Guests worried about crime in Jamaica

[dushantz]

A call out to previous and to-be Jamacia brides.

 

I am strongly considering Jamaica for my DW. I have mentioned my choice to various friends and family and the response has been all over the place. Some are happy for an excuse to get away to somewhere warm during the winter regardless of the location and others are making comments about the crime, and turning their noses up.

 

Have you experienced anything like this in your planning and how did you deal with it?

[JUSTUSTWO]

Some of my family members who don't travel out of their state much less the country, did have some negative things to say about us getting married in JA.

When one mentioned that she was afraid of something happening to her in JA I told her that the reality is that some crime is everywhere & that she watched too much TV & JA wasn't any more threatening than anything that could happen to her at home or in her own neighborhood.

 

I told the "nay-sayers" that this was our decision, it was a done deal & they could either come & celebrate with us or they could stay home.

Well ofcourse they shut up after that & I didn't hear anymore about it.

 

The good thing was that our parents, as well as other family & friends who travel alot were not concerned at all about anything bad happening to them in JA and thankfully we had no bad incidences while we were there.

 

If it helps, maybe you should show them some positive JA wedding reviews from BDW brides or visit other travel sites that also have good reviews.

 

Either way, if you have your mind made up about JA & its really what you & your FI want, then go with it. People will complain no matter what location you chose and since you can't make everyone happy, just concentrate on making yourself happy.

Sorry if I sound too harsh, but thats just my 2 cents! LOL!

[ErinB]

Most of the crime and political strife is centered in Kingston, on the other side of the island where you will get married (Negril, MoBay, or OR)

 

I had a group of 30 guests and no one had any problems with anything being stolen from the resort.

 

I would tell people to use common sense. If you don't participate in activites that will invite crime, then you will be fine. I wouldn't walk down a dark alley at 3 am in NYC or even in my hometown. I wouldn't hop in the back of some guy's car just because he said it was a cab.

 

I think you will also find that the resorts are very secure and there really isn't a need to go off property.

[JamaicaBrideToBe]

The local towns are safe, and just to make that point clear they are heavily policed as well. We just got back from our wedding and spent every other day in Ocho Rios, went to a night club there as well...there are a lot of tourists that head out it's not out of the norm. The local people were very friendly to me, saying hello in passing.

I would stay away from Kingston in the evenings - not so much that your in danger but there is always the danger of cross fire if there is something going on in the streets. I'll tell you, I went to Spanish Town where my husband grew up and literally I was the only white person there. And Spanish Town is big for Jamaica. No one looked at me any different though, I was travelling with family. Needless to say, as Erin states above, don't make senseless choices and if they are not comfortable, then don't leave the coziness of your resort.

[GregsBride]

I too agree with the previous posts... My FI was born in Jamaica and I have been there with him several times, where we didn't stay at a resort. There was never a time where I felt unsafe, or was aware of any criminal activity. In my opinion, you should act as if it were any other city you would visit in any other country. I see no reason for them to be worried about their safety, especially if majority of their time will be spent on the resort property. Hope this helps...

[big3n09]

I have been to Ochio Rios and the Jamaican people were very nice compared to some other places I have visited. I am planning my wedding in Negril and don't feel thertened in any way about our location. If you feel it necessary or that it will help you can get some facts online or call JA about their crime rates and pass the information on to your guest. One thing with planning a destination wedding you have to accept the fact that everyone is not going to come for various reasons, you have to decide what is most important to you and your FI, it's your wedding!. Good luck and happy planning!

[DGG]

If they stay in the resort or with group activities, it is definitely safe.. My FI and I went to Jamaica last spring and we absolutely loved it... But I have to say, things were questionable when we went out for a night in Montego Bay - we had a really nice dinner out and felt completely safe in the cabs (although the resort set that up for us) and everyone was so nice and helpful, but after dinner we went to Margaritaville and we were looking out on the street from the second floor and watched numerous drug deals, several hookers get picked up, 2 hit and run accidents.. we never felt unsafe, but I wouldn't want to walk alone on the streets of the cities...

all in all, I would love to go back again and would recommend jamaica to my friends or family..

[dushantz]

Thanks for the advice.

 

Personally I am not concerned about crime in or feeling unsafe in Jamaica. I am of the opinion that when travelling to use the same common sense you use at home.

 

I am more concerned about the response to give to my guests (some immediate family) when they voice their concern. Especially when the: "you get from the airport into a secure airport transfer to a very large compound of which you never have to leave if you don't want to and then take a secure airport transfer takes you back to the airport and you go home" reponse doesn't work.

[chickadee024]

I've had some experience with this as well. I have a great-uncle who ran into my mom right after we announced the location. He was all, "Jamaica? She might as well get married in a dump on the south-side of Chicago." My mother responded that he was more than welcome to not attend. These people have never left the country, and have certainly not been to Jamaica - what do they know?

 

Honestly, I don't care either way if they come. If they're too afraid of crime, stay home so that I'm not spending my vacation dealing with freak-outs every time some Jamaican comes up to offer to braid hair or something.

[sunstarsmoon]

Seems this is a common problem. Its my FI parents that are showing concern. They travelled there in the early 70's and had a few problems. But that was then and things are very different now