My wife and I haven’t had a full-on adults only vacation in years and years. Now that both our kids are pretty much out of the house and we’re empty nesters, we decided to pull the trigger and do a grown-up vacation at a resort in Montego Bay in February.
We’ve been told to stay at the resort and never leave the grounds. I’ve done some internet research and people who’ve been to Jamaica say the danger warnings are overblown, at least in the heavily populated touristy areas. Today my wife sent me info that Jamiaca has recently been downgraded to ‘Level 3 - Reconsider Travel’ status by the Dept. of State.
So what’s the straight dope? We do have cancellation insurance. Is it really that bad right now in Jamaica, or might it be in February? We hadn’t considered the ‘trump’ effect on American tourists by that time. I know during trump 1.0, Americans abroad often pretended to be from Canada.
Assuming we decide to take the risk, please share any tips or suggestions on making the most of our trip. One thing I’m hoping to do is to try an authentic jerk meal and see how it compares to jerk I’ve had (and made) here in the states. In order to do that we’d probably have to leave the resort, I’m guessing. I read that hiring a guide / driver is a good idea if we do decide to venture off the resort proper.
No place is perfect, but “stay at the resort and never leave the grounds” seems almost ridiculous.
I spent a week last year in the Montego Bay area staying a regular hotel (i.e. not an all inclusive resort). We went to downtown MoBay (as it is locally known), Doctor’s Cave beach, and the historic city of Falmouth, using taxis and local buses. Never felt unsafe and did not have any problems. We weren’t out late at night. Just take normal precautions and you’ll be fine,
We tried a few restaurants but frankly the food wasn’t any better than average Jamaican food I’ve had in the States. Maybe you will have better luck.
Reading the State Department notice where State specifically prohibits their own employees from traveling to defined areas because of high crime you should take serious notice. State employees live there. They know the areas. Believing casual visitor comments as overblown vs people who live there is a mistake.
You have plenty of time to decide if you later cancel. Pay regular attention. And don’t equate the policies of Trump 1.0 with with Trump 2.0 as it unfolds. Everything will be very different. We just don’t know.
Thanks! This is the kind of first-person experience info I was hoping for.
Point taken, but as someone who went to school, lived and worked in the city of Detroit for around 5 years in the 80s, I imagine it’s a somewhat similar situation. I quickly learned which areas were reasonably safe and which areas to avoid, especially at night.
^^This. I’m from the Detroit area as well, and I laugh when people tell me how dangerous other places are. I just returned from the Philippine island of Mindanao which was given a no travel warning by the state department and saw no signs or news of violant activity.
A guy was kidnapped and killed a couple of weeks ago by Islamic bad guys and the news played it up. And then thay mention that some tourist were kidnapped and beheaded 7 years ago. This is like a less than normal week in Detroit. And they play down that these people were either being harasses previously or were hanging around dangerous characters.
I was in Montego Bay 5-6 years ago. We stayed on the resort most of the time, but we did take a taxi in to the city for half a day. I don’t remember it being all that bad, and nothing really screamed at me being unsafe.
The worst was all of the people trying to sell me pot, every other person was, even people walking on the beach. But they accepted no with no problem.
We enjoyed the bioluminescent bay. It’s shallow, maybe 4 feet deep, so if you jump in it may take you by surprise. The bottom is pretty muddy too, and thick.
I’ve only been to one all-inclusive, in Cancun but personally I never felt the need to leave the resort. There were resort-sponsored trips to the Tulum ruins and into town but the buses left at like 0800 and I was not getting up for that.
I was only there for a weekend though, for a friend’s wedding, so maybe if I was staying longer I would have gone off the resort into Cancun. This was about 20 years ago.
I have been to several Caribbean islands over the years. If you are going to hire a driver or get a taxi ask the hotel staff for assistance and/or recommendations. They should be able to steer you in the right direction.
I have found that hiring a driver worked well even though it is more expensive.
I was the opposite when I stayed at a resort in Montego Bay (The Half Moon). I spent most of my time off the resort. This was long ago, but I had a blast. I even went “home” with a guy who lived and worked on a cane field. Went to his shack, and he pulled out a machete which scared me for a second, but he was just showing it to me.
At Bob Marley’s birthplace/museum there was a guy who gave me shit because I was white, and Marley’s cause of death was malignant melanoma which he said was caused by him having white blood in his background. A bunch of other locals took my side, though, which was cool.
Hey, I’m not usually one to lose my head over one of my threads going off on a bit off tangent, but maybe we’re getting a wee bit off track with the decapitation stuff?
Great Jamaica story! As I’ve said before, I love your vacation stories.
I was in Jamaica in late June and early July, during Hurricane Beryl. It was my fifth trip. We stay in Negril, because I’m into 7 mile beach, and we now have friends there.
I stayed in Montego Bay last November for 2 days, but I was injured and trapped in the condo so I can’t report on anything there. I don’t like staying in a big city, though my kids and their partners all find things to do there.
We’ve stayed at Airbnb rentals and one not inclusive hotel. We’ve rented cars, and relied on host recommend taxis. Except this last trip, where a friend took time off to stay with us and drive us around. Thank goodness, because he and the house manager made our stay during the hurricane much less miserable.
I take my grandsons. The youngest first went at 7, and we didn’t worry much about him.
The worst part is the ‘vendors’ who are constantly hustling. Just say no and keep walking.
I’ve had all my best massages in Jamaica.
Don’t go places alone late at night. Lock up your valuables. Don’t flash your cash. You know, like downtown in the big city.
ETA: I’m a middle-aged white woman who could be beat up by the grandkid I take with me. I’m not scared to go to Jamaica and do things.
When I arrived at the Half Moon my “maid” took me to my room after I arrived. English was her second language. She pointed out the amenities, etc. I was traveling solo.
Before she left, she asked if I wanted her to rub me. I assumed I misheard her. She said she could rub me hard, and flexed her arms to show she was strong. I had no idea what she was talking about. She took a little notepad out of her apron pocket, looked through it, then smiled and said, “massage”. I politely declined.
On the fourth day of my stay I returned to my room and the pile of dirty clothes I’d left on the second bed was gone. I figured the maid tidied up, so I looked in the closet. Nope. Looked in the dressers. Nope. Looked frantically everywhere but my dirty clothes were gone!
I figured she thought I meant to discard items I’d worn?! I rolled a big joint and relaxed. I had enough clothing for my stay. The next day I returned to my room and found out she had taken my clothes and laundered them! Everything was neatly folded, hung up or put in drawers! I tipped well.
Breakfast was made by our breakfast chef. Our villa had me and a young couple with a little kid. On my last day I took the cannabis I had left and asked the breakfast chef if he could add it to my meal. He was happy to. The flight home was interesting.
That looks like it yes. I enjoyed it, and we went in Feb so the same time you’re going. I would say you should be able to book it through the resort. They will take you over most likely as well, or even pick you up in the boat.
It’s been many years since I went to Jamaica, so the accepted practices may have changed, but I was told tipping via cash in the all-inclusive resort I visited wasn’t allowed. Apparently muggers had attacked staff in the past as they left the resort to get the cash tips.
Our resort provided a list of recommended “tip” items for the staff. I can’t remember what they were – maybe things like personal toiletry items and such – but we packed a number of those and gave them out.
We stayed at a resort in Ocho Rios, about two hours away from Montego Bay. The roads there were interesting, to say the least, and our resort driver stopped a couple of times to pick up hitchhikers. That was different.
