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[lepetitfromage]

So, Nick and I have booked 7 days in Montego Bay, Jamaica for our honeymoon. I have:

A) Never been to Jamaica
B) Never been outside of the U.S.

and

C) Want to have fun, see sights, drink in all the beauty, culture and wildlife possible without being a bumbling idiot, getting ripped off or both.


Anyone have any travel tips? Recommended companies to book excursions through? Must-see places? Anything? 

So far, I know that I definitely want us to go to Rockland's Bird Sanctuary but that's all I'm absolutely sure of. It sounds absolutely magical. On the fence about Dunn's River Falls only because a coworker has said that most excursions there are incredibly overpriced and we live in an area that has its fair share of waterfalls.

[Caspian Sea Monster]

Fortunately for you, two of my friends just honeymooned in Jamaica last week!  I'll relay the question and tell you what they say.

[Loki]

...this is why I love the Internet.

[de_la_Nae]

Try not to be obnoxious to the locals (you probably won't be), be wary about any place touting high cuisine because a lot of it is the usual suspects shipped in from the U.S. (between our government's subsidies and commercial food production we wrecked Jamaica's local agricultural markets and abilities), and have fun. While there are problems, Jamaica is a beautiful place last I knew, and could use your dollars. Congratulations on the wedding by the way.

[de_la_Nae]

Oh and I suppose this is probably something you've already done, but make sure your passports are in order.

[bainidhe_dub]

Especially being sure that your travel tickets and ID's have the same last name on them.

[GarandMarine]

Congrats on your marriage again cheese. Jamaica is a place to step lively around. Cops go pretty heavily armed by U.S. standards for a reason (least they were when I was down there a few years ago) but it's not a warzone hell hole like most of Mexico.

[lepetitfromage]

Thanks everyone, definitely good advice! Bain- that's why I'm moving slowly on all the name changing stuff hahaha

[Caspian Sea Monster]

Do you know where you're going to be staying yet?

[lepetitfromage]

Yep, we'll be at the Royal Decameron.

[Pilchard123]

Jamaica? Nah, she went on her own.

[Loki]

For those of us with deficient English pronunciation: come again?

[Pilchard123]

Jamaica sounds a bit like "Did you make her?" said quickly. "D'you make'er?"

Come again? Nope, mayonnaise this time.

[Caspian Sea Monster]

I didn't get it at first either.  I don't think that one works well with (at least western) American English.

[Caspian Sea Monster]

(Sorry for the double post but I figured this works best that way.)

Okay cool - not sure where that is and can't really look it up right now...  Basically, we went to the Jamaica Swamp Safari - they filmed Live and Let Die there (we couldn't find the "rockland" safari... maybe it's the same thing?) and the whole place was awesome.  We also did a shopping excursion to the Whitter Shoping Plaza and a "craft villiage" (terrifying if you don' know how to say "no" but awesome nonetheless) and then to the "hip strip" which was aweful and full of super touristy crap.  To be honest, we might not be the best to ask because we didn't want to do anything but sit on the beach, eat Jerk Chicken and Jerk Pork and drink the free resort booze.   The excursions are overpriced because Jamaica by yourself is dangerous. With a group or a local you're good to go.

they should contact the concierge at the resort.  thats a prettu good hotel i think. dont go out by yourself, dont buy pot even if they are insistent that "its okay! and everyone does it!"

Yeah, American's seem to think pot is okay out there- it's more illegal there than here in the states. Also - it's a very poor country. Cops love giving tourists tickets or hauling them off to jail.

dont let the taxi and juta drivers hassle you into tours. dont let the pushy sales tactics offend you, just be firm if you say no.  the most importnt thing is to be laid back, set your clock to island time and remember there are no problems, only situations

[de_la_Nae]

Yeah I didn't think about that. They'd *love* to bust your rich touristy ass on possession. You're no rasta, let it be.

[Carl-E]

Yeah, just get drunk at the hotel bar instead. 

[celticgeek]

My daughter and son-in-law took a cruise to Jamaica several years ago. 

My son-in-law thought "akee rice salt fish are nice" was way wrong. 
My daughter enjoyed the trip to the coffee plantation.
Both thought that "the rum is fine any time of year" was right on.