Jamaica for Honeymoon?

AndreaDH91483 · September 29, 2004

I'm trying to convince my fiance that it would be nice to honeymoon in Jamaica, either as part of a cruise or a seperate land vacation. I was wondering if this is a good choice? I'm starting to win him over but he still isn't 100% sure that it's a good idea. He loves Jamaican food and we both think that the other areas of the Carribean we have been to were nice. However, he is insisting that he does not want to go to Jamaica because he has heard that marijuana is rampant there. He said he doesn't want to be on his honeymoon if people are going to be constantly shoving pot in his face trying to get him to buy it. My argument was that there's just as big of a problem with drugs here in the U.S., but he's somehow convinced himself that in Jamaica, people run around smoking pot in public and trying to pressure the tourists into smoking it. He has VERY low tolerance for any kind of situation involving drugs. For those of you that have been there, is Jamaica as bad as he thinks?

bonniemari · September 29, 2004

We spent our honeymoon in Jamaica ten yrs ago. I would recommend if you decide to go to Jamaica to pick a nice all inclusive resort and stay there. We mostly stayed at our resort and the one time we did venture outside of the gates I must say it was a scary experience. But inside the resort things were wonderful.

It was my first time out of the good ole USA and we were approached by someone asking if we wanted to buy some MJ and also trying to get us to go away from the shopping plaza to look at the things they had to sell down a dirt road. Just said no thanks and kind of walked off.

I have been back to Jamacia several times on cruises since then and now I know how to treat the MJ sellers, cab drivers and hair braiders-I just ignore them.

You might look into a resort in Bahamas or Cancun or even Aruba. I have been on land vacations to these places quite a few times and just felt a whole safer there walking around than I did in Jamaica.

Kuyaba · September 30, 2004

I go to Jamaica every year and don't stay in all-inclusives. But, I do suggest one for you, especially for your honeymoon. There are wonderful AI's in Jamaica. It's a beatiful island. If you are at an AI, there is heavy security and they won't let anyone onto the property who is not staying there. So, no worry. I always go to Negril. But, I do suggest that you go off the property to see more of Jamaica, but go with a tour guide. Some of the AI's include some excursions. I don't know about Ocho Rios or other parts of Jamaica, but in Negril, if you want to go to a beach bar at night to hear some live reggae, you would not walk, but get a cab to take you to Alfreds or Burbon Beach (whichever night there is music there). It's safe, but you may be asked a few times if you want to buy ganga, but just say no and it's no big deal. Then take a cab back - or you can probably arrange for the same driver to come back and pick you up a certain time. This is not the best message board for getting advice on a land vacation in Jamaica, so below I've posted some links to message boards of people to frequently visit Couples Resorts, Grand Lido and Sandals in Jamaica. Also, you can find out which of these resorts serve Jamaican food. For example, I have heard that the RUI resorts in Jamaica don't. I suggest that you look for advice on the at the following sites.

http://www.dennisphoto.com/wwwboard/index.htm

http://www.garion.tzo.com/lynn/jmessageboards.htm

http://www.greatindoors.netfirms.com/couples/

http://groups.msn.com/TheGrandLidoVisitorsHangout/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-us

http://debbiesreviews.proboards26.com/index.cgi?board=Jamaica