So Tell me about Jamaica... Is it safe?

[funhouse8]

My DD20 and her friends want to go to an All-Inclusive in Jamaica. They are looking at beaches or sandals. They were thinking of going in Jan. Is it safe? I thought they might be better off with an all inclusive in the Bahamas but the prices weren't as low. Please let me know what you think. Thanks, always worried Mom

 

[a1tinkfans]

Heres my experience.
NO, I would not suggest it though if you STAY in the resort, DO NOT STEP out of resort..............then okay.
Personally, I would NOT go, I would NOT suggest it, and NO I would NOT go back if someone gave it to me/us for free......but thats just me.......by the way both those resorts are nice (though I thought one of them was couples only????.......its the location........... so many other safer, less "issue" places to see/visit....its a shame....

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I have a friend who has gone 2 times in the past 3 years and she loved it. I also spent my honeymoon in Jamaica but that was 17 years ago. As long as they stay in the resort, or take resort sponsored tours, they'll be fine. They should not, however, go off resort. It can be very dangerous. Also, FYI as far as I know Sandals is for couples only.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Sandals is a couples resort--romantic etc. Not somewhere for a group of friends. Beaches is more of a family oriented resort from what I understand. But I think they may have some activities for friend groups. But they need to expect lots of kids and families, not a "party" atmosphere. I have heard the same as PP that if you go you need to stay at the Resort and don't venture out.

 

[LoraJ]

Are you sure they are going to Sandals? As others have said, it is couples only. Is it the Grand Pineapple they are looking at? And as others have stated, Beaches is geared towards families. We stayed at a Breezes in the Bahamas and that had a nice variety of couples and groups of friends who were traveling together. So I would have them look into Breezes. I suggest going to tripadvisor.com and look up reviews on whatever resort it is they are interested in.


I had a bad experience in Jamaica when we stopped there for a cruise. I have no desire to ever go back. However, my friends who have stayed at resorts in Jamaica have all had wonderful experiences.

ETA: Will she be 20 when she is there? Make sure the resorts allow people under 21. I guess it depends on the drinking age in that country.

 

[Jcricket Fan]

I know others have had fine experiences there but I went on my honeymoon to Jamaica and would not go back if I could for free.

How about Club Med? I went to Club Med in Cancun about 20yrs. ago with my girlfriends and we had a blast. They have many different resorts all over the world. They are all-inclusive.

Peace
Colleen

 

[DisneyBlonde]

I would also recommend that if they go to Jamaica, they should not leave the resort. When we cruise there we rarely leave the ship.

 

[MoniqueU]

I have been 3 times and mostly stay at the resort. We have rented a car and jamaican driver for the day thugh. She might be looking at Breezes, the former grand lido braco is turning into a breezes and is awesome. RIU is also nice. I have traveled all over the world and have honestly had more trouble in Amsterdam and Paris then in Jamaica.Parts of Italy have the same type of poverty as Jamaica. And they peddle stuff just as hard in Mexico. It is all what your comfort level is but I personally didn't have any troubles.

 

[EthansMom]

DH and I won't cruise to Jamaica after our one stop there. We found the people to be VERY pushy and overbearing. And we never felt comfortable there.

Not a place I'd want my young adult child to go.

 

[Epcot luvr]

We have been going to Negril, JA for the last 11 years. Negril is on the west coast it is home to 7 Mile Beach, always ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It is an hour drive from the airport in Montego Bay. The road is brand new and not a bad drive, not that I drive ther, lol. We do A/I and stay at Grand Lido Negril a superclubs resort. It, as previously mentioned, will be rebranded in November as a Breezes. Grand lido is a very nice resort and the age is 16 up to stay. The RIU resorts in Negril would be, IMOP, a better choice for someone in their 20's again all inclusive. I would check out Negril on Trip Advisor there is also a website negril.com that has lots of info and a message board to ask questions. The people who come in on cruise ships to Montego bay or Ochos Rios get bombarded with people wanting to sell you stuff, braid your hair, ect. I have never had a bad experience in Jamaica, we really just go to sit on the beach and have sand gravity work its magic. Sandals is just for couples.

