The Keys or The Islands ???

[ShadMan]

Jamaica sucks. I will never give another penny of my money to the welfare/thief types that live there. Their mindset is white people = money...that's all you are to them. Anywhere armed guards have to walk with you a block to the store is not where I need to be. Been all over Jamaica on two different trips (Negril, Montego, Ocho Rios, etc), and it was that way everywhere I went. I'm a pretty big dude, but I had knives pulled on me two times and cocaine (probably fake) shoved into my pocket on the street multiple times. If the rasta guys force drugs into your pocket and then try to extort money out of you, you can normally get rid of them bn\y pulling the drugs out of your pocket, holding it over your head, and yelling "No, I don't want your drugs!" The cops typically run to you quickly and haul away the nappy headed douches. Don't ever let your guard down anywhere in Jamaica, unless you are at one of the all-inclusive resorts on the beach that have armed guards posted around the premises. These resorts keep most of the bums from bothering you on the beach, and they require that an armed guard walks with you if you go off-premises to the store, etc.

Just got back from a trip to the Keys a couple weeks ago. I spent 4 nights in Key Largo/Islamorada and 2 nights in Key West. First, there are no all-inclusive type places there, and there aren't many traditional beaches. There is a pretty nice beach at Bahia Hondo between Islamorada and Key West, but most any beach you find at a hotel south of Islamorada is man-made and small. Islamorada is a great place for fishing...lots of guides and good catches. At Robbies in Islamorada you can feed tarpon at dockside while waiting for your breakfast, and it's a ton of fun. They'll take the fish out of your hand, and I had one take in my entire arm almost to my elbow. If you like to snorkel/dive, Pennekamp park in Key Largo is one of the best in North America. Key West is the party place. Bars, restaurants, and shops everywhere. We had fun at Captain Tony's and ate very well while we were there. I wasn't overly impressed with the Keys until we got south of Key Largo, and it all changed. You don't start humming Buffett songs until you hit Bahia Hondo on the way down to Key West. I would definitely go back to Key West and Islamorada.

I've been to about 1/3 of the islands in the Caribbean, and there are some awesome places to visit. My personal favorite was Antigua. The people there are extremely friendly and appreciative of your travel dollars. There is a very good reason Clapton makes Antigua home. Others I've been to and would go back again are St. Lucia, Barbados, and St. Martin/Maarten.

I spent a couple weeks in Belize, and loved it. Great diving if that's your thing, plenty of bars/restaurants, good beaches, jungle/ruins tours, etc. We stayed at the far south end of Ambergris Caye, in the very last place available to tourists before it turns completely residential. We rode a bike everywhere and drank a ton of Belikin beer.

Mexico has some pretty nice places also. I've been to Cancun/Playa del Carmen a dozen times, as recently as two years ago, and always enjoyed it. Crime in Mexico has gotten really out of hand in the last few years, but is typically not rampant in the resort towns. I'm on the fence now whether I would go back, mainly because I don't want to give my travel dollars to a country that refuses to control its emigration, crime, and corruption problems.

There are lots of great places to go in the Caribbean, and you'll likely enjoy the Keys also. The only places I would highly recommend avoiding are Jamaica, St. Croix, and St. Thomas. Just way too much crime on those islands to ever let down your guard enough to have a good time unless you stay completely within the confines of the hotel, which isn't a vacation to me. I like seeing the sights, learning about the island, the people, and their food, etc., not just laying on the beach 24/7 and eating in hotel restaurants.

[spotchasin]

I went to Sandals Montego Bay for my honeymoon two years ago. It was wonderful. Everything you need is on the resort with all your food and drinks included in the price. We left the resort for two excursions and neither time did we feel uncomfortable at any time on the excursions. If you like lounging on the beach with a drink in hand I would def. recomend sandals.

[speck-chaser]

well, shadman, sounds like you had some bad expieriences in Jamaica. Yes,most of the islands out there depend on the white man for money,cuz the majority of their income comes from tourism,but to say all of Jamiaca is like that,is like saying that all of America is like Liberal California or Detroit. Heck,there are places here in New Iberia,that even armed guards dont go into at night.lol We loved the people that took care of us at out villas,and met quite a few locals on the beach and in town,and all of them were very nice.

[Big Flounder]

Not sure what Jamaica Shad went to but we hired a driver for the whole time we were there and our first day we got him to drop us off at the Jimmy buffet bar and walked up and down the streets shoping. The next few days we got him to bring us all over the island from north to south and east to west. He stayed with us the whole time and maybe 2 or 3 times we had someone ask us for money and he told them to leave us alone and that was the end of that. Never seen an armed guard the whole time I was there. Guess they were off. I worked in st. croix for 3 months and would never recommend that place to any one. But I did visit st. Thomas and st. John. They are safe and beautiful. I think any island you go on Americans = $. we stayed in montigo bay but every sandals resort has a shuttle that will bring you to all the other sandals resorts for free. There is different activities at each one everyday. One even has a nude beach.

