CaribbeanSoul

5 weeks from tonight we'll be on our way to Negril for two weeks! We are jumping out of our skin after taking the past 1.5 years off...busy with the babies. Have a great trip in June. I'll be posting a trip report in early June upon our return. Negril is a very special place and we enjoy the laid back vibe and the sand gravity of the beach.

alya

CS

Looking forward to that trip report

You know you will have a wonderful time and Negril will embrace all 5 of you. I hope the 2 H's will love it, will this be the twins first experience of the sea?

CaribbeanSoul

Alya, it is nice to hear from you again. Where and when is your next trip planned?

Yes, it'll be their first trip to the sea. The first of many, I am sure. My first trip to the Caribbean was when I was 18. These kids are lucky.

We are planning one two-week trip a year to Jamaica with the kids and my wife and I are going to try to hit a different island each year for a week or so.

brenandg

Hey CS,
Have a great vacation!!!! I can imagine how eager you are to sink your toes in the sand. We leave for STJ in exactly 7 weeks. We have had a very prolonged, crappy winter so I can't wait for some Caribbean sunshine either. I be watching for your TR.

CaribbeanSoul

Hi Brenda! Yes, toes in the sand with a drink in hand...the theme to all of our Negril trips! We have had a crappy winter in the Pac NW as well....pretty nice lately....but Dec & Jan were not so nice. It took me 9 hours (not a typo) to get home from work one night due to the snow/ice/traffic. Normally a 35 minute commute! Yes, we are ready!

One of my favorite moments is taking the left out of Customs (at MBJ), then the right that takes you outside to the taxi pickup area. You know you have arrived. I always take a moment to let that sink in. The smiling face of Errol Cox soon after....a cooler full of Red Stripes for the ride to Negril....watching the faces of our children as Jamaica passes before their eyes....priceless!

SamH

A view from a different perspective:

If you are going to stay at a large resort or hotel, you can expect the management to keep the peddlers and beggars to a minimum at their properties and sponsered tours. In that case you have a controlled environment. You will still have the sun, beach, water and great food and drink you are on vacation to enjoy.

If you go outside this environment you will see that peddlers and beggars do exist and a polite "no" will not suffice in many cases. I have been offered ganja, tours, women and more from people on the street. I got my windshield washed twice a day while working in Kingston!

Having said that, i would not recommmend a tourist or anyone else to walk the streets in many neighborhoods in my own town at night.

thebanned

laustic,
From someone who has recently worked (and lived) in Jamaica, I felt compelled to answer this question.

Jamaica is in an economic crises right now. Crime is at an all time high. It is not true that crime is located only in Kingston. It is an island wide problem at this point. The police are completely out numbered and out matched by the criminals. The demand by residents and companies for private security guards is daily increasing.
This is fact. As a visitor to Jamaica you need to be aware of this fact.

Yes you will be greeted by warm smiles and a "Good morning", but you must know that you probably will be greeted with offers of drugs, grumbling and pushiness when you tell peddlars that you are not interested in their wares.

If you decide to go to Jamaica, do not go with your head in the sand. There is the chance that you may be held up and robbed - quite possibly at knife or even at gun point. Don't go wandering around at night by yourself, no matter how safe you perceive the area to be. The fact that you are a tourist makes you an easy target. Do not go there with this strange silly notion that "it can't happen to me."

This is Jamaica.

That said, Jamaica is also a country unique in its landscape, beauty, people and culture. There is a charm about the island that you will not experience anywhere else in the world. It has plenty to offer to a visitor, first time or repeat. You will meet many interesting, funny people who have a lot of wisdom to offer and can teach you a lot about the island's culture. The food is also quite amazing! Hopefully you will try the ackee and the saltfish, the roasted breadfruit, the mangoes (June is mango season!), the roasted or fried plantains, guineppes,naseberries, Jew plums, sweetsops, soursop juice, tamarind juice, otahiti apples and otahiti apple juice, escoveitched fish, Jerk chicken, festival, roasted yam, tamarind balls, jackass corn, coconut 'drops', rice and peas, stewed peas and white rice, fried dumplings...oh the list goes on and on.

In spite of the high crime rate and political corruption in the island, it is,for me, a worthwhile destination and I will return for future visits.

I hope you do have a truly wonderful and amazing time on your vacation.

JAGIRL

The island is relatively safe for tourists. The tourist areas of Montego Bay's Hip Strip, city centre and most of Negril are well policed. As such, these areas are hardly the scenes of major crime.

There probably will be some tourist "harassment" (what others here have called drug and wares pushing), though, and you should be prepared for it.

Enjoy your trip and have a great time!

Hopefully when you come back you will spend some time in Treasure Beach or Portland.

spook

As a four time Negril visitor (already booked for Jan. 2008) I would say that the only way you won't enjoy your visit if you are an uptight, paranoid type of person. You don't seem that way in your posts and your choice of properties is excellent, so enjoy. as for the vendor harrassment, I really haven't found it to be that bad. You get approached a bit but 98% take a simple no and leave you alone. Have you ever walked down the fifth avenue mall in Playa del Carmen? Now thats annoying!

ejcrowe

JAGIRL, so nice to see your posts again. It's been less colorful around here without your input on this board. Is your brother's wedding still on? Were you able to figure out a time to go to Harbour Island?

