Anyone been to Jamaica?

Why have you chosen Jamaica over the other Caribbean islands ? Are you are aware that it have particularly high crime levels and it really isn't encouraged for tourists to leave the main hotel / tourist complexes. It's one of the places we go with work and we have additional security at the hotel when we are there.

Obviously there may be reasons why you particularly want to go to Jamaica but if you are just after a Caribbean island then I would probably not choose Jamaica. Depending on what you are after would depend which island to choose. For a more lively atmosphere then Barbados is up there, and for a quiet escape somewhere like Grenada is fab.

I can't really advise on hotels as I stayed at the marine lab when I went but you will have a fantastic time, it's brilliant. I did actually spend a day at Sandals Dunn River Falls, I wouldn't personally choose to stay there as I prefer smaller hotels but it had tonnes of facilities and a nice (albeit noisy) atmosphere if you're after that sort of holiday.

Oh and don't let the crime put you off, like anywhere you just need to be sensible.

Have fun, I'm not a bit jealous!

Is that really true Jelly baby?

I would have thought that may be advice if travelling to Kingston, but seeing as most don't holiday there...

I have stayed once in Montego Bay (and ventured outside the hotel, even at night!) at sunset beach resort and spa, which was lovely, and stayed once in falmouth at starfish trelawny, which was in the middle of nowhere.

They are mid range hotels, not posh, but comfortable and with good food.

I too have stayed at the Starfish Trelawny (ages ago) and we travelled on the bus with the locals to Ocho Rios and other places. Everything was Irie. New passengers got on and said "ya mon" to everyone on the bus individually before they sat down. Fantastically friendly in my opinion.

I did get kidnapped though... leaned against what I thought was an old barn door, and a woman shot out, dragged me in, and made me look at her new litter of kittens for aaaages. I am not joking, she would not let me out until I joined her in pointing and laughing at them for a very lengthy time. That was weird.

We got married at Beaches Negril in May. Negril beach is fantastic although I wouldn't recommend staying at Beaches unless you have kids or your a major fan of Sesame street! The beach was fantastic we didn't leave the resort though as we had two toddlers and the hotel had everything we wanted.

I know a few people on here don't rate them but we stayed at Sandals Ocho Rios in 2003 it was ok we enjoyed it.

We went on a few day trips so didn't stay on the resort all the time but we could have done if we wanted to, there was enough to do.

We went to Couples Negril which was lovely - much smaller than Sandals and couples only. Although we didn't really go outside the resort (why would we!) we weren't warned against it and it never seemed dangerous around the area. Negril beach is lovely as the other poster said.

Re Jelly Baby's comment on crime in Jamaica. Yes there is crime, a lot of it, BUT it is mainly in a 3-4 mile area of Kingston, ie not in the tourist areas. i travel to Jamaica regularyly, my Mum lives there, and I've felt perfectly safe. Don't write off an entire island based on somewhat dubious information.

We go to the Royal Decameron in Runnaway Bay in 3 weeks time! I can give you the low down when we get back - I also check TripAdvisor quite allot!

I'm not at all concerned about crime rates but we will be taking minimal money as we are going all inclusive.

We have been to Couples Negril and weren't over impressed. We went to the Rose Hall resort and that was ok. However the best place we stayed was definitely Royal Plantation, absolutely lovely and fantastic service.

We went to Sandals Royal Carribean (montego bay) and it was lush. You could also travel to the two other sandals hotels (in montego bay) on the free shuttle bus they provide.

If you can afford it places like Sandals and similar are great because they are the most all inclusive you can get, and you get a la carte dinners rather than buffet.

We walked for about 1/2 an hour once when we accidently got the taxi to drop us off at the wrong place and didn't get any trouble.

They are really friendly in Jamaica, we had one of the beach side sellers (guys who don't work for the hotel, who paddle boats up and down the shore) sell me an ankle bracelet. I explained I didn't have any cash on me at the time (because it is all inclusive I didn't carry cash around the complex) but he said to take the anklet then, and just pay another day, don't think you would get that in the UK.

We stayed at Round Hill just outside of Montego Bay with our 2 year old in 2007. We got followed around MB by "guides" when we went into town but nothing serious at all.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147311-d147496-Reviews-Round_Hill_Hotel_Villas-Montego_Bay_Jamaica.html