Jamaica

Human rights activists have given Jamaica the infamous title: “The Most Homophobic Place on Earth.” If you love your gay friends and family members, you won’t visit Jamaica. If you care about the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, you won’t buy Jamaican products.

Isn’t it time we stop rewarding this hate state with our tourism dollars? Isn’t it time to stop drinking Jamaican beverages, such as Myers Rum and Red Stripe Beer?

This nation should be avoided at all costs until the Jamaican government takes action to end the country’s virulently homophobic climate and draconian laws that persecute homosexuals. Until Jamaica takes the following easy steps an official boycott is in effect:

1) Publicly commit to end gay bashing on the island and improve the human rights situation

2) A statement from the Prime Minister clearly and unequivocally condemning violence against GLBT people and expressing regret for past violence

Great

I went here when I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise. It was really pretty, but I got a horrible sunburn. Haha (:
The people there REALLY want you to buy their merchandise. They were constantly following me around, asking if they could braid my hair. But it was still very fun.

The CultureBob MarleyReggae

too many people harassing you… too many spring breaker types.

i went to the mountains with a guide and that was cool and i met some younger locals that i enjoyed hanging with, but overall people are constantly trying to separate you from your money every where you go.

i stayed at the cliffs above negril and the scenery was beautiful but i would never go back.

i feel sad to say this is the only place on my list of places ive been that i think was not worth visiting. (though my boyfriend would be upset if he know i felt this way!) my boyfriend took me there a few years ago and at the time i was very ill (not like just a common cold ill) but we couldnt cancel the trip so i had go to anyway under the circumstances. so i guess that might have already right off the bat made it a bad trip for me.
but despite that, no doubt jamaica itself is very beautiful naturally, lots of trees and water. we did stay in one of those ‘all inclusive’ resorts which was not really my style, but it wasnt my choice since it was really his trip. i felt very bored and trapped there, and even within the resort i did not feel completely safe or that the people were welcoming at all.
the short time that we were either en route to the resort or airport was depressing because the areas that we saw, the people were in very bad living conditions and people did drive very fast, it was scary.
i wanted to like it there, but it just gave me an eerie feeling. i’d rather not go to a place where i feel unsafe!

if i were to recommend an all inclusive resort (for those who like that sort of thing) in a tropical setting, i would have to say mexico is a better bet. i once visited one on the riviera maya and it was much more friendly and enjoyable and actually cheaper than jamaica.

Saw Sean Paul and SNOW!! (Informer, ladaladdadllala I lick your boom boom down, and so on)

Great time, stayed at cheap hotel for spring break. Downside was that we were there when the war started, oh so many years ago.

Get some fresh fruit.
Bring cheaper phone cards to use.
Go see some waterfalls.

lovely beach
too many people harrasing you
trying to sell you drugs
not alot of shops
or entertainment

The country has been literally plundered and the population lives in shacks, stoned with ganja. Even the sea has been sold by the ruling elite to Japanese fish industries. Nothing is left for local people. Staying there is being constantly confronted with poverty and agressive beggary. I felt ashamed, and I could feel the widespread resentment against white people, let alone the pervading prostitution : some aging fat texan women kissing 2 black boys at a time…Never again !

Jamaica is beautiful, no doubt about it, but I did not enjoy my time there. I was there for a day, on a cruise, and did not have an opportunity to get away from the tourist areas.

I remember being harassed to have my hair braided, to buy everything under the sun, and not in a subtle fashion. My brother was solicited for sex numerous times.

We had a lot of fun at Margaritaville, again a tourist area, and not 3 feet for the door we were being asked to buy pot. I realize I was in the tourist trap areas, but the experience turned me off visiting the more remote areas.

Friends have said “go to Jamaica, stay at an all inclusive and don’t leave unless you are going to the airport”. I’m the explorer type… sitting at the resort for a week holds no allure for me.