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Alexandra
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 01:27 am
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Post Number: 568
Registered: 08-2006
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Rootswoman, thank you! That was much needed on this thread...
I know people that have been robbed in Negril. I was one of them, and chose to keep most of it out of my stories that I am posting. But, after my friend got into a scuffle with that "lady of the night" that was staying with a tourist at our hotel, she came into our room while we were on the patio, and when I walked back into my room there she was stealing our money. She was in our suitcases and everything, when I started yelling she grabbed my wooden platform shoe and threatened to beat my friend in the head, so we let her go. We called the police and gave her name and the guy next door even gave them her phone number. But because she was a "lady of the night" they disregarded us and treated us horribly! Even the police, it was awful, which is why we switched hotels to Nirvana. We were staying at Negril Inn, an all inclusive with security, but because someone who was staying at the resort payed for a "guest", that woman was allowed on the property, thus resulting in our losing money....
It can happen everywhere, and I believe that everyone should be notified about it, no matter where it happened. Especially if the Management is no handling it properly.
"She knows where her ticket takes her she will find a place in the sun..." - Tracy Chapman
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smith744
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 01:37 am
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Post Number: 1483
Registered: 10-2007
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link to entire article::>> http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20071215/news/news1.html |
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Rootswoman
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 02:04 am
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Post Number: 636
Registered: 01-2007
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Ok , I don't want to turn this into a thread to scare people. What I am saying is we are the people who go to Negril and love Negril. We should stand up when things like this happen to help keep Negril up and running. We want people not be afraid to go to Jamaica. Therefore the thievery and the ignoring of thieves must stop. Ignoring it or blaming the victim is not the answer.
Let's not start a bunch of crime here vs crime there talk again. Lets talk about talk about the practice of sweeping the crime under the rug. What would you do if you were in Charlenes shoes? |
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nurse Marcia
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 07:16 am
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Post Number: 1105
Registered: 06-2006
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DawnMarie on: Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 10:08 pm, wrote:NBCC handled it VERY well and moved the couple to higher floor
I think I just figured out why my brother and family got bumped to the ground floor!! We got several different versions of why their room was not available, but this fits the time frame. Now I am not happy!
Another room at the Beach Club had someone wanting to get in, saying they worked at the hotel. These 2 fellas knew better than to open the door. They were there for the marathon - first time to Jamaica.
Their comments to us at dinner at Kuyaba - when they go home and talk about the trip, they won't remember the lovely meal at Kuyaba or the great marathon experience, or the beautiful beach. All they will remember is someone trying to get in the room!!
Time for me to write to Jean and David Wallace who is in charge of security!
Dawn, do you remember when this happened. We checked in Novenmber 28th. Did it happen just before that?
~~Together, we will make a difference~~
http://www.friendsofjamaicausa.org
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Nikki
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 09:06 am
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Post Number: 562
Registered: 08-2007
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Smith...How did I know YOU'D be the one to post that story...LOL
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mini mare
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 09:48 am
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Post Number: 210
Registered: 07-2006
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The general public needs to be aware of all this crime happening.
So glad this thread is here to inform us.
If anyone else has had bad experiences, please let us know where it happened, so we will know where to avoid going until these resorts, and police make it safer for us. If they don't care about the tourists I'm happy to spend my hard earned money on another island, It's that simple.
Our safety is #1 Period!!! |
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Nikki
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 09:53 am
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Post Number: 567
Registered: 08-2007
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mini mare...It happens EVERYWHERE..You can switch from island to island and I'm sure there are folks out there with bad experiences there as well.Such is life...you just have to be careful and pray it doesn't happen to you.
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sparky
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 10:04 am
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Post Number: 6
Registered: 11-2007
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| Too bad this happens. I doubt they will ever get their $$ back from White Sands. The management's attitude is what really aggrivates us. Like we are rich Americans and they could care less. |
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DawnMarie
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 10:41 am
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Post Number: 748
Registered: 01-2007
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Marcia,
We left for Negril on the 23rd of November and returned on the 6th of December.
I believe that this occurred around the 27-30th.
We met the couple through Robin (Chicago Comic) and they spent an afternoon with us and then our entire group went snorkeling the next day.
The theft attempt happened the night before we me them.
I'm sorry that this happened to them and that you were affected by it.
NOTHING good comes from wrong-doing.
I'm sorry that I can't be of more help, but days tend to blend and my journaling did not include the day of the theft. |
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nurse Marcia
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 11:01 am
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Post Number: 1109
Registered: 06-2006
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Thanks, Dawn. I think it probably is the room they got!
They were able to move on Sunday to the 2nd floor, but were in the room Wed to Sun. My brother even commented on the windows, but he was very safe and kept his valuables safe.
