I was in Negril, Jamaica over the summer

[CallOfTheCrow]

While the scenery was very nice, I did not enjoy myself at all. My family & I couldn't go anywhere without some locals hasseling us to either buy them food, a beer, or buy some pot off of them.


No doesn't mean no to these people. I was offered pot amongst other drugs at least 7 times a day & they would follow me all over the beach. Hell, some guy even swam out to me & my 9 year old cousin while we were in the ocean to offer me drugs. People everywhere (not just drug dealers) but shifty bartenders & hotel workers try to screw us out of our change every chance they got. Terrible, absolutely terrible.


I do not recommend anyone ever visit Negril.

[AustinTXHorn]

I've probably been to Jamaica 5 or 6 times and I agree with you. It's a beautiful place and all, but there are much better places to go in the Caribbean.

I think the most shocking thing I ever saw there was watching on-duty police officers drinking beer at a roadside bar -- with AK-47's strapped around their shoulders.

Personally, the Caymans are my favorite place in the Caribbean.

[yankeesfaninaz]

ouch, im sorry to hear about your bad experience. im glad you stuck to your gut instincts and did not give in on the drugs.

[CallOfTheCrow]

We arrive at Montego Bay & the first thing someone says to me at baggage claim is this worker "you're not leaving here with that ball, give it to me."


I was carrying my soccer ball & was stunned at such a demand.

[Barb51850]

While the scenery was very nice, I did not enjoy myself at all. My family & I couldn't go anywhere without some locals hasseling us to either buy them food, a beer, or buy some pot off of them.


No doesn't mean no to these people. I was offered pot amongst other drugs at least 7 times a day & they would follow me all over the beach. Hell, some guy even swam out to me & my 9 year old cousin while we were in the ocean to offer me drugs. People everywhere (not just drug dealers) but shifty bartenders & hotel workers try to screw us out of our change every chance they got. Terrible, absolutely terrible.


I do not recommend anyone ever visit Negril.

I've heard the same comments from others I know who have been there. One friend told me "They expect a tip for everything they do. I can't even count the number of times I heard 'I took care of YOU, now you take care of ME!'" I will never go there.

[Eldee5]

I can't even count the number of times I heard 'I took care of YOU, now you take care of ME!'"

This is ABSOLUTELY the truth. I hated Jamaica (and I've really enjoyed many other places in the Caribbean). It was the ONLY vacation I've ever taken where I was ready to leave two days after I got there.

[NJ Fan]

Agree on all points. If I go on a cruise now that stops in Jamaica, I will not get off the ship there! I have been to Negril, Montego Bay & Ocho Rios and I can't decide which is worse for harassment!!!!! I have been with people who have had their belongings stolen by VERY young children trained to distract tourists while their siblings do the stealing. I have been told to "drop dead" because I wouldn't purchase a wicker basket I had been looking at. After giving a nice tip to a guide at the Ocho Rios falls, he INSISTED we didn't give him anything and he & his friends followed us back to our bus cursing the whole way.

DO NOT GO THERE unless you're at a self-contained, all-inclusive resort.

[CallOfTheCrow]

I played a pickup game of soccer with some locals down there. Everyone was celebrating the goals they scored. I scored the winner for the team I played on so I celebrated a little bit. A kid drew his blade & came after me. One of his friends held him back from cutting me.


Effin' ridiculous.

[Boogiedown Bomber]

I had the "balls," so to say, to venture into Kingston while in Jamaica to visit the Bob Marley Museum. The museum was excellent, but everything else about Kingston wasn't. Sadly, it is your typical third-world nation, and people will do anything and everything to get some $$. When they have young children stealing and peddling drugs, like I saw in Kingston, then it is serious.

[JDPNYY]

Agree on all points. If I go on a cruise now that stops in Jamaica, I will not get off the ship there! I have been to Negril, Montego Bay & Ocho Rios and I can't decide which is worse for harassment!!!!! I have been with people who have had their belongings stolen by VERY young children trained to distract tourists while their siblings do the stealing. I have been told to "drop dead" because I wouldn't purchase a wicker basket I had been looking at. After giving a nice tip to a guide at the Ocho Rios falls, he INSISTED we didn't give him anything and he & his friends followed us back to our bus cursing the whole way.

DO NOT GO THERE unless you're at a self-contained, all-inclusive resort.

I'm confused by the sentence bolded. Was it the guide who followed you?

