Spring break is over, and school is back in session. I have had a lot of time now to reflect on my Spring break travels and how I feel about Jamaica. For Spring break, I went on a cruise to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Mexico. Jamaica is a Caribbean Island known for its beaches, tropics, and reggae culture, among many other things. I was in Jamaica for a day, and I saw and experienced a lot.
The first thing I noticed was the beautiful , clear water.
My experience in Jamaica was both good and bad. I was expecting a tourist destination, which I got, but I didn’t expect it to be as poverty-stricken in tourist destination areas. I found some areas to be pretty run down. While my tour bus was driving down the road, we got stopped by guards with guns. It was scary, but it made sense because the country’s government wants Jamaica to be a safe place.
Another thing that disappointed me was that the workers in tourist places wanted tips for everything. For example, some of the workers would go out of their way to help you, then they would ask for money in return. I was also warned to be careful not to get scammed. When I went to Dunn River Falls, my tour guide told me to get the photos first–which are very expensive–before paying because the photo developers do trick people sometimes.
Now, most of the things I mentioned above make Jamaica seem terrible, but that’s not the case. I had a great time. Jamaica has many attraction sites that are fun. I went dolphin swimming, and I climbed a waterfall. The culture in Jamaica is really cool and different from what I’m used to. The tour guides were also great because they gave good advice and made sure everyone had a fun time.
Overall, My time in Jamaica was good, but if you choose to go there, I’ll recommend you stay with a tour guide unless you’ve traveled there before. Having a tour guide is a great way to get around and know what to do and not to do when you visit a country.