Jamaica

dig this · 10-07-2009, 04:52 PM

hi..

I and I been thinking about spending a week or so in Jamaica in November... I'm not one for resorts so I'm looking something different. Looking at the lonely planet forum I see that there's plenty of people that rent cars and travel the island on their own. However I also work with a lot of Jamaicans & they advise to stay in the resort.

so I'm here...

Anyone ever travel to Jamaica & not stay in a resort? Whatabout staying at a resort and still venturing out to see some of the rest of the island?

(didn't like the rasta smilies, but this one caught my eye)

that 420 guy · 10-07-2009, 05:03 PM

unless you have friends/family in jamaica, it is advised that you remain at a resort. that island can be very dangerous for residents and tourists alike...especially if you are of the lighter skin variety.

negril, montego bay and ocho rios are beautiful destinations. do not go to kingston unless you have family or friends there. that city is nutz.

kerouacdude · 10-07-2009, 05:15 PM

going back in 2 weeks!!!
Ocho Rios this time, Negril last time
gonna do more venturing out this time, albeit not independently...gonna go to Kingston, i couldn't live with myself not seeing at least some of it through two trips...not that i'd see Sir Coxsone's shop or anything like that, but still...still working on my wife about a beach soundsystem, she's a little dubious
Ocho Rios seems to have more of a town to it from what I've read, Negril wasn't really conducive to a lot of venturing out nearby

catilyst · 10-07-2009, 06:18 PM

I've been to Negril a bunch of times and always stayed at a resort, but always travel around during the day. Merchants and other people on the street can get aggressive trying to woo your business, but you learn quickly that just being prepared to talk as equals and showing some respect puts you on a level playing field.

I should qualify this by the fact that after dissing the quality of ones guys weed he pulled a machete on me - but I basically told him I knew he wasn't going to do anything with it and he pulled back. I had gotten myself into that situation, agreeing to follow this guy down some shady alleyways to the back of an abandonded building and was acting cocky. I think your average tourist would have known better. There is, or at least was an unwritten rule that you don't fuck with tourists, since so much of the economy depends on them.

Last time I was there (three years ago) a tourist had been robbed and it was pretty big news, because it's actually fairly rare. Go online and check out their newspapers to get a sense if this is still the case.

I can't speak for the rest of the island but in and around Negril there's plenty of really funky accommodations that aren't expensive resorts.

I think the best plan would be to get a list of places to stay, and travel between them during the day. It's a very social atmosphere, once you're there you'll hear about other places to stay or see along the way.

Also definatly look into Little Bay, S E of Negril along the coast before Savannah La Mar. Really chill spot. When we were there, there were a few small scale accommodations (tree house rooms!) going up, the rumuor was it was going to be a great, relaxing, inexpensive, off the beaten track sort of place.

erika · 10-07-2009, 06:31 PM

I stayed in Negril a long long time ago; with a fisherman's family, not in a resort; they rented out a couple of rooms on stilts (beachside, not cliffside). It was lovely. Since then though, I have had a friend who was stabbed there, but that shit can happen anywhere really (like getting shot at in Spadina subway station).

Read through the Lonely Planet Guide, pay attention to what they are saying, dress down, don't pull out tons of toys, and you should be ok.

That Little Bay place sounds kinda neat... probably more like what Negril was like when I was there.

catilyst · 10-07-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erika

That Little Bay place sounds kinda neat... probably more like what Negril was like when I was there.

Unless you're about 60 it's even smaller.

derek · 10-07-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by that 420 guy

unless you have friends/family in jamaica, it is advised that you remain at a resort. that island can be very dangerous for residents and tourists alike...especially if you are of the lighter skin variety.

negril, montego bay and ocho rios are beautiful destinations. do not go to kingston unless you have family or friends there. that city is nutz.

i went with a friend whose mom lives in kingston. it was two white guys, a fillipino, and 3 jamaicans. we had one hairy situation (buying some sativa), but the dread was just testing us. pulls out a long machete and plays with it, then looks non-black dudes, and just laughed, then put it away. it took every resource i had to keep from crapping my pants. i would not have gone into kingston if i wasn't with those guys, one of them having his family there.

dean still goes to visit his mom sometimes and teases me by forwarding an invite. i might do it one more time, just no soon.

so yeah, don't go to kingston, unless you've got a knowledgeable and respected escort (and if you don't know at least one of them personally, forget it).

p.s. just read the other post with the machete scare tactic, mind you we didn't diss his weed, it turned out to be awesome. it was my friend's cousin that live there that hooked it up

erika · 10-07-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catilyst

Unless you're about 60 it's even smaller.

