First Timer: Just go back from Negril

My first Trip to Jamaica and I'm already looking forward to going back. I don't have any complaints except for the constant "begging" and "peddling" from the locals while we were on the beach. Some of the people simply refused to accept "no" and you almost have to be aggressive with them. "No" means NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Besides that, I absolutely loved every minute of it....and thanks to overcrowding on the plane I will be returning this summer......I graciously volunteered my seat in exchange for a free roundtrip ticket...WoooHOOO!;)

Free round trip ticket? Wow! That's just not done anymore - what airline did you fly?

I used AirTran... They were overbooked out of Jamaica so they bumped several people up to Business Class
When I arrived in ATL, there had been one or two cancelled flights so that caused a larg overflow.....they were 28 people on standby for my flight......

I spent (7) hours at the airport but it was worth it.... The ATL Airport is a mini mall so it was worth the wait....

Plain Jane, please change your name to FREE Plane Jane!! WOOOO HOOO Congrats!

now you have that "Look"...they wont bother you as much next trip down.....

Glad you had a great trip..

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Originally Posted by Plain Jane

My first Trip to Jamaica and I'm already looking forward to going back. I don't have any complaints except for the constant "begging" and "peddling" from the locals while we were on the beach. Some of the people simply refused to accept "no" and you almost have to be aggressive with them. "No" means NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Besides that, I absolutely loved every minute of it....and thanks to overcrowding on the plane I will be returning this summer......I graciously volunteered my seat in exchange for a free roundtrip ticket...WoooHOOO!;)

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I've been here 3 & 1/2 weeks & have not experienced what you described. Yes, people are out working on the beach, trying to make a living. I walk the beach frequently & the usual array of vendors come by my spot on the beach daily. (Also at NBCC.) No has always been respected. I buy what I want & don't buy what I don't want. Maybe 42 or so trips to Negril & staying here all summer for years makes a difference. The only place I had someone start to beg from me (ended very quickly) was near town when I was walking to get groceries.

Yesterday I heard one of the boat ride pitchmen comment to himself, "The beach no easy mon." W/ things as slow as they are, I feel for those who make their living on the beach. It is a tough time for many.

I didn't have any problems in town or at the market....people just went about their way as usual.....on the beach it was completely different.. I did purchase a few things on the beach, but I also found a store at the Duty Free Mall that had a 50% off sale so I scored big.... Other than that, I'm not a newbie anymore so now I know what to expect. I look forward to my next trip.

Yvonne, as a longtime/longterm visitor maybe you are approached differently than a newbie? I know that's the case for me. People in Negril know me by face - if not by name - and I am usually treated very differently than first timers. Having been to Negril and stayed for weeks on end for more than a dozen years, I'm known by people who live there. Yet on more than one occasion I have been on the beach with friends, and maybe gone in for a nap or to the store, come back and my friends are surrounded by sellers who scatter when they see a face that they recognize. Sometimes, especially with newbies, "NO" (even a firm one) is not respected.

Congratulations on getting the free ticket back to Negril! That's so awesome! I'm glad you had a fun time and that you're looking forward to going back! :)

As far as the locals being pushy; For the most part a "no thanks!" worked fine for us. We only had one situation with a person that approached us asking for five dollars and wouldn't take "no" as an answer. This was late at night though. We never had a problem during the day. We were approached by vendors, but most of them were actually really cool. I agree that they can be pushy at times, but I found that respect and a touch of humor works.They give the beach character and gives you a chance to interact with the locals. I had some really interesting conversations with them and learned more about Jamaica.

So I wasn't really bothered.This could be because I'm used to it. I live in San Francisco. We have a large homeless population. I carry a handful of quarters to distribute everytime I go for a walk. It's usually the same people everytime and we've gotten to know them.

In Negril, I found that most people had something to offer in return for the change. A shell, bracelets, a carving, or a fruit. You tend to encounter the same people each day and they will remember you.

How did you like Xtabi?
I was thinking of splitting our next trip between the beach and Cliffs. Xtabi or Catcha have been my top choices and I'm having a hard time deciding...:)

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Originally Posted by Lynntt

Yvonne, as a longtime/longterm visitor maybe you are approached differently than a newbie? I know that's the case for me. People in Negril know me by face - if not by name - and I am usually treated very differently than first timers. Having been to Negril and stayed for weeks on end for more than a dozen years, I'm known by people who live there. Yet on more than one occasion I have been on the beach with friends, and maybe gone in for a nap or to the store, come back and my friends are surrounded by sellers who scatter when they see a face that they recognize. Sometimes, especially with newbies, "NO" (even a firm one) is not respected.

