Share your best tip for dealing with Negril hustlers and beggars ...

[gerryg123]

I go to Negril a lot, and it seems like there are more hustlers -- and especially beggars -- than ever before. I can deal with it, I still love the place, but it does get on my nerves, as I suspect about 99 percent of us can all relate.

If someone is a carver or makes necklaces, something like that, that's one thing. I buy a ton of stuff, have a draw full back home. But the ones who ask for money handout or a free beer or start pitching a real-estate propasal or whatever, those are the ones who drive me nuts.

"No thank you" works about fifty percent of the time, at best. Not effective enough, no matter how much eye contact or sincerity.

For me .... The best and quickest method to get through 'em, especially when they're coming at you from all angles? I know some of you will say it's cruel, but the "I'll be back in a minute" or "I'll be right back" really works well because it stops them from pushing any further. Sometimes, they will hit you up again, but most of the time they accept the fact you're a no-go without any more exchanges.

Another effective line, the one I use in the USA, too, is a quick simple phrase: "I'm down on my luck." For some reason, beggars can really relate to this ....

How about the rest of you? Is it a hassle part of your vacation, especailly on Beach? And how do you deal with hustlers and beggars?

[TiCtOc]

hi whats for FREE LOL?
buy me a beer?yeah sure will you buy me a rum punch no man ah well that does not seem like a great deal to me NEXT
or say I do not buy anything for more than 500ja at once I am really tight my name is scrooge.

[Mrs stuck]

Yes it can be a problem.The constant stream of people wanting money,beer,your clothes,your cigs....im learning to take a deep breath and give a firm no to these request.Just say no!

[jasperpso]

i am a softie - if someone truly looks like they need it - i will give a guy 100ja for food or a beer..
but
i DONT want a drawer full of souvenirs.. i buy some - for gifts, but i dont take allot of stuff home..

its the higglers , not the beggars that get on my nerves.. i dont want drugs while i am walking with my kids - also dont need them when we are sitting down to eat at alices either.. if i am walking by you, that isnt a invitation to start walking with me, i also dont need a guide.. a firm no from me usually works, but recently at mi yard, i was sitting drinking a beer with Ali-C, and there was a kid - maybe 20 yrs old being shooed out to the gate, he was trying to get us to pay him for singing a song..it was obvious that he was very hungry - he was speaking to the lady shooeing him explaining his stomach was hurting.. it was all a little crazy.. here i was sitting with Ali-C talking about his music and where he was playing that nightand i got a cd from him, and this guy is trying to sing to us for some food.. anyways, when i walked out he was still sitting by the gate, and i gave him a couple 100ja.. i know it wasnt allot -but you know what - i feel better about that - then any of the souvenirs i bought that trip..

now i know some tricks of getting around negril with little negative exposure to my kids. there are places to avoid, and finding a local taxi driver with a good fare to get around is a must - because walking the west end isnt for everyone..

[negrilaholic]

I guess I have been pretty lucky my four vacations in Negril because I have never been swamped with beggers and/or higglers. And when I am asked to just look, I will do so, and will chat up the sellers because part of what I enjoy about my vacation is being able to talk with folks and never noticed a "high pressure" tactic to buy anything once I am there to look and hold a conversation, be it brief or long.

When asked to buy something right off the bat, usually just tell them I don't have it like that and most folks are pretty understanding since they know all to well how things can be on a tight budget. Maybe my next trip later this year my "luck" will run out where that is concerned, but unless it gets really bad for me personally, can't see as it will stop me from coming and enjoying Negril, but that's just me.

[pwj155]

i love the confused look i get from the ganja guys when i say "i'm sorry,we don't smoke"

[irieworld]

I don't lie--regardless of higgler pressure. I don't say I will be back later--because then every time that vendor sees me he will either implore with me or worse start guilting me or even scolding me for not stopping. "No thank you mon" has always worked for me. I don't feel like I owe it to anyone to tell them that I am on a shoestring budget, don't have any money etc. No is no--but I say it with a thanks and usually a smile unless the person is just rude. Usually after one or two walks around they know me (some know me from other trips) and know I am not a buyer. But I do like to stop and chat with vendors, and check out their stuff--a lot really nice people with interesting stories to meet.

[rasta ronnie]

I had some fun this Apirl with that problem. When someone got on my nerves I simply asked them if they wanted to by an 8x10 photo of negril. I told them I was a photographer trying to make some money for my next trip. Two of the guys got really pissed at me and mumbled something as the quickly walked away from me.

[Rambo]

we were approached by the "ganja" man in Sunshine Plaza...not needing anything, I acted like I was hard of hearing....lol......

"Hey Mon need some weed?"............I looked at him and loudly said "WEED" GOD NO I fresh OUT!........come by tomorrow.............everybody was lookin...
he looked at us...mumbled"bumba-clot" and scurried off lol

[Mrs stuck]

Whoops cat sat on the keyboard,anyway after one or two no's most wont ask you again!