Not a good Newbie guide!

I am now a firm believer in the saying "be careful what you ask for because you just might get it"!

Ok, see if you can follow. My originally planned trip with friend ended up with friend cancelling on me and I complained about it in another thread a few months ago. Got into the going solo vibe and was kind of digging it. Would have some friends come up from May Pen for a few days and all would be good. Last week I was talking to a different friend and mentioned how happy I was that my vacation was coming up in a few weeks. She wants in. A few days later she books. She posts on Facebook that she has booked New Years in JA and one of her friends, that I also know but haven't seen in years, now wants to go also. Just saw a post on her Facebook that she has now booked.

First friend and I went to JA 10 years ago together, not Negril though. 2nd friend now booked has never been. I know from previous experience I am not a good Newbie director. I am not one of those people. The one other newbie that came down with me I was so annoyed with when she wanted to stop every 5 steps to have me take pictures of her...her under a tree, her with the flowers, her on the beach, blah blah blah. I know, I'm such a nice person. lol.

Anyhoo, any advice from others who bring friends that aren't familiar with Jam? At least we will have different rooms so that will help. I just don't want to feel obligated to be a tour guide so to speak, when all I really want to do is spend the whole day on a floaty?

Hire a trusted driver or tour company for day trips for them and you stay on the beach. :cool:

I like showing people around, trained in tour management (even got a certificate :D) what you could do is the offload look for another person who's happy to do the tour guide thing

We had the experience of bringing a newbie friend on our last trip. I'm not a great tour guide either and I had a little bit of anxiety about it. Like if something went wrong and he didn't have a good time... it would be all my fault.

We did a lot of things together in the beginning but our friend really got into his own groove after a few days. He enjoyed exploring on his own and meeting new people. It was fun hearing his impressions of things and seeing Jamaica from a different perspective. We experienced things that otherwise we might not have. We stayed at the same hotel but eventually we moved off to two separate hotels. He hired a driver that took him around to experience other parts of Jamaica... .while Markus and I just spent the last days relaxing on the cliffs. It worked out really well and we have so many great memories now from that trip.

I guess it really depends on your friend's personality. You mentioned there might be two friends coming along, so they can keep each other company on the days you just want to chill on the beach. I agree with Sandy-girl that a good driver can take your friends around to experience excursions and such.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by airportworker

I like showing people around, trained in tour management (even got a certificate :D) what you could do is the offload look for another person who's happy to do the tour guide thing

---

Any suggestions on a trusted driver to hire for a full day?

yes, my driver Everton would take great care of them, msg me if you would like his #..

Yeah I hear you. Cause of my "friend experience" in Negril....I'm planning on goin solo when I make it back.

Since you have a lot of knowledge you could write down some ideas of excursions and #s for drivers, good restaurants, etc....but I think if I was you I'd just let them know right from the gate....not a thing wrong with that imo

We have taken tonnes of newbies with us to Jamaica and most recently Negril. We tell them up front our expectations of the vacation. We will help you get your feet wet but after that if our pathes cross while on vacation great, if not you are gonna have a blast anyway. We always hook them up with our driver or one of his friends that he trusts. Never had a problem and the list of happy people grows every year. Jamaica to me is about an individual experience. You don't want to have my idea of a vacation, you need to have yours. Recommend they do some research, set up some goals and if all else fails, wing it baby! :)

Hook them up with Alfred who posts on this board and they will be safe and happy. If they don't have a specific destination, he can suggest various tours. He is a trustworthy and highly respected man.

Respect,
Col. Andy

mi give dem a good talking to first........and then they either sink or swim...........lol
of course mi will answer any questions they have.....but mi not their babysitter.......lol
it's your vacation too.........

Cool Runnings, Marko

Similar to what others were saying in that other post.... Still think of it as a solo trip. Your not vacationing together your vacationing at the same time. Present it that way and expectations will be set. I use to have similar problems when I backpacked. Friends always bailed out at the last minute or keeping me "off schedule". I eventually learned to treat each trip as a solo trip, asking friends who wanted to joing to do so. I would let them know the route and the pace I was going to keep. If they wanted to spend hours taking pictures and lunching at scenic overlooks then I'll meet up with them along the trail at some point.

It's funny because about an hour I was talking to friend #1 and she mentioned that friend #2 was talking about wanting to do some type of excursion. I told her about a few things I had done that I thought were worth it, and also added that I just wanted to chill out. I strained some ligaments in my knee about 6 weeks ago exercising, so I'm not going to be doing a lot of trekking around anyway, I'm in super recovery mode these next 3 weeks in hopes of at least getting in a few dances at the Jungle. lol.

Make it clear you are going on YOUR vacation, and where your paths cross, great, otherwise, they are on their own. The 1st one has been to JA already, so they aren't total virgins. Give them a few contacts and let them fly...

Give them Tic's itinerary.. that should keep em busy! I'm with you.. chillin is good.. see you there Rastagal!

That's true beachgirl..they won't have a dull moment! I'm sure everything will work out fine...and I will not feel bad letting them know I will do MY vacation MY way. Thanks for the encouragement everyone..this will be an interesting trip for sure. See you there!