We saw several police cruisers on the beach last week. Lots of vendors, all pleasant. Few higglers, just the bracelet ankle guys. The lobster guy was still out trying to sell lobster on the beach, he really didn't like it when I said it was out of season and illegal. Probably the least hassled trip in 10 years.
That's actually pretty funny about the "I know you" scam. We live part time at the Point Village and a few years back, prior to catching on to what the foot in the door scam was all about from the higgler's, we would always be asked, where do you stay, the higgler's would always respond, OH!!! the Point Village, I used to be a life guard there. Well, back in the hay day, Point Village must have had 30 life guards working at one time or another because everyone we ran into was a pool boy there. It wasn't until after we caught on that we discovered the first rule about Negril, is never, never say where you stay.Originally Posted by harrison
I'm not trying to be critical but just giving some friendly advice. Harrison, I think you might be your own worst enemy. Buying food for the beggar is the last thing you should do just to get rid of him. First, he will remember that for ever and never leave you alone again, and secondly, it makes it hard for all that come by after you. The message is....just bug people enough and you get what you want. I have yet to see a thin emaciated Jamaican beggar that really really needed the food. Secondly, if they wave you over or stand in front to talk to you, you should never never walk over to engage in conversation. Once you have stopped and say the first word, the hook is in. They may not be able to reel you in but it puts you on the defensive. No..I don't want to buy ganja, no...I don't want to go on a tour, no...I don't want to go parasailing, that kind of defensive. Just a friendly wave, maybe a no thank you, maybe a look on your face like you don't speak English, anything, but don't engage in conversation unless YOU want to. If the higgler's start walking beside you, just stop short and when they are one step in front of you, make a turn to walk behind them and walk to the closest bar. My wife and I have found many a good bar with a good vibe by doing just that.
I've been going for 20 years and Negril has always been a hassle in that regard.
Everyone claims to have a magic formula for dealing with it, but they're lying. If you're a long-time visitor, the long-time hasslers will recognize you and not hassle you. But there are always some annoying newly-minted hustlers to deal with. Nothing works against the really aggressive ones. Once I got into a fist-fight with one before the hotel security guard broke it up. Another time I made it back to my rental car after being really aggressively followed/hassled/threatened, then came really close to running the guy down (he had to dive into the bushes to get out of my way). I was really mad, obviously. That was satisfying but not a good idea really. Winding up in prison would not have been a good way to spend my vacation.
These days I always stay in Airbnb's outside of Negril (e.g. Lucea, Sav) & just go into Negril when I want to be hassled, kidding!, really I just go to Negril when I want to partake of its beaches or restaurants or clubs. Then I go back to the regular Jamaica. The hassling only exists in the tourist towns. In regular Jamaican towns like Sav or Lucea I can just walk around calmly like a regular person, same as I would in any US city.
Richard
A couple of years ago I was practically surrounded by women with their little stalls all together all expecting me to buy from each of them and they were so aggressive. It was honestly a little scary and our last reach I steered clear of them. It's sad actually, that the more they are in your face the more you will avoid and not buy, but if they relaxed and were more friendly their chances of a sale would increase tremendously.
[url=https://www.TickerFactory.com/]
I had a similar experience at The Jungle. Except what *they* were trying to sell me was not jewelry ...
Accompong, what a wonderful story and after all these years a great memory.
Regards,
Bob
That's a sweet story/memory, Accompong. Thanks for sharing.
also enjoyed the story and it brings me to mention as a over 50 time visitor i love Negril and love the people. i have has maybe 3 bad experiences in all those trips and they were all in the last couple years. this last year was the worst but it was just the one guy and he was an *******.
What I noticed this year was that the security guards where we stay were more protective of the guests than in past years. The minute they perceived that a higgler had "outstayed his/her welcome" they were right there making them move on. Similar thing happened to me at a restaurant at lunch time. My companion had gone back to the hotel to get some money to pay the CD vendor and a young higgler approached me. I don't even remember what he was selling, but I said no thank you. He tried to say something else, and the owner of the restaurant (who was sitting in another area but obviously watching closely) lit into him to leave me alone, I had said no.
querty,
I noticed that as well, where I stay, they have a new security guy, and when vendors approach the chairs of the guest, he goes up and stands right next to the chairs, and watched and listens while transactions are made. If it gets to much, he tells them to move on. Also, I always every year, try and walk the beach, the whole beach at least a few times . I always start out at Cosmos. ( I know they are closed now ) I purchase a drink at their bar, and sit outside on the table, and drink it before my walk. When dudes come up and try and talk, the manager, or owner , not sure which, will come up and tell them to move on. I think years of complaining about this has been heard by the hotel owners.
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