10 Reasons NOT to stay at a resort in Jamaica
Say NO to an all-inclusive Jamaica vacation.
As you may have figured out from reading other posts in this blog, I don’t do resorts. I don’t like anything about them and the only time I’ve stayed in them are on the two trips that I won. Hey….it was free.
In no particular order, here are 10 things you should consider as reasons NOT to do your Jamaican vacation the “resort” way.
- The resorts are not locally owned. They do help by keeping tourism alive but they don?t do much else for the locals or the economy of Jamaica.
- The Jamaicans who are employed there only make a full-time wage of about $200 USD per month while the foreigner who owns the resort is getting rich.
- You will not experience even a fraction of Jamaican culture if you stay in an all-inclusive resort. You paid the astronomical price to be there so you’ll be most inclined to stay within the resort and just take in the watered down entertainment that you THINK is a cultural event.
- In a resort EVERYONE there is doing the same thing as you! You’re not special. When you get home and compare vacation photos with your friends who recommended the place, they’ll all be the SAME! Why bother?
- If you stay in an all inclusive resort in Jamaica you will think that you learned to speak Jamaican by saying things like “Irie Mon” and “Respect Mon”. Jamaicans secretly laugh at tourists who run around yelling “Irie Mon”.
- You’ll never learn the fine art of haggling at a craft market and you will not be supporting the local people in your purchases.
- You’ll never get a Red Stripe for a dollar.
- If you’re going to stay at a resort why not just stay home and look at all the white people there. Why would you pay money to hang with them when you can do it at home for free? Outside a resort you can experience people who are dying to share their culture with you!
- Inside a resort you won’t find any of the stuff contained in this blog.
- You will never experience Jerk chicken from a street vendor.
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Great blog, lots of Jamaican information
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I love this site! My daughter took me to Jamaica last Feb 08 for a Christmas present with 2 of our friends.We had the time of our lives and met new friends we have stayed in touch with.Port Antonio what can I say to describe “PORTY” Its heaven on earth! There are no “resorts” there just beautiful villas and warm wonderful people who only want you to have a great time and I’m headed back there March 21st 09 Can’t wait. Keep up the great blogging Thanks
from a lover of all things Jamaican
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Awww well don’t you have a great daughter!! I love hearing other people rave about Jamaica, glad you love it! Believe it or not Port Antonio is one of the only places I’ve never been on the island but will soon be visiting. I’m heading back to Jamaica again on Easter Sunday. Enjoy your trip and I’ll enjoy mine. Make sure you check back often for more things Jamaican!
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Great article! It’s nice to see young authors like yourself coming up with great articles that are actually helpful for both the reader and Jamaica.
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Thank you very much!! See you in Jamaica where we can put our heads together over some Appleton and swap stories.
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well said – People have told me they have been to JA and when I ask where they stayed and they tell me Jamaica Grande, RIO etc I always tell them they haven’t been to JA.
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Agreed. You can see that stuff anywhere!!! For me if there isn’t one or two cockroaches its NOT a hotel LOL.
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I’ve never seen a cockroach in Jamaica, are you sure you didn’t mean to say it as two words not one? I wonder what they eat since no food goes to waste between the hungry people and the hungry dogs.
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I wonder who is “Jamaica Travel Forum”. I am from the Caribbean and was brought up in a middle class family and would not use such a comparison to the people of the island “the hungry people and the hungry dogs”. Very demeanng. I don’t think that was a nice thing to say. Maybe he/she did not see a coachroach while there. I did not see any either because I stayed at resorts that were cleaned 24/7, but there will always be cockroaches in any tropical country, it is part of the land. I have seen them in “so called clean homes” in New York City, Washington and other parts of the U.S.A. (there seem to be millions there). I don’t have any because I am fortunate that I live in a building where I have never seen one.
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The only all-inclusive I like is Sandals/Beaches…Butch is Jamaican and he still lives in Jamaica. But I agree with the 9 other reasons. I love haggling. I miss the dance – curried goat and mannish water from a dance is the best ever.
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Eeewww LOL! I just can’t make myself eat goat head wata LOL!!!
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I have just re-visited this post. I would agree with Kristi. I went to two resorts in Jamaica last year and I would have preferred to stay where I could have mixed a bit with the average local person. I have travelled to many countries but somehow the resort life in Jamaica did not hit it. I don’t know if it had to do with the hotel guest population. I will be renting a self-contained apartment or condo on my next trip whether it be in Ochi or Negril. For whatever reason it is – I can’t figure it out, I want to go out and be more a part of the community. Maybe it is because I felt that I was missing the true culture of the place. Next time, I am going to eat more local food and get to know some of the places where people hang out, go to a real food market and grocery, see how they live and not only see the downside that tourists see where a few of the poor people haggle tourists or wait on tips but where the children go to school, where the average people work and live and enjoy the Jamaican way of life . Keep up the good work, K.
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Thanks Ginger, it’s always great to spend time with locals and see more of that side of Jamaica. Believe me, you’ve not tasted GOOD food until you let someone cook it for you down there!!
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and the Church said AAAAAAmen!
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The reason they put you there without the locals is because you will get robbed or killed you moron. Yea go walk around kingston see how long you last rofl
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LOL that’s a negative attitude. I’ve walked around Kingston no problem. Spanish Town, no problem.
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you nailed it with your ten reasons JC,and di bwai deh who ah talk dem bumbaclot talk, let them talk,him never see the scantilly clad japanese girls walk down inna cassava piece yet
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Shane you’re awesome LOL!! Talk di tings deh.
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yes mi friend,JC, you are the real canadian rude gal,you inspire me in these times,keep moving forward,one love
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