 

[MoniqueU]

Also the Jamaica people see when getting dumped off by a cruse ship is a far cry from what the rest of Jamaica is like. Very very different. Heck where the cruise ships dump you off at some of the ports in Hawaii are nasty too. The cruise ship docks in Ocho Rios, not the best beach area and tons of vendors that are very pushy. I have been to much better beaches then Negril personally but it is a fun place and Ricks Cafe for cliff jumping is fun and they have some nice shopping. I have kids and as long as they were spening most of the time in the resort and not out bar hopping with no guys to protect them at 3 am I would have no problem with them going. It the daytime they can take a fun trip to Margarittaville and do the water trampoline and waterslide from the bar. It is a real fun place. I have stayed at 2 of the Lidos by superclubs ahd once at a sandals and thought the superclubs were more fun. It wont have the amenities the lidos have when it is rebranded but it will still be a blast and I am pretty sure you have to be over 16 to stay there which to me is hice, tons of little kids around while I am on an adult vacation isn't very fun for me. JMHO.

 

[Epcot luvr]

Also the Jamaica people see when getting dumped off by a cruse ship is a far cry from what the rest of Jamaica is like. Very very different. Heck where the cruise ships dump you off at some of the ports in Hawaii are nasty too. The cruise ship docks in Ocho Rios, not the best beach area and tons of vendors that are very pushy. I have been to much better beaches then Negril personally but it is a fun place and Ricks Cafe for cliff jumping is fun and they have some nice shopping. I have kids and as long as they were spening most of the time in the resort and not out bar hopping with no guys to protect them at 3 am I would have no problem with them going. It the daytime they can take a fun trip to Margarittaville and do the water trampoline and waterslide from the bar. It is a real fun place. I have stayed at 2 of the Lidos by superclubs ahd once at a sandals and thought the superclubs were more fun. It wont have the amenities the lidos have when it is rebranded but it will still be a blast and I am pretty sure you have to be over 16 to stay there which to me is hice, tons of little kids around while I am on an adult vacation isn't very fun for me. JMHO.

==================================
I wonder if we were at Grand Lido at the same time, I like them much more than Sandals. I wish I was there now

 

[LindaG4458]

Heres my experience.
NO, I would not suggest it though if you STAY in the resort, DO NOT STEP out of resort..............then okay.
Personally, I would NOT go, I would NOT suggest it, and NO I would NOT go back if someone gave it to me/us for free......but thats just me.......

I feel exactly the same way. We spent a week in Montego Bay. It was not an all-inclusive resort. I saw a lot and learned a lot. Once was enough.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My DH and I go to Jamaica every year. As a pp stated, Negril and other parts of Jamaica are a far cry from where the cruise ships dock. The locals are waiting for the cruise ship tourists to disembark. Of course, they're pushy thats how they make a living.

I love love love Beaches and Sandals. But Sandals is couples only and Beaches are geered more toward a kiddy crowd.

If your daughter and friends are smart , they will be fine. But that would be the case no matter where they go. I always ask, would you walk down a street in your city at 3am? Then why do you think you can do it in Jamaica.

Stay together, take group tours, and be smart. Rick's cafe and Margaritaville are fun places to visit.

 

[Erin1700]

We went for our Honeymoon in 2001. We actually won the trip at a bridal show. I believe we stayed at a Breezes (one with no kids allowed). It was wonderful and we would go back in a hearbeat.

