Help me convince my dad I am fine to travel alone

[johng]

Negril is unique in many ways but the same as anywhere when it comes to danger. Traveling alone to NYC or LA or Paris for a female poses the same potential dangers as Negril does. I am surprised that your father, who himself has traveled to Negril doesn't have friends / contacts that he can put you in touch with to put himself at ease. It comes down in many ways to your ability to navigate the potholes in the road be it anywhere you might be, if your Dad doesn't have that confidence in you then you will have a tough time convincing him otherwise. I have two sons 23 and 20 and I doubt they would want to go on vacation with me simply because I've given them enough of my opinion over the years and they certainly wouldn't want to play by my rules in Negril. I think that only you can convince your dad that you are fine to travel alone. Good luck and hope you make the trip.

[JamaicaLove]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I originally wanted to go with a friend, but there's always a money/time issue, and I really want to be there for my birthday which is sept 29. I could wait until December- a friend of mine is going, and my dad is also going in March and is trying to get me to wait until then, but I don't want to wait for anyone!! I want to go, so I'm going to go. I think I need to go alone to really escape and get in touch with myself... "find" myself, as corny/cliche as it sounds..

I am very responsible when it comes to drinking- even at home, I never go over my limit. My friends are constantly going out and getting trashed to the point that they don't know what they're doing/ passout.. I am usually the "mother" of the group that everyone trusts with their phones/ids/money, and ends up taking care of my drunk friends. My dad knows this, and knows I wouldn't go overboard to where I would make a poor decision, or let my guard down.

My dad's concerns are that I will get killed/raped. He knows I can handle myself, and that the majority of the locals would never harm a tourist, I guess he's worried that one of the people I come in contact with- whether it be on the beach or while walking through town, etc, will pull me into a car/van or something like that. Which is actually more likely to happen in my current city. But to him I will look like a target out there (white, blonde and alone).

I have done many google searches, and have only found one incident where a woman on vacation was killed (in 2000) and a few hotel reviews where woman have said they had been attempted to be raped by an employee at a big resort. I am going to accumulate all that info, reviews of the hostel I want to stay at, blogs of single females who have traveled to Ja, and a list of "safety rules" I will go by. Hopefully that will be enough to convince him. In the end it is my decision of course, but I want him to feel comfortable.


I am also hoping to meet other solo travellers so I won't be alone all the time. And I

[negril#1fan]

Never let your guard down for a second.... Have eyes in the back of your head..... Never go anywhere alone after dark where someone doesn't know where you will be when u expect to return.... Negril can be a very dangerous place after dark, alone and during slow seasons..... U will be a target..... I've taken my kids, I've probably had 30 visits in 30 years..... I've had things happen to grown men who are physically in shape, after dark...... Along the road, late at night when things are quiet.... I'm not saying you can't do it, but never let your guard down...

[jenb]

Be safe and have fun!

[Chaos6403]

I remember couple years ago i was kinda in the same boat.I was about 22/23 and parents didnt like the idea of me being in negril myself even though i still was an adult and it would be my first time.I had to prove to them that everything was cool and gonna be alright.Soo we got invited by a family friend to come to ochi for a wedding.I already had negril on my mind so no matter what i was gonna get there plus my friend from philly (jahfreedom)already was living there .My parents were living in florida and im in new york so we came on two different flights to the island.My flight came first and my ride to negril was waiting there for me (big up Ras Noble).As soon as i bought a digicel chip i gave them my jamaican number and told them im in negril and okay wasnt nothing they can really do at that point.I still made it to ochi for the wedding which was the following weekend.From that point on been going to ja by myself. I'm not saying to go against your dad wishes or anything.If you do go be safe and have fun

1 more thing if it doesnt have a redplate don't go in it

[johng]

Jamaicalove,

You seem to have a good head on your shoulders and hats off to your Dad for raising you well and caring about you so much. He must understand that in today's world rape and murder happen everyday in everyplace one needs not to travel to Negril. None of my business about your lifestyle but surely you will meet other like minded travelers as yourself to hang out with for strength in numbers. As everybody has advised Negril like anywhere else can turn from paradise to hell if one loses their common sense and does something really dumb but most everyone has had positive experiences there and you should not (or your father) dwell on possible negativity or project bad things to happen. Trust your fellow man / woman and have a great trip!!