[4bronxbombers]

That's too bad. Sounds like it was a negative experience. Sorry to hear that.

[wexy]

It seems that everyone is in agreement but seems advice that should be heeded despite the Jamaica Tourism Board ads.

[Trish]

I'm curious what promted you to post this now if you went in the summer

[yankeebot]

I spent 2 weeks in Jamaica 20+ years ago. It was lovely as were the people. It saddens me to hear that it has changes so much. I always said I would go back. Now, not so sure.

[JDPNYY]

I went to St. Croix 23 years ago last summer. It was nice. I meant to post this in July.

[CallOfTheCrow]

I'm curious what promted you to post this now if you went in the summer

Because I didn't have the sufficient posts and/or time served as a member to make a thread in the summer.

[Trish]

Because I didn't have the sufficient posts and/or time served as a member to make a thread in the summer.

Ah, now I get it

[CallOfTheCrow]

I was in Negril for about a week in August, just accumulated the necessary posts/time served as a member in late September I believe.

[Trish]

I spent 2 weeks in Jamaica 20+ years ago. It was lovely as were the people. It saddens me to hear that it has changes so much. I always said I would go back. Now, not so sure.

I went there in 1989 on my first honeymoon. I've had a couple

My father told me that I was going to get hacked by a Jamaican with a machete (I think there was something in the news at the time). Even back then we were told to stay at the all inclusive resort, and not to leave and go on our own, and only to use the tours that the resort set up if we insisted on leaving. I'm not sure why we chose to go there now that I think back on how dangerous we were told it was. I guess the price was right.

[CallOfTheCrow]

My uncle told us to just say no to anyone stopping us on the beach. Yeah that can work for you if you're 40+ but when you're 21 (at the time) like I was, these dealers will still hassle you in hopes of being able to take advantage of us seeing me & my other cousins are young.

"Aw mon, you're in jamaica....everyone smoke" is all I heard.

[THEBOSS84]

I actually went there Thanksgiving of 05 with around 15-20 of my closest guy friends. We stayed at this place called the "Negril Treehouse". It was very secluded and we all had a very relaxed time. The main idea is, you can't leave the resort unless you want to be bothered. Overall we had a great time, but I guess since we were all 20-21 at the time, we can do things older people might not want to partake in.

[CallOfTheCrow]

That's what sucks though, to not be able to leave the resort because the amount of people bothering you is overwhelming. People shouldn't have to go on a vacation & concern themselves with X amount of low life dealers or other folks annoying the living Hell out of you.

[yankeegeek]

My wife and I went to Jamacia in May for our honemoon and couldn't have been happier! We stayed at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios and were treated great. We had a secluded room with our own private pool and a butler too. We went on two tours while there and got nothing but good treatment. We took a cab one afternoon to do some shoping at a place called "Taj Mahal". This was not arranged by the resort, we were treated so well. We bought some jewlery at a store, after we were done we were waiting for the jewlery to be cleaned and were given some rum punch and beer. I was impressed.

As long as we were nice and repsectful of the people they couldn't have been kinder. I loved it and can't wait to go back.

[NJ Fan]

I'm confused by the sentence bolded. Was it the guide who followed you?

Yes...the guide and his friends (other guides).

[NelsonMuntz]

While the scenery was very nice, I did not enjoy myself at all. My family & I couldn't go anywhere without some locals hasseling us to either buy them food, a beer, or buy some pot off of them.


No doesn't mean no to these people. I was offered pot amongst other drugs at least 7 times a day & they would follow me all over the beach. Hell, some guy even swam out to me & my 9 year old cousin while we were in the ocean to offer me drugs. People everywhere (not just drug dealers) but shifty bartenders & hotel workers try to screw us out of our change every chance they got. Terrible, absolutely terrible.


I do not recommend anyone ever visit Negril.

I went to Jamaica on my honeymoon and had the exact same experience. I'll never go back.

[Buckeye Yank]

I've been there several times for business and never really had any trouble.

[Nome]

I just got back from SF and was amazed at the number of homeless there and the amount of begging and hassling we got from them. It was even worse than in Florida. About three years ago my wife and I were on a Tahitian cruise. It was great, but we spent two days in Papette. The people there were arrogant, slow to give any service and expected generous tips. When you gave less they they expected, you heard about it.

Things like this are world wide today. Travel is much less enjoyable than it used to be. I'll never stop travelling but what you get ain't what it used to be.

Andy