 

[portocall]

I have not been to Jamaica in 10 years however I went on a regular basis (weekly) for five years before that. I went all over the island and once away from the bigger cities fell in love with the beautiful island that is Jamaica. I never did one of the all inclusive places, however I did visit Beaches and it was gorgeous and as safe as somewhere like Vegas. Jamaica is the most dangerous island in the Caribbean and one of the most dangerous (not sure if it maintained its top rank) in the world. The government is quite corrupt. I didn't find the Bahama's to be much different.

7-mile beach is in Grand Cayman and is beautiful. If I were sending my child to the Caribbean that is where I would send them (from a mom's standpoint). Also, before going into the Caribbean, or any other country it is prudent to brush up on the laws, especially ones that are a little unusual.

 

[muffyn]

we have stopped a few times when on our cruise ship.
we do NOT recommend you traveling off & about away from any resort.
or even taking any tours unless the resort guarantees it is people from THEIR resort taking you & will not stop at their 'friends' souveneer shop stands, plus listen to YOU if there is a problem ( have read many horror stories of people being 'trapped' in horrid scary )tours

we did day passes at Sunset beach resort ( in montego bay there is a nice water slide/lazy river). (they also have a sister resort in ocho rios)
it is family friendly & really pretty nice , good food, etc.
our Travel agent went to that resort to get married.

 

[Epcot luvr]

I have not been to Jamaica in 10 years however I went on a regular basis (weekly) for five years before that. I went all over the island and once away from the bigger cities fell in love with the beautiful island that is Jamaica. I never did one of the all inclusive places, however I did visit Beaches and it was gorgeous and as safe as somewhere like Vegas. Jamaica is the most dangerous island in the Caribbean and one of the most dangerous (not sure if it maintained its top rank) in the world. The government is quite corrupt. I didn't find the Bahama's to be much different.

7-mile beach is in Grand Cayman and is beautiful. If I were sending my child to the Caribbean that is where I would send them (from a mom's standpoint). Also, before going into the Caribbean, or any other country it is prudent to brush up on the laws, especially ones that are a little unusual.

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Negril is a large beach resort town located across parts of two Jamaican parishes, Westmoreland and Hanover. Westmoreland is the westernmost parish in Jamaica, located on the south side of the island. Downtown Negril, the West End cliff resorts to the south of downtown, and the southern portion of the seven mile (11 km) beach are in Westmoreland. The northernmost resorts on the beach are actually located in Hanover. Both parishes are part of the county of Cornwall. The nearest large town and capital of Westmoreland is Savanna-la-Mar

This is the 7 mile beach in Negril, always one of the top rated beaches worldwide.

 

[portocall]

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Negril is a large beach resort town located across parts of two Jamaican parishes, Westmoreland and Hanover. Westmoreland is the westernmost parish in Jamaica, located on the south side of the island. Downtown Negril, the West End cliff resorts to the south of downtown, and the southern portion of the seven mile (11 km) beach are in Westmoreland. The northernmost resorts on the beach are actually located in Hanover. Both parishes are part of the county of Cornwall. The nearest large town and capital of Westmoreland is Savanna-la-Mar

This is the 7 mile beach in Negril, always one of the top rated beaches worldwide.

They are both top rated and share the same name. If you only google seven mile beach (or 7 mile beach), Grand Cayman will come up. It wasn't until I added Jamaica that I found the information about the one in Negril. They are both gorgeous beaches.

I was in Ochos Rios and the the area around there (Ferngully, parts of the Blue Mountains). Because my friend had an unfortunate run in with a sea urchan we never did the beach in Jamaica again (though the Irie River is fantastic for tubing and swimming) We stuck to Grand Cayman where the water was as clear as a swimming pool. The beaches in Ocho Rios left a lot to be desired in my opinion.

 

[MsAmerica]

Having been to Jamaica several times and as the mother of a 19 yo daughter, I would not allow my daughter to go there, period.

There are better islands to go to, Aruba for example.

20 yo's want to go to the islands so they can drink. Drinking leads to bad decision making, add Jamaica to the mix and you could have a recipe for disaster.

just my opinion.

MsA