[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Can’t explore in Jamaica. Need to stay in resort and where resorts take you.

Just saying that the place was a tinderbox of poverty waiting to ignite when I was there 15 years ago, and the trip to the airport from those exclusive resorts may look like the evacuation from Afghanistan when (not if) it boils over.

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Why were you in a van going somewhere if you were only there for 10 hours? Were you in Kingston?

We brought our own hotel for that visit, and docked it in Ocho Rios for the day. The cruise line's staff strongly recommended booking their shore excursion packages in Jamaica rather than going out on your own, because their excursion vendors met the ship inside a fenced area that kept the local hordes out long enough so that you could get into a tour vehicle and leave the dock area. Even that didn't help much, because the locals were banging on the windows when we stopped at the first intersection.

Our shore excursion included an hour at Dunn's River Falls, a tour of Fern Gully, and a buffet lunch in a banana grove. Don't ask me about the food, because we passed on everything once we saw the leaking PCB-filled transformer in the fields where our lunch was grown. Our tour guide pointed at corrugated metal panels scattered on the hillside at Fern Gully and called them "no worries houses" for the locals...no electricity, no running water, no worries, mon.

Some people from our ship who chose to venture out on their own even for the short walk to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville told us that they were scared...and they were from The Bronx in NYC!

I've hit most of the islands and mainland ports in the Caribbean on cruises, with Cuba, Haiti, and the DR being three that I missed. Jamaica is the only place that I didn't feel safe. One port call at mainland Honduras was a bit uncomfortable, until I saw that the local police had things under control and were keeping the locals away from us tourists. Belize was an interesting experience, mostly because the shore excursion we booked was a long bus ride to a national park on the Guatemala border. There were at least a dozen soldiers patrolling the park armed with M-16's, and we were told by the bus driver to stay away from the trees on the west side of the park because it was only feet from the Guatemala border and they knew that a busload of rich American hostages was coming that day.

Jamaica is the only place that I would not return to of all my stops. I'd have second thoughts about going back to the BVI, since the island was safe/civilized but absolutely covered with trash wherever we looked.....

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

We brought our own hotel for that visit, and docked it in Ocho Rios for the day. The cruise line's staff strongly recommended booking their shore excursion packages in Jamaica rather than going out on your own, because their excursion vendors met the ship inside a fenced area that kept the local hordes out long enough so that you could get into a tour vehicle and leave the dock area. Even that didn't help much, because the locals were banging on the windows when we stopped at the first intersection.

Our shore excursion included an hour at Dunn's River Falls, a tour of Fern Gully, and a buffet lunch in a banana grove. Don't ask me about the food, because we passed on everything once we saw the leaking PCB-filled transformer in the fields where our lunch was grown. Our tour guide pointed at corrugated metal panels scattered on the hillside at Fern Gully and called them "no worries houses" for the locals...no electricity, no running water, no worries, mon.

Some people from our ship who chose to venture out on their own even for the short walk to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville told us that they were scared...and they were from The Bronx in NYC!

I've hit most of the islands and mainland ports in the Caribbean on cruises, with Cuba, Haiti, and the DR being three that I missed. Jamaica is the only place that I didn't feel safe. One port call at mainland Honduras was a bit uncomfortable, until I saw that the local police had things under control and were keeping the locals away from us tourists. Belize was an interesting experience, mostly because the shore excursion we booked was a long bus ride to a national park on the Guatemala border. There were at least a dozen soldiers patrolling the park armed with M-16's, and we were told by the bus driver to stay away from the trees on the west side of the park because it was only feet from the Guatemala border and they knew that a busload of rich American hostages was coming that day.

Jamaica is the only place that I would not return to of all my stops. I'd have second thoughts about going back to the BVI, since the island was safe/civilized but absolutely covered with trash wherever we looked.....

Cruise, got it. Never been on a cruise, sounds terrible. I mean, I wouldn't go wandering around on my own in Montego Bay at night, but I never felt unsafe at the resorts or airport or on excursions outside the resort.

The locals don't mess with tourists, that's almost their entire economy so they know better. Same thing in the Bahamas. Someone may try to sell you some dirt weed, or try to get your lady to get her hair braided.

Just like NYC, when someone comes up trying to sell you something. Don't grab it to look at it, tell them no thanks, and go on about your day.

Nothing against you, but it's been my experience people who go on cruises are the same people afraid to go "downtown" at night because they might run across a homeless person.

[floridaorange]

@vreihen16

BVI - rent a catamaran next time - island hop like the billionaires do.

Antigua - epic

St Lucia - and adventure

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

@vreihen16

BVI - rent a catamaran next time - island hop like the billionaires do.

Antigua - epic

St Lucia - and adventure

Stop spreading this misinformation! Fact is catamarans are for peasants, it's a glorified dingy. The only way to island hop is on a mega yacht, as John Pinette said if it doesn't have a buffet it's not sea worthy!

[floridaorange]

Not sure what Cat's you're on - ours was a 4 bedroom 4 bathroom - huge kitchen - mega Cat with captain and chef on board. Our Multimillion dollar catamaran took us to Pussers where we met Sir Richard Bronson. Also sailing in BVI never a peasant activity - Sir Richard had a hobi cat for himself and his grandkids that day btw.

