jacketwatch

So true superdan and this comment reminds me of something I read before out 1st trip to Jamaica and that is if you show Jamaicans respect you will get it back tenfold. I had this in mind and still remember the way the hotel registrar treated me when I showed him respect and courtesy. Then I became "brotherman". Hey, it worked for me.

JZak

My husband and I stayed at an all Inclusive in Negril about 2 years ago. I have good and bad things to say. I loved the resort and the beach. It was totally relaxing and beautiful inside the resort. We did go outside the resort one night to go dancing, and I didnt feel very safe. The next morning we found out that a couple staying at our resort walked back from an all night party at the resort next door around 130 am and were mugged. She was actually slashed in the neck with a knife. Her husband thought the men were going to take her and he was never going to see her again. This happened within yards of our hotel security. I didnt truly believe the story until I saw and talked to the woman herself, who had a big bandage on her neck, but it happened. We had a great experience at the resort, but I would not consider it safe to walk around at night outside an AI. If you decide you want to see the "natural beauty" of Jamaica and not stay in an A.I, I would be smart about it and take any saftey precautions you can, probably the same ones you would take staying in a major downtown city in the US that has a very high crime rate. Take taxis, dont walk after dark, dont dress flashy, etc, dont go in deserted areas. I think it is awful that the people there dont make more money working at the resorts. The govt should limit the profitablity of these resorts and force them to give the workers better wages. If what another writer said was true, that 99% of the beaches are not open to the public, that is shameful as well. It doesnt seem that tourism is helping this country much. Maybe they need to find an industry that can make a more positive impact on the lives of the people who live there.

gio4945

Jamaica is a third world country and yes I have been there Have you ever been to new york? all these things happen here on a daily basis except the diarrhea of course anywhere you go there is a risk of a problem I cant comment on the water but Im sure you are correct I am sorry about your bad experience where were you in jamaica I know they are agrssive they are just looking to make a buck were you in a residental area? Again this is poor country so when you go to jamaica you either need to stay in an all inclusive or know someone from the island itself as far as the pollution goes I am surprised the water hasnt been polluted all along again THIRD WORLD COUNTRY

gio4945

i JUST REALIZED jAKES REVIEW IS FROM 1997 AND THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS IN JAMAICA BACK THEN SO IF YOU PLAN ON GOING TO JAMAICA JUST BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGDS LIKE YOU WOULD AT HOME OR ANYWHERE ELSE I LOVED JAMAICA IT IS A BEAUTIFUL ISLAND DONT BE AFRAID JUST BE CAREFUL

Alisonthomas

My sister and her husband went to Jamaica on their honeymoon. We are from a very laid back family and we both grew up doing hard core camping with my father. We can handle "roughing" it but she said she HATED Jamaica. She couldn't wait to get back home and they felt nervous the entire time they were there. She works as a counseler for kids that are in street gangs/etc. in NY. She's not exactly a wuss. But she did not feel safe their at all. I'm sure there are lovely people and places in Jamaica, but my guess is that it is hard to find those places as a tourist.

SteveJudd

gio 4945 compares Jamaica to New York. Now do we have a common denominator here or what?!

jennygirl

It was good to ready everyone's comments. My friend and I are going to Ocho Rios in January...not staying at an AI though. We want to experience what the island has to offer first hand.

jacketwatch

Now its the water! Who said the water is bad? The water there is naturally filtered by limestone substrate and is fine. Please take Jamaica for what it is and please don't see ALL things there in a negative way because SOME things are. Don't be blind to the positives. JM2C.

TeresaBTree

Well said Hyacinth. I thought Jamaica was a wonderful vacation and had no bad experiences. I am not sure why people think it is such a bad thing to stay at an all inclusive resort. It's not like there is nothing to do. When most people think of VACATIONING in Jamaica, they think of relaxing on a beautiful uncrowded beach, partaking in different water sports, and just losing track of time. All this is done on the beachside resort. This is what Jamaica SHOULD be for a visitor. If you leave the resort, you are not in a vacation like surrounding - you are now entering into the locals everyday life. Why would you expect to be treated special? These same bad experiences happen everywhere, I don't think it's fair to make it seem like ALL Jamaicans are out to mug their tourists. During my stay there, I always felt very welcomed with everyone greeting me with a smile and encouraging me to come back. I don't get that here in the U.S. My room came with a safe in it, which I never used. I left my money sitting out (which I admit was very careless) but the maid did not take it. I was never approached by someone selling drugs or anything. During my stay there, I actually found myself admiring Jamaicans. To see people live so poorly and do everything to accommodate their tourists and please them so that they will come back since this is their main source of income and still be happy about it is amazing. It is extremely hard to get that kind of service here in the U.S. where many of us are so self involved and ignorant. These people seemed so generous and hospitable that it really makes me sad to read all of the negative postings.

tl91

Our cruise stops in Ocho Rios. We would like to do the Dunn River Falls and that's all. How do we get there? What is the safest way? If we take a cab there and back and that's all, will there be drug or prostitution offers,or planting of drugs on us?

jacketwatch

For Gods sakes I wisk Fodors would delete this thread from 1997.

Joanada

We have gone to Jamaica twice and loved it. The scenery is beautiful, if you see some of the island. We have stayed at Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios, it is a beautiful plantation style hotel with one of the most beautiful beaches. We also stayed at Strawberry Hill in the Blue Mountains, which unbelievable. People very friendly , we took walks on our own. While at the
Jamaica Inn, we hired one of the hotels drivers to take us where we want for outings. The only thing I would not do is rent a car for numerous reasons. But we have been to most of the islands and still would go back to Jamaica Inn. And we certainly had no problem walking around outside the hotel. Both of these places have a web site, you would not go wrong. You can even get a helicopter ride from Strawberry Hill to Ocho Rios or the Inn will pick you up. I think where you stay can influence you on a lot of things. You don't go wandering in places where there could be problems, but that goes for anywhere now, maybe a little more in the poorer countries.

atticus

If it were a negative thread about the Caymans, they would delete it...