Thread: So who has the dirt?

I've been to Jamaica a long time ago when I was a youngin, so my memory doesn't serve me well.

What are your takes on the vacation spot?

I went there on a cruise several years back. I didn't mind it, but the people (except for a cop we talked to, and the people who worked in shops) weren't too friendly. When we got off the boat we didn't know where to go. So we asked a native where to go and he told us to follow a small back road. Well as it turns out he wanted us to go that way because his family owned a little stand set up there. To make matters worse, the place we wanted to go was right up the block from where we asked the man where to go. Little did we know... Well, we made it out alive.

Heh, sounds like you got swindeled by a native. I bet this happens all to much. Is this why you think the majority is unfriendly, or just that one encounter?

Well, we went on our honeymoon to Montego Bay 19 years ago...and it was totally awesome!!! It's what started us!!! HOWEVER, I gotta say it being our first trip like that we had culture shock and didn't come out of our hotel room for 3 days (AND NO IT'S NOT WHAT YOU ARE THINKING!!!!!) We were not prepared for the poverty of the island...we met some wonderful local people and had a very good time and have been hooked ever since...

Can't wait to go back...let's see, what's the motto for Jamaica-- ONE LOVE...COME TO JAMAICA AND FEEL ALL RIGHT!!!

We went last October on Princess. It is a very poor island, so taxi's and merchants beg for the money. Some call it hounding, cause it is continuous, but they are trying to earn a living. We walked, and just kept saying "No thank you". When we walked back to the ship, we crossed the street and came back that way. Less begging. We enjoyed everything in town. Vast difference between Jamaica and Cozumel, or Grand Cayman.

I will admit that we have not been then in at least 10 years. The last time we were there we did not get off the ship. During previous visits we found the cities to be not very hospitible to visitors. We never felt paticulary safe there. I understand that on the resorts it is different. It is not on our list of places we would paticularly want to go back to,

I was convinced that you could go to Walmart and stock up and lotions, soap, shampoo, t-shirts, flip-flops and bargain your way through a vacation--which, believe it or not, one day I want to give it a try. I am actually GLAD I have been to Jamaica, because it made me realize how good we have it!!!! Like I already said, I would go back in a heartbeat!!!

We've been to Jamica twice.. Kingston leaves a lot to be desired, but we liked Ocho Rios.. We walked to Dunns Falls, spent several hours and had a great time there.. Picked up 3 1.5 ltr. bottles of banana rum for my daughter for $23. Thought that was a super deal.. I remember where I got them in case we go back again...

Our trip there was not by ship...We stayed in Montego Bay but traveled to Negril and then in the other direction to Ocho Rios...which brings me to another issue....it was not safe traveling by vehicle on the island!!!

Was there less than 2 years ago...........if we go next time that has this on the itinerary.....we will stay on the ship.............and the only excursion we would consider taking is a cruiseline sponsored excursion.......