General: Jamaica

Government Health Warning. For the record, this review is not necessarily applicable to those people who intend to / have stayed somewhere like Sandals in Jamaica for numerous reasons. Let me give you an overview of that type of holiday before I talk about my trips there: 1. The all-inclusive resorts like Sandals are so far removed from the true Jamaica to be almost comical. You are fed a healthy diet of pleasant, soft-core Reggae, disingenuous ...
...the EU all in the most luxurious of surroundings. This is to subtly divert your attention from the real deal outside of your resorts high-security cordon and save you from having to see / think about the people and poverty on the other side of your electric fence. 2. Have no doubt that the resorts are to all intents and purposes luxury prisons for the bog standard tourist. They are secure compounds, many with armed guards, designed to safely keep ...

BladeRunner2003 09.02.2004 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

Jamaica, the very word conjures up a picture of lush tropical beaches, sun-filled days and romantic nights as the sun goes down in a dramatic blaze of colour. Yet there is far more to the island than just beaches and scenery. I went there in the mid 1990's but my memory of that two-week holiday is as fresh in my mind as if it was yesterday. At that time it was still fairly expensive to spend a holiday there despite it being one of the largest and ...
...I saved up for over a year to indulge in a little luxury the cost at that time came to a total of over £2000 but we had booked an hotel near to the beach in Montego Bay which is still the most popular destination in Jamaica. ☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼ Overview ^^^^^^^^^^^^ The rich cultural heritage of Jamaica comes from a long history of conquerors including the Spanish and the British who introduced new plants, ...

Elffriend 03.08.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

This is not about the comforts of staying in an all-inclusive resort that could be in any exotic part of the world. When I visited Jamaica I stayed in people's homes or budget accommodation and saw a different side of Jamaica than normal. Jamaica is a truly beautiful island in the Caribbean Sea which has a tropical climate. There are rainy seasons in April and October. I went twice (December and March) and on both occasions witnessed tropical rain ...
...a matter of seconds! These downpours go away as quick as they arrive and you dry out again quickly in the tropical heat. My trips were around 8 years ago, and for that reason I can't vouch for the current validity of any information. I've got a few tales in amongst the descriptions of Jamaica, so in other words, it won't be a Premium Fund winner, but you may find the stories interesting! You may be wondering why I didn't stay in a resort? A friend ...

northern_lights 08.01.2003 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

For my 18th birthday I was presented a fantastic surprise from my wonderful boyfriend, inside my card was a picture of a beach and two tickets to Jamaica leaving four days later!!! We flew from Manchester to Montego Bay in Jamaica which took around 9 1/2 hours. The first thing you notice is the heat, it is like stepping into an oven, the second is how laid back everyone is. Mo' Bay as it is called by the locals is the capital of Jamaican tourism. ...
...where we were to stay. During the drive, we realised what a poor country Jamaica was, we were shocked to go through the "parish's" and see shacks which were peoples homes, and beggars in the street. The Jamaica you see on the television is a far cry from the real Jamaica. NEGRIL Negril is on the North-West coast of Jamaica and has seven miles of white sand beaches which are absolutley beautiful. There are a few large all inclusive resorts, including ...

sammi1 04.04.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

Jamaica, one of the most alluring of the Caribbean islands, lives as a tourist brochure cliché of tropical scenery and shimmering beaches. Its sunsets provide the backdrop for many a romantic picture and the reported laid back nature of the locals with a ready smile and quick wit portray a happy-go-lucky island. Jamaica is everyone's island in the sun. Unlike its neighbours who cater mainly for the rich and famous Jamaica really is somewhere for ...
...beach to the non-stop party resorts where the beach is a party and the water rum Jamaica really caters for all-comers. Go to be pampered at a spa or be adventurous in the mountains, find a B&B by the road or an all-inclusive, the choice is there for the taking. The contrasts are not only to be found in the types of traveller to visit or the type of accommodation selected but in the country itself. Rainforest-like mountains give way to desert like ...

