Jamaica Humanitarian Trip
Montego Bay
October 26 - November 2, 2024
Jamaica, an island nation in the Caribbean, is renowned for its vibrant culture, reggae music, and lush landscapes. The capital, Kingston, and the resort town of Montego Bay are hubs of music, nightlife, and historical sites. Jamaica’s beaches, such as Seven Mile Beach in Negril, are famous for their white sand and turquoise waters. The birthplace of reggae legend Bob Marley, Jamaica has a rich musical heritage celebrated in places like the Bob Marley Museum. The Blue Mountains offer hiking opportunities and breathtaking views, while Dunn’s River Falls is a popular natural attraction. Jamaica’s friendly atmosphere, flavorful cuisine, and rhythmic vibes make it a sought-after destination in the Caribbean.
The total price includes humanitarian trip expenses, supplies, most meals, transportation (not flights), and hotel stay on clinic days.
With the help of our partners, Hearing the Call, and generous donors, we are able to make our humanitarian trips more affordable and accessible to our members, students, and volunteers.
$500 Deposit Required at Time of Application*
Humanitarian Trip Price: $4,383
Entheos members, please contact Kareem directly for discounted pricing.
(All prices are for double rooms and are subject to change.)
*$500 deposit is fully refundable up to 60 days prior to a trip. Once inside that 60 days, you are responsible for any charges such a the purchase of airline tickets in country as well as the credit card processing fee of 6% (3% on initial purchase and 3% on return).
Note: Application, Payment and the Waiver are managed by Entheos Audiology Cooperative as part of their support for Hearing the Call
October 27 – November 2, 2024
Day 1: Arrive Montego Bay (MBJ)
Day 2: Training Day
Day 3: Clinic Day
Day 4: Clinic Day
Day 5: Clinic Day
Day 6: Retreat Day
Day 7: Retreat Day
Day 8: Depart from Montego Bay (MBJ)
Flight Information
Confirmation from Entheos that you are on the humanitarian trip.
Arrive Day 1 Travel from US to Montego Bay (MBJ).
Try to arrive midday or earlier to allow for the possibility of delayed flights.
We will depart from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay (MBJ).
Please enter your flight information by clicking the button to your right that says “Flight Info”.
- The Entheos team usually arrives a day early. If you decide to arrive a day early, you will be responsible for an extra night in the hotel (under $100).
VISAS
Jamaica does NOT REQUIRE a Visa for citizens of the United States for a stay up to 180 days.
Please make sure your passport is valid for up to 6 months after the date of your trip to enter and has two blank pages.
Electrical Power Information
Which Power Plugs and Sockets in Jamaica?
In Jamaica, the power sockets are of type A and B. Most sockets are type A. Check out the following pictures.
- Type A: mainly used in North and Central America, China and Japan. This socket only works with plug A.
- Type B: like type A but with an extra prong for grounding. This socket also works with plug A.
In Jamaica the power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. The standard voltage is 110 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. You do not need a power or plug adapter coming from the U.S.
Additional Information
One of the first things you have to be aware of on any international trip is the necessary vaccines. Some of the vaccines are hard to get in a quick time frame. Please make sure you read and check the CDC website for information on vaccines immediately.
As we travel internationally, we may be exposed to certain diseases that are rare in the United States. Fortunately, the risk of catching these diseases is still quite low since we will be on site for only a short time and will be eating properly prepared food, etc. However, since it is impossible to eliminate all risk, there are a variety of vaccines and immunizations that provide prevention against many of the most serious infectious diseases in the world that we ask each delegation member consider receiving.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website www.cdc.gov, there are no required vaccines for Jamaica, but make sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Please refer to the following CDC website for information on Jamaica.
- Most expenses will be prepaid for you including: ground transportation, medical evacuation insurance, hotel room accommodations, translators and team meals.
- Each volunteer is financially responsible for paying for and obtaining a passport and visa (if necessary), receiving any necessary immunizations, all food/beverage items in all airports and outside team meals, and any other personal expenditures/shopping during the trip.
