re: Headed to Jamaica in late December

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Go to Turks & Caicos, Grand Cayman, USVI or even the Bahamas (not Freeport or Nassau) before anywhere in Jamaica, especially with a wife and kids.

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Because Jamaica has a different culture. I realize that a lot of people think Jamaican culture is what they've experienced in Negril or MoBay or Ocho, but that's really not what the majority of Jamaicans are like. It would be like going to East St. Louis and judging all of Midwesterners by the people you encounter there. The tourist conditions in that area have set up a "hustling" economy.

Also, some people like a little bit "grittier" tourism (my family, for instance) and don't want the "white washed" feel of T&C, GC, or USVI. We like to get off the beaten path and go to places that we feel like other people haven't discovered, meaning we don't generally stay in large resorts or go to major tourist areas. That's why Treasure Beach, Jamaica appealed to us, because it's somewhat undiscovered and unknown, has a really vibrant local culture (we stayed at what was basically a rastafarian commune for a week before moving to Jake's), and defied stereotypes.

For me, travel (even tropical travel) is about discovery and exploration as much as it is about kicking back and having people bring me drinks on a beach. If that's what I want to do, I'll save myself the airfare, and just drive down to Alys Beach on 30A.