~~Together, we will make a difference~~
http://www.friendsofjamaicausa.org
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Charlene
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 11:49 am
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Post Number: 11
Registered: 09-2007
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Thank You for all your kind words .. And especially Rootswoman. I will forward this link to Erika Earle with the Board of Tourism and the White Sands in yet another attempt to get their or at least ANY attention. None of us are rich Americans by any stretch as three of the girls are college students that had to save for 8 monts to afford this trip, and that is exactly how we are being treated. You are right Sparky. Myself and my boyfriend feel TOTALLY responsible since he or thru me assured the girls they just couldn't be safer in Negril. They had heard terrible stories about crime and saftey issues. He assured them that in a tourist area and being Americans they were more secure than @ home. His Jamaican pride has taken a serious bruising .. however all the girls in our party ( very good friends ) made the best of it and took it in stride .. Thank Goodness .. And to be totally honest we never felt safer than in the mountains with the good people there .. It seriously lacked the undercurrent of despiration that Negril seemed to perpetuate.
And as for the White Sands .. If we felt in our heart that this was an isolated incident there would have been no question that we would have taken our lumps and chalked it up to experience .. however .. When the hotel staff tells us and I quote "you can't let this rest, you must get to the bottom of this. This same thing happened one week prior and it is coming from security." What are we left to believe??? And honestly if my boyfreind weren't Jamaican I doubt that we would have been given the information since it was specifically directed toward him and we just happened to be present. And with this knowledge he is by far the most frustrated of the group .. So I feel with this information given to the Manager there should have been something done for us. He acknowledged that it was true by nodding his head in agreement and not looking at me. And the fact that he told me "things are just different in Jamaica." I refuse to accept.
Thanks once again guys for listening to me and I will keep you posted on my progress  |
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Seveen
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 12:18 pm
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Post Number: 192
Registered: 07-2006
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did you do a dispute on your credit card? that usually get's their attention . . .
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Nikki
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 12:42 pm
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Post Number: 568
Registered: 08-2007
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GREAT idea Seveen...I bet they'll start listening then
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ChicagoComic
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 01:54 pm
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Post Number: 12
Registered: 10-2006
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Hi boardies and special hello to Garzan and Dawn Marie!!
My friends that had the break in were in the timeshare unit below my condo at NBCC. It was their second night in Negril for the first time - Sunday, Nov. 23rd. The unit is a ground floor, one bedroom, bath and 1/2 - the window in the small bathroom was unlocked - they never opened that bathroom door as they never used that bathroom - they never gave it a second thought - never knew there was an open window. A guy came in through the window and peeked into the bedroom to see if anyone was in the unit - my girlfriend woke up, woke up her boyfriend and he scared the guy who ran out the front door. My friend chased him but the guy got away, but one of the young men who was raking leaves saw him. The police came and wrote out a report and gave my friends a copy - they were very thorough and nice. Mr. Cole who handles security for the timeshares was also wonderful. They were moved immediately to another unit on the third floor. When they returned to the states they submitted the report to the company that booked them at NBCC- they are getting their week back and will be more than h appy to stay at the property again. They had a great time. So that's the entire story - who to blame? Well, not enough security on the west side of the building - the fence dividing NBCC and Errol's is totally unacceptable -and I believe the timeshare board had a meeting over Thanksgiving and the fence issue was addressed. |
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Seveen
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 02:02 pm
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Post Number: 193
Registered: 07-2006
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Nikki on: Monday, December 17, 2007 - 12:42 pm, wrote:GREAT idea Seveen...I bet they'll start listening then :-)
i re-read the story and it appears they did get their money back - i think that is all they can expect
would travel insurance take care of something like this?
and the thing with cash - is proving how much you had . . .
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ChicagoComic
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 02:10 pm
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Post Number: 13
Registered: 10-2006
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| It appears that the incident at White Sands is still unresolved - the incident I was referring to happened at Mariners on the Beach - Beach Club Condos - my friends were in a timeshare unit. They got their week of timeshare back. Nothing was taken - it happened so fast and my friend was able to scare the guy away. |
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Rootswoman
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 02:27 pm
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Post Number: 640
Registered: 01-2007
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I agree that they most likely won't get the cash back, or the cell phone or the camera, which is all very unfortunate.
However, If I owned White Sands I would certainly offer free rooms for a future visit (enough to make up all the losses and some) and the assurance that they are doing all they can to catch this thief.
