I know for sure I wouldn’t. It’s no different in Jamaica. It is considered very rude. Don’t even think that they won’t notice the subtle click from your phone or digital camera. Some may ask for a copy of the photo. Some may ask for or demand a tip – and they may not be happy with $5. Some will be highly insulted and there is no price that you could pay that would be enough. Children will usually let you take their picture; but, tread carefully. The watchful eye of their parents or guardian may be just around the bend. If they are with their parents, be sure to ask for permission before you start snapping their pretty faces. If you have a video camera, you may find that lots of people may want to “get in the movies”. If you are filming and someone is directly in your line of sight, the same rules as for photography apply.