Me and my boyfriend can only travel in Feb. and we were thinking about either the Grand Lido Braco in Jamcia or somewhere top notch in the Dominican Republic. Anyone have any suggestions? We want somewhere to relax but that has nightlife if we want to take advantage of it. We also want an All Inclusive that doesn't serve us buffet food and bottom shelf liquor.

Dee,<BR><BR>Jamaica... It's safer, and more fun that the Dominican. Go to Negril. The 7 mile beach is world famous. Don't waste your time (or money) in Montego Bay. There are some great all inclusives in Negril. In my opinion, the farther toward Bloody Bay you are, the better (as far as location goes)....<BR><BR>Have Fun<BR>Eric

Check out the Club Miguel Angel within the Occidental Flamenco Bavaro in Punta Cana. "Concierge" level of accomodations and service fully contained within the larger resort. Private restaurant, pool, & bar with premium liquors among other great amenities and access to everything in the main resort. If you book it at the same time as your trip it is a minimal additional charge (approx $110 pp for 10 nights). If you try to upgrade after arrival it was around $600-$700!

Eric, Jamaica is extremely unsafe, especially compared to the Dominican Republic!! The DR is extremely safe, particularly the Punta Cana area. I'm not sure where you get your stats from but Jamaica has an extremely BAD reputation for safety. You can't leave your resort compound without being threatened and the government consulate families placed there receive "hardship" allowance due to the extremely unsafe nature of the island. You WILL be safe within the resort compound but that's it!!!

Jane, shut the hell up...you don't know know what you're talking about. No island or country is extremely safe as you state about Punta Cana, DR. You wanna bitch at other people for their misguided facts, well yours are misguided too babes.

Dominican more safe than Jamcaica ? Please... I've been to both, and can say that my vote would be for Jamaica. Try Negril, Treasure Bay, or the Port Antonio area. Believe me, you will always feel safe. The people are great, and there is much more natural beauty in Jamaica then in Dominican. There is really no comparison beetween the two.<BR><BR>Roberta

OK, so if you want more proof of just how bad and crime ridden Jamaica is, go to this government website and read the precautions:<BR>http://travel.state.gov/jamaica.html<BR>I have a relative who is a doctor and travels to Jamaica yearly to give free medical attention to the natives. He travels around in an armed guard bus which is clearly marked as a humanitarian vehicle providing free medical. The natives largely leave them alone because they badly want them to return but he sees dead bodies along the roadsides everywhere he goes and he WOULD NOT EVER TAKE HIS FAMILY THERE!!! If you think that violent crime doesn't exist in Jamaica and that the tourists aren't bothered....YOU ARE WRONG. Our friends were golfing in a barbed wire fenced golf course when they were held up at gunpoint by three men who climbed over the fence somehow and took everything they had....IN A SUPPOSEDLY PROTECTED COMPOUND. Go to Jamaica in your ignorance and I sincerely hope you have a good and worry free vacation but I highly doubt it!!!

Some people seem to think that the crime rate found in the city of Kingston is found throughout the country of Jamaica. This is simply not true. <BR><BR>Kind of reminds me of the difference between living in downtown NYC, and living in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State - no comparison. (Or perhaps similar to comparing DR to Haitti)...<BR><BR>I've been to Jamaica numerous times. Here's is my advice - stay out of the cities - go to the country... This (by the way) is also my advice when visiting any foreign land. Not only will you enjoy it more, you will be safer, and will get a chance to truly mingle with the people who live there. Visiting the lesser populated part of any island also helps to insure that your money will go to the (often poor) people who live there (instead of a foreign owned corporation).<BR><BR>After years of travel, I have only experienced crime once (knock on wood). This was in downtown Vancouver, Canada. Our car was broken into and our camping gear was stolen - during broad daylight. I have felt far more threatened in numerous US cities than I ever felt, in all my trips to Jamaica...<BR><BR>Eric

Hey Eric , DR and Haitti are 2 different countries sharing 1 island , but they are still 2 entirely different countries ,different languages , cultures...Perhaps you meant Punta Cana and Santo Domingo ? I've have been to both -Jamaica (twice) DR (5 times)Didn't experience anything bad at either places, except for those peoples who followed us around in Jamaica ( Negril, Mo bay, Ochos Rios) trying to sell us marijuana...but that's all .

Sorry to say but I wouldn't go back to either. You get pestered beyond belief in Jamacia as soon as you leave your hotel. "Braid your hair...buy smoke (and they dont mean cigarettes)" AQ man ran after my wife for taking a photo that he happened to be in wanting money. We wanted to see some culture in Jamacia but EVERYWHERE was, "spread the wealth". We travel about 5-6 times per year and have been to many places and would not go back to Jamacia or DR. You get it from the "locals" everywhere but Jamacia and DR seemed excessive. Jamacia coffee is excellent and the Sandals at Mont Bay was super, but again, we needed to stay at Sandals to get peace! Even coming into the Jamacian customs they were rude. My last name is obviously of Polish decent and looking at my US Passport, the woman kept insisting that I was from Poland (my family came over 7 gens ago! lol). The resorts indeed have nightlife but there are lots of other places that are better for your money.

I agree with most of the above posers except the rude guy. Wouldnt go back to the Dominican Republic (very dirty) or Jamacia due to the locals harassing you constantly. It is very pretty but I too dont want to be hassled on my vacation of the year.

