In reading the posts under Rethinking my Jamaican vacation.............. I kept hearing about the Jamaican Vibe...... I have not yet been but we are planning on celebrating our 25th there in early 2006, Jamaica has always been on my "must go to" list not because it has the repuation of being the most beautiful in the Caribbean islands, because it doesn't but because of the people, the music, the laid back attitude of the Jamaican people, the jerk, and of course the rum!!!!!

Travel needs to be about more than just a beach, but the experience, and the memories that come from those experiences, the culture, the people. If all you want is a beach go to the nearest one and be done with it.

With our kids now grown, we are just beginning to travel, we have been to Costa Rica, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Maui. Jamaica is next............

I'd like to hear more of your opinions on the Jamaican Vibe so to speak, which is what I am looking so forward to. What specifically made you feel Jamaica had that?

The people were so warm and friendly. Everyone really wanted you to enjoy yourself and their island. My family loved it. We didn't venture from our resort and regretted it a bit, but then again we didn't have any bad experiences as some people have reported.

Interesting question, and hard to put a finger on. I can only say what's brought us back.

First trip to JA was to a Sandals, We didn't leave the resort (kind of nervous about it plus we'd spent all our vacation budget on an AI plan so didn't have $ to go out and pay to eat/drink...we were in our early 20's). I had a nice week but it was, as you say, just another nice beach. We continued exploring other islands.

Later I became engaged to a man whose family had gone to JA most every summer and owned a villa there. We were given 10 days in that villa for our honeymoon as a gift. This was a WHOLE different experience of Jamaica for me...friendly people that had known my husband since he was small certainly helped, but we made a lot of new friends that trip too.

We had a driver/guide at our villa that took us out every day...we explored caves, waterfalls, little localsy jerk spots, beaches with only Jamaican families.

The Jamaicans we met "off the beaten track" were both pleased and surprised to see us out of resort land, most all wanted to talk with us about politics, current events, or ask us why tourists like to stay in resorts and never come out We'd talk about people selling stuff and how that was intimidating, and how if everyone could make just one or two good Jamaican friends the island opens right up. I still feel hooking up with a good driver/guide or making some real friends there makes all the difference in a J'can vacation.

Maybe it is even a little bit that so many people are afraid to go there and we had such a great time....a little overcoming a challenge on our part maybe? I've always looked at travel as a way of learning more about myself, of overcoming obstacles and retutning a different person....JA offers some opportunities for looking at myself and my attitudes that makes me feel different - better - when I get home. There's an element of adventure to it that appeals to me.

After that trip, Jamaica became a once a year or more thing for us, we've brought our children several times. We never did an AI resort again, and have visited different areas and done different things each time.

Part of the appeal, beyond friendly people, is the diversity and size of the island...very high mountains, limestone cockpits, beaches with big waves or clear and calm water, teeming with tourists and watersports or deserted for miles, caves, waterfalls, gardens, tiny towns with houses perched impossibly on the edge of a mountainside or large cities with cultural institutions that rival any other in the Carib.

But it's also the reggae (yes other islands play it but it was BORN in JA), jerk (ditto) and other J'can cuisine like escoveitch and rundown and coco bread and patties....the proud history, the complex present day politics. It's walking down a street and hearing dancehall booming from impossibly loud speakers in a car or street party...having doctor birds feed from your hand...putting on a snorkel and jumping into a river with manatees, having schools of dolphins come play around your little boat at sea.

I think you have to go and feel it yourself

Well, gee...

I'm not going to even bother to write anything but, "what liza said"!

What Liza and Diana said!!!

Well .... What Liza said "and" that it is not just a cliche , Jamaica is a feeling , actually much the same as we feel about Costa Rica with their " Pura Vida " .... it has an incredible , vibrant , culture and feeling . We left the island feeling that we had not just had a vacation , but someting more than that , we made friends , and simply learned an awful lot about a place that quite often gets bashed .... Faith

I concur with all the above! Open your arms and your mind and exerience Jamaica as it is intended. It is unlike any other Caribbean island!

