Please help me help my two friends with thier Jamican vacation. Please read

[pepperw23]

A couple of my dear friends decided to take a vacation this September to Jamica. Me being the "planner" I am, decided to jump right in and help. Almost right away we found some really neat looking "all inclusive" couples resorts.

They were thinking about booking, but wanted to contact a travel agent to book through so the agent could tell them about any specials that may arise between now and their trip.

Today they contacted the travel agent and were told that gay couples are frowned upon in Jamaica, and that while some of the family resorts would be okay because people "would assume they are sisters or friends", the couples resorts would not accept them.

Has anyone ever had any experience with this? Is this true? This same travel agent told them it would be $50.00 per person to even get quotes because of "all the extra research".

Needless to say, they are going to seek another agent, but now they are scared to go. It makes me sad for them. They are the sweetest couple of ladies anyone would ever want to meet.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of thing? It is their first major vacation so they are really trying to find some good advice.


Thanks!

 

[taylor3297]

I am glad that they will be choosing another travel agent. It sounds like to me the travel agent really doesn't want to help them.

I called a friend of mine who happens to be gay, and she said for them to try
St. Barts, Curacao, US Virgin Islands and St Martin/Maarten and one other island I can't remember.

 

[pepperw23]

I am glad that they will be choosing another travel agent. It sounds like to me the travel agent really doesn't want to help them.

I called a friend of mine who happens to be gay, and she said for them to try
St. Barts, Curacao, US Virgin Islands and St Martin/Maarten and one other island I can't remember.

Thanks! I will pass this info on.

 

[hematite153]

It's awful to say, but, Jamaican culture is very homophobic. I have a friend whose family is Jamaican and she has a really difficult time dealing with the attitudes of many of her relatives.

If it's their first big vacation, I'd recommend a different destination.

 

[pepperw23]

It's awful to say, but, Jamaican culture is very homophobic. I have a friend whose family is Jamaican and she has a really difficult time dealing with the attitudes of many of her relatives.

If it's their first big vacation, I'd recommend a different destination.

I'm starting to see that. It is just so frustrating. To be honest I was hoping I would get on here and you guys would all be like "no that is not true!" I guess I am just naive.

 

[OrlandoMike]

I'm starting to see that. It is just so frustrating. To be honest I was hoping I would get on here and you guys would all be like "no that is not true!" I guess I am just naive.

First of all, its great of you to come over here to ask! You will get a ton of answers and suggestions in the next few days, so be sure to check back!

I'm not an expert on the Islands at all, but I do know, I rarely get off a cruise ship in Nassau because of what they did to Rosie. The Islands can be very homophobic.

On the brighter side, I know many of them welcome our buisness, and I'm sure you will get some great answers soon!

Good Luck!

 

[mickeyfan1]

I just want to address your shock at the TA charging for research. TAs get paid very little, and they only make money when people book through them. If you ask most professionals for advice, lawyer, doctor, erc, you will usually pay for it. TAs can spend hours looking up information for people, why should they not get paid for their time? When I went to Travel School we had to do a project, research and put together a presentation for a "client" for a vacation. Incuding air, hotel, and information as to what to do in the area. It took me about 6 hours to do the research and to make the proposal. If the client takes the information and doesn't book through me, I get nothing. So yeah, I am going to charge for my time. If you want to do it yourself, the internet is free.

 

[mikelan6]

I would choose another island as well. There are so many other beautiful islands, that are more accepting. Just like Mike said, I don't get off the cruise ships in Nassau or Jamaica if I can help it.

 

[PghLybrt]

It's a pass on Jamacia.

 

[hematite153]

I rarely get off a cruise ship in Nassau because of what they did to Rosie.

Wait, what happened to Rosie!?!

 

[OrlandoMike]

Wait, what happened to Rosie!?!

Oh it was awful! They took away her monkey and made her put clothes on!

Oh wait, wrong Rosie.....

Here is what happened to the other Rosie....



Gay and lesbian cruise ship passengers met more than 100 protesters holding signs and yelling anti-gay chants as they stepped off the Norwegian Dawn Friday in the Bahamas.

The protesters, led by Christian pastors, gathered in a square in front of the cruise terminal and chanted: ``Gay ways are not God's ways!''