Wasn't there a thread in the recent past about break ins at White Sands?? If I recall correctly it ended up with lots of people promoting White sands and saying this never happened to them. ( forgive me if I am mistaken)
This being said, I love White Sands ,especially the bar and the weekly drink specials. Now I will certainly think twice before sending people to the bar as I have frequently done in the past. It is not the nice bartenders fault, but White Sands should not be supported until they make right of this situation.
I have heard stories from Jamaicans about thievery in the past at some of the popular beach resorts on this board. We did not hear about it here because management handled the situations in a proper and professional manner unlike this situation Charlene is dealing with.
Once again, I am not talking about the safety of Jamaica, I am talking about a better way of handling these situations as they are bound to happen and could happen anywhere. |
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Beachwalker
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 02:52 pm
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Post Number: 299
Registered: 07-2006
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Are you writing about the spring breakers who said there room was robbed at white sands, the police determined it was a scam, to get money on their trip insurance
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nurse Marcia
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 03:04 pm
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Post Number: 1110
Registered: 06-2006
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ChicagoComic on: Monday, December 17, 2007 - 01:54 pm, wrote:were in the timeshare unit below my condo at NBCC.
Thanks for clarifying that - we weren't in the time share units, so my assumption makes me the "a-- in the situation here. I should know better than to jump to conclusions.
I must say that we were impressed with security this trip - whether it was in response to this incident - who knows.
But we appreciated it.
~~Together, we will make a difference~~
http://www.friendsofjamaicausa.org
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Rootswoman
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 03:19 pm
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Post Number: 643
Registered: 01-2007
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| Was that what happened beach walker? I apologize if I am mistaken. |
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Beachwalker
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 03:25 pm
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Post Number: 300
Registered: 07-2006
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I read this some where, maybe fat fish or some one else on the board, seems they claimed they had a lot of electronic stuff that one one else saw,and a lot more money than a spring breaker would have.
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Charlene
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 03:29 pm
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Post Number: 12
Registered: 09-2007
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I agree Rootswoman.
There could have been a hundred different ways for the management at the White Sands to handle this situation differently. The could have come to check on us (unbelievably no one did) I had to make 4 trips to the office to ask for help. They did not offer any assistance other than a weak apology and the classic " it's just different in Jamaica. " I had to actually demand assistance due to our rental van key being stolen (as well out of his pants.) And the kicker is I have done everything asked of me at that time and no one has had the courtesy of a reply. If in fact they are going to do absolutely nothing now that we are home they could at least respond accordingly. We wouldn't be nearly as upset if they would have handled this situation with compassion and professionalism. I travel extensively for my job and my boyfriend travels all over the world on business and we are absolutely shocked at the lack of concern this hotel has had concerning a very serious matter .. what would they have done if someone God forbid would have woke up and been assaulted??? I feel strongly they would have done the same thing .. absolutely nothing .. They did refund our hotel stay due to me DEMANDING something be done in front of other hotel patrons. At first they were going to only refund the remaining nights stay and we had just gotten there. At the time of this incident we didn't even know where the restaurant was as we hadn't even been to the beach at the White Sands !!! I am a very understanding person and am a Customer Service Manager for a major U.S. Airline so I know what it is do deal with seemingly unreasonable requests .. Trust me I was calm and professional on my first three trips to the office and was treated with utter indifference. I can not express how diassapointed I am with the treatment we received and the fact that the manager knew the situation and knew that we had been told someone left the window open intentionally (I KNOW it was locked before our overnight trip) and still showed no interest in our situation. Thank God my boyfriend was with us or we would have been at an utter loss as to what to do .. 6 girls in a foreign country with no assistance. Can you imagine ??? I certainly can't .. Sorry to ramble but oooooh this is a frustrating situation for me  thanks for listening. |
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Captain Oil
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 03:37 pm
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Post Number: 173
Registered: 07-2006
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Beachwalker ......... we had a similar incident at another beach resort which will remain nameless ............ two ladies traveling by themselves decided they wanted to remain a couple of extra days but had spent most of their money ......... so they decided to invent a robbery to squeeze a few free days and money out of the management ........ police came and interviewed everyone including us as we were right across the garden from their room ..... the only thing we could tell them was that the ladies were "living large" with lots of parties/vistors/refreshments/etc and had complained that they were now broke ...... the Police could not prove anything one way or another ......... we talked with Police later as they left and they told us looks like it was all made up ....... sure enough, later that day management found the ladies purses hidden in bushes with all their ID's, tickets, cameras, etc still in the purses ........ boy was management relieved ......... they quickly found us down the beach to let us know what had happened ........... when we returned to the resort, the ladies luggage was packed and outside their room ........... well we had to wait around to see the look on the ladies faces when they returned .......... soon they came walking down the road with one of the owners reading them the riot act ........ he kicked them right our the resort ........ refunded the two nights left on their vacation to their credit card and gave them the old heave ho ........ too cool ......... never saw grown women cry like little babies before ......... NOW they were "SOOOO sorry, blah, blah ,blah ...... we only wanted to stay a little longer" .......... yeah, sure, after they wreck the resorts reputation ......... was quite the scene with they dragging their luggage out to the road by themselves ........... TOO FUNNY
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Rootswoman
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 03:44 pm
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Post Number: 644
Registered: 01-2007
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Charlene, you are not rambling, I think this is important. People do not want to think badly of anything Jamaican and I don't blame them. Truth is , there is good and bad everywhere, even in paradise.