CareBear 27.04.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

If you have not experienced the sights and sounds of Jamaica then you have not travelled. Get out of your hotel and meet the people. If you are travelling to Jamaica then consider the programme below, you wont regret it. There is a programme which you can join before leaving home which aims to match you to a family with similar job, hobbies etc. The programme is called Meet The People and is run by the Jamaican Tourist board. Meetings can be from ...
...if you and your family get on. You are also given the option to meet another family as the tourist board telephone you after the initial meeting to discuss how things went and give you the option. You meet up with the family and they take you out either socially or you can even go to work for a day. we were teamed up with the oldest practicing Justice of the Peace in the West Indies, (He is 88) and his wife. Our initial thoughts were not at all ...

denise.parry 22.10.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

When we arrived at the airport in Jamaica the first thing that annoyed me was the way the porters were demanding at least 2 US dollars to take your luggage a matter of a couple of hundred yards to your bus. I'd heard before I went that the hassle was tremendous, however, once we arrived at Runaway Bay it was much calmer than I'd expected. We stayed in a hotel called the Ambience which, at the time we went, was self-catering. I think it's an all inclusive ...
...most nights there was entertainment. We chose not to eat in the hotel as there was a little cafe/restaurant called the Recovery Cafe just across from the hotel which served homemade food at very reasonable prices. I particularly liked it because it was like sitting in the kitchen of somebody's house and there wasn't a plate or a piece of crockery that matched. The people who owned it were very friendly and would sit down and have a chat with you ...

rustifer 20.02.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

Jamaica.... The name conjoures up images of long lazy days on the beach cocktail in hand, smiling friendly locals with an easygoing carefree attitude..... Think again. I give you Ocho Rios..... The island IS beautiful. The scenery and beaches are stunning. The hotels are (from what I saw) excellent. But the people...well that's another thing. From the moment you leave your hotel till you return, you WILL be offered drugs on a regular basis. ...
...polite "thanks but no" did the trick, but when it comes to the craft markets, they amount to legalised muggings. You buy say a t-shirt from one stall. Another stall holder anounces he will give you your change and you have to go to the next stall to wait throught the hard sell, to get your change. This is realy annoying. The taxis - agree a price before you get in, but expect your driver to have a memory lapse about this when you get to your destination, ...

dalg 03.10.2002 (04.10.2002) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

I went to jamaica about four years ago, and I stayed in Ochios Rios. I really enjoyed meeting the local people and the atmosphere was so friendly and inviting, and the food was to die for! There is so many places to go in jamaica and so many hidden beaches and coves you couldn't get bored here! The night life is exceptional if your into dancehall and reggae and there are so many little cafe's on the roadside with very tasty food that you just want ...
...that if people want to visit jamaica, then the countryside is the best place to go, with natural wonders like the famous blue mountain and so much lush country you will want to hide out here and never go home! If you are going to visit Jamaica and you don't want the drugs-pushers then the country is best place to go, not in the city like in Kingston. The hotels are very clean, with big rooms and exceptionally good service from the staff. The mangoes ...

posh11uk 15.10.2004 (19.10.2004) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

I adore Jamaica and who wouldn't. If people tell you not to leave your complex then I suggest you laugh in their face. We stayed at a 5 star complex in a remote area where the cattle roamed the streets and the locals sat along the roadside under their oil filled street lights. There was one shack of a bar across the road, a small local shop and a jerk chicken takeaway. The nearest towns were a bus or taxi ride away. We hired a taxi for the 2 weeks ...
...sight seeing and spent our evenings in the bar over the road with the locals. They are the most friendliest adorable people. Unfortunately, we didn't finish our exploring as we were hit by a hurricane and even though the people lost everything but we became their first priority. Why travel such a distance to a fantastic country to stay in one place the entire time? ...

