Just returned from a five day stay in Jamaica and I must say, we will never go back! Although the country is beautiful it is also poverty stricken which was obvious! The locals often begged for your money or were very persistent in begging you to buy their crafts! There was a point when a group of us went to a local market and after about five minutes got back in our van to go back as we felt that our lives were in danger!! The staff at the resort also made it obvious that the more you tipped them the better service you received.
janwinterbridejoy
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Re: Jamaica was terrible!!!
im sorry you had a bad time
tracyg
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Re: Jamaica was terrible!!!
did you at least have a good time when you WEREN'T at the craft fairs? we were just there and that was the only bad thing about Jamaica.
Cindy
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Re: Jamaica was terrible!!!
So sorry you had to go through this. Where did you stay?
Xelindrya
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Re: Jamaica was terrible!!!
ick!
verdila
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Re: Jamaica was terrible!!!
Where did you stay? I went in '96 and stayed at an all-inclusive Braco Village which was new and beautiful then.
I thought the locals were nice on some of the tours and the island is absolutely beautiful.
But, I too did not like the experience at the craft markets and seeing the poverty around the island. The locals are very pushy at the craft markets. I also was accosted at the airport to buy red stripes and pot as soon as you get in the parking lot - which was annoying! Did you go to Dunn's River Falls or Martha Brae river rafting? Those were nice tours. I always now tell people who go there to stay away from the markets.
HearzBellz
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Re: Jamaica was terrible!!!
that stinks......I am sorry it wasn't great We had the same experience in the Bahamas. If you go through the towns on foot, you see alot of pushy sidewalk sales people sellig things like shell necklaces & 'coral' rings. If they see you buy from one person, they arrass you to buy theirs, too.
JimmysBride
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Re: Jamaica was terrible!!!
Was this your first time out of the country? Or maybe in the Carribean?
Did you know about Jamaica before you went down? Most of the countries in the caribbean are the same way..
nov04LIbride
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Re: Jamaica was terrible!!!
I have found that most Caribbean countries and Mexico as well are poverty-striken. Did you think the natives would be as affluent as the tourists? I have been warned to stay on the grounds of any all-inclusive in Jamaica, but I think seeing the poverty is good as it makes us more aware of the state of the rest of the world. We are so used to living in a bubble here in the US, shielded from what everyone else goes through on a daily basis.
EvenEdan
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Re: Jamaica was terrible!!!
What resort did you stay at?
MayBride06
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Re: Jamaica was terrible!!!
Club Ambiance in Runaway Bay. I stayed at an all-inclusive in Negril a few years back but we never left the resort. I was in Turks and Caicos last September and Jamaica was nothing compared to the last trip. I am aware of the fact that this was a poverty stricken country but you forget at times that even the poorest person in NY is better of than the richest person in Jamaica. I wasnt so dissappointed with the poverty of the island just the fact that people actually asked for tips ahead of service and did not cater to us until we gave them a tip. This was an all inclusive resort and we did not need to tip however, i would have went hungry if we had not.
tracyg
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Re: Jamaica was terrible!!!
Posted by JAIME
This was an all inclusive resort and we did not need to tip however, i would have went hungry if we had not.
If it was an all inclusive, it should be against the rules for them to accept tips. At least i know Sandals is like that. Thats not right! I'd have b*tched BIG TIME about that!
