We were harassed for our first time over Christmas. We were at LTU . Guy was a real Ass. Went on to tell us he had a wife and kids to support. Bartender told him to stop. My husband is no small guy. Neither of us backed down and he left. Another guy was there selling CDs. It made him mad. Other Jamaicans don't like this rude behavior.
The herbmen hustling is no problem. If I'm not in need I just try to sell them what I have and they move on.
The real shame for us is the craft market. We would love to shop there but it just isn't worth the hassle. Instead we try to avoid any areas with a concentration of vendors.
There's also many times I opt to take cabs when I could walk just because I don't feel like being bothered and just want to get where we are going. But for some even getting a cab can be intimidating.
I only felt harassed once and even then I didn't feel threatened but was glad it was our last day and wouldn't be seeing that guy again anytime soon. There was one other time that I wasn't sure what was going to happen next but my friend quickly ran the guy off and that was the end of that.
We spent some time in Sav last trip and not one person approached us.
For new visitors it can be intimidating just trying to leave the airport to catch your ride and the cruise ship ports in Jamaica have a reputation for not being the most tourist friendly. These "first impression areas" should be the main focus of any education efforts. But doing so would be difficult without running out the little guy. It would take years before vendors would see increased traffic and sales from not being so aggressive. That's understandably too long for most vendors. What would really be needed is some sort of incentive or subsidy to offset losses while trying to rebuild the bad reputation. I don't see that happening.
Blue Cave Castle '12, '13 '14 '15 '16 Catcha Falling Star '13 Boardwalk Village '14 '15
what is so hard about saying NO.......dat all it takes here.......
and mi been saying it since mi first reach many moons ago....lol
Cool Runnings, Marko
Americana Ocho Rios 82~HedoII 84,91~T-Water 85~Wexford Court Mobay 85~Miss Mary’s 86,87~Barry’s 88~Seawinds Mobay 89~LTU 91~Charela Inn 92~Negril Inn 92~SamSara 93,94~Ocean Edge 95,96~Singles 95,96~Thrills 95~Hilltop 96,99~Pee Wees 97~Kool Browns/Bentley's 97~Cottage 99-03~Roots Bamboo 03~Merrill’s I&II 04,05~Corals Seas Cliffs & Beach 06~Catcha Falling Star 07~Blue Cave Castle 08~SeaStar 10,12~(4x)Bourbon Beach 12~T&J Cottages on Ella Dr 12-18~PeWee Cottages 18~Lynch Cottages 19,20
Marko, glad it has worked for you, but there are many people here saying that it's actually not that easy, and that NO is all it takes. I've had NO not be enough when walking by myself, followed down the beach being told that I need to stop and respect them, and give them money for things I don't want.Originally Posted by Marko
I don't understand why people continue to pop in here to laugh and belittle the experiences some have had, as if it's their fault.
Look, I'm a lifetime New Yorker, in my 40's, live and play in and around NYC, have a thick skin and know how to deal with hustlers. Some of these guys take it too far, and if it's making my wife uncomfortable, it's too much. That's all there is to it in my mind. Bottom line is it changes how we spend our time in Negril, the amount of time we spend, and where the money gets spent.
I'd also like to say that we're going back in 6 days, and I'm looking forward to relaxing on the beach, buying fruit from the fruit lady, patties from the patty mon, lobster from the lobster guy, and my wife always gets a kick out of the guy with all the hats. The guys that accept "No thanks" and move on, I appreciate that this is their living and it doesn't bother me or my wife at all.
I usually try and buy something from the vendors outside of the restaurants I go to the the west end -- REALLY stupid bracelets, I think I probably have 100 of them in my bedroom dresser drawers, really kind of ugly unfit together type of cheap bracelets. In the 1980's when Negril would often be without any kind of water at all I would drive my daughters to Ochi to stay just so we could have shower access, water access... oh brother those vendors were so totally aggressive and hostile. The biggest thing when my kids were young was going to the main "Falls" and walking up and down them. So I am a veteran of that area, you have NO idea what that place Chela Bay was like during the 1970's, owned by those Atlanta guys whose name I won't mention (love to you all). What a lovely crazy place, Mighty Diamonds playing in the cellar, Burning Spear too, so many British rock stars in the place, the Playboy Club next door with SO many brothers and fathers in the place really ANGRY that their daughters and sisters were working there..... A totally NUTS late night scene. The owners of the place would come to my oh so quiet west end home for some quiet time.
I get off .. the plane with one of those stupid bracelets on ....
saves me some of the hassle
Does anyone know where you can get those FREE bracelets on the beach?
The worst harassment we experienced on our last trip was a guy trying to give us a free bracelet in the parking lot of the Pork Pit in Mobay. Linston took care of him, as the staff at the Pork Pit did nothing to help.
In comparison, the vendors in Negril were a pleasure to deal with.
I too am tiring of Negril. Too many hard eyes and words these days. Last trip, I had a wide angle lens on my camera and was taking a picture of a building along the beach and some guy comes running down from the property and starts yelling at me. I told him I hadn't even seen him, and that I had a wide angle and he couldn't even be seen in the picture. On the way back from our walk as we hit that property, of course I started to lift my camera again and hubby said, 'Don't you dare'. LOL.
So I'm not scared, just sick of it. It's so different than it was 15 years ago and not in a good way. Don't know how long we'll keep going, but hubby just LOVES the food.
It's a bit discouraging to read all the negative comments about Negril. I recently made reservations for our 40th Anniversary in Montego Bay, then saw lots of great comments about Negril- places to go, things to see... so changed our reservation to 6 nights in Negril and 4 in Montego Bay... and now I have come across these threads that are a little worrisome. I just want to go somewhere to listen to some great reggae music, eat some delicious Jamaican food, walk some beautiful beaches, watch people braver than I jump off cliffs, and enjoy the vibe that I hear so much about in Jamaica. Now I'm wondering if I've made a mistake and maybe should have planned somewhere other than Jamaica to celebrate 40 years of marriage. *sigh* Tell me it's not a mistake!
Posting Permissions
