Some friends and I are making our first trip to TB in May and staying at Jakes. We know to bring bug repellent, a sense of adventure, and sunscreen. Is there anything else that you TB experts have learned to bring that makes your stay in TB more enjoyable, comfortable, or benefits the community? Air mattresses/floats for the ocean? Little travel fan? ? Art or school supplies???


Many thanks in advance for your advice.

You are going to LOVE Jakes. I came the first time in 1996 and came twice each year until I finally couldn't stand it anymore and built in Treasure Beach, Villa Ja-Ja. Bring good walking shoes that will go from road to beach, e.g., Teva's. Bring good reading material because it's a great place to take time to really appreciate a good book. Bring your favorite CDs since all the rooms have CD players. If you like wine bring a couple of bottles because the choices are limited and expensive in Jamaica. And, of course a good camera because the way the light hits all the fabulous colors at Jake's offers irresistable Kodak moments. Regarding the community I urge you to bring what you can for schools, et al. They need so much and are always very grateful. Rebecca at http://treasuretours.info is a great resource for what to bring and who to contact. Enjoy.

Janice Schroer
Villa Ja-Ja

- hair conditioner, even straight hair people end up with dreads unless they use it

- hat

- sun screen

- umbrella, it can rain at the end of May

- flash light, for walking back after an evening out

MOST IMPORTANT:
- an open heart, many local folks enjoy talking to "their guests"

Art and school supplies are also a great idea, as well as some outdated summer clothes to give to the Treasure Beach Womens group.

At Orchard Supply, you can get these things called "misters". It's a personal sized misting device that just used air pressure to spray a very fine mist through a small hose you can aim anywhere. I bring one every time and use it every day!

Yes, I agree w/ Janice, bring what you can for the schools

Items we typically bring are Sunscreen, Hat, Books (Mainly just because there is something so peaceful about sitting in a chase lounge in the morning, drinking blue mountain coffee and reading a book), I bring a snorkle and mask because there are great places right in TB to just go off the beach and snorkle. I bring sandals and tennis shoes (Sneakers). Bring deet based bug repellent (it just seems that for about 15-30 minutes right at dusk that you really need it) And the other thing that we always bring, and most others have mentioned it, is school supplies.
I have noticed at some of the import stores, if you ask about buying backpacks by the dozen they cut you a great break on the price. We have brought backpacks for the older kids, pencil/pen/school supply kits for the younger kids and then little games/items to play. Small packs of cards (old maid, go fish, etc) and checkers, chess, backgammon, dominoes. All great choices.

Depending on where you are staying, sometimes you can also throw a party for some of the village children. It is a special treat, but that may not work to well at Jakes. I have done that at a guest house before, and it certainly wamrs your heart and theirs.

Enjoy yourself. If you have never been, you will love it and like most of us, it won't be your last visit.

Jamaica has been a second home for us for the past 23 years and Jake's for the past 7 years. All the advice you have seen is quite sound so I'll just embellish it a little bit. The mosquitoes at Jake's aren't that bad (maybe they just don't like me) but burning a mosquito coil in your room starting in the early evening seems to work well if you don't want to use a skin repellent. Jake's has an excellent CD collection if you don't want to bring your own. We always bring CDs as gifts for the staff (they like R&B, Motown, country, roots and blues).

We take long morning walks to Billy's Bay, Pedro Plains and Great Bay and I always take a camera to take pictures of the farmers, fishermen and anyone who asks. I also take a pen and paper to get their names and addresses. When I get home I edit and print them and mail them to the people, the pictures are highly appreciated. They always remember us from one year to the next and we remember them. You can see some images of Jake's and the people we met in the photo gallery under harpomarc.

Anyway enough babble, we just got back a month ago and just can't get Treasure Beach out of our heads, go figure.

Have a great time