Jamaica holiday

[T soprano]

Went to Montego Bay in 95, Beach was gated off at night so no midnight strolls along the waters edge under the moonlight for Mr Soprano
Also got trapped in a shop by an axe welding random Rasta at a shopping mall
Oh and two weeks of non stop Bob Marley plus every Jamaican telling me that's the hill that was used in cool runnings for the Go Kart race
Other than that it was ok

 

[Jules]

Jamaica is probably the most dangerous place to holiday in the Caribbean in terms of crime. There are lots of great Islands in the Caribbean, Jamaica I would deff avoid. Along with dominican Republic ( lack of decent infrastructure) these places are cheap for a reason.. Bahamas is great.

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

no, but you do feel that you're holiday's cultural experiences are being limited if that's what you want
regards
DR

I have to say that you can fly halfway round the world to these places, but put me in a nice hotel on a quietish Greek Island and allow me to come and go and do what I like when I like and spend the evening in a taverna eating greek food, drinking and watching the boats bob up and down in the harbour and I am as happy as a pig in ****.

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

Jamaica is probably the most dangerous place to holiday in the Caribbean in terms of crime. There are lots of great Islands in the Caribbean, Jamaica I would deff avoid. Along with dominican Republic ( lack of decent infrastructure) these places are cheap for a reason.. Bahamas is great.

Some people who went to Antigua, St Lucia, and Barbados over the past few years may not agree entirely with that.
But you are right that Jamaica can be dangerous.

 

[somerset]

Some people who went to Antigua, St Lucia, and Barbados over the past few years may not agree entirely with that.
But you are right that Jamaica can be dangerous.

I went to all three of those islands last year, all safe as houses as long as you don't wander around town at night......

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

I went to all three of those islands last year, all safe as houses as long as you don't wander around town at night......

I was referring to the murders and rapes on tourists that made the news from these islands over the past few years I don't know if you remember them.
They may have been safe when you was there but the carribean islands can be dangerous.

 

[Rohana]

I was referring to the murders and rapes on tourists that made the news from these islands over the past few years I don't know if you remember them.
They may have been safe when you was there but the carribean islands can be dangerous.

Everywhere in the world can be dangerous. Hell, people have been murdered in Royal Tunbridge Wells

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

I am from Tunbridge Wells I find that hard to believe the residents will be disgusted.

 

[Stat Brother]

Barbados id the friendliest place on the planet.
Granted I've not been everywhere else but I find it hard to believe there's friendlier.
Whether strolling around in the middle of the day or night, we were treated brilliantly.

 

[Scampi]

Barbados id the friendliest place on the planet.
Granted I've not been everywhere else but I find it hard to believe there's friendlier.
Whether strolling around in the middle of the day or night, we were treated brilliantly.

My wife has worked for an airline for the last year and lots of her colleagues have travelled extensively . Speaking to them they nearly all say Barbados is their favourite island. We went there in December and I just thought the people were the best. They have an attitude that tourism is what we do so we're going to be the best at looking after you we can.

The one island everyone advises you to avoid though is Jamaica. It's always for the same reason, people just dont feel safe there.

 

[Stat Brother]

My wife has worked for an airline for the last year and lots of her colleagues have travelled extensively . Speaking to them they nearly all say Barbados is their favourite island. We went there in December and I just thought the people were the best. They have an attitude that tourism is what we do so we're going to be the best at looking after you we can.

The one island everyone advises you to avoid though is Jamaica. It's always for the same reason, people just dont feel safe there.

I have so many stories of cracking hospitality in Barbados, one of my favourites is sat at a junction (in our Mini Moke) map spread out, we couldn't have looked more touristy if we tried.
A fella pulls up and asks where we are going, we tell him, 'the caves' he's says 'ok follow me'.

So we follow for a fair distance, certainly long enough to have us wondering if it was dodgy or not.
Finally he slows down, points at the car park entrance, waves goodbye, does a U-turn, and heads off back from where he'd come.

 

[Vegas Seagull]

See april thread

 

[Bob!]

Negril is THE place to go, been to Jamaice for hols 3 times now, twice to Negril, and I NEVER go back to the same place again.

Both places I went to were over 18's, Sunset at the Palms, & Grand Pineapple, so can't help you with Hotel reccomendations.

the Grand Palladian (sp?) at Lucea does look good though, if a littel isolated.