[LPfishnTIM]

haven't heard anything good about Jamaica but If I was gonna go somewhere it would be cancun!

[jlincecum]

Originally Posted by LPfishnTIM

haven't heard anything good about Jamaica but If I was gonna go somewhere it would be cancun!

Mexico would be a place I would avoid until they get the cartel war under control. If thats possible...............

[yak'em-n-stack'em]

I've been to the keys.
Don't go for a beach. I enjoyed it. But I'm not a beach guy

My vote is Belize.

[Hopedale Hustler]

Well sandals has a 1 room villa with private bar for 2850.00 if I book before July 1st and airfare would be right at 900 for two of us...he said it's a private villa or some stuff..but I still needa price a regular room....


Btw this is negril jamaica

[jlincecum]

Originally Posted by Hopedale Hustler

Well sandals has a 1 room villa with private bar for 2850.00 if I book before July 1st and airfare would be right at 900 for two of us...he said it's a private villa or some stuff..but I still needa price a regular room....


Btw this is negril jamaica

resorts at negril are nice. not a whole lot of reason to leave the grounds and go wondering around. Margarittaville is cool but still just a bar.

[bjhooper82]

I've been to couples resort in ocho rios Jamaica and both my wife and I loved it. The only thing my wife didn't like was the bus ride from the air port to the resort. Those peoe drive crazy as hell and she gets car sick, but I thought it was fun!!!

[mikedatiger]

Stop looking and go to the Excellence in Playa Mujeres - all inclusive and well worth it. Went to a Sandals in Jamaica for my honeymoon and this place was WAAAY nicer. The food was excellent as well as the staff. Definitely going back.
http://www.excellence-resorts.com/ca...-playa-mujeres

[simplepeddler]

One thing to keep in mind......if you are going to "pop the question"
you can save a considerable amount of money in St. Thomas/St. Maarten/St. John.

When is was time for me to buy the big boy watch I always wanted, we sprung for a cruise and headed to St. Maarten. We did the cruise for two on the cheapo route and got the trip with the savings.

do your research here first though and know what you want before you go.

of course I am assuming you have not bought the ring yet!

[Hopedale Hustler]

Well after searching all day I've narrowed it down between sandals negril or Ochos Rios or Couples Retreat Negril or Ochos Rios....I found a few lesser known resorts that just seemed not as much bang for your buck so I'm goin with one of these still not sure which..I'm leaning twoards negril but there's better deals in ochos rios

[Big Flounder]

Originally Posted by Hopedale Hustler

Well after searching all day I've narrowed it down between sandals negril or Ochos Rios or Couples Retreat Negril or Ochos Rios....I found a few lesser known resorts that just seemed not as much bang for your buck so I'm goin with one of these still not sure which..I'm leaning twoards negril but there's better deals in ochos rios

Ochos Rios is a great place man. You will not be dissapointed. You can hire a driver throught the resort and they will charge you about $250 for a day and only bring you to one location with other people. Now we hired an outside driver that picked us up at 7:00 in the morning and we didn't get back till 7:00 at night and if we said stop and get us some more beer or stop and let us take a pic by that rock then thats what he did. He charged us $200 a day. We just told him that we wanted to see the most popular attractions they had to offer and he did a hell of a job as a tour guide and stayed by our side the whole time. Staying at the resort is nice and relaxing but there is alot there to experiance. 2 of my favorite places were Bob Marleys house and Dunns River Falls. My wife said she has our drivers email and # somewhere she was saving for when we go back in September if you want it. Are you going to do the whole rose petals on the beach in the sunset on one knee? They can arrange that for you.

[Hopedale Hustler]

No rose pedals for me man I'm thinking ima do it on the water during a dive or something like that..but who knows...I'm excited and cat wait till February....anyone know how warm it is down there in Feb.??

[Big Flounder]

Not sure about feb but I went in dec and it was HOT

[eman]

Before you book check out turks and cacos .

[Hopedale Hustler]

Originally Posted by eman

Before you book check out turks and cacos .

Def gonna do that...my dad told me the same

[ShadMan]

Originally Posted by eman

Before you book check out turks and cacos .

That's my next destination. Been trying to get there for years, but waiting on a good airfare deal. I've heard it's one of the few "unspoiled" places in the Caribbean.

[Hopedale Hustler]

Originally Posted by ShadMan

That's my next destination. Been trying to get there for years, but waiting on a good airfare deal. I've heard it's one of the few "unspoiled" places in the Caribbean.

Found a great deal there today at the grand regent....it looks amazing