My wife and I have planned a trip to Montego Bay and have heard a lot of negative stories about the safety. We are staying at the Tryall Club and the only people who reasure us are the people who work for the resort. What is the real story <BR>on the safety. We have travelled to PV Mexico, spain, Caymen Island, Bermuda, etc. Can it be that much different?<BR>Is it safe to shop, and explore by ourselves?<BR>Thanks for any responses!<BR>

You'll have that. My aunt came with us to Negril a couple of months ago and had "helpful friends" that scared her to death. She came with us anyway, had a ball, plans to return next year. I believe she had a mouthful for her friends whose only experience in JA was locked behind the gates of their resort, passing on to her what THEY had been told.<BR><BR>Tryall is really beautiful.<BR><BR>No, it's not much differnet, JA has less tourist crime than Mexico does, probably more than Cayman or Bermuda, so it's about in the middle.<BR><BR>You can shop by yourselves, if this is your first trip to JA you might like to have a driver/guide for island exploring - not really for safety reasons but because you will feel more secure, driving in JA is kind of difficult, a guide knows where s/he's going, and you can relax and sightsee, have a couple of red stripes, whatever.<BR><BR>The only area that tourists are advised to avoid is Kingston, most of it, and that's ALLLLL the way on the other side of the island, many hours away. lately I have heard the inner-city downtown area of MoBay isn't a great place to wander at night in particular, but the "hip strip" - along the beach, is fine. You'll see police in that area a lot, they patrol it regularly.<BR><BR>JA has a crime problem to be sure but it's mainly limited to Kingston and doesn't have much to do with tourists.<BR><BR>Just don't leave your common sense at home...<BR><BR Liz

Liz:<BR>It's nice to hear from someone who actually<BR>has been there. <BR>I cannot wait to go!<BR>Regards, <BR>AJ

Have a great trip!!<BR><BR Liz

..just wanted to add, since you've been to Bermuda and Cayman, that your average resident of those places will be wealthier than your average Jamaican, they are more on par with Mexico. So when you walk out of Tryall and get asked to buy stuff, remember you paid for your room for one night about what they make in 2-3 weeks.<BR><BR>It's not dangerous but if it strikes you as odd that people think you have lots of money to buy trinkets, that's why

People on this board have commented that everyone seems to either love or hate Jamaica. Not me; I'm a middle-of-the-roader on this issue.<BR><BR>One thing to realize is that there are two aspects that tend to overlap in people's minds: the "hassle" factor, and the safety factor.<BR><BR>It's true that when you are outside the confines of a gated resort, you will frequently be approached by people trying to sell you things legal and/or illegal. This does become tiresome after a few days, in my opinion, even if the proverbial "firm but polite 'no thank-you' " sends folks on their way.<BR><BR>Some visitors confuse being solicited with being unsafe. Unless you have been a crime victim yourself, or witness crimes occurring, how do you judge how unsafe the environment is for tourists? I think we need to rely on knowledgeable sources for that, and most of them agree that Jamaica has more crime problems than the average Caribbean island.<BR><BR>On the plus side, Jamaica has a lot of gorgeous scenery and is much bigger than many of the popular island destinations - hence has more territory to explore. Plus, it has a distinctive culture and you don't feel that you're simply visiting an extension of the U.S.<BR><BR>The safety issue concerns me, but it will not stop me from returning to Jamaica. However, I would not rent a car and explore the island on my own, as I might do in some other countries, and I would be quite cautious after dark. Exploring this island is best done with a guide or escorted tour. If you're staying at Tryall, you can certainly shop in the Gloucester Ave. area of Montego Bay. If you take a day trip to Dunn's River Falls, there's a pretty interesting crafts market there.<BR><BR>I haven't found the perfect destination yet, but I had a memorable time in Jamaica and I'm sure you will too.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><B R><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Chazz, I agree with you that the solicitations get confused with crime a lot in reports from JA.<BR><BR>You said: "I think we need to rely on knowledgeable sources for that, and most of them agree that Jamaica has more crime problems than the average Caribbean island."<BR><BR>While this is certainly true, most of it is not where tourists are, it's in Kingston, and only certain areas of Kingston at that. Take Kingston out of the equation and it is absolutely average.<BR><BR>The US State dept recently revamped their consular info sheets (they were pretty lame before) and they reflect reality a lot better now. <BR><BR>Here's JA (you see it's mainly about Kingston, there's a blurb about being careful at night):<BR>http://travel.state.gov/jamaica.html<BR><BR>and for comparison, Mexico, (the warnings are a lot more serious and comprehensive and definitely do include tourist areas and daytime travel)<BR>http://travel.state.gov/mexico.html<BR><BR>Netherland Antilles (street crime, auto theft and "armed robbery"): http://travel.state.gov/nethant.html<BR><BR>..and the Caymans, that warning is really only about petty street crime:<BR>http://travel.state.gov/british_windies.html#caymans<BR><BR>I don't have the article offhand that explained how and why the warnings got better but it was a recent change.<BR><BR>Liz

Anthony, Cayman and Bermuda have very high standards of living. If you traveled around PV, Mexico, then you could quite obviously see the difference between these three places, with PV having quite noticeable poverty! Ditto for Spain. Unfortunately, despite what people say here, Jamaica will be the WORST place of them all! Poverty abounds!! Good luck to you as you will NEED it!!!

