This is going back a bit, but I swore off anything to do with Jamaica after a "trip report" by a co-worker back in 1990.

Seems he and his wife were in back of another tourist in the customs line for leaving Jamaica. The security gurards took the seashells that this person had collected and SMASHED them to powder in order to verify that they were not hiding places for drugs. The guard's attitude was "be glad we're letting you LEAVE Jamaica at all!"

Ever since then, I have advised my friends to avoid that place at all costs. I got better treatment in Communist China! (wonderful people..check out the Shenzhen report posted a while ago..I forget by whom).

And that was almost 10 years ago, before the current difficulties. I cannot recommend Jamaica for anyone.

IMHO

-Harry

[This message has been edited by hnechets (edited 04-26-99).]