Harvey, if you don't like the DR or Jamaica, where would you go back to (sincerely)...<BR>

Just for the record, I've been to Jamaica and didn't see any dead bodies on the roadside. And we traveled alot of their roads.

"Can't leave the hotel grounds " What ? I've been to Jamaica numerous times, and always wander the beaches. I try to get out and see the local towns and villages. No crime -never saw any. I don't know (or care) about Jamaica's "Reputation" (or what it says in some brochure for government workers) it's far safer than so many (scared of their own shadow) tourists believe. But that's OK, all the more Jamaica for me...<BR><BR>

Jane,<BR><BR>I checked out the link you suggested (http://travel.state.gov/jamaica.html). <BR>Not really very surprising (or very alarming). Who goes to Kingston ? Most tourists fly into Montego Bay, and never go near Kingston. Again, just because a country has a bad "REPUTATION" doesn't mean it's really all true. I can think of numerous examples (right here in the USA) of equally dangerous areas (i.e. in major cities). Don't believe everything you read...

Jane,<BR><BR>I was unaware that there were two countries named Jamaica.Your doctor friend must have traveled to the lesser known one.I think the origial poster was asking about the Jamaica that is an island in the Caribbean a little south of Cuba.Where there are no dead bodies laying around.Jane,how many times have you been to this Jamaica?I am always amazed by people who seem to know all about a destination that they have never been to.If you have ever been there you would not be expounding this BS.Now if you were to go around this Jamaica calling people natives you probably would not be well received.The Jamaican people dislike this term.And prefer to be called,belive it or not,Jamaicans.Just one more sign of your ignorance.<BR><BR>Dee,<BR><BR>Some people resent being ask by Jamaicans to buy different things.I think alot of times these people are not firm enough with their response.If your answer is no.Then make it a firm no.Don't say things like not now or maybe tomorrow.They will remember you and ask you later or tomorrow.Now,having said all that.I always take the opportunity of being approach to strike up a conversation and get to know the person.I maybe buying or not.One of my favorite things is to go to the craft market in Negril and visit with the vendors.I always buy a few things.But mostly just talk with the people.One word of caution is to hone you negotiating and no saying skills before going to the market.The vendors can be a little aggresive at the market.But a firm no still works.Besides thay are all just trying to feed their families.<BR><BR>

<BR>Dee,<BR>I bet you never thought a simple request for a recommendation between Jam and DR would end up with such back and forth sniping from the various factions as has happened here.<BR>I've said this about a dozen times so far on this board: Jamacia is a safe place if you take the same precautions you would in New York City. There is crushing poverty in Jamaica (as is there in DomRep) and the presence of tourists with money can become a temptation to someone wondering where to find the money to feed the kids.<BR>But, I am unaware, save for one instance, of anyone reporting on this board that they were the recipient of any violence or the victim of any crime.<BR>What we do see regularly are tales of someone who knew someone, or a relative who saw something, or, "They kept coming after me trying to get me to buy....." or "They were rude and arrogant...."<BR>In all the times of been to Ja, I've never experienced any of those things. I have interacted with assertive sales people who struck me as perfect candidates for used car salesmen in the US. They were dogged in their pursuit of a sale. But when I said 'No, thank you, I'm not interested,' attention quickly shifted to another possible sales prospect and away from me.<BR> When I worked in Kingston, admitedly the heart of all the violence problems, I never saw or experienced anything like some other posters have said they heard of. I will admit, I made it a point not to wander around at night in Kingston. But that's common sense.<BR>There is crime in Jamaica. To deny that would be foolish. And there is violence. But it is almost exclusively by Jamaicans on Jamaicans. And for a very bad period earlier this year, it was Jamaicans against the police. A problem that has seemed to settle itself out when the police finally realized that criticism of their tactics and actions was not an attack on their position of trust in the community.<BR>As BudNip says above, I don't know what Jamaica young Jane's Doctor relative went to, but there are not dead bodies lying along the roadsides in the Jamaica I go to.<BR>I think your Grand Lido Braco plan sounds absolutely perfect. Go, enjoy.

I wouldn't go back to either. I'm not arguing political ideations but I like to walk around without being hassled in shopping areas. Tips...tips...money...<BR>

I have never been to the Dominican Republic but actually would like to visit sometime. I have been to Jamacia Ocho Rios. I agree it is dangerous and you most defintly need to be aware of your surroundings. <BR><BR>When I went it was on a cruise ship twice. The 1st time a Jamacian followed us to town--he was "friendly" but would not leave us. Then he said when we got to town he would protect us. We told him we would be OK he still wouldn't leave after leaving town with him at our side he then insisted we give him money for being our tour guide.<BR><BR>Then another time I was there 2 cab drivers pulled out guns on eachother because they both wanted us to take their cab and thought the other was stealing their business.<BR><BR>Believe it or not I still enjoyed myself and would go back.

Suzanne,<BR>I've found in many places like Jamaica, Bahamas, and even Mexico there's much more aggressive behavior toward cruise ship passengers than visitors staying on the island. I don't know if it's because they know you'll only be there one day so want to make sure you spend some money. But as visitors staying on the island, we've never experienced the same aggressive practices that are so commonly described by cruise passengers.