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

[murph]

All good tips... there's one guy imparticular... no names- hes a good guy though. Down on his luck, Im sure the drinking has something to do with it... I started a little game I call "Higgling the higgler". Every trip I bring him down something cool. On day 1 I go say hello and give him the "Its all good" nod. He knows that on my last day he will get hooked up... so everyday after he is nice as pie. Last day- Ill hook him up.

Before I started doing this, everyday that passed he would turn up the heat- waving me down, yelling across the street, stopping me when Im drizzunk, asking for cash. So this has worked perfectly for us. Now he never asks for anything and also keeps an eye out for us. We got his back and he has ours... and it usually costs me a pair of Nikes I get at a Yard Sale... and (if there is any)the leftover rum when the trip is over certainly puts a smile on his face.

Its funny- the ol lady wondered in the beginning why I would "hook up" such an annoying guy.... well now she knows why. Instaed of asking for handouts, he now asks us "how we've been."

[shellyk]

For the most part this is one of the very few things my X Husband is good for to be used in excuses for the hustlers and beggars.

"Where you staying"
Here, I live here
"Where do you Live"
Sav La Mar in Landillo
"respect, have a nice day"

"Can you give me money for food"
I live here sorry but hopefully the tourists can help you.

"Do you want to look at me wears or buy something"
I will look but I am here many times a year so I have already bought nearly every souveneir possible. You have beautiful wears I will let other people know that I see in town to come look.

" I could give you some lovein/ Your so sexy/ Hey sweetie"
Thank You for the compliment but mi nah need nah bamboo mi got mi own (while holding up wedding finger with old ring on)
" You married to a black man/Oh baby you could always use more/ I could love you better"
Anything more I need I got batteries by my bed to take care of, have a nice day.

"You Smoke/ You need ganja/ I got some good weed"
I work for the government
"You the police?"
Nope I work with the kids
"respect"

( from adults) "Shelly what are you going to bring me back, or what did you bring me?"
I'll bring me and I brought me, if I spent money on other things I wouldn't be able to come because I'm not rich either.

"About 12am the "your so sexy or oh I want you" gets patios curse words in return if a simple no thanks don't bugger them off. I hate insincere compliments and as the day gets longer these get more annoying. I have more of a problem with that then hustlers or beggars. Unfortunately any woman traveling alone in Negril gets the reputation passed that they are there for meaningless sex because of so many others that do just that.

[VtDave]

NAPALM!

No, really, I usually just talk politely to them and let them know that I'm not buying. Don't let them put jewelry or anything on you.

And I really don't do the ganja. Gotta pee in the cup, mon.

[RockRobster]

I try to be polite, as I am a guest in their country, and say "No, thanks mon, I've got every likkle thing I need, but respect to YOU mon!" If that doesn't work I just keep repeating "Respect to YOU mon" in the middle of every sentence they speak. After a while, they get the hint. And, I always say it with a big smile! I like buying things on the beach....jerk, coco bread, patties and foodstuff...but not souvenirs, me got plenty of dat, including the carved giraffe that was carved in Africa, not JA...

For me, it seems my friends appreciate sauces and the like that they cannot get at home...

[Mrs stuck]

I even had someone try to get me to loan them cash to buy a vender stall...only 750.00 american-ya gotta be on yours toes when ya reach the beach cuzs theres request about every 5 feet.

[negrilaholic]

Shellyk, I do admit that is one thing that does get a little annoying after a while. I know I'm not the best looking woman in the world, and the flowery flattery is nice, but sometimes a line is crossed..but I try to keep my sense of humor about it and that helps..usually by the time evening rolls around and I get "offers" I sometimes just wink and say no thanks, a poor girl like me could never afford someone of their obvious high calibre. That either gets a laugh or sometimes even more flowery words, but it's all good, as long as the guy isn't too pushy, and so far havent' come across any guy that is.

[Creasemon]

I have found in the case of souvenir/craft people telling them " No mon..This is not gift shopping day - Thats end of the week" This year had a fine time messing with a couple of hustlers by the Hi/Lo who wanted to sell me Valium & Viagara..Stopped them in their tracks with "Hang on there - Doesn't one of those cancel out the other ?" They thought it over and I walked off. A sense of humour and a smile sure helps..

[southcoastgirl]

Higgler says " Its my Birthday today" I reply "what is todays date" That usually ends the conversation!

I tell em' "Hey - it's my birthday too!"

[Kahuna3]

Whenever I was asked "Where you stayin?" I used to avoid the the question or say, "Just up the beach" or something like that. But lately I've been saying I'm at 'The Hummingbird'.
There is no such place - but it sounds real enough. Occasionally I'll get a question as to where it is, etc - and then I embellish. I tell them exactly where it is, which depends where I am at the time, and I tell them how great the food is there, etc. I've gotten to the point that now I believe that I am actually staying at The Hummingbird, which makes it even more believable, I've been staying there for 2 years now and I've become an ambassador for the place.

[northcoast]

So, where do you tell them it is???...if it's actually a figment of your imagination?....do you make up a new location each time someone asks?...LOL!!