Well I've just returned from my trip to Jamaica and although I wasn't sure what to expect (as I was going to Kingston), Jamaica is awesome! The Air Canada seat sale ($290 return) was all the incentive I needed to pack up and go, so off I went with 3 friends to visit our friend who moved to Jamaica in October for 6 months (at our office there). We spent the first night in Ocho Rios and while it was nice, it was fairly touristy, similar to touristy DR. We did hit some pretty local dancehalls that night though and I swear they were pumping in the ganja from the air ducts! The next day, we went back to Kingston. Expecting a dangerous, poverty stricken town, we were amazingly surprised at how beautiful and safe the place is! Mind you, we didn't venture into downtown Kingston, and even resident Kingstonians wouldn't take us, but the parts of Kingston we saw were incredible! Jamaica is naturally very beautiful, with mountains and lush vegetation. I was also surprised that the infrastructure appeared to me to be further ahead than DR. Also, I was pleasently surprised to find that the majority of the businesses and homes in the nice part of Kingston are Jamaican-owned. So, don't believe the hype and go visit for yourself! As a tourist you would never venture into Kingston, but if you do you will find amazing people and beautiful sites.
I found the people to be quite nice - but different than Dominican people. There did not seem to be the same "desperation" to leave - surprising considering the economic state. Even at the all-inclusive hotel that we snuck into, the men were attentive and very interested (4 single girls is usually enough to do the trick), but it was not the same feeling as in DR. For some reason, there does not appear to be the "marriage" ticket off the island. Maybe Dominican men are just more entrepreneurial?! haha. But if truth be told, Dominican men are absolutely mas bonito and more charming!
The dilema now is where to go come my next trip!
I found the people to be quite nice - but different than Dominican people. There did not seem to be the same "desperation" to leave - surprising considering the economic state. Even at the all-inclusive hotel that we snuck into, the men were attentive and very interested (4 single girls is usually enough to do the trick), but it was not the same feeling as in DR. For some reason, there does not appear to be the "marriage" ticket off the island. Maybe Dominican men are just more entrepreneurial?! haha. But if truth be told, Dominican men are absolutely mas bonito and more charming!
The dilema now is where to go come my next trip!