I have to say the parties were great at bourbon beach but the drinks service was NOT the rum punches were not very nicely mixed never very cold and always the most expensive on the beach.But I could deal with it if a reggae icon was there! I enjoyed the food.
I hope there is some jerked chicken and music when I get there in JanuaryWhat a disappointment!
Sunray your friend is right. We are here right now, it's quiet, one of their slowest Novemebers and begging is severe.
Two young guys from New York were mugged at knife point on the beach on Sunday night. Admittedly they were naive to walk on the beach at night and carry much of their holiday money. They had just flown in and were perhaps excited to have arrived.
They walked from Idle Away past the craft market and were mugged at knifepoint in that area around Rooms on the Beach which seems to attract a lot of agresive hustling who hang around all day.
Three men approached them, held knives to their throat and the guys valued their lives so handed over their wallets and passorts.
They reported it to the police, so far they have not found these thugs.
But yes things have gotten more aggressive in Negril, more desperate, and they are turning their anger on the tourists which is ridiculous because if we decide to not return to Negril they are the ones who will suffer.
Yes Bourbon Beach has closed.
This is interesting...we're finding early November to be busier than usual...quite a few vendors have been making the same comments to us...though they may not make these comments to a potential sale.Originally Posted by crystalwaters
As far as the unfortunate incident on the beach...it's good common sense advice to not carry more money than you're planning to use that night...nor should you be carrying your passports as they serve no purpose in the evening.
I don't ever want to diminish an unfortunate incident...but when things don't seem to add up, you question the validity of the story. False claims of similar incidents are much more common than many people think. As someone living down here...it's shocked me how common these false claims are & when I hear these stories it always make me wonder what's really going on!
Last edited by Bnewb; 11-09-2011 at 09:28 AM.
Im pretty sure the Vybz Kartel show at BB for Valentines Day 2010 was a success, which wasnt sooooo long ago.
bnewb you are so wrong. We are staying at the same hotel as the two guys who were mugged and they have no reason to lie. We saw them make a police report. We also saw them on the beach talking to a rasta prior to the mugging.
We warned him about the guy who had been making abusive comments to women who were not interested in his overpriced bracelets. He quoted us $40 for a factory made bangle, we walked away and the guy spewed out a torrent of abuse at us following us down the beach. The security guard at CodolePalm came to our assistance. Several guests at Coco spoke to the guys after they returned and can assure you this story is no 'invention'.
The guys were later mugged on the beach around the area where those agressive scumbags congregate. The types who do not want to work and who prey on tourists and abuse them if they do not receive money.
The whole area from the craft market down to Rooms needs to be cleaned up. The hustling and begging by loafers is agressive and is driving tourists away.
We were at the hotel when the guys returned shocked, we heard thenm call the police and witnessed them makinga reports. If you think this story is an 'invention' I suggest you call the Negril Police department or talk to the secutiy at CocoLe Palm who knows the young men in quesiton and can vouch for the assault which happened.
Begging has become more agressive. Tourism numbers are down, however the thugs who prey on and abuse tourists are biting the hand that feeds them. They need to be dealt with by the police and rounded noff the beach, they need to be made to do some community work or be enlisted in the army. they are harming Negril's image and driving away tourists.
Bummer that Bourbon Beach has closed. Loved their chicken, but I agree the vibe hasn't been good there.
I wish something would be done about the guys next to Rooms. It wouldn't surprise me if that story was true. There have been problems there for years.
Sometimes newbies do dumb things even if they've been warned.
Many years ago Miss G's sister , brother in law and another friend came to visit. We had suggested T Water and so they had two rooms there. We were waiting for then rather than pick then up at Sangster as our vehicle at the time was a Land Rover diesel jeep and was like riding in a concrete block.
They arrived at T Water and I introduced them to Errol and Lionel and told them if the needed anything to ask me or either of them. We went to their rooms and within 15 minutes both guys were missing. I went to the front desk area and inquired if anyone saw them leave and sure enough they had gotten into a private car with a certain well known "bad man".
Luckily I knew both the guy and where he lived in Red Ground. I went up there and believe me it took some bargaining ($) to get them out of that place.
When I asked "WTF were you thinking?" they said that the guy had told them he had the "real" stuff. and off they went.
Go Figure!!
Last edited by captaind; 11-10-2011 at 10:11 AM.
Linston's Zion Hill Taxi
Captain Dave
Crystalwaters,
Before turning this thread into a battle, please note that Bnewb did not say this unfortunate event (as she described it) did not occur, but only that the situation could sound suspect. She was adding to your comment that the two men may have been naive for carrying the majority of the vacation money with them, as well as their their passports at night on the beach. And now that you state that you had already warned them about the aggressive man on the beach, it would seem that there maybe something more than naivety playing a role. You had already warned them, yet they still made a decision to carry most of their vacation money and passports with them at night.
Bnewb pointed out that since common sense would dictate not to carry the majority of your vacation cash on you at night as well as your passports (there are room safes in the hotel, correct?), when something like this occurs, then it can be suspect.
From my experience, including bringing hundreds of people here each week for Spring Break for several years in the early 90's, to the nearly 20 years living in Jamaica, there are many reason why people choose to make false claims. It can range from planning to scam a hotel before arrival to indulging a bit too much and simply losing the items and feeling stupid about it to wrecking a scooter and claiming it "stolen" to being involved in some nefarious deal that turns bad and one loses their money. These situations do unfortunately occur and not everyone is honest with their explanations, even to the police.
The best lesson that can come from this unfortunate situation is that there is never any possible logical reason to be carrying the majority of your vacation cash on your person, expect for when you arriving directly from the airport. At that point, lock up your money and passsports and other important documents in your room safe when you arrive at your room. Only take what you are willing to spend when you head out at anytime. And there is no need to be carrying your passport at night - no one is going to ask to see your passport. If you are planning on using a credit/debit card, any picture ID will suffice for confirmation identification.
As for the tourism numbers being down causing the situation, while June and September did seem slower this year than usual, October and especially November have picked up to the point where things seem busier now than usual. The situation may actually have more to do with the decrease in remittances than due to any perceived hostility towards visitors. And as with what will happen to the rude guy you mentioned on the beach, the locals and the police in the area will deal with the thugs as they always do once they do something wrong. Even Robert & Maureen at their new place Sunnyside as mentioned in Clarity's trip report have an investment in their business right next to Rooms, and they do not want to lose that investment based upon a few bad apples.
Negril.com - For the vacation that never ends!
Tictoc you are right, the agressive hustlers do a disservice to the genuine vendors who are polite and offer a genuinely good service. I regularly buy fresh fruit from the lady who walks the beach daily with the basket of fruit on her head. I also buy coconut cake from another vedor. However these hardworking vendors are a world apart from the layabout hustlers who just prey on tourists and who do not want to work.
They need to be cleared off the stretch of the beach as they are doing no favours to the local business and hotels which they congregate next to.
I have oten walked along the beach late at night, and had no problem, it's been well lit, but after this incident I will now think twice about walking after sunset on the beach.
Another suggestion to the lady seeking a good hotel in December is Hidden Paradise, reasonably priced and set in lovely gardens, small homely atmospehere and good management. We love Coco Le Palm, excellent value for the quality provided, and so many repeat customers, we spoke to guests who are on their 15th visit! and this is common.
Very well managed, excellent service, good security, comfortable rooms. Coco has to be one of the best hotels on the beach in Negril
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