The awful truth..

Good newbie report. Try to get a tan before you go the next time; the lobsters will be cheaper, the beers, the manicures and you can bet your bottom dollar the manicurist will still be there. Deposits for services I would never give .. most may mean well, others may not show up and make it really bad for the honest locals on the beach trying to make an honest living. $70 for a round trip to Rhodes Hall -- hmm I dunno or did I read it wrong? I see you gave out your phone number back home and the hotel you were staying at to the manicurist ... it's hard to work around the lyrics. Sometimes I stick ear plugs in and just say that the salt water bothers them sometimes if they don't mind I can't really talk or hear right now lol. Don't get me wrong .. I love JA and plan to retire part time there, although I usually let my local friends do the talking and bargaining for me.

Awesome newbie report! There's always lessons to be learned in Jamaica, just hope they don't cost you that much!

So lessons here...

}Never give your phone # out, especially if they already burned you... Twice
}Never accept anything for "free". (Notice use of quotation marks)
}Never give out a deposit, that's basically gone
}Never double book-dinner, cabs, boat captains. Ive been there, ive seen it- It's always an uncomfortable situation.Sometimes it happens without you even knowing.
}Find 'your guy'. Seemed like you had at least 3 strange cab situations. When you find a good driver he'll give you a phone for your stay and just call him whenever you want. You know he'll be fair and safe.
}Shake off fake tour guides ASAP. Give them no hope that you will give the anything

I know I've learned my lessons and I keep learning em... And of course the more you come back the more you figure tings out... The more you know who to trust... It just gets better!!!

Thanks again for putting the time in for your report

Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed reading all of it!

Jc, If you have nothing good to say, say nothing.
Great report Juls!

Ditto Treefrog- My thoughts exactly!...I mean really?- Very rude to be so critical of someone's writing style. HOPEFULLY that post does not deter someone else from posting a trip report. I love your report Juls! Always great to hear a newbie's experience. :cool: So, when ya going back?

JC I find your extensive use of ..... to be quite annoying.

Juls you did great!

No need for the paragraph/punctuation patrol to show up!!!

Great report Juls from a fellow Minnesotan!

Great report Juls, I Totally enjoyed and Ms. Imanie is what Jamaicans call a 'Ginnal'

Great trip report! You had a couple of "been there, done that" moments that made me smile and reminisce...Sounds like you had a fun adventure...Ready to do it again? :)