Holiday to Jamaica - what's the point?

[ImJustMadAboutSaffron]

On a call with a friend last night, she mentioned that her sister and her partner are going to Jamaica in April next year. They are staying in a hotel that is one of three similar, and plan to spend all their time around the hotels as they don't feel safe out and about in Jamaica (I'm not sure what resort it is, my friend didn't know).

I don't see the point in this, as it is no experience of a place, culture or anything different to what you would find in any old "fully inclusive" holiday.

Has anyone been to Jamaica and felt unsafe? What do you think?

We went in a hotel taxi to a shopping place for tourists. The taxi driver tried to get us to go to another place that he said was cheaper, and no doubt he’d get a cut of the profit too. When we said no the atmosphere in the taxi changed and I felt very uncomfortable.
it’s not a place I’d go back to.

As I hate the sun and hot weather, I know this wouldn’t be the place for me. But, as a pp said, the cultural sites and waterfalls sound amazing, as does the food!

I've never understood why people go on holiday and never leave the complex for two weeks as it's not safe.

I’ve travelled quite a lot and Jamaica is probably the only place I would never return to. I felt really unsafe. Completely agree with OP, what’s the point in such a long and expensive trip when you daren’t leave the resort?

Please do some research before you do this. It really isn’t at all comparable to going to the USA!

I don't think expressing a difference of opinion is sneering. It's somewhere I wanted to go when I watched Cocktail with Tom Cruise when I was about 16 (many years after it came out!) and I had no concept of danger. I couldn't sit by a pool all day anywhere and to me it seems samey whether it is in Jamaica, Spain or Skegness! I agree with you. I think you'd see more on a Caribbean cruise, actually.

Maybe she’s into the water sports. BBQs on the beach with a steel band, jerk chicken and recharging from home/work life.

Presumably the resort itself includes a lovely room, beautiful pools, watersports, food good, cocktails, sea... I think I could cope with reading a book somewhere like that for a week or so! I would prefer somewhere you could travel around more, but it's daft to say you could get the same experience by staying at home/Cornwall/resort in Spain.

I'd suggest to go to Barbados instead. We went when DS1 was a baby and although we stayed in an all inclusive hotel we travelled round the island on public busses and the odd taxi, met lots of nice people and went to some beautiful places, like the Andromeda Gardens, where there were hardly any tourists. We went to the (horse) races which was far more exuberant than in this county. All the older ladies we met wanted to admire DS1 and offer advice as I was clearly a new and not very experienced mother. The Carribean is beautiful and friendly , no need to go to the parts of it that are not safe.

Lots of people go to a place and never step outside the resort apart from a few guided day trips. Different strokes for different folks?

St Lucia is my favourite Caribbean island, I’ve been to a lot of them.

If the friend's sister had posted that she was considering going to Jamaica but wanted to stay in a hotel for the full two weeks because she was scared to go out and about, she would probably get different responses, but because I've mentioned it is someone else, I'm told I am snobby, sneering and judgemental.

Mumsnet can be a funny old place, can't it?

I don't think you understand what these resorts are like. It isn't just a hotel, they have multiple pools, restaurants, bars, watersports, etc. its complete luxury and you do very much get to experience the culture.

If it was someone considering going to Jamaica but unsure whether to go or not due to the safety issue you’d get very different responses. From your OP I gathered the person going already knows it’s unsafe but doesn’t care as they have no intention of leaving the resort. Apologies if I’ve misinterpreted though.

Dear God, you'd miss out on so much!

We went room only to a boutique hotel in Negril and had all our meals out. Including jerk chicken from the hut on the main road, fresh patties and Coco bread and out to lovely restaurants every night. It was part of the experience. I loved it.

That said my husband lived there for a while and can speak patois so that helped.