- You will want to take enough cash with you for personal shopping. Bring U.S. currency that is as new as possible and undamaged. Traveler’s checks and credit cards (VISA or Master Card) will be good in airports, major hotels and many shops, but cash is the easiest and most convenient method of payment.
- You will be able to exchange money locally. Please bring new $100 bills. You will get a better exchange rate than smaller bills, and they don’t take older money.
- The currency in Jamaica is the Jamaican Dollar. To find the most up-to-date currency conversions, please go to XE Currency convertor.
Here are some helpful guidelines concerning the safety and security of your personal items:
- Be mindful of how you carry your purse or where you place your wallet. Men, keep your wallets in a front or zippered pocket, as keeping it in your back pocket will make it susceptible to pickpockets. Ladies, keep purses across your chest or use a fanny pack (keeping your hands free is also wise).
- An under garment money belt worn around your waist is a safe way to carry your personal cash or passport.
- Stay with a group of people at all times – always go somewhere in pairs.
- Take a minimal amount of jewelry with you – nothing flashy.
- Be a confident traveler even if you are unsure or uneasy in a certain situation; confidence and calmness is key.
- We also suggest that you make copies of all flight itineraries, wallet contents, passport, visa, etc. and carry copies in a separate, secure location. It would also be a good idea to leave copies of everything with someone at home also, just in case. These copies could prove invaluable should your personal documents be lost or stolen.
We hope you will enjoy the local cuisine. Most meals will be eaten at a hotel or local restaurant. All foods that will be provided to you should be well prepared and safe for you to eat.
Meals are supplied on clinic days, but not on travel or recreation days.
- As far as drinking water is concerned, to be on the safe side, always drink bottled water and brush your teeth with bottled water at the hotel. Avoid ice. Bottled water will be available.
- You may want to take some personal snack items with you – good items to take include granola bars, dried fruit, and trail mix.
WEATHER:
Arriving at October, Montego Bay weather commences a gradual decline from the peak summer conditions. Rainfall hits a high with 10 inches, making it the wettest month of the year. Despite these showers, the city’s warmth and vibrancy prevail with each bright day. Decreasing temperatures and sea temperatures bring a refreshing change compared to the intense summers. Nevertheless, abundant sunshine hours alongside decreasing daylight hours present the perfect blend of sun and shade.
For further information about weather, please consult these sites: Weather.Com and Weather Underground.
TIME ZONE:
Jamaica is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone and does not observe daylight-savings time.
Click here to view the current time in Jamaica.
- Please wear long pants and the team t-shirts provided by our partners. We have found that breathable type pants by Eddie Bauer or Columbia are a good option for hot clinic days (jeans are fine). You will receive TWO clinic t-shirts on the first day of the trip. You may be able to do laundry (for a small fee) at the hotel; we also recommend bringing a mini bottle of detergent (can be purchased at the travel section) to do laundry in your room.
- Bring comfortable shoes to wear. No open toe shoes for clinics.
- No shorts in the clinic.
Before/After Clinic
- There will be time for recreation (going out, dinner, etc.) after clinic days.
- Bring a fleece jacket for the mornings and evenings when it could get cool. Days will be fairly warm.
Here is a one week packing list as an example. You can click here to get a printable list.
Clothing
- 4 – Pants
- 5 – Shirts
- 8 – Pairs Socks
- 2 – Clinic Shirts (will be provided)
- 2 – PJ’s
- Walking Shoes
- Windbreaker or Light Jacket
- Swimsuit (if needed)
- Sandals
Toiletries
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Razor
- Hair Things
- Brushes
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Lotion
- Sunglasses
- Kleenex
- Imodium
- Advil
- Any Medications Needed
Miscellaneous
- Cash
- Passport
- Passport Holder
- Bank Card
- Credit Card
- Pen (to fill out forms)
- Neck Pilow
- Phone Chargers
- Computer chargers
- Converter/Transformer
- Laundry Detergent
- Wine Opener (for others)
- Head phones