Jamaica - anyone been??

[DouglasDave]

Really want to get off the beaten track and go somewhere different, so would appreciate any info if anyone has been there.
Have heard a lot of bad publicity about the place..crime, hustlers etc. Is it really this bad??

[STEVIEG]

Really want to get off the beaten track and go somewhere different, so would appreciate any info if anyone has been there.
Have heard a lot of bad publicity about the place..crime, hustlers etc. Is it really this bad??


I was only there for a day down in the South of the island in Ocha Rios
Even there it was pretty apparent that the island is very poor but as regards to Kingston and stuff yeah, it's advised (from what I hear anyway) to be travelling with people who have local knowledge-i'd love to check out Kingston and the rest of the Island properly some day though
The hustling is a complete head-wreck (even where i was which is touristy i suppose so fair enough), worse than anywhere i've ever been, you couldn't walk five yards without getting your brain fried
Still as i say, I'd defo love to go there properly some day

[pseudonominous]

I was only there for a day down in the South of the island in Ocha Rios
Even there it was pretty apparent that the island is very poor but as regards to Kingston and stuff yeah, it's advised (from what I hear anyway) to be travelling with people who have local knowledge-i'd love to check out Kingston and the rest of the Island properly some day though
The hustling is a complete head-wreck (even where i was which is touristy i suppose so fair enough), worse than anywhere i've ever been, you couldn't walk five yards without getting your brain fried
Still as i say, I'd defo love to go there properly some day

fo shizzle.

[AmadeusDC]

Really want to get off the beaten track and go somewhere different, so would appreciate any info if anyone has been there.
Have heard a lot of bad publicity about the place..crime, hustlers etc. Is it really this bad??

By Irish tourist standards, is Jamaica really off the beaten track? All I ever here about is people off in Eastern Europe, South East Asia and South America. Surely Jamaica is a fairly common destination. btw: I know a lot of Americans who have gone there and had a great time.

-AmadeusDC-

[STEVIEG]

By Irish tourist standards, is Jamaica really off the beaten track?

Well some of the similarities between Cork and Jamaican people are uncanny!:)

In general terms both are
Laidback
Friendly
Gift of the gab
Love of Stout
Similar accent with a big use of the word "Boy":)

[DiamondGeezer]

Best get some of that fake tan on first.

The newby white tourist (like a beacon) is in for a helluvatime with the hustlers, once you're a bit brown they'll move on to the next batch

Was offered everything from sackfulls of weed to the hustler's 'sister' just about every 50 yards along Negril beach (which is about 7 miles long)

Great craic though, and great weed, didn't try the sisters so can't say.

Had 5 weeks there, came back black as yer hat.

My girlfriend (at the time) was robbed at knifepoint the year before and her friend was raped there a year later, and that's just Negril which is relatively safe.

If you go there 'as a pussy' you'll almost certainly get fleeced, or worse. carry a bit of attitude and you'll probably be fine.

If you fancy a nice bit-o-sun, friendly people and good food etc.... go to Thailand

[PigCapitalist]

If you head off to the country or up the east coast - you will see no tourists and probably no crime or hustle. Of course there are few beaches, or hotels, but if you can look after yourself you will have a great time. Most Jamaicans are great, easy to get to know, and sound out. The others are as bad as you can imagine. Be careful for sure.