Ocho Rios, Jamaica City Guide
For over 20 years, Pamela Lanier's Ocho Rios, Jamaica Travel Guide has been your connection to Ocho Rios's tourism community with invaluable details on local attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums, history, outdoor recreation and more.
Shopping
 For many, Ocho Rios with its relatively aggressive vendors provides an introduction to Jamaica-style shopping. After surviving the ordeal, some visitors may vow never to go shopping again. Literally hundreds of Jamaicans pour into Ocho Rios to peddle items to cruise ship passengers and other visitors. Police precedent has done a lot to suppress too-aggressive behavior from shopkeepers, but in the past, something approaching pandemonium has greeted many an unwary shopper, who must also be prepared for some fierce haggling and some often unwelcome breaches of privacy. Every vendor asks too much at first, which gives them the leeway to "negotiate" until the price reaches a more realistic level.
There are six shopping plazas offering everything from Jamaican handicrafts and souvenirs to duty-free bargains from the in-bond stores. Many of which are located near bed and breakfast properties.
Ocho Rios Craft Park
The Ocho Rios Craft Park has 135 stalls. A vendor will weave a hat or a basket while you wait, or you can buy a ready-made hat, hamper, handbag, place mats, or lampshade. Other stands stock hand-embroidered goods and will make small items while you wait. Woodcarvers work on bowls, ashtrays, statues, and cups.
Wassi Art Pottery Factory Tour
Famous island-wide for its unique, colorful Caribbean pottery, tastefully hand-made, the wide variety of one-of-a-kind designs will amaze you. Visitors are welcome to tour the studio and watch a lump of Castleton Clay transformed into a work of art. The showroom is open from Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm. They will ship worldwide by FedEx and package specially for air line carry-on. You can also have FedEx deliver packages to your bed and breakfast, conveniently having the Innkeeper sign for your delivery.
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