Traveling To Jamaica....what To Pack...advice?

[jerseygirl221]

My husband and I are traveling to Jamaica in July. We will be staying at a Sandals resort. I wrote to them, and they said that the chef will meet with us upon arrival. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what else I should pack. I am thinking that I want to pack some gluten-free snacks in our luggage. Any other ideas? I am excited, but nervous at the same time. We went to Disney World 2 months after my diagnosis, and it was wonderful. They are very accomodating. Not sure what to expect in a foreign country!

[MaryJones2]

I've never been to Sandals but have had mostly good experiences at all-inclusive resorts but I usually stick to things that should be naturally gluten free - I don't pastas, bread, etc. I usually pack canned soup or instant noodles (Thai Kitchen), crackers, instant oatmeal (GlutenFreeda) in case I want a hot meal and can't get one. It seems it's always easy to get salads and cold items

[Tahoe Gail]

  On 5/8/2012 at 9:51 PM, jerseygirl221 said:

My husband and I are traveling to Jamaica in July. We will be staying at a Sandals resort. I wrote to them, and they said that the chef will meet with us upon arrival. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what else I should pack. I am thinking that I want to pack some gluten-free snacks in our luggage. Any other ideas? I am excited, but nervous at the same time. We went to Disney World 2 months after my diagnosis, and it was wonderful. They are very accomodating. Not sure what to expect in a foreign country!

I have been to Jamaica many times. Never to an all inclusive. I have had zero issues. Once the staff understands what you mean, you are all set. There is some confusion because they use rice flour, corn masa and that funny one, casava. So saying "flour', sometimes doesn't work and saying "wheat flour" sometimes doesn't work because they sometimes don't understand whole wheat, white flour anything made from the wheat plant. You will never meet a group of people more wanting to acomadate your needs. Don't be afraid to leave the walls of Sandals. Go find a jerk shack and enjoy. Get some lobster from the guy who walks the beach selling lobster. Make friends with the fruit lady who brings the fruit on her head. And by all means, do not be afraid of the juice sold in the recycled rum bottles. Your taste buds are going to be happy and your belly too.

[Darn210]

Sunscreen and a bathing suit!!

I don't have a list of food items to give you. I just wanted to suggest you look to see if there are some items that you absolutely can not take. Something like fruit may be confiscated . . . or it may only be confiscated if you were trying to bring it into the US. Take a look at the Customs Regulations for Jamaica.