7DaysinParadise
Travel => Jamaica => Topic started by: Bulldog on April 30, 2005, 12:00:00 AM
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I have never been to Jamaica...but thought about going..can anyone tell me how this Country is..as far as a place to visit..or Holiday in..?
THANKS>>
Bulldog.. <img border="0" alt="[smile]" title="" src="graemlins/spinsmile.gif" />
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Been to Jamaica twice, my honeymoon, and then again a year later.
Jamaica is a wonderful Island, but it Ain't Cuba!
The people on the resorts, are just as friendly as you could ask for, the scenery is nice, and there is lots to do. Some of the tours, are amazing.
But... You Cannot, Should Not, Dare not, go out on your own!! In Jamaica, you are in a fenced compound, and are warned in the orientation, not to go touring on your own.
We went to the shopping plaza, across the road, from the Sunspree, and though he tried not to be "obvious" (at 6' 6" and 300 lbs, how could he not) the security guy followed us the whole time.. Always just a block away, as we came out of a shop.
In a Cuban market, if you say "NO' , they will say thank-you and walk away, in Jamaica they will pull you by the arm!
I'm not trying to say that it's all bad, because we had two great vacations there (we went back, didn't we?) but this is something to keep in mind, if you are a first timer in Jamaica.
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Thank you Gambitt for your reply..and I think after what you wrote I will always wonder what it's like..and not Visit..like the feeling of being safe.. <img border="0" alt="[flag]" title="" src="graemlins/jamaicaflag.gif" /> No thanks....
<img border="0" alt="[rotfl]" title="" src="graemlins/rotfl.gif" /> Bulldog <img border="0" alt="[rotfl]" title="" src="graemlins/rotfl.gif" />
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bulldog,
I love Jamaica and the Jamaican people. I go off the resort, it's very safe if you just use common sense. I live in Toronto and there are areas of Toronto that I won't walk through alone at night, Jamaica is the same.
I agree that the vendors and locals are a little more agressive, but usually a polite No thank you suffices and they move on to the next person.
Jamaicans are a very proud people, but unfortunately they have a lot of poverty.
It's either feast or famine in that country. Mansions sit side by side with wooden shacks on the hill side.
Look at these wonderful faces, and tell me that you could resist. I took my daughter to a local school in brownstown and we visited with the children and made a donation to help them build a bathroom for their school. They didn't have one.
(http://www.7daysinparadise.com/albums/album04/tobolski20.sized.jpg)
Heather
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Heather..you sheed new light..I will think about what you wrote..as I'm sure Gambitt didn't mena to scare me off..LOL
Bulldog.. ;)
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Bulldog,
I'm sure Gambitt didn't mean to scare you off. :)
Most travel agents will tell you the same as Gambitt did, I was lucky to have a travel agent that had actually lived in Jamaica with the locals for a year and she was able to show me the real Jamaica outside the walls.
Also on one of my trips to Royal Decameron I was lucky enough to meet the woman who actually built the resort back in the sixties. She told me so much about the country and the people, and shared her experiences with me. One interesting fact she told me was that Butch Stewart (owner of Sandals) used to work for her before he started his own resort chain. :)
Jamaica isn't for everyone, but it does have some beautiful beaches and resorts, and if you use common sense you can safely leave the resort and discover the true Jamaica.
Heather
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Lots of ppl move to Jamaica to indulge in the IRIE life. Sienna and Solomon, the couple that run the tour company in the Negril area, are from the US, and there are many more ppl like them. There is crime as Heather points out in every country, and most of our own backyards. In Jamaica, we always venture off our property to shop and do not have an escort, perse, just a cab driver who drops us off and arranges to meet us later. Sure we get bombarded to buy things, but we get bothered for handouts on the streets of Toronto. At least in Jamaica they're offering something in exchange! I guess I have one advantage..my own personal security guard (hubby is 6'3) and when he says No Thanks, that's the end of it! LOL
Heather, I absolutely LOVE that picture...you could sell that and donate the proceeds back to the school...I'll take one!! :)
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LoL, as I said, we went back!
I didn't mean to "scare you off" but I just felt that you should know about the "downside".
Having gone to Jamaica twice (our first,and second vacation, in the Caribb.), before being in Cuba, I guess we got the "newbie jitters" and took the Rep's words too serious.
:confused:
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I will take all info in...thanks everyone.. :bump:
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I loved it but we did not venture off resort unless on an excursion!
