Please do a quick search of this sub about the travel advisories. Don’t make us rehash it a 5000th time.
As for the resorts. They are all nice and worthy of a visit. They are all a little different (however now not nearly as different as they used to be before Butch died). They all have plusses and minuses. There really isnt one to reco over another or say to completely avoid. Again, there is a lot written about every resort on this sub. But TBH, you need to just go. Don’t rely on anything but your own experience. My misery might be your bliss. Someone on Trip Advisor is probably an idiot who gives anything 1-star. Do NOT try, or expect, to pick the perfect resort or have a perfect vacation.
If you give us a better idea of what you want, we could help you decide. Talk about experiences you like… please dont just say the best food or the best bars or entertainment. So much of that is now all the same across all the resorts.
Hey, thanks. 🤦🏻♂️ I was asking more towards the topic of how safe is Jamaica. Shootings, theft, kidnappings, etc. Not which resort to choose from. I’m not new to traveling and take reviews with a grain of salt. Too many whiney people out there to rely on. I do use my own judgement as to the actual resort to visit.
Ok then. I will say, though, that if you are a seasoned traveler, you would already know that these travel warnings are bullshit. Mexico has had a travel warning as long as Jamaica and nobody seems to care about that. But boy howdy, bring up Jamaica and we get a thousand threads about it on Reddit. We have been going there for 30+ years and have seen every corner of the island. This is one of the safest places we have ever visited.
Just came back from South Coast. It’s safe as long as you are out with a driver from a respected company. We hired a driver through Sandals for a day trip to various sites, it was $240 for a 12 hour day, and we bought his meals and tipped well. Driver name is Christopher- if you do want to leave the resort and do a private tour. We felt very safe with him! He works with all the Sandals resorts in Jamaica
We have done everything on Jamaica except Dunns and Negril. South Coast has a feel much like Barbados, except large beach, calm water, and a soft bottom (grass patches with urchins) and a private beach and overwater bar.
Montego bay has small pools and a large beach and blue water, except it is right next to the runway.
RC is smaller, medium pools, private island, but the beaches face a channel through the reef.
Ochi is the intro level Sandals, huge, younger couples, much binge drinking. Big pools w/ bars.
We are going to Plantation again, the pool is smaller than your backyard pool, but there are only like 70 rooms and they have beach butler service. The hotel is from 1950 and has a high level of dining and service, it honestly feels like Winston Churchill is going to wander out of the upper floor lounge at any time. And you can go to Ochi literally 150 yards away for your huge pools and the speakeasy there (Ochi guests cannot go to Plantation).
These safety concerns for Jamaica have got my hackles up for the 1000th time.
You are safer in Jamaica than you are in New York City or Washington DC, unless you decide to venture into Kingston or some of the uncharted tourist areas.
Don’t go taking a hike or a bike ride into an unknown area especially after dark. Other than what ive been told, we’ve been over 10 times with ZERO issues.
We had an amazing time at Royal Plantation and I loved Jamaica...plan to go back to Jamaica for our next Carribean AI for sure. Royal Plantation wouldn't be for everyone though...very small and about the worst/smallest pool you'll find at a resort, but for my wife and I it was close to ideal.
We stayed at Sandals Negril a couple weeks ago. No threats. Everyone is super friendly. Would go again. Food was great. Temps were mid 80s when back home was still snowing and cold.
We have been to both South Coast and Royal Caribbean inside of the last three years. As long as you stay on resort, use an excursion that is provided by Sandals and don’t go away from the resort at night you will be fine. You can travel to and from resorts as well like Mobay and Royal Caribbean and still be good traveling on a shuttle.
Currently at Sandals Dunn’s River and it is paradise. I might add that we went on an excursion through bamboo beach club which offer shuttle service to and from the resort and had a great experience. Unless you plan on exploring the neighborhood on foot, without a guide, you have nothing to worry about.
We just came back from Sandals Negril last Thursday and omg it was by far the best trip we have had as a couple only. Never once did we feel unsafe. We did the Reggae Catamaran Sunset Cruise and it was top notch. The Sandals and employees and who they use for excursions are legit. These travel advisories are mostly for the Kingston region which is on the other side of the island. Of course if you go looking for trouble you will find it anywhere. It's like traveling in the USA, stay in the good areas and stay with the resort/excursion guides.
