If I had 2 weeks to spend at a location, it would not be Jamaica. I recently went there for a weekend visit, and that is about the the amount of time I would like to stay there. If I had two weeks, I would travel to central or south america, eurpoe, aisa. Some of these location, you could get a great deal travling there. If you are looking for an exotic vacation, I have an excellent travle agent for you to use. E-mail me and I will give you her information ([email protected]). She is a small agency who specalized in exotic trips and she can find EXCELLENT deals.
With the few times I have been to this island, I can nt imagine what you would do for 2 whole weeks.

"I ca'nt imagine what you would do for 2 whole weeks."

Hmm. Besides the obvious laying on any number of beautiful beaches, there are numerous waterfalls to climb and swim in, a new attraction from Costa Rica I'm dying to try - ziplining in tree canopies, there are boat trips to snorkel or dive or see crocodiles, swimming with manatees, mountain biking and hiking in the Blue Mountains, eating some of the best food in the Caribbean, live reggae concerts, visiting Maroon towns, in Kington there are museums and ballet and all the cultural events a big city can offer, bamboo rafts on several rivers, tubing on rivers, horseback riding......and I am only scratching the surface.

Jamaica is a large island with everything from beaches to mountains to desert to lush rainforest. Plenty to do, I've been a dozen times and still ahven't done or seen all that I want to.

We always like to go for two weeks....don't find that one week is enough. And all we do is sit on the beach for 2 weeks. No waterfalls, no tours....nothing. We drink Red Stripe, play Frisbee, eat jerk chicken and beef patties...take plenty of walks on Negril beach....maybe a trip or two up to the cliffs for dinner. In about a week we are totally decompressed and can REALLY enjoy the 2nd week. But then again, we lead pretty hectic lives....so doing nothing is exactly what we go there to do. Our tans look pretty nice by the end of the two weeks, as well!

As for the bathing issue I once saw this in Jamaica. It was a Rasta man bathing as such. Oh well.

Exactly Larry , thought the bathing sounded great to me as well !!! And our 13 days was not long enough , went entirely too quickly , wish I was there now , beside a river , with a redstripe ... ahhhh . Faith .

Oh yeah....in regards to the bathing issue....my parents had a lake cabin in northern Minnesota and I used to take "Canadian" showers all the time! Loosen up bit and realize that Jamaica is an underdeveloped country and that "amenities" we take for granted such as running water are things that aren't taken for granted in places such as Jamaica.

Agree with above. Once when in India our train made a stop early one morning along side a village. In the field adjacent to the platformg guess what I saw? The villagers were there for their morning constitution. And if you or I lived there so would we. Indoor plumbing is not to be taken for granted. When you travel hopefully one thing you learn is to appreciate the differences in peoples lives and to be thankful for how good you really have it. JM2C.

Hmmmmm I guess the crocodiles ate all the soap bars 'cause when we climbed the falls there wasn't one anywhere...what a load of crap.

Curt - thats the one that got me.... I have been to the falls numerous times and I have never ever seen soap, or better yet, anyone taking a "bath" on the falls.

I am sure most visitors have not seen soap etc. , but even if you did , would it be such a huge issue ? I went down the Rio Grande and I saw a woman doing laundry on the rocks at rivers edge , as she saw us she reached for a small cooler to sell us a cold drink .... We bought some drinks , and as my children asked questions I explained that in this country for some people this was how things were done ... I guess when some people visit a destination they figure things should be picture perfect and pristine for their eyes . A place like Jamaica does offer picture perfect vistas and the like , but at the same time while we are being provided an exotic locale to unwind , the lives of people living in this country keep going. So maybe from time to time we see something done a little differently . Wow , are we not lucky to have what we have ? If you do not like to use your hard earned money only to witness poverty etc. there are other islands that are wealthier , more like home . Jamaica is not for everyone , but a couple of bars of soap would not deter me . Faith

Faith...your comments are a bit of sunshine !! Your children are lucky to have such a wise mom, who lives and speaks from her heart !

Marion

Thanx marion ! Smiles , Faith .

