I am thinking about a trip to jamaica as a solo traveler and I'm wondering how safe it is to explore off resorts and not on organized tours. As well is it safe to use public transportation?

I would not recommend
going especially alone...It is not safe.

Joanne , have you traveled there?

Kim DeGeer yes stayed in negril was ripped off twice...also stayed in montego bay 1 night (flight was delayed ) we could see the pizza hut down the road but the door man wouldn't let us walk ..We took a cab ...not a good place and that was 15 yrs ago ...

Joanne I agree. Been there twice. Never go out of your resort by yourself at night. Single women aren’t safe there

Joanne Check on gov.ca for travel advisories. Even the fact you are asking should tell you something. Travelling alone especially.

Annette I'm not going to Jamaica...you couldn't pay me to go there again...

Joanne oops - FB loop....

Went to Montego Bay.. I would not go alone not safe

According to this, it’s unsafe https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/jamaica
TRAVEL.GC.CA
Travel Advice and Advisories for Jamaica

Wow, they aren’t kidding around

My husband and I went two years ago and have travelled all over the world. In town, outside of the tourist area, a kindly old man tried to rip us off and we barely got back to our air bnb safely. I wouldn’t recommend public transport, or unlicensed tours alone. Sorry

Better you find a girlfriend to go with you !!!!!

No you need a 6ft tall bodyguard..still not safe just 2 women

Joyce I travelled with a girlfriend and it was non stop hassle from the hustlers, was exhausting. This was not in a resort, in Negril. I went once with about ten girlfriends, that was better!

Definitely go with someone else. Going local is fun but i would have never attempted the adventures I did without my dad who knows the country well.

See Her Travel

Love Jamaica but it can be sketchy as hell.

So many better places to go. Try the Azores, Portugal.

I went with a group and didn't even feel safe on the resort.....I had to have the guys from our group walk me to the bathroom near the pool or there would be a group of staff waiting to hassle me when I came out. I've back packed lots in South and Central America and wouldn't consider it in Jamaica. We went off resort once and got followed and mislead down a back alley.

I always feel it's unfair when a traveller gets in problems & family and friends get major harsh on the government to fix the problem.

I’ve been twice in the last year. You will meet people at your guesthouse or hostel/hotel that you can travel with. I took red plate taxis, kinda like Uberpool and also the knutsford bus to take me between cities. I travelled solo my first time and had no problems even during their state of emergency last january. It’s a beautiful place, I recommend Negril for the beach, Kingston to party and Mobay if you want the tourist traps

Were you in ocho Rios at all? Or port antonio?

Andrea yes I went all around Jamaica - Ochi is beautiful and lots of things to do there, I would also say that Portland is worth a visit!

They are the 2 places I am planning on! Is it easy to find a trustworthy local guide to take me up to reach falls or sommerset falls? It seems like port Antonio is safer than the bigger centers

Andrea yes super easy, you could also just walk into a hotel and find tours from there.

Better off in Cuba as a solo

Andrea, it's not safe for solo tourists. My cruise ship roommate decided to explore the beaches alone one afternoon, instead of joining the rest of us taking a govt red license plated taxi into town together. The minute she stepped onto the sidewalk, away from our group and cruise ship, she was quickly followed by 2 scary looking men who appeared out of nowhere. She ran for her life! Luckily, she spotted police (in black pants, white shirt and hat) down the block, who then radioed another officer to assist, as she was hysterically crying (peed her pants too). The scary men ran off, when they saw police. The police officers warned her it's never safe for tourists to travel solo, because of the high crime rate there. If you do go, safer to travel with a big group: https://www.worldnomads.com/.../crime-in-jamaica-what-to...
WORLDNOMADS.COM
Crime in Jamaica: What You Need to Know Before You Go

Have you considered Barbados? Much safer as a solo traveller for sure. People are fantastic and I felt substantially safer then in Jamaica. You really can’t leave the resort on safety on your own.

why not find someone to go with. when u planning on going?

I went last February by myself. Stayed in Montego Bay. Left the resort many times on my own to walk to the strip. Never had any issues, lots of security everywhere. People are so paranoid, if you just mind your own business you’ll be just fine.

I love Jamaica and have lived there. It has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Listen when people give you safety tips if you go. The men are handsome and charming....be aware they are also unable to find work and desperate people do and say desperate things. Be safe and aware and enjoy the beautiful country and culture. The best beach by far is the 7 mile strip a few hours past Montego Bay. Sorry, at this moment my mind is blank to its name but you cannot miss it.

So if a person is smart and can take care of herself then I could go alone?

Of course. Just be aware and don't party hard. They have exce!llent long distance bus service.Ask the hotel to get you a taxi...a few dollars more but safer than flagging one down on the street..

Carol I am hoping I can talk to the front desk people and get a safe driver for the day for a reasonable price to see some of the falls? Is this a reasonable safe plan

Andrea yes there are safe ways to travel. MoBay is a little more chaotic. 7 Mile beach is heavenly. I can recommend a taxi service if you like, they can organize a day tour for you and will remain with you for the duration. Pm me if you have specific questions.

I strongly recommend you take the first class bus to 7 mile beach. It s cheaper than a taxi by far and safe. Stay at a half decent hotel and team up with some other n Americans. There is a lot to see there.
And an amazing beach. There is free music on a Sunday afternoon at a bar about mid way along the beach with amazing talent when I was there ,a guy who played with the Drifters and still has 'it' and other amazing spontaneous singers.The big bands at night they sell tickets for are higher risk,make sure you don't go alone and come home alone.

I would not go alone, there are so many islands safer than Jamaica...

Yea I wouldn’t do Jamaica alone especially off resort!

I've traveled solo all through Asia in mid twenties. Went to Jamaica last winter with my fiance and an now in my 30s and honestly would never consider traveling there alone- even with years of solo travel under my belt...not safe as a single female traveler... Even with a group you need to be very careful. Looks like I'm not the only one who found this!

I am reconsidering my suggestion...the Canadian government travel site has a warning about Jamaica. I lived there 3 years ago and it sounds like hings have changed but lot and not for the better...check it out.. especially if you are going off the beaten path a bit.

Carol I saw that but it's mainly for montego bay and Kingston the way I read it. There also advisories for mexico so that's why I'm looking for personal opinions. I'm from a town with one of the highest crime rates in canada so I am still considering going

Different type of crimes though.

Murder theft and gang related crime.. it seems like it's mostly certain areas like mo bay and kingston

Élån Ambrøse See now that changes my mind

It should be...the falls are worth seeing.

https://www.facebook.com/15840950.../posts/2598248903548819/

That doesn’t have anything to do with Jamaica

I asked a Jamaican friend this question a couple of weeks ago and she emphatically told me it was far too unsafe to consider.

Christy Frisken is she living in jamaica right now? If so which area?

Not anymore - she's been here for a few years.