Is Ocho Rios That Bad???

[lifeisgoodPat]

[quote name='BaconIsGood']We booked a tour to Mystic mountain (I think) and took the chairlift to the top, amazing views Jamaica was really beautiful. Had no problems with the locals, in fact, after reading these boards were expecting the worst. We could not have been more wrong, everyone we encountered were very nice! Id say book a tour and avoid shopping in this port.[/QUOTE]

We also went there. We all loved that excursion and Ocho Rios itself. It is the most beautiful Island. We didn't even go to town. The view of our ship from the top of the mountain was spectacular. We also rode the bobsled on that same mountain and had a blast.:D

[IslandSliderGirl]

We cruised on the Destiny last month and made a port stop in Ocho Rios. We took the the tour to Mystic Mountain and it was beautiful. Rode the skylift, had lunch at the top, swam in the infinity pool. Very relaxing and the views were incredible. Afterwards we stopped at Taj Mahal for some souvenir shopping. We like to collect local stamps from our ports of call and got directions to the post office. The post office was about a four block walk from the Taj Mahal. It was the longest walk of our lives, not because it was far, but because we felt like we were being assaulted from all sides. One of the locals asked where we were headed and he 'escorted' us to the post office, waiving others away as we walked down the street. It got so bad that at the post office I requested a taxi.....yes, a taxi to drive us back FOUR blocks. The local waived down a taxi and we quickly tried to get in the car and leave. My husband gave the local a tip for his help and he actually asked for more money. While we were trying to get in the taxi and leave many others tried to approach to get us to come to their shops, hand us a 'free' CD, etc. My husband kept trying to give the CD back but the man refused to take it, insisting of money. It was a very unpleasant experience. My advise would be to stick with a tour and not venture out on your own in this particular port of call.

[oregonrebel]

Cant be any worse then Belize... Our friends got robbed right in the market 20 feet outside the Carnival Village... Bought some stuff from venders then got approached by 5 "cops" and taken into a bathroom and accused of buying drugs. Took all his money, rings and stuff he had bought..... I'm sure it can happen at any port though...

[cruzinlisa]

My mom and I went there a couple of years ago and I really enjoyed it. They are very pushy there. The only place I can recall being were the vendors were even close to as pushy was Mexico, and Ochos Rios was much worse. However, I never felt unsafe there. We took a taxi to Dunns River falls to look (had no desire to do a full tour). Our taxi driver warned us they would be pushy and he waited for us. We also went to the market and went shopping and Margaritaville. We were just fine. Just remember a few things:
1. Nothing is "free". Sometimes they offer you "free" stuff that they want you to pay for. (like the free beads they gave my mom and then asked her to pay them $2).
2. "No thank you" is universal. Just be firm but polite.
3. Pay in small bills. If you manage to barter someone to $5 for an item that they wanted $20 for, don't expect to pay them with a $20 and get change. The price will go up instantly.
4. If you are going to buy something shop around. They will barter with you and pretty much everyone has the same stuff. Try to spread your money out and not spend too much with one person.

[F22Smitty]

[quote name='BaconIsGood']We booked a tour to Mystic mountain (I think) and took the chairlift to the top, amazing views Jamaica was really beautiful. Had no problems with the locals, in fact, after reading these boards were expecting the worst. We could not have been more wrong, everyone we encountered were very nice! Id say book a tour and avoid shopping in this port.[/quote]

Mystic Mountain was great. We did the Bobsled, what a blast.

We have been to Ocho Rios 5 times and love the place. Jamaica is a beautiful island.

We are in our 60's and have seen the good and the bad. The first time we were there we were intimidated by the aggressiveness of the vendors and how run down it was. They have really cleaned the place up since the 90's.

The last time we were there in March of 2011, we actually walked to the shopping center (the Taj-Mahal sp?) across from the port and back with no problems. We talked with the vendors and the people and told them how nice everyone was and how clean it was.

Sure Jamaican's can be intimidating if you let them and they will push it if you act intimidated. But if you talk with them like there a person, you will have no problems.

[YlangYlangF9PB3E]

"I happen to love Ocho Rios...been there several times and always go to Dunn's River. As everyone else said, just say "no thank you" and they are for the most part very kind.

Have a blast!"


Kind, you say? Oh brother, did we have an opposite experience. I would NEVER go back to Dunns River Falls if my life depended upon it. It was, by far, the scariest place we've ever been. Say "no" to those vendors? HA! They trail after you, yelling obscenities.

[dredawg]

Having lived in Jamaica for a couple of years after an amazing holiday I know what an amazing place it really is. I would suggest you book a tour(as others have said) and get out of the whole port area. Go on to CC and find a great tour guide that can drive you around the island, take you to the falls which is much better when done on your own and about a quarter of the time leaving time for lots of other beautiful spots that won't be filled with all your fellow cruisers. Port does not in any way represent the true spirit of the island. When a vendor approaches you ....smile and say no thanks..please do not grab your bag and clutch it to your chest or grab onto your husband with a look of pure terror. I can't count how many times a day I saw this and as the vendors are harmless they will be offended by your fear of them and play up to you. Once out of the port area you will see that Jamaica is a truly a splendid island as are the Jamaican people...Can't wait to go back!!!

[jebuell]

I love Jamaica. Never had an issue with the vendors. It's actually my favorite place to do some souveneir shopping so I usually work with the vendors a bit.

[cmorie]

We were just in Ocho Rios on Monday. We didn't experience overly pushy vendors but they were pretty persistent. Like I know they see you saying "no thanks" to the guy 5 feet before them so why ask again? It wasn't horrible. We didn't have an excursion booked. We just walked off the ship for a while, turned around bought some t-shirts, stopped at Island Village, and went back to the ship for lunch and sail away. We were offered illegal drugs a couple times. Said no thanks and kept it moving.

However after the lady gave us a warning about following random people offering to take you places I was pretty much ready to go back the other direction. The further we walked the less "tropical" it looked. The vendors were more annoying than making me feeling unsafe.

If we ever went back I'd do an independant excursion. Just walking around is only cool one time.