"peasant" what an ignorant comment :

[BMW F22]

Everyone is different and it depends on the circumstance. I use a mix of airbnbs and hotels when traveling. If I can find a really good place with a view for cheaper vs hotels, I will go with airbnb. In some places, airbnb costs as much as hotels so I would go with hotels then. An example is Santorini, Greece: you can find some boutique hotels with a view for “cheap” in the $300-350 a night range. For a larger hotel, you’d be looking at $600-1,000+ a night. That’s just not something I want to pay, especially when traveling solo. A hop on airbnb shows some nice places with caldera view for $250 a night. Coupled with great reviews and service and I’m set! Save money and still getting everything I would vs a larger hotel/resort. I don’t need much btw. I usually don’t need room service every day. I’m clean and use same towels for days before needing to change them.

[e90335e36m3]

I'm in Mexico right now, you let me know what airbnb has waiters to bring you food and drinks right to your beach lounging chairs, so you don't have to move for anything. Seems to me Tyga doesn't think through things he posts, otherwise it would be pretty easy to see the merits of staying at hotels.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

Not sure what Cat's you're on - ours was a 4 bedroom 4 bathroom - huge kitchen - mega Cat with captain and chef on board. Our Multimillion dollar catamaran took us to Pussers where we met Sir Richard Bronson. Also sailing in BVI never a peasant activity - Sir Richard had a hobi cat for himself and his grandkids that day btw.

"peasant" what an ignorant comment :

Richard? That poor schmuck is always calling me to borrow $50!

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by e90335e36m3

I'm in Mexico right now, you let me know what airbnb has waiters to bring you food and drinks right to your beach lounging chairs, so you don't have to move for anything. Seems to me Tyga doesn't think through things he posts, otherwise it would be pretty easy to see the merits of staying at hotels.

We go to Mexico all the time and you can get a day pass at a resort and enjoy that.

[e90335e36m3]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

We go to Mexico all the time and you can get a day pass at a resort and enjoy that.

You're completely missing the point. I think that would require you to move from your Airbnb to the resort, no? A pass is an additional expense, no? I roll out of bed, go to the beach (1 min walk from my room, nothing to lug around) and stay there for as long as I feel is necessary, sometimes for 8 hours straight. Also, I do the same for breakfast and the gym. Do you get day passes at the closest 24 hour fitness too? The point is, there are situations where an Airbnb isn't even remotely as suitable for some travellers as a hotel. Does that not answer your original question?

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by e90335e36m3

You're completely missing the point. I think that would require you to move from your Airbnb to the resort, no? A pass is an additional expense, no? I roll out of bed, go to the beach (1 min walk from my room, nothing to lug around) and stay there for as long as I feel is necessary, sometimes for 8 hours straight. Also, I do the same for breakfast and the gym. Do you get day passes at the closest 24 hour fitness too? The point is, there are situations where an Airbnb isn't even remotely as suitable for some travellers as a hotel. Does that not answer your original question?

Yes, it does. This thread has ran it's course. People have strong opinions about hotels because they probably own stocks in Marriott, Hilton, etc.

No skin in the game here. I was looking for honest dialogue which I didn't get.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

Yes, it does. This thread has ran it's course. People have strong opinions about hotels because they probably own stocks in Marriott, Hilton, etc.

No skin in the game here. I was looking for honest dialogue which I didn't get.

Sure you did. You just didn't like the answers. It seems you only started the thread to validate your position. Some prefer hotels and some prefer AB&B . That's what makes America great, choices!

[P1]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

Yes, it does. This thread has ran it's course. People have strong opinions about hotels because they probably own stocks in Marriott, Hilton, etc.

No skin in the game here. I was looking for honest dialogue which I didn't get.

You can't be serious. We like hotels because we own stock in Marriott and Hilton?

By your threads and post, I'm going to guess you're in your early 20s. What you young bucks need to learn is the art of dialogue. Too many kids these days ask questions and only want to hear themselves speak. It's not how it works. You cannot ask a question only to do nothing but defend your own stance.

[bimmer456]

Here in LA they want to force Hotels to house the homeless next door to paying guests. The project room key program is already a disaster with homeless trashing the hotel rooms and doing drugs.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

Yes, it does. This thread has ran it's course. People have strong opinions about hotels because they probably own stocks in Marriott, Hilton, etc.

No skin in the game here. I was looking for honest dialogue which I didn't get.

While you did get some silly responses to your question, you got some honest dialog too with pretty solid reasons why hotels have value to some of us.

I agree with you on one thing; this thread has run its course.

[Esteban]

^^

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

"You guys like to talk in complete generalities, where nobody can question you, right? You don't ever use facts, you don't ever use substance."

~ Mark Cuban in his annihilation of Skip Bayless.

But I guess thats the whole point of internet forums

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Esteban

^^

I’m stealing that one.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

I’m stealing that one.

There are rules. I cannot use it again so consider it yours. But pass it on once you use it.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Esteban

^^

It was DOA at the first post. I can't believe we played along, but we did.


My takeaway from this thread is..........nothing!

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

I can't believe we played along, but we did.

What's this we stuff, kemosabe? I only came in at the end.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

It was DOA at the first post. I can't believe we played along, but we did.


My takeaway from this thread is..........nothing!

Your takeaway should be that a lot of Bimmerpost members own hotel stock.