Even better!

NemIsis · 10-07-2009, 10:24 PM

The caribbean has changed much since I lived there. I used to walk to school and it was pretty far, and then bought a pretty blue moped (a renault

) I'd putter about on. Though, I ended up buying two (in succession) and they both got stolen, so I went back to walking.

If you aren't familiar with the area, or not street savy (and that means being really savy in the islands), I'd stay in a resort. My Jamaican friends advise this too. Martinique (my home away from home) has become particularily nasty as well and even my friends who still live there warn me that it's not the same. They take numerous precautions when travelling about the island. I have joked with them about it, as I really can't believe it and think they must be exaggerating, but the stories they've told have been pretty friggin' scary, and they've happened to ppl I know.

I will be visiting next summer and staying with family, but I know they'll have us pretty much under house detention. As the house is gorgeous, I really can't complain though. I also have friends to visit as well.

Go though and have fun. Jamaica is beautiful. However, if you do stay outside of a resort make sure the place is recommended. Rent a car if you go somewhere. The days of putting about on a moped are long gone unfortunately

dig this · 10-08-2009, 11:01 AM

Thanks for the info everyone... A resort in Ochi seems to be a good spot to take advantage of some of the rest of the island. Would definitely like to see some non-beach areas (hike the blue mountains, appleton estates, maybe bob marley's house, eat jerk chicken). Would love to hit up Kingston too but I figured it wouldn't be a great idea.

Spazz Jazz · 10-08-2009, 12:22 PM

Stayed at the Holiday in Resort in Rose Hill.

We rented a car and as long as your street smart go off the resort why even bother going to Jamaica if you stay on the resort just go to any other beach...
People are to damn paranoid.

They are horrible drivers and they drive on the other side of the street.. so be warned !

We drove up the hills to Bob Marleys grave - it was over priced ... so we ran into some locals and they offered us a "plantation tour" yeah bad idea - if you are going to leave the resort DO NOT WANDER OF WITH LOCALS we had a knife pulled on us at the end of the tour.. they really just wanted us to buy more weed from them.. but damn we were stupid to wander off with them.. i will blame that on my x-husband

Or usually the resorts offer day tours.. a little over priced but you still get to see a lot.

Go have fun! and get the fuck of the resort - you will be in another country - go and enjoy don't fear !

derek · 10-08-2009, 12:28 PM

lol...i love how everyone so far here that's been off resort has had a knife pulled on them

i agree, that you could go off resort and be fine, but if things get bad, they can get really bad fast. and kingston is no joke, you don't want to be a bad situation there.

Mrs. Pink · 10-08-2009, 12:42 PM

I was in Ochos Rios in January. Stayed at the Sunset Jamaica Grande....which was ok, nothing spectacular....but Jamaica itself is beautiful. The city itself is a bit pushy (vendors, drug dealers), but it was a good time. Red Stripe and Jerk FTW!!

that 420 guy · 10-08-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derek

lol...i love how everyone so far here that's been off resort has had a knife pulled on them

i agree, that you could go off resort and be fine, but if things get bad, they can get really bad fast. and kingston is no joke, you don't want to be a bad situation there.

i'm on the other end - i've never stayed in a resort. on my next trip there i'd like to stay in one for a week then spend the other week with family.

my uncle used to drive around with a machete in his car. he did live in franklin town, a less than favourable neighbourhood in kingston. he was telling me how the gang members in his hood started carrying around jars of acid (not the lsd kind) and would use it as a weapon by throwing it in their enemies faces, disfiguring them for life. if they were ever charged, it would not be assault with a weapon or attempted murder as it would be if they pulled a knife or machete.

yeah, jamaica is kind of fucked up...but the resorts are rad (or so i've heard).

that 420 guy · 10-08-2009, 01:02 PM

if you're not committed to jamaica as a destination, czech out barbados. its a much smaller island, still ridiculously beautiful, and much safer than jamaica. its the kind of island where the locals beep and wave at each other when they drive by instead of shoot each other. plus, the bajan gov't passed a law that gives the bajan people ownership of all of the beaches in barbados...that means no resort can prevent you from enjoying the beach, even though they make it look like the beach is private. this also makes it easy to get free booze at all inclusive resorts (read sam lords castle).

derek · 10-08-2009, 02:15 PM

^^^

you actually see quite a few people with burn marks and missing limbs. when we were there (we didn't see it) some girl got hacked by another girl and lost an arm.

the way they barricade their hoods at night to keep out rivals is bananas. it's amazing that most the hatred still stems from polictal divisions almost 30 years old.