jeckmate 12.02.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

I have stayed at the Beaches resort in Negril for the third time, with my family, and if you are looking for relaxation, touring or general chill out then this has it all. Once again, upon arrival at the airport, you have all the boring customs to go through, and then you are taken to your bus to take you to the resort, although this is a long drive after a long flight, and the roads aren't quite as flat as english roads, you get to see a varit of ...
...shacks!!! (yes this is how people live) the driver normally keeps informed of the country, and before you know it you have arrived at your resort. The staff greet with a warm and friendly manner, and its not just the reception staff, this is all the staff from the chiefs, water sports staff right through to the cleaners. For myself and family were we treated like family as we had been to this resort more then once, and half the staff remembered us ...

chezzal1 10.04.2006 (18.04.2006) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

Im 22 now and i have been to Jamaica 12 times and i havent got bored of the place. I dont stay in a hotel or resort which i would like to do 1 day, i stay with family; which is a cheaper alternative if your lucky enough to have family that would let you stay. Weather: Always at least warm, hot to many, if it rains it rains hard. The freshness of the air is unbelievable, i would suck it into a big tank and condition my house air with it. Insects: ...
...insects (mosquitos mainly) are very persistant, so make sure you buy long lasting repellent and cover every part of you body not just the parts that are showing Food: The difference in food is that jamaica are famous for their jerk seasoning, which is used on pork, chicken and sometimes goat. You wont find fish and chip shops around, but they do have KFC and if your lucky mcdonalds. But jamaica have their own new fast food restaurant called "Chester ...

gdp7 18.08.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

Jamica is a beautiful island set next to the blue waters with unbleievebly breath taking beache's along with the views brings jamaica to be one of the most beautiful islands in the sun. Even though some nights can be hot the good points way the bad down as there is a lovely breeze that continually goes throgh the island an makes the hot temperatures bearable. There are many fun things that i found to do it is a great family holiday. Visit montego ...
...dunns river falls along with the gorgeous beech. And not too far away is the famous negril beech with its 9 miles of gorgeous sand. I found also that if parents want to take there teenagers out clubbing to stop nagging then thers clubs that have rooms for parents and teenagers so teenagers can hav fun but parents can keep an eye on them. Also if the amazing views or beaches or towns or clubs arn't what u want to do i found port royal fun with the ...

lady_tuksum 24.09.2004 (25.09.2004) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

Jamaica the island is a lovely place, We stayed for 3 weeks (2 would have been enough by the end of the holiday it was starting to feel very restrictive), There are beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, Dunns River is excellent, Dolphin Cove is ok but a bit of a let down, Montego Bay (Mo' Bay) is ok not much to see and do there we much prefered Ocho Rios the shopping there was much better (less hassle and better prices)and there were far more things ...
...you are hassled by people selling just about everything, (got sick of hearing braids for the lady?) this is the only country we have been to where we were openly offered drugs even our 14yr old son was offered them openly, Police just seem to stand by and ignore what is going on (probably been bribed to look the other way), we hired a licenced taxi driver when we wanted to go out and about as hiring a car was overpriced and deposits of $1000 are ...

dawnybabes2000 28.11.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: Jamaica

I've just come back from a holiday in Jamaica with my husband, daughter and son-in-law, a holiday I'll never forget. We stayed at " Starfish Trewlawny " in Falmouth, where all inclusive means just that. The food was fantastic, with so much choice. Each night was a different theme - for example one night was american, one night Jamaican, one night Oriental just to name a few. But, if like my son-in-law you prefer basic food, every night there was ...
...chips. Each night the selection of desserts and fresh fruit was vast. I have been talking about the buffet restaurant, but there was three other restaurants to chose from including Japanese and pizza's. The complex has four swimming pools, four bars, tennis courts, table tennis, boating, daily competitions, bingo on the beach just to name but a few of the facilities on offer. A short coach trip away is Dolphin cove where you can swim with the dolphins, ...

katiejordan 15.09.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of General: Jamaica