viter
Adventurer
not a 4x4 or even driving trip, but still a trip so in case somebody is interested some pics and captions here - http://www.rideclubsd.com/forum/index.php?topic=729.0
Jamaica - Ya Mon! (non-driving trip)
- Thread starter viter
- Start date
mountainpete
Spamicus Eliminatus
Couple of things:
I like the snorkels on all the tour vans.
Neat to see a Scotiabank there (a Canadian bank!)
I actually saw the Jamaican bobsled team run in Calgary during the 1988 Olympics. Boy were they terrible compared to the rest! But they sure were the most fun!
Pete
I like the snorkels on all the tour vans.
Neat to see a Scotiabank there (a Canadian bank!)
I actually saw the Jamaican bobsled team run in Calgary during the 1988 Olympics. Boy were they terrible compared to the rest! But they sure were the most fun!
Pete
viter
Adventurer
it is actually pretty cheap too - we got airtickets from San Diego and hotel in Negril for 8 nights for 2 people for ~$1400 total.
not to discourage you to go, but just to let you know in advance some things you might not like - walking outside on the streets (unless you look like a local, which is pretty damn hard to pull of if you are white
) is always accompanied by locals asking you to buy something (be it a souvenir or ganja) every couple minutes, at least in Negril (small town where we were staying). I prefer to walk around minding my own business and people not bothering me either, but I got used to this after a while too - just be friendly, respectfull, but firm when you say "no thanks" unless you really do want to go and look at what people are offering.
there are two prices in Jamaica - one for locals and another for tourists, which is usually couple times the locals' price and is about what you'll pay in US for similar product, so don't necessarily assume like I did that things (especially food in restaurants) will be cheap like in Mexico.
Jamaica is really poor and the more poor people are the more likely they are to commit crime obviously (I know first hand cause I grew up in a third world country). So watch your back, but at the sime time there is no reason to be paranoid because in my experience Jamaicans are mostly rather friendly people who do not want to make tourists angry (considering tourists are daily bread for a lot of jamaicans).
I still think that you shoudl go, you'll have lots of fun and will experience a country quite different from other places you've been to before.
as discovery channel puts it - "dare to explore"!
not to discourage you to go, but just to let you know in advance some things you might not like - walking outside on the streets (unless you look like a local, which is pretty damn hard to pull of if you are white
) is always accompanied by locals asking you to buy something (be it a souvenir or ganja) every couple minutes, at least in Negril (small town where we were staying). I prefer to walk around minding my own business and people not bothering me either, but I got used to this after a while too - just be friendly, respectfull, but firm when you say "no thanks" unless you really do want to go and look at what people are offering.there are two prices in Jamaica - one for locals and another for tourists, which is usually couple times the locals' price and is about what you'll pay in US for similar product, so don't necessarily assume like I did that things (especially food in restaurants) will be cheap like in Mexico.
Jamaica is really poor and the more poor people are the more likely they are to commit crime obviously (I know first hand cause I grew up in a third world country). So watch your back, but at the sime time there is no reason to be paranoid because in my experience Jamaicans are mostly rather friendly people who do not want to make tourists angry (considering tourists are daily bread for a lot of jamaicans).
I still think that you shoudl go, you'll have lots of fun and will experience a country quite different from other places you've been to before.
as discovery channel puts it - "dare to explore"!
Mike S
Sponsor - AutoHomeUSA
I have spent quite a lot of time in Jamaica since my first trip there in the sixties. It is an excellent place, but it is not the USA.
Most tourists who have problems there (a very few) bring it on themselves by doing stuff that is stupid or disrespectful. For example... do not go to meet a guy on th ebeach to score some dope at midnight. You WILL be robbed. Ladies -- don't run around half nekkid.
Enjoy the country for what it is, and try hard not to be an ugly and obnoxious tourist.
Most tourists who have problems there (a very few) bring it on themselves by doing stuff that is stupid or disrespectful. For example... do not go to meet a guy on th ebeach to score some dope at midnight. You WILL be robbed. Ladies -- don't run around half nekkid.
Enjoy the country for what it is, and try hard not to be an ugly and obnoxious tourist.
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
Sounds good to me. Sounds similar to Egypt or Morocco. The women with me on those trips dressed stupidly and paid for it by being groped. The drunk kids out roaming in the middle of the night paid by being robbed and beaten.
I like keeping a very, very very low profile. :arabia:
Thats a great price. I'll have to look into it for next year!
Is there a good time of year to go??
I like keeping a very, very very low profile. :arabia:
Thats a great price. I'll have to look into it for next year!
Is there a good time of year to go??
Lost Canadian
Expedition Leader
Jamaica is very laid back. If anyone else ends up going I recommend a trip up into the blue mountains, it's beautiful. Watch out for the voodoo witches though, I'm not kidding, we came across one and just being in her presence made the hair on my neck stand on end,....creepy.
calamaridog
Expedition Leader
I'm glad you all had a good time. I enjoyed the food in Jamaica also. Jerk chicken, Ackee and Saltfish (kind of weird), and curried goat, amongst other stuff.
gary in ohio
Explorer
If the crime scares you then try one of the all inclusive resorts. NOt as much of an adventure but just as much fun. Just make sure you know the nature of each resort before you go. Some are quiet setting for couples with formal dining, some are wild party for couples, some are for crazy singles (Hedonism II come to mind). Some are family oriented (Beaches Nigril).