| | Ocho Rios, JamaicaPage 1 of 1 | Hey there,
Im going to Ocho Rios in Jamaica for 2 weeks in November and I just wondered if anyone here had been, if they had any recommendations on where to go and what to do and how gorgeous it is...
Yeah, so if you have or do... let me know :)
Thanks
PS) I am sooooo excited.. .I just want it to be here already | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 5/30/2008 2:09:44 PM | Stick around the tourist places, where there is a lot of police and armed guards. Don't wander off by yourself "to see the other side of town" you'll be mugged. When you take a taxi somewhere, have the driver wait for you, and make sure the taxi you're getting into IS a taxi. Weed will be offered to you in every corner, don't follow anybody behind the building to get anything (Cheap mon!) There are beggars who will grab you in everyplace the policing is lax. Be watchful. Stay with the crowds and have a good time.  | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 5/31/2008 7:38:06 PM | I have been there and didn't feel any more vulnerable than in Florida. Yes, be careful... No, don't wonder around alone after dark alone. Few police interferring with tourists compared to Florida. Not as many guns as in the US... no one offered us weed but we did smell it in the air at the local market. No one tried to mug us after dark. Beggars are not unlike US war vets who are stand near highways with signs asking for help. We didn't experience any violence or agression. At least, they don't have guns!
My advice? Stay at a minimum four star resort and enjoy! Take organized day trips to water falls and islands in groups and you will be fine. It is a gorgeous island. The people are wonderful and the beaches are awesome especially around Negril. | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 6/2/2008 1:07:33 AM | | Thanks for the info... I think the hotel we are staying in is a 5* :) Luckily the resort has everything there so we wont need to leave it that much, unless we go to the falls or margharitaville or somewhere... :) | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 6/3/2008 10:34:39 PM | | I really liked going to Dunn Falls. The resorts often have organized trips. The place I stayed would have trips to the falls and other places of interest. I liked it. Hope you have a great time. | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 6/4/2008 7:05:42 PM | I went to Jamaica last Nov, and would go back in a New York minute!!! I stayed at Couples in Sans Souci. It's about 5 min from Ocho Rios. It was soooo beautiful, and very private. No one was allowed on the beach to bother you selling things like some of the hotels . Also there were no children allowed. Not that I don't like children but this was an adult vacation.
Everyone was so friendly! just be careful as the others said. Always go with a driver that the hotel recomends and go with other couples. We went to Margaritaville ... what a riot!! That's a night I'll never forget.... Or never remember...lol.
The main reason I wrote is to tell you to hire a driver and have him take you to the Enchanted Forest. It's an old Hotel that's been closed for probably 20 years but the 20 acres of gardens and natural waterfalls are still mantained. It was the most beautiful , breathtaking place I have ever been!!! Please don't miss seeing this. Also I bought a purse in the market. made of coconut shells with a wooden handle.It's awesome!! You'll know them when you see them. I'll bet I've gotten a hundred compliments on it. So check them out. Your going to have soooo much fun!!!! I can't wait to go back someday. Sigh...... | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 6/5/2008 8:53:45 AM | I went to Jamiaca a few years ago. If you've never travelled to anywhere tropical, you'll enjoy it but you'll never really undertsand it until you go there. I stayed on the Blue Lagoon...where the film was made. It's past Ocho Rios and Port Antonio. I tend to travel a little differently than others so I rented a villa and a car (learned to drive on the right side of the road quickly). The house manager was my escort..which I don't usually do but it was nice to have a local to take me to places that I otherwise would not have known to go to. The local cuisine was excellent and I ate places that most people wouldn't dare. I always end up doing unique things that others would normally shy away from but that's probably because I lack fear and common sense that others possess. The resorts are all beautiful and will resemble resorts on any other tropical beach. As you drive along the coast, you will pass partitions/fences that separate each resort. I'm told the partitions go clear to the beach because the locals will actually boat along the coast to get to the beaches to solicit travelers to buy just about anything imaginable. (usually silly stuff..clothes, braids, shells, "local" art/jewelry) I never really felt unsafe there...even when I was alone and found myself talking to an old man and a young man way up in the mountains. The younger guy was standing on the edge of the road, complete with dreadlocks and a joint hanging from his mouth, trying to kill these little two inch long birds with a slingshot, for food! He admitted it was illegal.
Jaimaca is a very poor country but halfway civilized (compared to Haiti, Central America) . The one thing that would keep me from going back is the people. They will do anything, including trying to trick you or manipulate you into buying something from them. They will approach you and provide services for you without your consent/knowledge and then demand payment (window washing, bamboo raft rides, open air markets). They have adjusted their prices to match what they know most Americans will pay so don't think you are goign to get "a deal". I believe I was told the average monthly pay was about $ 7.00 US dollars. But don't expect to pay any less than $25.00 to $50.00 for braids, shells, etc. Now you see why they will HOUND you to get your money.
