About visiting Jamaica

[RooFlyer]

Has anyone visited Kingston, Jamaica recently? I have a 2 night, work related stay with flights booked. I knew the place was dodgy, but I just went to my TA to book hotels and she nearly had a fit about what a dangerous place it was, especially driving A to B (based on client feedback), which I would be - hotel to office etc. Smarttraveller advice is quite worrisome as well.

I'm reconsidering my visit. It would have been an interesting place to go, but I'm not into being robbed, or worse. But then again, its easy to be spooked by anecdotal evidence.

Anyone with recent, actual experience who can comment on the personal safety situation in Kingston (as opposed to within resort walls)?

 

[Dr Ralph]

Has anyone visited Kingston, Jamaica recently? I have a 2 night, work related stay with flights booked. I knew the place was dodgy, but I just went to my TA to book hotels and she nearly had a fit about what a dangerous place it was, especially driving A to B (based on client feedback), which I would be - hotel to office etc. Smarttraveller advice is quite worrisome as well.

I'm reconsidering my visit. It would have been an interesting place to go, but I'm not into being robbed, or worse. But then again, its easy to be spooked by anecdotal evidence.

Anyone with recent, actual experience who can comment on the personal safety situation in Kingston (as opposed to within resort walls)?

I was there in the middle of 2015 for the cricket. Went out every night in a group but only enough cash for the night. There are organised gangs around. It's not a particularly safe place. I wouldn't advise going unless there was a specific need.

 

[dk4]

I wondered around Kingston during the day without issue, it is an impoverished society and the stores with home made bars across the cashiers windows were quite confronting to me, but overall generally amenable but a tad racist in some areas (i.e. if you have white skin). The CBD zone has a few more modern financial buildings, mostly stark concrete mid-rises with high security, but set in a comparatively well looked after street-scape, and very little loitering in those few blocks.

The layout and feel of Kingston CBD area reminds me in part of the equivalent area of Noumea, but without same friendliness to it... (just read the plaques in the National Heroes Park and you will see their resentment towards their former colonial oppressors is ingrained, indeed cricket is not as ubiquitous as it is elsewhere in former colonies like Antigua, where it is more widespread than red flowered flame trees) and on the street they identify more readily with US ghetto subculture & baseball/basketball, and associated gang related identities. Corruption is rife at official levels, and to all extents and purposes it is a failed state IMO.

For holiday makers, I recommend the relaxed, friendly and informal areas of Negril as a better choice for Australian holiday makers, than the overAmericanised destination of Montego Bay.

I drove all over, including into the hills/mountains. The roads are about the same standard as some outback country towns in Australia (i.e. cough) but navigable with GPS (especially as driving is on the left, and American tourists therefore tend to avoid driving, unlike other Caribbean destinations where they clog things up). I would not recommend driving through the mountains/hills, as this is where I was chased and yelled at on several occasions (again with racist outbursts and aggravation) - but it is actually a beautiful part of their country, with people almost living in the trees in some parts, which does make for spectacular scenery (somewhat reminiscent of makeshift Cambodian housing, but again without any of the friendliness synonymous with the Cambodian countryside people).

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks. Just to confirm, I'm doing a business trip into Kingston and will need to make a trip from my hotel in Kingston to an office in Spanish town, and back later in the day.

I find it difficult to picture that that wouldn't be possible with sensible precautions (ie pre-booked car, door to door) ?? No sight seeing, no shopping . From the airport to hotel and back I'd usually have an arranged ride anywhere I go for the first time.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Thanks. Just to confirm, I'm doing a business trip into Kingston and will need to make a trip from my hotel in Kingston to an office in Spanish town, and back later in the day.

I find it difficult to picture that that wouldn't be possible with sensible precautions (ie pre-booked car, door to door) ?? No sight seeing, now shopping . From the airport to hotel and back I'd usually have an arranged ride anywhere I go for the first time.

You'll likely be fine then. Sounds not disimilar to the arrangements i had via the organised Australian cricket board organised tour.