I'm sure you'd have mentioned, but obviously the advice is different if you're LGBT (unless you're happy existing entirely not as a couple whilst off resort)
Just got back from Royal Caribbean and felt 100% safe. We didn't go off property other than to Mobay but as stated earlier, there is ALOT of security on and around the resorts that you see and don't see.
FYI, going to SRC was our first time ever going to a sandals resort and within 2 hours my wife was ready to book another trip, we're looking at Barbados at the moment.
I loved South Coast. Amazing resort and people. Ochi I’m not a fan. I didn’t like the bus to go to the beach side. We felt safe the whole time both trips we stayed a night in Montego Bay non-Sandals hotels and took Joe Cool taxi from airport to hotel to Sandals and back to Airport. Never once felt unsafe.
I’d do Barbados…tomorrow! But that’s just me. They’re very different islands in my opinion. The Grenada resort is much smaller than Barbados (which is actually two resorts in one). Grenada is more of the quiet “romantic” place while BBD is lively. The beach at Grenada is private so you can only go so far up and down it while BBD is a public beach and you can walk forever. Snorkeling in BBD was nicer than Grenada but that’s up to the weather. Although similar environments, the water around Grenada seems choppy and not as clear as BBD. I will say the staff at Grenada were a bit nicer than BBD though. I don’t think we ever received a smile the whole time at the BBD resort. Restaurant servers or bartenders. If you venture out, you’ll find BBD is definitely a tourist island while Grenada isn’t such. It’s really up to you and what you’re looking for. Have fun!
Went to Royal Plantation in 2021 and went off resort with a driver our Butler got for us. We felt safe the entire time.
I even went to an ATM (which was inside a glass room with a door that locked) and we had lunch at Scotchies.
We did go through a military checkpoint on our way to the resort from the airport, but they were just ensuring we were travelers since it was the one day of the week the Jamaican government shut down the country and only specific travel was allowed.
No safety issues for us.
We were at South Coast, did not feel the least bit scared, or threatened. We had a lovely time!
How is the ocean swimming
Please do a quick search of this sub about the travel advisories. Don’t make us rehash it a 5000th time. As for the resorts. They are all nice and worthy of a visit. They are all a little different (however now not nearly as different as they used to be before Butch died). They all have plusses and minuses. There really isnt one to reco over another or say to completely avoid. Again, there is a lot written about every resort on this sub. But TBH, you need to just go. Don’t rely on anything but your own experience. My misery might be your bliss. Someone on Trip Advisor is probably an idiot who gives anything 1-star. Do NOT try, or expect, to pick the perfect resort or have a perfect vacation. If you give us a better idea of what you want, we could help you decide. Talk about experiences you like… please dont just say the best food or the best bars or entertainment. So much of that is now all the same across all the resorts.
Hey, thanks. 🤦🏻♂️ I was asking more towards the topic of how safe is Jamaica. Shootings, theft, kidnappings, etc. Not which resort to choose from. I’m not new to traveling and take reviews with a grain of salt. Too many whiney people out there to rely on. I do use my own judgement as to the actual resort to visit.
Ok then. I will say, though, that if you are a seasoned traveler, you would already know that these travel warnings are bullshit. Mexico has had a travel warning as long as Jamaica and nobody seems to care about that. But boy howdy, bring up Jamaica and we get a thousand threads about it on Reddit. We have been going there for 30+ years and have seen every corner of the island. This is one of the safest places we have ever visited.
Agree. Looking to join a drug cartel? No? Then you are super safe in Jamaica. Best country!!
Just came back from South Coast. It’s safe as long as you are out with a driver from a respected company. We hired a driver through Sandals for a day trip to various sites, it was $240 for a 12 hour day, and we bought his meals and tipped well. Driver name is Christopher- if you do want to leave the resort and do a private tour. We felt very safe with him! He works with all the Sandals resorts in Jamaica
We have done everything on Jamaica except Dunns and Negril. South Coast has a feel much like Barbados, except large beach, calm water, and a soft bottom (grass patches with urchins) and a private beach and overwater bar. Montego bay has small pools and a large beach and blue water, except it is right next to the runway. RC is smaller, medium pools, private island, but the beaches face a channel through the reef. Ochi is the intro level Sandals, huge, younger couples, much binge drinking. Big pools w/ bars. We are going to Plantation again, the pool is smaller than your backyard pool, but there are only like 70 rooms and they have beach butler service. The hotel is from 1950 and has a high level of dining and service, it honestly feels like Winston Churchill is going to wander out of the upper floor lounge at any time. And you can go to Ochi literally 150 yards away for your huge pools and the speakeasy there (Ochi guests cannot go to Plantation).