Jeffsus · 10-08-2009, 10:52 PM

You can go to Venezuela for cheaper and find a strange adventure.

-jM
A&D

Caz · 10-09-2009, 08:58 AM

I was there at the same time as Mrs. Pink, on Ochos Rios.
Pretty easy going aside from pushy dealers/vendors. Red stripe, Jerk, and a tree the size of an infant. Good times.

Ms. Fit · 10-09-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by that 420 guy

if you're not committed to jamaica as a destination, czech out barbados. its a much smaller island, still ridiculously beautiful, and much safer than jamaica. its the kind of island where the locals beep and wave at each other when they drive by instead of shoot each other. plus, the bajan gov't passed a law that gives the bajan people ownership of all of the beaches in barbados...that means no resort can prevent you from enjoying the beach, even though they make it look like the beach is private. this also makes it easy to get free booze at all inclusive resorts (read sam lords castle).

what? don't deter him from going to jamaica!

go to jamaica, but if it's your first time stay on the resort.

i wish wish wish i could accompany every white person who wants to travel the island because it makes me happy that they want to get to know my heritage

i do know white people that traveled around but they were always in groups. my aunt re-married some white guy and he's been to jamaica a few times...it was all good

just don't be cocky, naive, etc. as was already mentioned.

dig this · 10-09-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spazz Jazz

Go have fun! and get the fuck of the resort - you will be in another country - go and enjoy don't fear !

this is exactly how I feel... If all I wanted was a resort then I'd just look for the cheapest spot in the Caribbean or US.

Jamaica's a place that I'm very interested in visiting for many reasons... I just don't want to go & be caged up on a white sand beach with turquoise blue water while someone comes and serves me Wray & Nephew Rum Pina Colada.

Ms. Fit · 10-09-2009, 09:41 AM

ok dig this, how about...you pay for my plane ticket...then you can spend the whole week with my awesome family in kingston, ocho rios and the countryside (near the blue mountains).

Reborn · 10-09-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ms. Fit

ok dig this, how about...you pay for my plane ticket...then you can spend the whole week with my awesome family in kingston, ocho rios and the countryside (near the blue mountains).

I would do this.

Reborn · 10-09-2009, 09:58 AM

Meaning, Ms. Fit, when do we leave?

juice · 10-09-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by that 420 guy

if you're not committed to jamaica as a destination, czech out barbados. its a much smaller island, still ridiculously beautiful, and much safer than jamaica. its the kind of island where the locals beep and wave at each other when they drive by instead of shoot each other. plus, the bajan gov't passed a law that gives the bajan people ownership of all of the beaches in barbados...that means no resort can prevent you from enjoying the beach, even though they make it look like the beach is private. this also makes it easy to get free booze at all inclusive resorts (read sam lords castle).

This really isn't possible to do at Sam Lords anymore but a very nice spot for sure. Barbados is amazing because each coast of the island offers you something quite different and because it is so small (and extremely safe) can all easily been seen in a weeks visit. South coast has great beaches and a bit more local, but still with many great tourist spots, West coast again great beaches and more touristy with some upper end stuff and great golf courses, the North is stunningly beautiful with great cliffs and a lot more rural and the East coast good beaches, great surfing, nice breezes coming off the Atlantic. Helps that West Jet finally flies there cheaply, for years it was rather pricey to fly down.

ila · 10-09-2009, 10:06 AM

I'd like to go to Jamaica, but I'd be really scared about going off the resort.

My uncle (a polish guy) was there a few years ago with his wife (red-headed irish woman) and they went out ATVing off their resort during the day and got rocks pelted at them by the locals. Maybe they thought my aunt was a witch.

They also saw some really cool shit, including some old haunted plantation which they wouldn't shut up about for months after. I think they found weed too.

I agree with the common sentiment in this thread - if you're just going to stay on the resort, pick the cheapest spot, Jamaica or not.

