Jamaican vacation ideas?

[mikesride]

Headed to Jamaica for the first time this winter, N.W. corner, Negril area. Those who have been, what are the sites you recomend? Any input is welcomed! Thanks.

[RKC]

I'm sure somebody can chime in about spots to see. All I can say is we were there last year at New Year's, and that we enjoyed the simplicity and calm of snorkeling and swimming, and walking the long beach at sunset. It was just the sort of break our busy family needed after the rush of work and school and Christmas. Other than a little windsurfing and parasailing and Hobie Cat sailing, we didn't do much active stuff. And we were at an all-inclusive and so didn't find many reasons to leave. There is supposed to be a nice bar with a bit of cliff jumping down the way, but we never even made it there.

If you are at an all-inclusive, spring for the cabana if you can, even for a few days. That way you don't have to rush down to the beach to get a spot if you're not an early riser.

[winders]

About 95% of my friends that have gone to Jamaica would never go back and wish they had gone to Hawaii instead.....

Scott

[Baz]

[Heel n Toe]

You probably already know this kind of stuff, but just in case: Jamaica Vacation Warnings | USA Today

This was in 2010: http://seattletimes.com/html/travel/2011949423_webjamaica25.html

State Dept. info: http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1147.html

[imcarthur]

I was there for a week 22 years ago. Yeah, I had fun.

Rick's Cafe is a traditional stop for drinking & cliff jumping. I still have a drink token in my desk drawer. Para-sailing is also highly recommended on that luscious beach.

Ian

[Peterfrans]

I was there 10 years ago. Never felt so unwelcome as a tourist.

[jorian]

Tree House Hotel on the beach in Long Bay is great. Rick's Cafe is voted one of the world's top 10 bars. I go every year and stay at a friend's in Montego Bay. Love it. Mobay is, IMHO, safe if you behave like a guest. Never had any issues. Doctors Cave beach resort is great for families.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Baz

I swear those are Valley Girls.

[Cajundaddy]

We stayed in Ocho Rios in a Sandals all-inclusive about 8 years ago. Had a marvelous time and it was dirt cheap. We did a lot of scuba diving and sailing with limited time outside the resort. The resort personnel were very friendly and efficient. Outside the resort there was a sense of desperate poor and the street vendors were pretty aggressive. No more aggressive than in China or Mazatlan Mex. though. If you venture out follow the same rules you might use anywhere in Asia, South America or most of Europe or large cities in the US:

* leave all your jewelry and large cash at home or locked in your hotel safe. Carry only what you need or can afford to lose.
* Stay together in a group and pay attention to your surroundings.
* Avoid the drug trade and other criminal activity.
* Keep a low profile and blend in with the locals (don't act like a bozo).
* There is a saying in China that applies to most tourists everywhere: If you carry your valuables in front, they belong to you. If you carry them in back, they belong to someone else.

We have traveled quite a bit and the cities we observed the most street crime and pick-pockets? Paris France and NYC. It does happen everywhere.

[dennis in se pa]

Did Sandals in Negril a few years ago. Negril is the place to go. MoBay is for those who don't want a long bus ride to Negril. All inclusive and good food. All the cool places you hear about are in Negril....Rick's etc. It's different down there. I'd do it again - this was my second trip to Negril. Once you go-you know. Ya Mon!

[iplagolf]

Wife and I spent our honeymoon at the Negril Beach Club in March of 1986. We had a blast. Take stuff with you you can trade for stuff at the outside markets. Doesn't have to be new stuff. Things like Levi's, tennis shoes, anything American. Times may have changed, but the locals traded us stuff for the stuff we had. Try the jerk chicken they cook on the beach, very good. If they're selling hamburgers, think again, it's prob. not! There's a soup they sell at the road side stands, that's legal, but if you don't want to lose a day or two of your vacation, don't eat it. It's a powerful hallucinogenic. Stay away from the drug dealers. We found them standing outside the customs shed throwing bags of weed to everyone who walked by. You don't need to be arrested in a foreign country. Ricks at sun set is the place to be for drinks. There is also the Negril Yacht Club that is a stone bar, that when we were there was closed and had never seen a yacht. We took a picnic there one afternoon. The Negril area is a topless area for bathing. The down side to that is there were lots of gals who should have kept their tops on. LOL!!! If you take a taxi anywhere make sure it's a licensed taxi, the non licensed ones are cheaper, but you get what you pay for Be polite, you're a guest. Have lots of fun.

[iplagolf]

Forgot a few things. The water off Negril is called Bloody Bay. So named because in the 1800's whaling was prevalent in the area. The whalers would pull the whales up on the beach to process them and their blood would stain the water red. There was a boat trip to the island off shore. At that time it was $10 or $15 dollars a head. They supplied snorkeling equipment, shore lunch and all the Red Stripe beer you could drink. Lots of fun. In the mornings women would come around with bread fruit and orange juice for breakfast. Yummy. The orange juice is served in recycled whiskey bottles. Don't let that put you off. Best oj I've ever had. A gal named Karen McCarthy ran the Negril Scuba Center. She was from the Terre Haute, IN, area as I am. She was good friends with a good friend of mine, Judge John Kite. If it and she are still there tell her Fritz Crichfield said hi. I believe that's about all.

[Hugh R]

Go somewhere else, its a very, very dangerous country. All the resorts have big walls and fences and security. You don't want to wander around outside the compounds.

[RKC]

I was in Hawaii last spring and Jamaica last winter. Hawaii is great. But it is a deep water, long period wave sort of place. Jamaica is the shallow, warm, nearly waveless Caribbean during winter. The sand is soft, the weather perfect and the people much like they are in any less weathly corner of the globe.

Much of the advice here sounds like Walter Huston in the Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Yes, Jamaica is poor. No, it would not be a good idea to flash a Rolex while drunk after midnight at a local bar while loudly proclaiming your 1st world superiority. But act with humanity and common decency, and don't do things you wouldn't do in the US and you'll be fine. It is a beautiful place, and planeloads of Americans return safely every day.

[Deschodt]

Yes, don't go. I've done most Carribean islands twice, this is one of the few I wouldn't go back to. Rude staff each time, insecurity outside the "compounds", and frankly not any prettier than countless other islands in the same area.

[mikesride]

Thanks guys for the warnings as well as the ideas...We are staying at " Beaches Couples only " Just off blood bay. It will be a bit of a struggle to get my Girl to leave the beach anyway!!!! I just want to be armed with some fun ideas that are a little more adventurous than that!! Not planning on walking about the Kingstown slums at night or anything!!!

[Roosterrusek]

Went there to Grand Lido Braco (now gone) about 10 years ago....loved every minute of it but never left the compound. We went there TO stay there, and partied on the nude side for a week getting hammered in the buff....

...It all depends on what you are going there for. The island is poor, and there were plenty of folks peddling the weed. Just tailor your trip ideas to your outlook...

[Black968]

Took our family to Ochios Rio last February. The people of Jamaica are very friendly and speak the universal language which is a change. Stayed at the Rui, was big, and the food was good. Did Dunn's River Falls which was pretty cool. The staff were very friendly and engaging. Had a great time but would not go back. No particular reason. Prefer Mexico, the beaches are better (IMHO) and the weather is always great.