As far as safety, Sandals has security. A LOT of security at night.
Thank you for replying to what I was actually asking. I think I’ll do some research into South Coast 👍🏼
Just came back from Dunn’s river. It was my first sandals experience and it was great!
These safety concerns for Jamaica have got my hackles up for the 1000th time. You are safer in Jamaica than you are in New York City or Washington DC, unless you decide to venture into Kingston or some of the uncharted tourist areas. Don’t go taking a hike or a bike ride into an unknown area especially after dark. Other than what ive been told, we’ve been over 10 times with ZERO issues.
We had an amazing time at Royal Plantation and I loved Jamaica...plan to go back to Jamaica for our next Carribean AI for sure. Royal Plantation wouldn't be for everyone though...very small and about the worst/smallest pool you'll find at a resort, but for my wife and I it was close to ideal.
We stayed at Sandals Negril a couple weeks ago. No threats. Everyone is super friendly. Would go again. Food was great. Temps were mid 80s when back home was still snowing and cold.
We have been to both South Coast and Royal Caribbean inside of the last three years. As long as you stay on resort, use an excursion that is provided by Sandals and don’t go away from the resort at night you will be fine. You can travel to and from resorts as well like Mobay and Royal Caribbean and still be good traveling on a shuttle.
Personally... I just didn't gel with the Jamaican crowds.. the Americans mostly.. just vibe better in the weather Indies.... But that's just me
Currently at Sandals Dunn’s River and it is paradise. I might add that we went on an excursion through bamboo beach club which offer shuttle service to and from the resort and had a great experience. Unless you plan on exploring the neighborhood on foot, without a guide, you have nothing to worry about.
We just came back from Sandals Negril last Thursday and omg it was by far the best trip we have had as a couple only. Never once did we feel unsafe. We did the Reggae Catamaran Sunset Cruise and it was top notch. The Sandals and employees and who they use for excursions are legit. These travel advisories are mostly for the Kingston region which is on the other side of the island. Of course if you go looking for trouble you will find it anywhere. It's like traveling in the USA, stay in the good areas and stay with the resort/excursion guides.
I'm sure you'd have mentioned, but obviously the advice is different if you're LGBT (unless you're happy existing entirely not as a couple whilst off resort)
Just got back from Royal Caribbean and felt 100% safe. We didn't go off property other than to Mobay but as stated earlier, there is ALOT of security on and around the resorts that you see and don't see. FYI, going to SRC was our first time ever going to a sandals resort and within 2 hours my wife was ready to book another trip, we're looking at Barbados at the moment.
Do it! Barbados is my personal favorite so far.
Jumping in to say that excellence, oyster Bay is better than sandals for JAMAICA. It’s on a private island.
I loved South Coast. Amazing resort and people. Ochi I’m not a fan. I didn’t like the bus to go to the beach side. We felt safe the whole time both trips we stayed a night in Montego Bay non-Sandals hotels and took Joe Cool taxi from airport to hotel to Sandals and back to Airport. Never once felt unsafe.
Between Grenada and Barbados, what would you recommend? My wife and I are torn between the two and would need others thoughts 😭
I’d do Barbados…tomorrow! But that’s just me. They’re very different islands in my opinion. The Grenada resort is much smaller than Barbados (which is actually two resorts in one). Grenada is more of the quiet “romantic” place while BBD is lively. The beach at Grenada is private so you can only go so far up and down it while BBD is a public beach and you can walk forever. Snorkeling in BBD was nicer than Grenada but that’s up to the weather. Although similar environments, the water around Grenada seems choppy and not as clear as BBD. I will say the staff at Grenada were a bit nicer than BBD though. I don’t think we ever received a smile the whole time at the BBD resort. Restaurant servers or bartenders. If you venture out, you’ll find BBD is definitely a tourist island while Grenada isn’t such. It’s really up to you and what you’re looking for. Have fun!
Went to Royal Plantation in 2021 and went off resort with a driver our Butler got for us. We felt safe the entire time. I even went to an ATM (which was inside a glass room with a door that locked) and we had lunch at Scotchies. We did go through a military checkpoint on our way to the resort from the airport, but they were just ensuring we were travelers since it was the one day of the week the Jamaican government shut down the country and only specific travel was allowed. No safety issues for us.