10-07-2009, 04:52 PM	#1
dig this TRIBE Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: get loose! Posts: 2,352	Jamaica hi.. I and I been thinking about spending a week or so in Jamaica in November... I'm not one for resorts so I'm looking something different. Looking at the lonely planet forum I see that there's plenty of people that rent cars and travel the island on their own. However I also work with a lot of Jamaicans & they advise to stay in the resort. so I'm here... Anyone ever travel to Jamaica & not stay in a resort? Whatabout staying at a resort and still venturing out to see some of the rest of the island? (didn't like the rasta smilies, but this one caught my eye)

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10-07-2009, 05:03 PM	#2
that 420 guy TRIBE Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: black rock city Posts: 7,234	unless you have friends/family in jamaica, it is advised that you remain at a resort. that island can be very dangerous for residents and tourists alike...especially if you are of the lighter skin variety. negril, montego bay and ocho rios are beautiful destinations. do not go to kingston unless you have family or friends there. that city is nutz.

10-07-2009, 05:15 PM	#3
kerouacdude TRIBE Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: A home I don't recognize when I eat Pizza Hut blindfolded Posts: 8,275	going back in 2 weeks!!! Ocho Rios this time, Negril last time gonna do more venturing out this time, albeit not independently...gonna go to Kingston, i couldn't live with myself not seeing at least some of it through two trips...not that i'd see Sir Coxsone's shop or anything like that, but still...still working on my wife about a beach soundsystem, she's a little dubious Ocho Rios seems to have more of a town to it from what I've read, Negril wasn't really conducive to a lot of venturing out nearby

10-07-2009, 06:18 PM	#4
catilyst TRIBE Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: You can meet some really cool chicks in rehab Posts: 3,379	I've been to Negril a bunch of times and always stayed at a resort, but always travel around during the day. Merchants and other people on the street can get aggressive trying to woo your business, but you learn quickly that just being prepared to talk as equals and showing some respect puts you on a level playing field. I should qualify this by the fact that after dissing the quality of ones guys weed he pulled a machete on me - but I basically told him I knew he wasn't going to do anything with it and he pulled back. I had gotten myself into that situation, agreeing to follow this guy down some shady alleyways to the back of an abandonded building and was acting cocky. I think your average tourist would have known better. There is, or at least was an unwritten rule that you don't fuck with tourists, since so much of the economy depends on them. Last time I was there (three years ago) a tourist had been robbed and it was pretty big news, because it's actually fairly rare. Go online and check out their newspapers to get a sense if this is still the case. I can't speak for the rest of the island but in and around Negril there's plenty of really funky accommodations that aren't expensive resorts. I think the best plan would be to get a list of places to stay, and travel between them during the day. It's a very social atmosphere, once you're there you'll hear about other places to stay or see along the way. Also definatly look into Little Bay, S E of Negril along the coast before Savannah La Mar. Really chill spot. When we were there, there were a few small scale accommodations (tree house rooms!) going up, the rumuor was it was going to be a great, relaxing, inexpensive, off the beaten track sort of place.

10-07-2009, 06:31 PM	#5
erika TRIBE Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Home, not quite ready to say good night Posts: 6,366	I stayed in Negril a long long time ago; with a fisherman's family, not in a resort; they rented out a couple of rooms on stilts (beachside, not cliffside). It was lovely. Since then though, I have had a friend who was stabbed there, but that shit can happen anywhere really (like getting shot at in Spadina subway station). Read through the Lonely Planet Guide, pay attention to what they are saying, dress down, don't pull out tons of toys, and you should be ok. That Little Bay place sounds kinda neat... probably more like what Negril was like when I was there.

10-07-2009, 10:24 PM	#9
NemIsis TRIBE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: feeling the warmth! Posts: 10,094	The caribbean has changed much since I lived there. I used to walk to school and it was pretty far, and then bought a pretty blue moped (a renault ) I'd putter about on. Though, I ended up buying two (in succession) and they both got stolen, so I went back to walking. If you aren't familiar with the area, or not street savy (and that means being really savy in the islands), I'd stay in a resort. My Jamaican friends advise this too. Martinique (my home away from home) has become particularily nasty as well and even my friends who still live there warn me that it's not the same. They take numerous precautions when travelling about the island. I have joked with them about it, as I really can't believe it and think they must be exaggerating, but the stories they've told have been pretty friggin' scary, and they've happened to ppl I know. I will be visiting next summer and staying with family, but I know they'll have us pretty much under house detention. As the house is gorgeous, I really can't complain though. I also have friends to visit as well. Go though and have fun. Jamaica is beautiful. However, if you do stay outside of a resort make sure the place is recommended. Rent a car if you go somewhere. The days of putting about on a moped are long gone unfortunately

10-08-2009, 11:01 AM	#10
dig this TRIBE Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: get loose! Posts: 2,352	Thanks for the info everyone... A resort in Ochi seems to be a good spot to take advantage of some of the rest of the island. Would definitely like to see some non-beach areas (hike the blue mountains, appleton estates, maybe bob marley's house, eat jerk chicken). Would love to hit up Kingston too but I figured it wouldn't be a great idea.