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Apparently so. I don't get bothered but I am asked to buy things. Also, my experience - on top of the familiar face - I know how to handle anyone who may not know me from 25 years of coming here. Lots of new guests arrived Friday so it was interesting watching the vendors swarm them yesterday on the beach. I should narrow that to jet ski vendors. The food/fruit/jewelry/CD vendors were all fine. Now it makes me wonder if it's mostly the aggressive young guys who won't take no for an answer.

When I brought a newbie friend a few years ago, she was a target - & a sucker - whenever she'd walk on the beach w/out me. She had been advised of what to expect & how to handle it but did not do a good job of it. I think newbies being unsure of how to handle themselves often contributes to their higgler frustration. It sounds though like Plain Jane was prepared. I still don't understand why a no thank you works for a seasoned longtimer but not for a newbie.

Really good points - you're making me remember a good friend who did not get "hassled" ... she lives in New York City and after the first couple of encounters on her first day she handled things like a longtime visitor. Meaning she wasn't hassled other than the few comments and come-ons that we all get - LOL!! Personality probably has a lot to do with it as you say; my best friend is kind of a sucker for a sob story at home and in Negril and as such gets hassled a lot more than I do even though we're both old hands at dealing with unwanted solicitations.

I guess I'd better finish my packing now - I'll look for you when I get to your part of the beach Yvonne!

many times our friend, also Taxi driver will ask if its OK to stop a second.....we say "sure", and he will pull over, run over to a "street person" and slip him a few bucks..........so everybody is affected in the same way, I will always "leave some on the table" for a person who is working, and still struggling..............
we all gotta remember........ "where we started"

we dont have a problem as a rule.....sometimes maybe its the way NO is said?

Glad to hear you enjoyed Negril!

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I still don't understand why a no thank you works for a seasoned longtimer but not for a newbie.

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yvonne i think you answered your own query quite nicely here:

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newbies being unsure of how to handle themselves often contributes

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longtimers aren't intimidated or worried, we have no expectation of being nervous, we're not thinking: "How do we handle it? - What do I say? - Will it work? - What if it doesn't work? - Am I safe?
Our body language, facial expression, and general way of being reflects confidence and ease, (instead of all that stuff), before we even open our mouths.

* please note i'm NOT saying all newbies *do* have those thoughts, or that they are all worried, have no confidence, etc -- just that those are examples of things that can possibly be more of a factor for those who are unfamiliar *

at the other end of the extreme - some people are actually afraid.....i read a report by a guy who said his wife "screamed in fear" when someone put a bracelet on her arm (i mean - really?) - husband reacted with aggression in return, perceiving it as if his wife was being 'attacked' .... of course that was not received well, and it was on - with the expected unpleasant result, and all negativity and "warnings" in the trip report. They went into it ALREADY so afraid and jittery, that they had almost no chance of a positive interaction no matter what ..... never mind the possibility of being friendly & relaxed, and maybe meeting a new person, having a nice chat or fun interaction, even if they were not buying something.

so i really think a lot of it has to do with what's going on in ppl's heads as they are approached, and the resulting body language created from that ... vendors may not have university educations, but from what i've experienced, they are true experts at 'reading people' even before approaching them.

clarity, i just returned from san francisco.i stayed ay my uncles house at the top of california street.unfortunetly,the cable cars started operating the tuesday after i left.they reparied the street i guess,and the calves of both legs were so sore from walking up and down california street,i could hardly get out of bed in the morning thr first day make to minnesota.i just wanted to tell you,the goldengate bridge is one of the most beautiful things i saw on that trip.be proud of it cause its a jewl

I experienced someone who would not take no for an answer the other day. Actually it wasn't me, but a friend, a man who has been coming to Negril 2X a year for decades, i.e., someone who knows how to handle himself. I was meeting up w/ my long time friend to walk the beach & he was talking w/ a Jamaican who kept asking him for $100-200 for food. Friend kept telling him no but the guy kept arguing that it was his responsibility (friend's) to give him money since he needed it. This guy apparently doesn't know me. When I arrived on the scene I could only take about 60 seconds of the pestering as we walked & he was asked (by friend) to leave us be. The guy kept following & going on & on. I spoke up & finally got the guy to quit following us & insisting he be given $$$. It didn't turn ugly or anything like that (I'm assertive, not aggressive) but he had a parting comment to my friend. "See you later, mi friend, but next time don't bring her with you." We had a good laugh & I still chuckle every time I think of it.