Montego Bay Warnings and Dangers

To all my USA travelers, when going here or anywhere in Jamaica for that matter. Please travel as light as you can. When you get there, keep a keen eye on all your luggage and keep them close at hand. The contents are easy resale items. When you arrive to your hotel, have things like your ID and passport put away and do not walk with them. They are hot items to the locals to steal. I am sure no one wants a great trip ruined by theft.

I’m not the one to tell you what to do and what not to do but I can give you a good advice;
Stay away from drugs!
First; What ever you have heard, drugs are illegal in Jamaica!
Second; You don’t want to become or act like a stoned punk.

Locals are always trying to sell you drugs and always try to get you in their shops.

Honestly, if you don't like that, then don't go off the resort. We went off the resort and many people tried to sell us stuff and it was really hard to feel comfortable.

Driving in Montego Bay, let's just say, you'll be putting your life in DANGER! These people drive like maniacs and there is only 1 stop sign all the rest are yields. Renting a car is not a good option here! If you do rent a car, get as much insurance as you can and don't drive around town, go on the mountain roads, even those are bad because they drive about 70mgh on a thin little road. There is no tow truck to call in Jamaica, when they wreck a car that is where it will rust away.

When we got off the Suncat to do some shopping near Margheritaville, we were offered drugs at least twice in five minutes! We found it very distressing, as a man followed us saying "I got sth for ya". We didn't even look at him, but he kept insisting till a guy (I think it was someone from the shop) asked him to go away. So do be careful while walking around the city.

This may sound bizarre to some people, but I suffer from Restless legs syndrome, this was really, really, bad to the point where I wanted to cry..because my daughter broke the fan in our bedroom and there was absolutely no escaping the oppressive heat... Its really quite odd, even though the sun has long gone and the nights are very very dark, (no street lighting as such in the villages)..the heat seems to intensivy and lies thick in your personal atmosphere...So, take precautions in terms of maybe a personal fan, if you are in a fancy hotel, no prob, the air conditioning will 'kick in', but if like me, you are an opportunist who will accept gratefully an invite to another country,(bear that in mind folks *wink*) and lay my head anywhere (all I ask for is a mirror and the make up bag, yep vanity is my weakness) ...

If you are like me and find sugar in your coffee sacrosant, then tell the people making it, we stopped of at a McDonalds (yes I KNOW!) and I was gagging for a coffee, it came back with about 12 spoons of sugar in it.....I was sweating pure cane.

Be absolutely vigilant about putting all food in the fridge, the insects are very partial to any small offerings and will move in to your snackettes, before you can say....'I love that grape Punch!'

You will be offered drugs. This is a given. Most offers are for Marijuana. A simple no, no thank you, etc may work, but simply stating that your employer "P i s s Tests", is the best way to stop the onslaught. The phrase "P i s s Test" is most commonly understood, as stating simply drug testing may not get the point across.