Fresh piped in-home water, as many people in the 'first world' are now beginning to learn, is a commodity quite precious, tho taken for granted until political season. In much of the rest of the world, it's a scarce thing. For many country Jamaicans, taking a hot shower at home is a rarity -- and Jamaicans normally do so in cold water that has maybe gotten a little bit lukewarm from the sun beating on the tank on the roof. Or solar water systems. Every day for country people in many parishes of Jamaica,'getting fresh' means a trip to a local stream or waterfall or mountain pool -- with soap, as Jamaicans are fastidious. Laundry is done, on the rocks, with blue coconut soap imported from Dominica and by using the wrist as a washboard. It's not embarassing ---it's just life. A social occasion, a chance to catch up on local su-su/gossip. For Rastas as well, a reaffirmation of their strong belief in things natural and unpolluted. If this offends those of a puritannical disposition, places like Grand Cayman and Aruba -- where real life is hidden behind a highly-developed tourist infrastructure and Uber-conservative -- might prove a more sanitized choice.

Jamaica is a beautiful place. I haven't been there since 1980 when inflation was about 150%, but we were 22 years old and we still enjoyed ourselves. (Just didn't eat) I'm sure it has changed a bit and probably for the better. Crime was big at the time near Kingston. If you don't like to see poverty or have kids approach you for money (one time my friend took a picture of a church, a little boy jumped in front of her and said give me money or break camera). She gave him a quarter and things were fine. It's part of the culture. (&remember this was 20 some years ago).
If you don't want something like this - then go to Hawaii - it's more expensive but gorgeous. Have been 3 times - to Maui, Kaui(sp?) & Hawaii. I actually would strongly recommend Hawaii for a honeymoon & Jamaica for an anniversary.

I wouldn't go back. People in your face (overboard) to buy this and that, "spread the wealth"...Braid your hair. I had a woman that came running up to me to buy shirts from her telling me that if she does not sell 5 shirts per hour, she gets beaten. I was taking a photo of one of the downtown churches and a man came running up to me wanting money for being in my picture.

I go to relax, enjoy the people and good food. This doesn't happen on this island.

My wife(26) and i(30) went to jamaica last January, our first time there, and stayed at the cliffs (www.islandoutpost.com) and it was WONDERFUL. the staff was great, the other guests were nice and we had a great time. this place was just great. we did not travel around since we were only there for 3 nights and wanted to relax. i know a number of other people that have gone and continue to go back to other places onn the island. I believe that it is important where you stay. i have never heard a bad word about any of the other island outpost spots or the other high end places. hope this helps and if you have any specific questions for me please feel free to ask. Oh yeah...congrats on the wedding and enjoy your honeymoon!

People, this thread is a year and half old. Please let it die.

This is indeed an old thread, but I had to add my 2 cents. I have never been to Jamaica and I will never go either. I'm sure it's a lovely island with many nice resorts and interesting things to see and do, BUT, I don't know why anyone would want to visit a tiny island such as this that had 1184 murders in 2004 alone. It baffles my mind. Granted, everyone country, city etc has it's share of crime, but 1184 murders on such a tiny island has convinced me that I will never spend my tourist dollar on the island of Jamaica. It seems that human life is totally disregarded on this island and until they do something about I can see their tourism declining significantly. There are numerous gorgeous islands that people can visit that don't have even a small percentage of the crime and murders that Jamaica has.

Welovemexico,

Judging by your screen name, I assume you do travel to Mexico - which also boasts one of the highest crime rates in the world. Surely you don't support the ever increasing murder and kidnapping rate that the Mexican government tolerates. Criminals in Mexico City and other areas go about their business with complete impunity. This is a country whose socio/political decisions are as heavily influenced by drug cartels as anyplace in the world. Surely you wouldn't spend a penny there.

Hmm... I dont know if I would have changed my mind about Jamaica had I read this post last year??? Probably not though.

I am leaving for Jamaica on Sunday and I am looking forward to it!!! While it might not have been MY destination of choice, my best friend from college is getting married next Thursday in Mo Bay and I will be standing up in her wedding. I promised her that I'd be in her wedding, be it in Nepal, Africa, or in/around the US. They decided on Jamaica, so that's where I am going!