My daughter and new husband are planning to honeymoon in Jamacia during Dec - Jan 2005. Can anyone help us find inexpensive rentals. They'd love a room in a Jamacian family's home or small "shack on the beach" type place. Also any hints on places to go or don't miss as you explore the real Jamacia. Thanks for your help in advance. Angela
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We have a rental review for Jamaica on the Slow Travel website - click HERE to read - that sounds wonderful ... but it's for a large villa - not for honeymooners!
Angela, Do you know where in Jamaica they are interested in? I've stayed in Negril, which has a long stretch of beach dotted with all types of accomodations. Tell us a little more about the criteria you have for a Jamaica honeymoon, such as the location, price, and what's the important to them.
Patricia (my daughter)and Don are trying to do this honeymoon on a shoestring. They're wanting the cheapest accomadation that they can find and are wanting to explore most of the island so if they found a couple of different spots, that's what they'd do. They're not interested in night life or shopping so much as exploring the real Jamaica, spending time with the people and learning about Jamaica
Patricia and Don are a lucky couple. Jamaica is a beautiful and interesting country. My family stayed in Negril in 2001 for a week. Negril in my mind represents the real Jamaica: a laid-back town with pristine beaches and a counter-cultural ambience -- Bob Marley's music playing everywhere and the Rastafarians roaming around the seven mile beach.
We went through Montego Bay on our way to Negril. Montego Bay looks like a tourist ghetto to me. Lots of t-shirt shops and american named restaurants.
To the east of Montego Bay is the Ocho Rios area which we didn't go. It's remote and secluded but I heard it was a beautiful area.
There's a host of inexpensive lodging in Negril, try http://www.negril.com/htlrates.htm. Since Jamaica is still a relatively poor country today even by Caribbean standard, an inexpensive lodging often means no air-conditioning in the room as well as a lack of many essential amentities. I hope your daughter and son-in-law are used to third-world living conditions. January usually brings lower rates in hotels than December.
Lastly, I am not up-to-date on the political situation in Jamaica today, but in 2001 the crime in Kingston was a serious problem! There was an armed uprising in Kingston the week we were in Negril and the gun battles killed many. I would avoid going to Kingston.
The best vacation I ever had in Jamaica is renting a room in a private villa, where you have a wonderful pool, cook, maid and many other options are near by. I love Montego Bay, as it is right in the middle between Ocho Rios and Negril . I have to agree with Steve- avoid Kingston! If you require more help with it, just let me know Happy travels and all the best
I've only stayed in Negril and that was back in 2001. Jamaica is a very poor island. I agree that no one should go to Kingston. There were over 900 murders in that one city alone in 2001. There are lots of accomodations on the lower price end in Negril. There are also a lot of all-inclusive higher priced hotels as well. Here's a good message board for more infor: http://www.negril.com/config.pl
I have already done my best. I have no regrets. Willie Hung
Hi Angela- I have lived in Kingston and know the island fairly well. They should try to arrive and depart via Montego Bay. There are amazing people in Jamaica but also an active minority of aggressive and violent people. They should take precautions. Jamaica is not inexpensive, and as foreigners they will pay a premium for a place to stay. The Jamaican tourist board used to have a homestay program, but I can't seem to find info. This would be the best way to go if they want to know the 'real Jamaica'.
Treasure Beach is a nice area, as is the Port Antonio side. Both have ample villa-type accomodations, some cheaper than others. I find the surf and undertow at Treasure Beach a bit rough, so if they are into swimming it is not the best option. If they were traveling in a low season, I would suggest that they book a hotel for a few nights and look around. The Jamaica tourism office has lots of guest houses listed at http://www.visitjamaica.com/
Mandeville is a lovely--and cool--inland town.
Roads are rough-- if they want to move about they should look into a car with a driver. Not hard to arrange.
I stayed in Jamaica over 20 years ago.. my friend was moving there. We arrived in Kingston and were met by a friend ( Jamaican lawyer) our car was attacked on leaving the airport. no damage..
We rented Noel Cowards old villa on the beach for the 3 of us off season, it was fabulous! We rented a car ( three women alone) and did fine, staying where we should! We toured Port San Antonio, Negril Duncan falls, but with our friend could hang out with locals. It is not something to be taken lightly, one of my other friends on a trip had bought something to smoke!!! and was turned in by the person who he bought it from at the airport and arrested!
Sometimes it is best to stay where it is safer..and remember you are away from home! It was a fabulous stay.. if they rent a car. tell them to fill up often. We were stranded in the middle of nowhere waiting for the gas truck to show up.. so we could buy gas..waited around for about 3 hours!!! luckily it came!
I know most places in Jamaica are very safe, safer that any large cities in the good old USA. Kingston is something,t hat even Jamaican don't go to , unless they really have to get some goverment business and paper work done.
I think that renting a villa is the best vacation one can have.
As an agent I get to go to the All Inclusive resort pretty well for free, but I still rent my own villa every time I go to Jamaica http://www.sunnyvillaholidays.com
You get to know the people , have your own cook, and they are fabulous and I do enjoy the privacy of my own home away from home with a pool, that I do not have to share or be bothered by anyone else
And if you want to party with otheres, you are only minutes drive. I never suggest for my clients to rent a car,as you can hire the driver witha car for less then a car rental will cost you, niot even counting the insurance, gas and the driving on the wrong side of the road
quote: Can anyone help us find inexpensive rentals. They'd love a room in a Jamacian family's home or small "shack on the beach" type place. Also any hints on places to go or don't miss as you explore the real Jamacia.
When I was in Jamaica in late '80s, there was a host program run by the tourist board where you either stayed with a family or you met them and they would liason with you. I didn't do that so I cannot tell you more or even if the program is still ongoing. The real Jamaica is probably in the SE coast and in the mountains away from the tourists but agian I didn't do that. I think you can experience Jamaica in Negril and Ocho Rios. Negril is touristy but the town and beaches are cool. On the public beaches are people selling food, things to do (like horseback riding in the Mountains above), concerts, hair braiding, aloe massages, but most people are turned off my the constant interruptions. Even though it is touristy do the Dunn's River Falls climb. There are a lot more secluded beaches on the north coast between Negril and Ocho Rios.
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