Jamaica?

[mikejet]

Anyone ever been? My wife and I are thinking of going to one of the all inclusive resorts. This would be our first time going out of the country.

Anyone have any tips suggestions? Probably sometime mid September.

[Blu-Benny]

never went but have worked w/several people who have.....it's supposed to be awesome!!!

[fatediesel]

I went to Jamaica on a cruise about 13 years ago when I was 14. We were only there for a day, and went to Ocho Rios. It had some beautiful places, but the city wasn't very nice. We had multiple people come up to us on the street and offer to sell us drugs, which was odd to a family of 4 from Iowa. I would assume that an all inclusive would be much nicer though,and it's certainly possible the country has gotten nicer in the long period since I went.

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I went to Jamaica on a cruise about 13 years ago when I was 14. We were only there for a day, and went to Ocho Rios. It had some beautiful places, but the city wasn't very nice. We had multiple people come up to us on the street and offer to sell us drugs, which was odd to a family of 4 from Iowa. I would assume that an all inclusive would be much nicer though,and it's certainly possible the country has gotten nicer in the long period since I went.

the one guy i worked with said that he was offered some week and beer right in the airport. he also said to steer clear of the locals, they don't like that they live in a tourist trap i guess.

[sfmarine]

I hated it. Although, I went on a cruise ship and it was one of the ports of call. So Ocho Rios was the only area explored. It was a ghetto. A lot of drugs and prostitution. I wish I had my gun but you know how that goes. I heard Montego Bay is a better area. Just avoid Ocho Rios and you should be all right. Or take an excursion so you go from the ship to a bus and go see the waterfall from the Tom Cruise movie. lol

Blu-Benny is right...the locals hate us.

[Another_Dude]

Went for our honeymoon and won't be going back. If you stay within the areas owned by the cruise line or resort it can be nice, but there isn't a lot of ground to cover.

Leave that area and it gets very bad very quick.

For a tropical area to visit I would suggest Cozumel.

[BRu-LAy]

I'm planning to go there for my honeymoon.

Are you checking out that Sandals 65% off sale?

[Go Blue]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Anyone ever been? My wife and I are thinking of going to one of the all inclusive resorts. This would be our first time going out of the country.

Anyone have any tips suggestions? Probably sometime mid September.

I have never been, but my wife and I considered an all-inclusive in Jamaica and the Bahamas. We settled on a Sandals resort (couples only, no kids) in the Bahamas and it was awesome. One day we left the resort to check out the area, but that wasn't very fun. Like most places like this, the locals are pushy and rude.

The Bahamas was awesome though. It is more expensive than Jamaica, but worth it in my opinion. I'll try to post some pics in this thread this week.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by Schultzy

I have never been, but my wife and I considered an all-inclusive in Jamaica and the Bahamas. We settled on a Sandals resort (couples only, no kids) in the Bahamas and it was awesome. One day we left the resort to check out the area, but that wasn't very fun. Like most places like this, the locals are pushy and rude.

The Bahamas was awesome though. It is more expensive than Jamaica, but worth it in my opinion. I'll try to post some pics in this thread this week.

Yeah there's always the Bahamas and Cozumel. We have a bit of time to plan it but doing this kind of trip should be cheaper than going back to Maui considering the all-inclusive nature.

[jkwest]

Jamaica is bland....its not worthy of a full trip. For a cruise stop, its nice, but thats it. My wife and I are white, and we have two black girls...we were noticed...constantly. One thing we didn't consider...wish we had...

Go to the Bahamas...the people there are much more friendly.

[Sussudio]

wow mike, you sure get around don't you (and i mean that in an awesome way...i'm very jealous )

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

wow mike, you sure get around don't you (and i mean that in an awesome way...i'm very jealous )

Got to live it up before we have kids! Next year we are planning a huge Asia trip and I will finally get to see the Philippines. Never been. Hopefully hit Thailand and Hong Kong too.

Hopefully Max will have a bunch of tips when I plan it.

Whats funny is the price of flights and lodging to Maui roughly equals the flight + all inclusive resort to the nice places, Jamaica/Cozumel/Bahamas.

My dream vacation is Fiji.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Got to live it up before we have kids! Next year we are planning a huge Asia trip and I will finally get to see the Philippines. Never been. Hopefully hit Thailand and Hong Kong too.

Hopefully Max will have a bunch of tips when I plan it.

Whats funny is the price of flights and lodging to Maui roughly equals the flight + all inclusive resort to the nice places, Jamaica/Cozumel/Bahamas.

My dream vacation is Fiji.

that's awesome man...best of luck in your ventures, all sounds very exciting

[Go Blue]

This is where we went: http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll...hotel-pictures

I'll be going back as soon as possible.

[mikejet]

Added a poll!

[Johnny Vinyl]

As an Island and scenery is concerned, Jamaica is stunning. However, I wouldn't venture outside of your compound too much. Like someone said earlier, the locals are very pushy and drugs and indeed violence abounds. It is really a shame, because I'm sure most Jamaicans are lovely people, but I never felt safe there and won't be going back.

I've been to the Bahamas, Aruba, Curacao and I wouldn't hesitate to go back there. Never been to Mexico, so I can't comment.

John

[Moviefan1203]

My fiance and I are going to Jamaica in June for our honeymoon. We are excited beyond words, I've never been to the Caribbean before and from what I hear the white sand beaches of Jamaica simply take your breath away.

[phlydude]

I went to Jamaica like others as a cruise stop...won't go back - that one 4 hour stretch in Ocho Rios and Dunn's River Falls ruined that country for me. EVERY local I met tried to get over on you...whether it was trying to carve your name in a statue, trying to extort money from you for "guiding" you up the falls, stopping the bus and saying that they won't move until everyone gives up $5, etc...all scammers.

I'm sure that there are areas that are OK but the tourist areas were not for me.
My sister and her husband went and stayed at an all inclusive and had zero issues. So I guess YMMV.

I'd rather do Mexico (even with the Flu and Drug Wars) and hit Costa Maya or Cozumel. Or I would do deep Caribbean like Aruba or Curacao.

Aside from the Caymans, the old imperial ruled islands seem to have an issue with those that look like those that ruled them and no use their island for vacation purposes making the tourism industry the only viable income maker for only a handful of the population.

I will say that the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana) would have been perfect if I didn't get the trots from the food in the resort all week...the beach was simply amazing.
As well as the beach in Roatan, Honduras...that was really nice too.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by phlydude

As well as the beach in Roatan, Honduras...that was really nice too.

LOL there was an episode of House Hunter's International that had an American couple purchasing a resort property in Roatan. It looked amazing.

We want to do the All Inclusive thing though to save money.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by mikejet

We want to do the All Inclusive thing though to save money.

That is what my fiance and I decided to do. I am pretty sure that was the right decision to make, ironically we got our tickets, resort information, vouchers, etc. in the mail today and this all inclusive thing looks sensational as does the resort itself. Our resort has everything we could ever want, so why would we even want to leave the resort?