I went to O'hau, the Big Island, and Kaua'i Hawaii once for a week's respite. That was worth every penny. My favorite was Kaua'i....I had a nearly spirual experience there..Na Pali coastline, rainbows everywhere, not commercialized, beautiful waterfalls/terrain/beaches...and the people have pride in who they are.
Hope you have a great vacation. If you're just looking to be pampered and to relax..a resort is the place to be. | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 6/26/2008 5:37:25 AM | Last August - My cruise stopped by there for a day.
I did this ATV-Zip line exursion. The experience really kicked ass if you enjoy those rugged, athletic exursions. I also heard that Dunn Falls was pretty unbelivable. Some of my buddies climbed up it & went tubbing down the river there. So there is plenty to do. | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 7/12/2008 2:52:11 PM | | Princess....Jamaica is fabulous....just got back from my 10th trip....what resort will you be staying at?...I spend all my time in Run away Bays most popular resort... | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 7/12/2008 2:55:21 PM | | ru4real....Jamaica's average weekly salary at least in the resort industry is $60.00 US, per week.... Your information is closer to Cuba who's average salaries are $10-$12 US per month... | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 7/12/2008 2:58:55 PM | Novembers weather is a crap shoot....I was in Run Away Bay Nov. 2004, 2005 and 2006....I didn't go back in 2007 because one week of all 3 two week trips, poured down harder and longer (all day) then I've ever seen before.. Not sure if it matters but it was always the last two weeks of November... I'll keep my fingers crossed for you....and for me because I'm planning on booking the last week of Oct and first week of November......
p.s. I'm traveling solo but would change that in a heartbeat if anyone is looking for a travel mate.. | |
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luvja
| | Joined: 7/14/2008
Msg: 12 | |
| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 7/17/2008 6:35:01 PM | | I've been to Jamaica lots of times. I stay in the country just outside of Ochi. I personally do not like Ochi... it's too busy, too many people, too much stress. lol. I've been to Ochi 4 times, just for the day. You'd probably like it if you stayed on the resort, however I do not recommend you leaving the resort without a Jamaican local... You will be harrassed. Atleast thats what my friend and I found. But, have an amazing trip, I'm going back in December... been 3 times THIS YEAR already... My friend & I don't stay on a resort anymore so it's not that exspensive for us. Hope you end up loving Jamaica as much as I do. | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 7/18/2008 10:51:04 AM | Enjoy the jerk sauce. I had never heard of it until going to Jamaica; but now have found it in better grocer chains. Dunn's was fantastic and I was by myself doing it - while on my honeymoon.... that's a good indication as to why I divorced the guy.
The entire cruise didn't compare to the Jamaica disembarkment. | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 7/23/2008 6:33:55 PM | | Unless you are hanging on the arm of a large agressive guy don't get off the beaten path and don't even be last in line. Do buy some Jamican Blue Mountain coffee and do consider going somewhere else that is safer. My wife and I got seperated while we were there and ... | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 7/24/2008 5:08:06 AM | In all my trips I have never once left the resort for any reason.....I have a healthy fear of what can happen to you, in Jamaica..
I've been to Cuba 7 times in the last 4 years and I always leave the resort at least one day a week to mingle with the locals.....I've never feared anything in Cuba...likely the sweetest gentle people in the Caribbean... | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 7/24/2008 5:29:56 AM | | Jamaica is like any otehr big city, you have the do's and the Dont's. Anything that is offered by the resort is a DO. When you venture out on your own like in any big city, Sometimes Chit happens. Go have fun and be careful. | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 7/24/2008 6:19:39 PM | Wow, how does and American citizen get to Cuba? Is is possible? Where can I get more information please?
thanks in advance | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 7/24/2008 6:27:47 PM | | It's a fun place. Just be aware of the begging, and even more so, the big, I mean BIG joints that may be offered to you to smoke. As they say in Jamaica "no problem". Dunns Falls is a neat place to go to; also some of the farms. Google Jamaica, and I'm sure that the country itself has some recommendations. | |
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| Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Posted: 7/26/2008 9:51:38 PM | I have been there a few times myself, my uncles actually owns a couple of hotels down there, 2 of the "Sand Castles", lucky guy.
Anyways, Ocho Rios is safe on the main strip, the touristy area; just don't wander too far down the side streets if you know what I mean. When you are there, 2 MUSTS include snorkeling/scuba-diving and dunn's falls. Those two things I remember with fondness. Oh, and you MUST try their fruit smoothies... we have nothing like it in North America, that is for sure. | |
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