Reader comments
Jamaica — Losing yourself in tropical paradise

Jamaica is great! Our law firm had its summer retreat in Jamaica this summer and it was a blast! All of our families had a wonderful time that they will not soon forget

Jamaca is a thirld world country like communist Cuba.there are two types of citizens in both countries,the very,very rich and the very,very poor.if you had a blast in Jamaca you were doing it on the backs of the poor.

Jamaica is an interesting place, my sister lived there for awhile and it was fun to visit her and stay in her home. But really folks -Sandals Resorts, no thanks! Next time try the Ritz Carlton (my favorite hotel anywhere in the world) or perhaps Half Moon Bay. I just can't imagine going on the hike with hundreds of people to the Falls ever again, I did that when I was on a cruise about 30 years ago.
Unfortunately, there is a very dark side to Jamaica as well, intense poverty, lack of decent housing and the fact that so many people smoke weed to forget their problems. Many of the hotels have fenced themselves off from the people of Jamaica and the security at the hotels does its best to never let your see the poverty.
So, next time stay at the Ritz but be sure to venture out into the town, people are sweet and need help. Give some money to the local food bank and medical clinic, it doesn't make up for our grand lifestyles but it does provide some help.
Personal Injury Lawyers would stay at a tacky place like sandals

Having lived in several Jamaican cities I'd not recommend leaving the resort to the average traveler. Outside the resorts the country as an excess of violent "rudeboys" to the chargrin of the average citizen. I witnessed stabbings, riots, use of machetes, and in spite of a no gun law, heard gunshots on a fairly regular basis. The houses and businesses are all barred with iron grills for protection, and the traffic laws are all but ignored. Overall, the life of an average Jamaican is one of navigation thru a world in chaos. If you stay at the resort, you see the best the country has to offer. The island itself and ocean is magnificent, and you won't find kinder people than those you come across in Jamaica. There's just too many of the wrong sort to make a cross country tour safe for foreigners.

went several years ago to Half Moon Bay resort in Montego Bay and went to Ocho Rios and Negril. Absolutely beautiful country and the people are great. Poverty abounds, roads are scary but it is a place to visit. The beaches are great, the food is great and I would definately go back. give a good tip like at home and the people will be able mto fight their poverty.

We went on a cruise 30 years ago and it included a brief stop in Jamaica. It was beautiful and the beach was great; but the poverty was obvious. You couldn't walk ten steps without someone stopping you to sell souvenirs.I bought a few souvenirs, so I was approached more than those who didn't. I didn't want to spend any more money, so I said no to a lady, who cursed me by spitting on the ground. It was sad to see their shabby houses and their clothing. It would likely help fight poverty to give a generous tip.

A lot of tourists made the effort to climb up the water fall, and it was an awesome sight.

i am jamaican and i disagree about there being two classes of people in jamaica - u have the very rich, rich, not so rich, middle class, not middle class, lower class, poor and very poor - not even sure where i fall in lol - my two girls attend prep school, i work in admin, cant afford a car, live at my family house but the point is i am certainly not very rich nor very poor - the next time u visit - ask the tour guide to take you to a rich neighbourhood, middle class neighbourhood, in between the two, a poor neighbourhood and pass by a very poor neighhbourhood - that should give you an idea

After 10 visits to the island I am always amazed at how much love white americans show jamaicans and can't help but wonder how genuine it is. these are the same americans who discrimate, practice predatory lending, deny loans based on skin color, and make sure monies remain in their community. They are not about to lose their power base in america and sunday morning still remains the most segregated hour in america. After 20 years in corporate america, I've never had one white person attempting to entertain or "hang out" with me they way they do with jamaicans, folks who have my skin colors. Let's cease with the games; the reality is white americans and europeans are buying up property like crazy in jamaican and their only concern about the poorest of the poor is the good service they want they white dollars to provide them. Slavery enabled white america to have the economic power their white skin affords them and jamaica is about the white girls having sex with jamaican men, good cheap service, white men having sex with jam women and a non-stop party for them - nothing else.