Surely it depends what they like doing on holiday. If they want great weather, nice beach, swimming pools, maybe a spa, good food, entertainment then why not go for a resort holiday. If someone wants local culture, local history, local foods then it's just a different holiday. Personally I like both types - sometimes we just go to a resort to chill and enjoy the facilities, at other times we like to do more and see more. A resort break is great in the winter (my view) as you get a real boost from being in the sun and swimming when it's cold in the UK.

You do have a point tbh OP Jamaica is a long way and it's an expensive holiday.

People need to research. Jamaica is popular even amongst the elderly and its also known for the "vibe" the people are friendly. Good music/atmosphere.

My Grandparents are Jamaican I'm very familiar I don't view it anyway more dangerous than Turkey.

There's dunns River, Bob Marleys House and Rick's Cafe to explore & lots more. TUI offer trips the Island is beautiful.

Surely you friend could go out in the day surely? I flew by myself to Dominican Republic with my 4 year old...we did 2 trips it was fabulous

I’ve just got back from Jamaica. The people were really friendly from the moment we got off the plane. Granted, a pensioner on our coach was offered weed almost immediately but he declined and was fine!

Your sister and partner will be able to book guided excursions which I hope they do because it’s a fantastic place. I’ve stayed in Europe the last few years and it’s not similar at all. We really, really enjoyed it. The food was amazing, as was the strong cocktails. We visited a great house and sugar plantation, went bamboo rafting and to waterfalls. Just fab. I’m still on a high from it. You need to encourage them to leave site.

I have been to Jamaica and didn’t leave the hotel. (I probably have family there as we have a Jamaican branch of our family)

i wasn’t going to Jamaica to experience the culture or trace family. I often go to countries where I have no interest in the culture.
I go to escape the grey skies and rain of the U.K.
Jamaica was wonderful, sun, blue skies, beach, scuba diving and snorkelling, lying in the warm shade and going for a swim in the pool

I do a very physical job and also have arthritis. Maybe if you are office based or have a job that doesn’t make you physically exhausted you might be more inclined to get out and about on holiday.
For me I want to rest and recharge and not have to go anywhere.
I need that at least once per year. (Really suffering since lockdown as haven’t had a holiday since Spring 2019)

I do want to go to Rome and Paris at some point next year where I will wander around and do all the touristy stuff but I need that 2 weeks in the sun sometime in the colder weather where I can look after my physical self.

No way would I do that.
I really don't think Jamaica is safe for tourists without a guide.

We went to Jamaica. We did one sunset cruise but spent the rest of the two weeks on resort. For us it's better service than you get in Spain ect. The food is nicer. Just generally a nicer experience. I don't need to be immersed in the local culture just because I am visiting a certain country. In fact I specifically book resorts that I know will serve me food that is typically British/American.

How is this any difference to those who go AI in Spain for a fortnight and never leave the hotel because "everything's paid for"? Apart from maybe one day at the nearest beach. Some want to experience different places and cultures and some just want cocktails and a sun lounger.

I've never been to Jamaica but I'm a member of a community that holds an event in Jamaica every year. Many of the people who attend are women, and a lot of people go alone or meet up with friends there. The general consensus is that the resort they stay at for the event is fine, and they feel safe there, but I know of people who have stayed in other hotels prior to this event. They say that it doesn't feel as safe and the staff advised them not to leave the hotel after dark. The women get constantly hit on as well.

Jamaica? No, she went by herself.

Sorry, as you were.

Seriously it's a lovely place. Why wouldn't you go if you could?

Well Europe won't have as good weather in April as Jamaica, so presumably that's why they're going. I might consider it if I could afford long haul.

I love an all inclusive and if it's a big resort I don't feel the need to leave the hotel much. I am a single parent with children including teenage girls and I'm very aware that in some parts of the world we could be quite vulnerable, so if I went to Jamaica I might well just stay in the resort

I'm over 50 and tired, work full time, have several children and love warm weather, so to me a holiday is a week of not having to work, cook , clean and I can relax in nice surroundings with my book while my kids are entertained in the pool and can fetch their own snacks and drinks. I don't need to be out and about every day.