Thinking of taking my pot smoking girl friend on a first time trip for both of us to Jamaica.... Any suggestions on the place and things to do? and the places and the things not to do?
thanks
b d
thanks
b d
Jamaica Holiday
- Thread starter big dogie
- Start date
Can't speak to the pot smoking which I believe the laws only relaxed in 2015 but I went on vacation in Ocho Rios a few years back and once was enough. The street begging drove me crazy - worse I've encountered in the tropics by far. They would line up and approach you one after the other - i was even offered to get corn cobs in my short hair. I did notice that they waited until the current pitch was finished so I paid a kid $20 just to walk the town with me.
Maybe it's changed but I like to wander not to keep in the gated resort area (even the beach was gated to keep out the beggars).
Maybe it's changed but I like to wander not to keep in the gated resort area (even the beach was gated to keep out the beggars).
Published on Jan 23, 2016
As most Jamaicans know, the dollar continues to slide like an avalanche with no stop in sight so as the Jamaican money becomes more and more worthless the people are forced to rely on various means to make ends meet. One of the most common practice seems to be begging. Begging has become such a big problem that even expats of the island are choosing to go to all inclusive resorts when they visit the island where they can hide, go unnoticed, and enjoy the island without being begged. Souflotv talks about the different types of beggers and how we deal with them. For more videos on Jamaican and all things Jamaican world wide, subscribe to SOUFLOTV.
everything in jamaica is a tourist trap. dunns river falls is a nice excursion. ochi is the place to go for crappy souvenirs. bob marleys house was okay. you can hit hedonism for 6hours all you can drink and eat for $150. there is a haunted plantation if I remember correctly. swim with the dolphins. 7 mile beach is beautiful and there are loads of bars on the beach. cliff diving. loads of shit
dont pay more than $30 for a huge cola of weed. anymore and you are totally gettiing ripped off. remember all you need to do is walk 5 steps and someone else will be selling. dont buy from the airport. most of the hotel staff, taxi, pretty much anyone can find it. its just another way to make income. if you find a taxi driver you like you can pay him to visit a weed plantation. I havent been to one myself, yet.
personally I like backpacking/hiking during the day. great way to find local food and meet some interesting people.
as for weed. you can carry but only so much then it becomes a crime. then again just dont smoke it when the cops or around or out in public/busy places.
dont pay more than $30 for a huge cola of weed. anymore and you are totally gettiing ripped off. remember all you need to do is walk 5 steps and someone else will be selling. dont buy from the airport. most of the hotel staff, taxi, pretty much anyone can find it. its just another way to make income. if you find a taxi driver you like you can pay him to visit a weed plantation. I havent been to one myself, yet.
personally I like backpacking/hiking during the day. great way to find local food and meet some interesting people.
as for weed. you can carry but only so much then it becomes a crime. then again just dont smoke it when the cops or around or out in public/busy places.
I usually just stay in Montego Bay at one of the all inclusives. I've stayed at the Iberostar in MoBay and the Hilton. I prefer the Hilton as it's run more like a Hilton you would find in Canada or the US. They also have more authentic local foods. My wife is Jamaican and the staff will sneak her what they eat as opposed to the too sweet jerk chicken, or they will go to the market and bring her fruits that they don't serve the tourists.
If pot is your thing, along the far end of the beach at the Iberostar Rosehall, there is a make shift shack where a few locals live and sell trinkets and pot to the tourists. There's also a guy who spends his days in a carved out canoe just beyond the roped off section of the beach selling pot and trinkets. I've seen many Canadian tourists buy pot from him or get in his canoe and smoke a jay with him. Guy seems friendly enough.
In in terms of what to do....I recommend hiring a taxi driver at the hotel to take you around. He will stay with you for the day and you won't get hassled by the locals or beggars. Negril is about 1.5 hr drive from MoBay. Beautiful beach and you can grab a drink or two at Rick's cafe and watch people dive from the cliffs, or you can do it yourself as well. Along the way to Negril, you can stop along the highway and buy a fresh coconut and drink the juice from it. Lots of good local restaurants in MoBay and it's relatively safe, although I've never gone to a club there and stayed out til 3am.
The other way is Ocho Rios or Ochi. You can climb the Dunns river falls, do a tour of the blue mountains where the famous coffee is grown and see the Dole pineapple plantation. I would pay the hotel tour company to do this as it is a full day trip (3 hr drive one way) and would be more comfortable in a tour bus with washroom facilities.
They also have snorkelling and swimming with dolphins but it's not Mexico so snorkelling isn't the best as they dont have a coral reef and I would never swim with dolphins that's held in captivity.
If you're into duty free shopping, the Iberostar and Hilton is located in an area called Rose Hall and there's a high end plaza there (Shoppes of Rose Hall) where you can buy jewellery and watches. I bought my Rolex, IWC and Panerai at fairly good prices when the exchange rate was much better than it is now. If you know what you want, you can call them ahead of time, put a deposit down and when you arrive at the hotel, you can call them and they send a driver to pick you up and get your watch.
