Senior travel: Kingston
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 2 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 74 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus GarveyStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minOlder building with steps at the entrance; ask about ramps and the ground-floor route.
- Trench Town Culture Yard MuseumStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 75 minAn outdoor yard with uneven ground and a few steps.
- Emancipation ParkThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 40 min
- Devon HouseThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 70 min
- Bob Marley MuseumThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 90 min
- Hope GardensThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 90 min
- National Gallery of JamaicaThe guide has no step-free answer for this one · about 90 min
Getting around in Kingston
Kingston is hard going on wheels. Pavements are broken, high-kerbed or missing, and step-free access exists mainly in hotels, malls and some museums. Plan door-to-door taxi rides and pick a hotel with a lift.
- Pavements:
- Broken or missing in many areas; New Kingston is better but has kerbs.
- Getting around:
- Licensed taxis and hotel cars are the step-free option; route taxis and buses are not.
- Hotels:
- Hotels in New Kingston have lifts and accessible rooms on request.
- Toilets:
- Accessible toilets in malls and larger hotels; rare elsewhere.
Medicines and health on the ground
- Travel insurance · before booking: With hurricane cancellation and medical evacuation cover.
- Heat:
- Shade and AC every 60–90 minutes, water every hour and no midday exertion.
- Mosquito-borne illness:
- Dengue and other diseases occur; use repellent and long sleeves at dusk.
- Food and water:
- Bottled water if unsure; busy stalls and restaurants with fast turnover are safest.
- Sun:
- Strong sun: hat, sunscreen and a rash guard at the beach.
- Hurricanes:
- June to November: check forecasts and keep your insurance and emergency plan ready.
- Clinics:
- Private clinics in New Kingston can help on arrival (check).
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.