As a trickle of passengers stepped out, protesters held signs reading: If You're Openly Gay, Stay Away and We Will Not Bow to the Gay Agenda!

The roundtrip cruise from New York to the Caribbean was organized by R Family vacations, the company created by Rosie O'Donnell and her wife Kelli.

Gregg Kominsky, a spokesperson R Family Vacations, said the passengers - 1,150 adults and 450 children - had come to have fun and that on previous trips he found most Bahamians friendly and welcoming.

``We are not really here to make a statement,'' he said.

Kominsky said he was disappointed by the protest but people have a right to their opinions.

As the first passengers stepped out, shouting protesters pressed to within several feet of them. Police stepped in to move demonstrators back.

``We will never accept your lifestyle,'' said Pastor William Hanchell, who stood on a stage and spoke.

``We don't care how much money they bring. The Bahamas is off-limits,'' said another, Pastor Vaughan Miller.

 

[hematite153]

Oh...the other Rosie...I had heard that story, but, was thinking of our rosiep.

I know a couple of people who respond to Mormon Missionaries and Jehovah's Witness proselytizers by inviting them in and offering to share their own religious literature as well.

When equal marriage was on the agenda in the Canadian political sphere it did a phenomenal job of creating multifaith groups. The intriguing part is that the people who were protesting remained segregated into their own cliques. It was the masses of religious groups arguing in favour of equal marriage and seeking interceder status to petition the government to acknowledge their rights to marry all couples that started talking to each other. All kinds of terrific programs have grown out of those years.

My best experience of it was when we learned on a Sunday morning that conservative religious groups were busing people in from across the country for a protest that afternoon. By the time their protest got underway there were actually more representatives of progressive religious groups present with signs and banners asking for equal marriage.

Since then, when I hear about things like the R Family cruise I think that I should carry around literature from my church to offer to share with people so that "they can truly know God". (Note: that quote doesn't match my belief system, but, it fits with theirs.)

I've probably babbled far more than I should...sorry!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

We loved St. Martin (the Dutch side was nice too, but we preferred the French) Tortola and St. Lucia. Had no problems on those islands.

DO NOT GO TO ST KITTS! It's a very homophobic place, as well as are some of the other islands as discussed here.

Check Gay Travel info before booking at any couples resort. Many are really into only hets and will not welcome you even if they allow same gendered couples.

 

[PHILCT]

I remember doing research on Jamaica about 6 months ago.

There was a gay couple who arrived at the famous Jamaican Resort Sandals, and then they were refused to be admitted and they were made fun of. In the end, they went to another resort, but they ended up getting the original resort Sandals reprimanded by the corporate office, as well as a change in attitude for all future gay guests going to that resort.

There was even a boycott against Jamaica, but the local Gay Jamaicans begged Americans to stop the boycott in fear that they would get beaten up and blamed for Americans boycotting their country's goods like Rum and Liquor.

You can see the Rosie Gay Families Cruise Trip in a Documentary, and you will witness yourself the hatred from these groups. A lot of the politicians and police have the same attitude, very little is done to stop violent crimes or murders against gays.

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There is no way I will visit Jamaica, I don't even like the idea of being on a cruise ship that might stop there. I suspect the cruise line industry would love for Jamaica to loosen up on their gay hatred.

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I must not vent anymore !

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Try another island the other posters mentioned earlier.

Phil

 

[pepperw23]

Wow all these great answers! Thank you all very much. I talked to my friend yesterday and she said they are going to go somewhere else. I told her about St. Martin and she got very excited. I encouraged her to come check out this thread and she said she would. (Hi Nay Nay!! )

Mickyfan- Please know I meant no disrespect towards travel agents. I was more addressing the attitude this one had...the way it was worded. It hurt my friends feelings, so it bothered me. This couple is very dear to my heart.

 

[cmpdw4me]

SO true about Sandals and MANY other ALL INCLUSIVES. Gay people are NOT welcomed. We did a TON of research and couldn't believe how many places do NOT allow same sex couples. However, if we were swingers and wanted to have LOTS of sex with LOTS of partners, there were MANY places we could go. Sad, here we are a completly commited couple, in a very monogomous relationship, and we're not allowed in. Crazy~

 

[sookie]

jamaica is very homophobic. i would pass and go to another place!!!!!