It is a poor third world country so you do have to keep your eyes open and don't do stupid things like flash your gold or fancy watches around town and you'll be fine.
If pot is your thing, along the far end of the beach at the Iberostar Rosehall, there is a make shift shack where a few locals live and sell trinkets and pot to the tourists. There's also a guy who spends his days in a carved out canoe just beyond the roped off section of the beach selling pot and trinkets. I've seen many Canadian tourists buy pot from him or get in his canoe and smoke a jay with him. Guy seems friendly enough.
In in terms of what to do....I recommend hiring a taxi driver at the hotel to take you around. He will stay with you for the day and you won't get hassled by the locals or beggars. Negril is about 1.5 hr drive from MoBay. Beautiful beach and you can grab a drink or two at Rick's cafe and watch people dive from the cliffs, or you can do it yourself as well. Along the way to Negril, you can stop along the highway and buy a fresh coconut and drink the juice from it. Lots of good local restaurants in MoBay and it's relatively safe, although I've never gone to a club there and stayed out til 3am.
The other way is Ocho Rios or Ochi. You can climb the Dunns river falls, do a tour of the blue mountains where the famous coffee is grown and see the Dole pineapple plantation. I would pay the hotel tour company to do this as it is a full day trip (3 hr drive one way) and would be more comfortable in a tour bus with washroom facilities.
They also have snorkelling and swimming with dolphins but it's not Mexico so snorkelling isn't the best as they dont have a coral reef and I would never swim with dolphins that's held in captivity.
If you're into duty free shopping, the Iberostar and Hilton is located in an area called Rose Hall and there's a high end plaza there (Shoppes of Rose Hall) where you can buy jewellery and watches. I bought my Rolex, IWC and Panerai at fairly good prices when the exchange rate was much better than it is now. If you know what you want, you can call them ahead of time, put a deposit down and when you arrive at the hotel, you can call them and they send a driver to pick you up and get your watch.
It is a poor third world country so you do have to keep your eyes open and don't do stupid things like flash your gold or fancy watches around town and you'll be fine.
Don't you mean your short list?apparently there is a strip bar that does live sex shows with a midget. still on my to do list
thanks so far with the advise... also we enjoy reggae... anything i should know or best places.... thx again
I too have been to Jamaica 8 times.First few trips were in the 80's ,before the All Inclusives and Cruise Ships ,and have great memories of those trips.I have travelled across the country ,into the interior and stayed in Ocho,Negril and Mo Bay,it is truly a beautiful island with beautiful people.I love the food ,music(have seen Bob Marley prior to his early death) and of course weather.
Having said that ,it is a far different place today ,and I believe it has to do with a number of factors.
The restaurants and bars we frequented in the 80's and early 90's are in large part gone ,as the all inclusives ,and cruises feed the masses,these mom and pop cultural gems just couldn't keep up with the changing times.Sad but true.
As a jeweller ,I see many people get upset when told the Deal was in fact not,watches apart ,this country produces Bauxite,Sugar and Weed ,why do you think you'd get a deal on a diamond?
The begging is sad,and my last few trips have each had instances of VERY Aggressive ,and in one case violent behavior ,I for one am done with travelling here ,until a major change happens.
Having said that ,it is a far different place today ,and I believe it has to do with a number of factors.
The restaurants and bars we frequented in the 80's and early 90's are in large part gone ,as the all inclusives ,and cruises feed the masses,these mom and pop cultural gems just couldn't keep up with the changing times.Sad but true.
As a jeweller ,I see many people get upset when told the Deal was in fact not,watches apart ,this country produces Bauxite,Sugar and Weed ,why do you think you'd get a deal on a diamond?
The begging is sad,and my last few trips have each had instances of VERY Aggressive ,and in one case violent behavior ,I for one am done with travelling here ,until a major change happens.
I was walking a couple miles a day from westmoreland to negril during the low season by myself. I would take route taxis. I felt as if an outsider but people were polite and respectful. while I do believe in being cautious in a foreign country I did not feel at anytime in danger. word of advice dont go out at night unless you are in a tourist area and have a safe lift home. dont flash cash/celphones/technolgy and dress very modest. if people come up to you be polite and do not disrespect them. if you dont want to buy something tell them that you are not interested.
kingston. Ive never been but I have heard stories from people who were from jamaica to steer clear of kingston.
while it is a poor country they definitely understand that tourists are important to their lives. tourism is the backbone of their country.
Great advice. My wife has family in Kingston who run a chain of grocery stores and have shot guns behind the counter. They still get robbed a couple of times a year. Stay well clear of Kingston!
The touristy areas aren't bad, just don't look like a mark, but that could be difficult if you're burnt red like a lobster. Lol
For women, never go on a "walking tour" with a local, not matter how nice and sincere they appear, even if it's a hotel staff.