The spirit of Jamaica can't be explained- you just feel it. There is a warmth that radiates from the people you meet like they are genuinely glad you're visiting their country. I noticed it immediately after we got to Negril, a gradual relaxing feeling seems to invade your mind & body. Now I see why it was so easy for people to be seduced by the tropics & never want to rejoin the rat race of their lives back home.
We met people that loved their land & heritage & enjoyed discussing philosophy of our cultures. It was the best vacation we've had in a long time.

Funny you should mention the part about philosophical discussions ... While in Portie , one evening there was a get together which involved Jamaicans , my husband had a wonderful , lenghty , and very rewarding conversation with a man about the situation here in Quebec , with regards to French / English , and the possibilities of separation from Canada .... ( I am English Canadian and my husband French Canadian )This was not a diplomat , nor politician , just a regular joe .... We were humbled a bit , changed our perspective on a lot of things . At first we were amazed " How does he know this ?? " Then we ate a bit of humble pie as we realized while there were a lot of differences in our lives , it was not as much as we thought .

My wife and I recently returned from a 2 week tour of Jamaica with another couple. You can locate my Trip Report by searching on DaveJJ. After an absence of 20 years I found that Jamaica had changed alot....especially the fact that the 'higglers' are gone from Negril beach. Jamaicans are truly amazing, thoughtful and genuine people. We met many wonderful people during our tour, from the caretakers, to the housekeepers, to the Rasta on the side of the road, to those working in the service industry (car rental, restaurants, villas, hotels). Yes, the music really does help set the 'Jamaican vibe'. Tapping your feet to Bob while swinging in a hammock during sunset at Negril could be improved upon in any way....well..a cold Red Stripe maybe. Go...enjoy yourself...and get out into the country side.

After our trip to Negril I got a cd called "Is It Rollin, Bob?" & had a great time listening to it. It is a reggae tribute to Bob Dylan. There is a place online where you can hear clips from it.
Guess I need to get the suitcase out & start planning the next trip. All this talk has made me long for the lobster dinner & sunset at 3 Dives. Has anyone visited www.negril.com to their link to live webcasts from Negril? It'll really make you want to start packing.

I made my first visit to Negril in 1978. I have returned ever since when I have a need to rechare my batteries, recover from stressful life experiences, etc. It is a very special place for me and always restores my spirit for all of the reasons mentioned above by the OPs.

I am now going through another major life change which is very difficult for me. I will be heading to Negril in a few weeks to get my groove back and I know I will again find Jamaica to be a tonic for whatever life throws at me.

On our 1st trip (1999) my wife & I made friends with one of the waitresses at the resort we stayed at. They stayed in touch, both by mail & e-mail. On our last visit she gave my wife a hand carved (maho) flower vase she admired, but, did not purchase. It is one of our dearest possessions. I got to visit her home, meet her children, her mom, sisters, their kids, & I was overwhelmed with the genuine "vibe" I felt. Her boyfriend took us on a "road trip." for about 6 hours. When I asked him what I owed him, he told me "whatever you can afford." Go to Jamaica & feel the vibe.

Jamaica is ALIVE ' mon! I LOVE Jamaica ! It is "real" place - wonderful people, beautiful scenery, mountains, - everything Liza wrote is true. Jamiaca has it all - good and bad. Leave your life on the plane and get into Jamaica !

jamiaca is very nice but stay away from superclubs . my husband and i planned our first trip to jamaica and got a great deal 1120.00 more for a room after 5 hours of no help.it was the worst trip ever. sandals looked great , sunset bistro, all kinds of stuff to do, they were nicer to us than our own hotel was. and our first try with funjet too would not recommend either . misleading quality of resorts and rooms sizes, couples swept away resort was raved about on the trip home. hope this helps

I couldn't add any more, or say it better, than what others have said. My husband and I had our first trip to Jamaica in January to the Treasure Beach area and it was full of superlatives. We long to go back soon and explore more of the island!