 

[Official Old Man]

So I've been to Cuba (x3), Dominican Republic (x3), Mexico (x2) and last year Jamaica. Jamaica was twice the price of all the others and not worth the extra. A lot depends on what you want from the holiday though. I can recommend Playa Pesquero in Cuba with Thomas Cook. Great for all ages.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

The one island everyone advises you to avoid though is Jamaica. It's always for the same reason, people just dont feel safe there.

Much of that is perpetuated by the owners of the AI complexes who don't really want you straying off the premises. OK, it's AI nominally, but they've got plenty of ways of skimming your money out of your pockets including overpriced excursions and the watering down of cocktails - check that one on TripAdvisor before you book. Been to Jamaica twice, once staying in a village house in Runaway Bay and once in an AI in Montego Bay for a wedding. Can honestly say the only time I felt a bit concerned for my safety was when Hedonism was doing a massed nude wedding just down the road from Runaway Bay and there were a load of outraged god-fearing machete-wielding locals massed outside the Hedo main entrance and we'd have had to walk past them to get to the local shops. But it blew over within a couple of hours. The scenery is stunning, the locals are much the same as locals anywhere really, might be a bit forthright in their speech maybe, but no more so than Yorkshiremen, As long as you use the same level of common sense as you'd use when visiting anywhere on holiday, you'll have a fantastic time!

 

[Lankyseagull]

Went to Montego Bay several years ago with a friend who was cabin crew for Virgin Atlantic. As has already been said, don't miss Dunns River Falls.

 

[fly high]

Jamaica can be dangerous if you stray into the wrong area or at the wrong time but so can many places in the world. It is one of the most beautiful island in the Caribbean.
If you do go a couple of musts apart from Dunnes River Falls. Rocklands Bird Sanctuary near Mo Bay were you can feed humming birds sugar water from a bottle, a truly wonderful experience.
River rafting on the Rio Grande near Port Antonio, the original rafting river. Spend a couple of hours in tranquillity as you glide down river on a bamboo raft. Take some beers with you (Red Stripe of course) & don’t forget one for the captain. There are other rivers but this is the best as it cuts through the Blue Mountains with steep sides covered in bamboo.
If you decide against Jamaica I would highly recommend Barbados, for a small Island it has lots to do apart from sunning on the beach. If you are a member of the National Trust take your cards as there are a number of places you can use it to get in for free.
Don’t forget hurricane season in late summer, check it out before you decide on dates. The hotels are cheaper then & mostly you’ll be OK but accept it could happen so don’t whinge & moan, like most Brits, if it does. That goes for the whole of the Caribbean.

 

[hitony]

We are off to Jamaica this August, my son is getting married out there, must be honest I'm really looking forward to it, we have read many many mixed reviews about the place, but we will make our own mind up when we are there I guess, we are there for 18 days so I hope it lives up to all the better reviews!!

 

[ROSM]

Went to Jamaica last year and stayed at runaway Bay. It was fantasti. We went out, went to nine mile (bob marley's birth village and house and burial place,) dunns river falls and ocho rios.

It was safe and great. We are a couple with 3 children between 8 and 2.

We loved it so much, we are going back this year again.

All I've read here bears no relation to the Jamaica I saw

 

[Bob!]

Much of that is perpetuated by the owners of the AI complexes who don't really want you straying off the premises. OK, it's AI nominally, but they've got plenty of ways of skimming your money out of your pockets including overpriced excursions and the watering down of cocktails - check that one on TripAdvisor before you book. Been to Jamaica twice, once staying in a village house in Runaway Bay and once in an AI in Montego Bay for a wedding. Can honestly say the only time I felt a bit concerned for my safety was when Hedonism was doing a massed nude wedding just down the road from Runaway Bay and there were a load of outraged god-fearing machete-wielding locals massed outside the Hedo main entrance and we'd have had to walk past them to get to the local shops. But it blew over within a couple of hours. The scenery is stunning, the locals are much the same as locals anywhere really, might be a bit forthright in their speech maybe, but no more so than Yorkshiremen, As long as you use the same level of common sense as you'd use when visiting anywhere on holiday, you'll have a fantastic time!

Did you stay at Royal Decameron?
We took a Cricket bat with us, whenver we took it out, all the Staff would join us for a game.
Would totally support your statement re the safety, I went running in every direction from the Hotel, even up into the Hills. You get a good morning from everyone!