CS, I know you're counting down the days, not just the weeks, until your trip. Isn't it a marvelous feeling to be able to introduce a new family member to something you love? Can't wait to hear back upon your return to see how the little ones took to the beach/sea/environs. Not to mention how the folks at the hotel (you're a Coco la Palm fan, no?) take to the twins. Though I've never traveled with kids as young as yours, it's such a pleasure traveling to a region where children seem so universally valued and treasured.

alya

Hi CS,

We are being rather boring this year - due to health issues on my part and over work on DH's we have decided to go back to Nisbet on Nevis.

We really did enjoy the atmosphere last year and since we want a total beach vacation - Nik is first to get restless so we will book a car and we can go out and about for most lunches, he'll probably sleep on the first Sunday again tho

I already have a big stack of books to take.

To get this back on track we are thinking about a week trip to Negril in September - It just depends on how much the US taxman double taxes us on money we are bringing into the US from England after we sold our house there and have already paid taxes in the UK - GRRRRR.....................

CaribbeanSoul

Alya: That is what Grand Cayman is for....shhh! At least you can deduct the foreign taxes paid on your US tax return. Nevis will be a place my wife and I go someday by ourselves. Killer Bees at Sunshines! Oualie Beach Resort has always intrigued me. Our kind of place. Happy and safe travels this summer!

ejcrowe: Yes, Coco La Palm is our resort of choice. We have made many friends with the staff and the twins will be a surprise to many....especially when I point to the room where it all began! Is that TMI? Jamaica is a great place to take the kids as you indicate so valued and treasured there. Trip report to come in early June!

GoTravel

I love Jamaica!

I've been several times and love the island!

Usually, the only people that say what a bad place Jamaica is have either never been there or were there for a couple of hours on a cruise ship stop.

karlahuckin

I was afraid to go to Jamaica also. Had not been in 20 yeaars, but my husband always wanted to go back and rent a villa. We did so on Spring break this year with our 2 teenage girls and they each brought a friend. We had a great time. Lots of people wanting to sell you ganja and they get a little annoyed if you buy from one and not all - so spread your shopping around. One of the teenagers came to me and said she thought the sales lady was going to kill her if she did not buy the t-shirt. They can be a little pushy, but if you are friendly it is no problem, ma'n. Jamaica is different and that you really do not go out so much to restaurants and clubs - that is why the all inclusive thing is so popular. The private villa with chef, driver, etcc. was definitely the way to go for us. We even had a night watchman that guarded the house at night. It is creepy that you need it, but it felt good to know he was there.

Reisender

karla maybe a better idea is to buy NO ganja since it is illegal to buy or possess it in Jamaica...ever hear of respecting the laws of the country you are a guest in? Or did you ever consider what the insides of a Jamaican prison might be like?

Diana

Don't jump to conclusions so fast Reisender!

I think Karla was referring to shopping for souvenirs. (Of course, the way her sentence was structured, I can see why you may have thought that.)

liza

I read it as Diana did.

pmvan

We have just returned from 7 days in Negril, staying at Country Country. I too was warned at many levels, from "you must be careful in Jamaica" to "are you crazy, it is the most dangerous place in the Caribbean". My sister even told that to our 89 year old mother and she was very concerned. We were careful, didn't walk along the beach late or along the road at all. Never once did I feel fear or worry. There were security guards at every hotel and the police were an obvious but not intrusive presence. Since our vacation was over the Easter holiday the beach was filled with Jamaicans. I was extremely pleased to see that locals and tourists could share the same place. Sure, lots of people offered us lots of things but no one was persistent or annoying. We used good judgment, just like I would have in any city or my own little town for that matter, We walked up and down the 7 Mile Beach during the day, no complaints at all. We went to local walk-ups as well as more upscale restaurants. Since I have been home I have made a point to tell people how comfortable I was there. I hope your experience is even half as positive as mine. I can't wait to go back.

alya

pmvan

Thanks for the update - we stayed at Idle Awhile in 2005 and loved Jamaica, it was a close decision this year between Negril and Nevis.

Nevis won because the food was so good - Negril has a better beach though

Debden

laustic,We are on our way to Jamaica tommorrow morning.This is our first trip too.I have to say we are also a little apprehensive,worried and excited at the same time.Not because it's 'Jamaica' but because it's a new place and we are not sure what to expect.
We've been going on 3 or 4 trips a year for the past 15 years.You would think the nerves would get better but they don't.
But we are well prepared.We have taken all the advice the nice people on this board have given us and I'm sure we'll have a great time.
We booked our transfers ahead of time so knowing someone will be at the airport to greet us makes us feel better.
I will let you know how it goes...
Happy Travels.
Debbie