True, if being near poor people bothers you, don't go.

So then I guess the rule here is if you stay INSIDE your resort in Jamaica, you are set: no fear of crime, solicitation (other than on the beach?). I plan to stay inside the resort. =)<BR><BR>~Shawnie

I feel the same way as the above posters when it come to how poor the people of Jamaica are. They dont have the advantages as we have but they live their lives to the fullest it can be with what little they have. We love Jamaica and am spending week there in Feb. I have never felt threatened while I was there. The people are very friendly and helpfull.

So then I guess the rule here is if you stay INSIDE your resort in Jamaica, you are set: no fear of crime, solicitation <BR>-----<BR><BR>True, and there won't be solicitors on the beach either in most cases as they put up a fence. Crime - probably not, unless a hotel employee or another guest assaults you or steals something or whatever. <BR><BR>You will miss seeing and experiencing some really neat things in Jamaica if you stay on your resort property, of course, but if you are going on this vacation primarily to lay on the beach and use the resort facilities, hang out with other tourists, that's a good plan. That's what I did on my first trip to JA, but I got a bug to come back and see what was outside the fence after that and prefer it now.<BR><BR>To each their own <BR><BR Liz

Thanks for all the words of wisdom. I will look forward to my trip in April. <BR>Oh by the way, I just got back from New Orleans during Mardi Gras. There is a place to be aware of your surroundings, but it was a great time. Thanks again.

I just got back from my first trip to the carabian. The only time I did not fell safe in Jamaica was in the mini vans driving down the "wrong" side of the road. There are alway pepole trying to sell you something. Taxi rides, trincets, pot watever. Nothing that a 3 or four "No Thank you" did not take care of. We had a great time. Don't let the naysayers bother you. You'll be fine.

I just got back from my first trip to the Caribbean. The only time I did not fell safe in Jamaica was in the mini vans driving down the "wrong" side of the road. There are always people trying to sell you something. Taxi rides, trinkets, pot whatever. Nothing that 3 or 4 "No Thank you" did not take care of. We had a great time. Do not let the naysayers bother you. You will be fine and have a great time.

Hi Anthony & all,<BR>I spoke w/a Travel Agent today ~ when I asked her point blank if Jamaica was safe to travel to, her response was "No, not at all". She proceeded to tell me a story aobut a man who had armed guards surrounding his hotel, women who had had their purses snatched, etc. <BR>Now, I'm set to book the Sandals Royal Caribbean @Montego Bay for this coming November. The place looks perfect for myself and my husband and I've always wanted to go to Jamaica. For 4 nights at their honeymoon concierge level it's $3,000. total package. Good deal?<BR>What should I do???

This is from the travel advisory firm my company uses:<BR><BR>"Montego Bay and other North Coast resort towns maintain a significantly lower crime rate than Kingston, petty theft and violent crimes are a concern. Jamaican criminals are notoriously persistent, aggressive, often armed, and quick to use force if resisted."<BR><BR>" In light of renewed gang violence at the end of 2001 in Kingston's neighborhoods, visitors to Jamaica should use heightened security precautions when traveling near Kingston and avoid roads traveling through known trouble spots, such as Mountain View in East Kingston and Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town in West Kingston. Travelers driving from Kingston to Montego Bay avoid Mountain View Road, opting instead for the "Humming Bird Route".

I assume you've read this board and other boards and the state dept info? If so, then you have all the info you need, you just need to decide if you're comfortable with it or not.<BR><BR>Jamaica gets more tourists than any other Caribbean island, I believe. So out of the thousands and thousands that go each year, you have to assume some of them will be victims of a crime. Some number of people who visit Disneyworld are victims of crimes while there. <BR><BR>Places where tourists go (in any country) attract bad people that take advantage of the fact that there are a lot of people with money that don't know much about where they are.<BR><BR>Your chances of being a victim are in part up to you. Are you planning to go off with strangers you meet on the beach or street? Will you wear expensive jewlery while walking around drunk at 4AM? Will you carry a large purse on a crowded street or will you put your money in your pocket? Will you leave your stuff unattended on a public beach? Will you lock your room door at night? Will you only use red-plate taxis or will you let anyone who wants to drive you give you a lift? Planning a walking tour of West Kingston?<BR><BR>I was a crime victim in Rome, but I am not going to tell people not to go there, just to use their heads when they do.<BR><BR>There are no guarantees in life...I think this decision must be up to you.<BR><BR Liz

Very well put, Liz.<BR>Thanks for your insight.<BR>I don't have any plans to travel anywhere near Kingston, and I consider myself and my husband to be people with lots of common sense!<BR>Have been to the Bahamas and had <BR>"solicitors" approach us, really thought it was no big deal. <BR>

Chazz, <BR><BR>I read your post and as a Jamaican, I think your post was very honest and refreshing.