Headed to Jamaica in late December

I've stayed at Iberostar in Montego Bay. It was decent. Food was so-so, but all inclusive. I may never drink another red stripe again, and I'm fine with that. Drank my weight in that beer while I was there. Jamaica is sketchy, as you probably know, so I'd find a decent resort and just chill there.

I love Jamaica, but do yourself a favor and stay in a resort. You are MUCH safer taking that route.

I've only done adults only resorts, so I don't have any personal recommendations for the kids. A few friends have stayed at the Beaches Negril resort and had great things to say about it.

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Headed to Jamaica in late December

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Why Jamaica of all places?

I've posted about it elsewhere, but my experience in Jamaica was very different from most people's. We actually researched and chose to go off the beaten path away from the typical tourist destinations. We went to a fishing village called Treasure Beach which is set up for small scale community tourism. This means there are fewer "amenities" like restaurants and clubs, but the people are super chill and nice (lots and lots of true rastas in the area). Negril, Ocho, and Mo Bay are all where you run into the constant hassling because the locals have developed a parasitic relationship with the tourists. That's why so many people say to just not leave your resort in those areas to avoid all the hassling.

Ironically, if you completely leave the heavy tourist areas, you start to see the "real" Jamaica and its people, and it's pretty awesome. We ended up getting invited to eat dinner with a nice retired couple (they had left the island to work in England then retired back to the island) at their house and they drove us around the island and such. It was a great experience.

We ended up doing a couple of nights in negril as well, and it kind of sucked due to all the hassling, so I understand why people feel the way they do. But very few people get out and experience the real island.

If that interests you, a great "accessible" hotel to stay at which is really cool is Jakes.

We also stayed at Ital Rest, which is like a rasta commune, basically. Cool treehouse huts, though.

Rock House or Round Hill.

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I would not feel unsafe if it was just me, but I doubt I'd take my wife there. No way I'd take kids there. That's not because of Jamaica, its because of all the other options you have that have 0 to worry about and probably more to offer. I just don't see anything that puts it over the top compared to every other island and possibility you have?

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This.

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.

Stereotypes exist (many times) for a reason. There are many folks (me included) who won't go back to Jamaica for free. Some people love it. I don't know any but some people love it.

And I know native Jamaicans.

The only thing people complain about visiting Grand Cayman or T&C is that they are expensive to visit.

That's a win for me.

I'd easily spend one less vacation day at GC or T&C rather than going to Jamaica if it's a budget issue.

An American tourist was recently shot during a robbery in T and C right outside of his resort. So, there's that.

Where we've been in Jamaica has been really safe. And, really nice.

Granted, we don't leave the resort--but you don't want to.

Snag a private cottage at Round Hill and get back to me. Incredible.