Is Jamaica safe?

[rainingagainn]

Just wondering if it's safe, I know it gets a bad rep for crime.

Would you take your family?

I can only give you my experience as a female travelling with another female friend... no! I didn't feel particularly safe. Nothing tragic happened but we were hassled relentlessly by local males selling "literally" all sorts, even when on the hotels' private beach. Worse when out and about.
This was 10 years ago though and it may have changed, but I wouldn't go back. There are better Carribean islands without the hassle imo.

Absolutely safe. I've been several times. This year we took a trip to Kingston, even had a walk around Trench Town to go and see where Bob Marley grew up. Locals were super friendly, advising us where good murals were and other points of interest. The tourist traps tend to have people trying to sell you their merch, but so do a lot of tourist places around the world 🤷‍♀️

I really liked Jamaica.

Stayed at a lovely resort and took local taxis when we wanted to explore.

We went to a local town which had all amenities. I felt it had a 'gritty' feel to it.
Overall people were friendly.

I was offered drugs but politely declined.

However. I was 'flashed' at by a man with the most enormous penis that I have ever seen.

I wasn't phased by it and just kept on walking.

Thank you all for taking time to reply.

Appreciate all the comments. It's unlikely we would leave the hotel compound, although have done in other Caribbean islands.

Why would you go then, if you don't intend to leave the hotel?

Dh has been and a friend of mine, both thought it the dodgiest place ever. Both warned taxi drivers sometimes ‘kidnap’ people and demand money to bring them back. Dh spoke to a couple that had had it happen to them. Both said most unsettling vibes and so poor it was really sad.

What's the point in going if you're not going to leave the hotel resort? It's draw for me is the people, the music, the culture the beauty of the Island. If you stay in the resort you miss out on all that. You can go on group tours with a guide who will look after you if you are too afraid to head out on your own, It would be a shame not to go out and see what the country has to offer.

Why go? For a bit of winter sun, when I say we wont leave the resort I find sight seeing with two under 5 a bit stressful, plus I need to think about prams/ car seats in taxis etc.

I find there's usually enough in a nice hotel complex to keep us busy, water sports, beaches etc.

Fair enough. RIU Ocho Rios is a good Resort for families. They have a great kids club with loads of activities for them. Very child friendly hotel.

What a long flight for some sea and sun and a decidedly stressful environment with under 5s. There has to be somewhere closer to home OP - Canaries/Balearics?

And no, I would not take a family to Jamaica.

I loved Jamaica I felt safe the whole time only odd thing was the taxi driver on the way to the hotel trying to sells us drugs (which we politely declined) and to be honest the worst behaviour I saw was tourists, the locals were lovely

Jamaicans are very friendly people
if you stay in and around the resorts you will
be fine tbh
Even visiting Kingston is fine if you hire a driver . Bob Marley’s home in Kingston was great to visit .
I loved Jamaica much more than I thought I would .