10-08-2009, 12:22 PM	#11
Spazz Jazz Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 76	Stayed at the Holiday in Resort in Rose Hill. We rented a car and as long as your street smart go off the resort why even bother going to Jamaica if you stay on the resort just go to any other beach... People are to damn paranoid. They are horrible drivers and they drive on the other side of the street.. so be warned ! We drove up the hills to Bob Marleys grave - it was over priced ... so we ran into some locals and they offered us a "plantation tour" yeah bad idea - if you are going to leave the resort DO NOT WANDER OF WITH LOCALS we had a knife pulled on us at the end of the tour.. they really just wanted us to buy more weed from them.. but damn we were stupid to wander off with them.. i will blame that on my x-husband Or usually the resorts offer day tours.. a little over priced but you still get to see a lot. Go have fun! and get the fuck of the resort - you will be in another country - go and enjoy don't fear !

10-08-2009, 12:28 PM	#12
derek TRIBE Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: yonder Posts: 9,298	lol...i love how everyone so far here that's been off resort has had a knife pulled on them i agree, that you could go off resort and be fine, but if things get bad, they can get really bad fast. and kingston is no joke, you don't want to be a bad situation there.

10-08-2009, 12:42 PM	#13
Mrs. Pink TRIBE Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: asylum for huge douchebags Posts: 4,553	I was in Ochos Rios in January. Stayed at the Sunset Jamaica Grande....which was ok, nothing spectacular....but Jamaica itself is beautiful. The city itself is a bit pushy (vendors, drug dealers), but it was a good time. Red Stripe and Jerk FTW!!

10-08-2009, 01:02 PM	#15
that 420 guy TRIBE Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: black rock city Posts: 7,234	if you're not committed to jamaica as a destination, czech out barbados. its a much smaller island, still ridiculously beautiful, and much safer than jamaica. its the kind of island where the locals beep and wave at each other when they drive by instead of shoot each other. plus, the bajan gov't passed a law that gives the bajan people ownership of all of the beaches in barbados...that means no resort can prevent you from enjoying the beach, even though they make it look like the beach is private. this also makes it easy to get free booze at all inclusive resorts (read sam lords castle).

10-08-2009, 02:15 PM	#16
derek TRIBE Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: yonder Posts: 9,298	^^^ you actually see quite a few people with burn marks and missing limbs. when we were there (we didn't see it) some girl got hacked by another girl and lost an arm. the way they barricade their hoods at night to keep out rivals is bananas. it's amazing that most the hatred still stems from polictal divisions almost 30 years old.

10-08-2009, 10:52 PM	#17
Jeffsus TRIBE Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Right here! Posts: 9,342	You can go to Venezuela for cheaper and find a strange adventure. -jM A&D

10-09-2009, 08:58 AM	#18
Caz TRIBE Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Radical Blvd. Posts: 13,863	I was there at the same time as Mrs. Pink, on Ochos Rios. Pretty easy going aside from pushy dealers/vendors. Red stripe, Jerk, and a tree the size of an infant. Good times.

10-09-2009, 09:41 AM	#21
Ms. Fit TRIBE Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Yeah baby, you lookin' alright, still! Posts: 7,614	ok dig this, how about...you pay for my plane ticket...then you can spend the whole week with my awesome family in kingston, ocho rios and the countryside (near the blue mountains).

10-09-2009, 09:58 AM	#23
Reborn TRIBE Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 432	Meaning, Ms. Fit, when do we leave?

10-09-2009, 10:06 AM	#25
ila TRIBE Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 9,666	I'd like to go to Jamaica, but I'd be really scared about going off the resort. My uncle (a polish guy) was there a few years ago with his wife (red-headed irish woman) and they went out ATVing off their resort during the day and got rocks pelted at them by the locals. Maybe they thought my aunt was a witch. They also saw some really cool shit, including some old haunted plantation which they wouldn't shut up about for months after. I think they found weed too. I agree with the common sentiment in this thread - if you're just going to stay on the resort, pick the cheapest spot, Jamaica or not.