We had a great time and would go again, but find it rather expensive from Alberta!
Debbie
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Debbie, how long ago did you go..?
Bulldog... :s:
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Hey Bulldog,
here's some pictures from our trips to Jamiaca:
http://www.7daysinparadise.com/gallery/Jamaica (http://www.7daysinparadise.com/gallery/Jamaica)
<img border="0" alt="[cool]" title="" src="graemlins/cool008.gif" />
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Those ae some GREAT pic's ther John and Heather..looks great !!!
:s: Bulldog :s:
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I LOVE Jamaica! I've been there 5 times and would go back in a heartbeat! Now, I have spent my last three vacations in Cuba, and it is a very hard decision to make between which place to go each year.
Yes, the Jamaicans in the craft markets are far more agressive than Cuba, and yes, a polite & sometimes firm No does the trick. My boyfriend & I rented a cab and ventured off the resort on our own, but it's just like anywhere... use common sense & be aware.
It's a fabulous place to vacation!!
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O.K. went to Jamica (runaway bay) for my honeymoon several years ago. It was the worst trip we have ever had. Sorry but if you gave me a trip for free I would not go back. That is not to say many others have not had a great time, but my experiece there was crap. The people we met from the airport on made our trip a nightmare. We travel a lot, and have never been anywhere we felt was such a let down. But no big deal, I'll be old and grey before I run out of other island to visit. No offence to those who had a great time, and go back year after year. Just did not work for me.
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OK, so what are you really trying to say?? :D
Actually, I'm one of the people that would go back in a heartbeat, but we've had 3 really good trips there - Holiday Inn Sunspree, & Riu Tropical Bay twice. :b:
I do understand how you feel though - I'm that way about the Dominican Republic.
rr97
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What do you not like about the DR..?
:)
Bulldog
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Three more days and I'll be there. I'll let you know how I find it when I return.
Its been the one place that in 15 years of travelling to the carribbean we have avoided. However, just recently I have heard alot of good things about the people and the island so thought I would give it a try. Going to a Riu hotel (tried and tested as we have been to them in DR and Mexico) so if the worst comes to the worst we can stay on resort for 14 days!!! I'm sure this won't happen but I will report back. Actually I'm more concerned about the weather at the moment as thunderstorms and rain are forecast for the next five days.
Mind you who knows what the weather is going to do. Woke to brilliant sunshine today, took the roof down on the sports car and got caught in a hailstone downpour. NICE weather for May in the UK!!!!!!
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There were a few things that put us off. We went to a new (at the time) resort in Punta Cana. I was a little surprised at the broken glass and barbed wire on the 10' high cement wall around the resort. And by the guy sitting in the nearby mall with the sawed off shotgun in his lap. Oh well, we're not in Canada right.
The thing that left the biggest impression on us would be when our 7 year old son disappeared within 15 minutes of arrival. Our rooms weren't ready, so we were directed to the buffet for lunch. There was 10 of us in our group - 6 adults and 4 kids(7,8,9, & 10). Our son, the youngest, slipped away without anyone seeing him to go check out the pool. In the 15 frantic minutes we spent looking, we found one person who spoke english. I realise that we were in a foreign country and should know some of the language, but how many would be prepared for something like this?
The resort had only been open a few months so maybe this had some bearing on this situation and a couple of other things not worth mentioning.
Either way, our spanish has improved and we've found other islands to go to - and lift goes on..
Jjay, I'm really jealous of you going to Jamaica, it's very scenic and and most of the people are great. I'm sure you will have a good time :cool:
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Based on what you wrote about your reasons..I think you should give the DR another chance one day...IMO ;)
:s: Bulldog :s:
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Maybe some day - but we enjoy Cuba and Jamaica too much right now :)
Hope you have a great trip.
It's always nice to get away somewhere, especially now since the blackflies have just made an appearance in neck of the woods. :xixyi:
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That's really unfortunate about Test's situation in Jamaica...I have nothing but amazing memories and great laughs when I think of our time in the Irie land (we could be biased b'cuz we were married there). I find it to be such an indescribable place...
Here comes that stupid smile...
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sunlver, on Sat. ask my husband about our honeymoon in jamica, I love the way his face turns red and his voice goes up, it really is a site, he he he. I think I have made peace with it and moved on and had so many great vacation since then, but he is still raising his blood pressure on that one. lol.