I wish I could find the thread Beach Walker and I recall. Sounds like they blamed the consumers, interesting...... |
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Rootswoman
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 03:47 pm
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Post Number: 645
Registered: 01-2007
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| Captain Oil, that is too bad, it ruins the credibility for others ,But, I am sure it does happen. What stupid women. |
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Scots Al
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 03:51 pm
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Post Number: 13
Registered: 08-2006
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No comment on the bad news in respect of the robbery - nuff said already. The hotel reaction can vary from place to place. In most instances that I know from various countries, the hotel is not liable for guests' losses unless the guest can prove that the hotel was negligent. This is what travel insurance was designed for.
The correct procedure in a case like this is to inform the police and await their report. They should be able to give you a reference number and/or contact details that should be attached to your travel insurance claim. How the insurance deals with it is another matter again. As was said in a previous post, how do you prove how much cash you carried? The fact that money and valuables were not locked in the safe box available would also color their response. If you don't carry travel insurance - weeel, nuff said!!
As to comments about it being an "inside" job. This is always the first suspicion of the police. If they have not taken the "suspect staff" for "questioning", the suspects must be reeealy professional or did indeed come from outside. Last comment on this portion is that the hotel do not need to prove absolute guilt of the suspected employee. there are a number of areas that can lead to the removal of the suspect. The fact that this has not (yet)happened makes me doubt if there is any other evidence other than some employee badmouthing another. Apparently that happens a lot in Jamaica - especially if the mouth wants the job!!
And finally, W.S.has a fine reputation voiced by it's many guests who return year on year. Please do not let this turn into Witch hunt against them. Other places have suffered similar incidents. |
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smith744
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 04:00 pm
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Post Number: 1498
Registered: 10-2007
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boardie-ScotsAl ~~~ you *seem* very up-to-date on Jamaica/Negril things. Can/would you please share some input & insight on this statement by WhiteSand's management::They did not offer any assistance other than a weak apology and the classic " it's just different in Jamaica. as it pertains to boardie-Charlene's circumstance.
...i.e. different how-so,,, different from what/where....??.. |
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Rootswoman
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 04:06 pm
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Post Number: 646
Registered: 01-2007
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Smith, I am off to work, please take over ,
even if you don't agree with me - LOL |
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Maisy
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 04:07 pm
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Post Number: 59
Registered: 11-2006
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Our family stayed in a 3 bedroom villa at Rondel Village in June of 2006 and someone came in in the middle of the night. We did do that "someone must be up" thing. However, my husband was kind of mad because of the late hour of night/early hour of morning. It was one of those nights when we were going out on a tour the next day and we told EVERYONE to get to bed by 1:00 am...the latest. He got up to see and there was a woman in our villa. He chased her out. We contacted security and they said they checked the place and found nothing. We went to the front desk the next morning and the only thing they would do is pay for the rental phone that was stolen. No apology or offer of anything to make us feel better. I'm not even asking for a night free or anything. Then about 2 nights later security came up to my husband and told him he should have kept this between us and security because now all their jobs were on the line.
We did have a nice vacation and we loved Negril. Actually, we went again about 5 months later and we are off to Jamaica again in February. I was really upset that Rondel handled this so lightly. I certainly wasn't going to let that ruin my vacation. I was happy that no one got hurt....or worse.
I will say this....I live in a nice community and that happens here too. Unfortunately this is just the world we live in. We all just have to be smart and NEVER let our guard down too much!! |
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Charlene
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 04:07 pm
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Post Number: 13
Registered: 09-2007
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| Please don't get me wrong .. The police in no way insinuated that the hotel was involved .. to the contrary they went above the call of duty to NOT insinuate that the hotel staff were responsible. And as for the staff that told us it had happened one week prior. It was two women, one older that spoke up and said we should not let it rest due to it being hotel security. She didn't seem like she would have anything to gain but who knows what the relationships are like among staff members. And I do not know if there was any action taken by the White Sands concerning any of their employees due to their lack of response. |
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Keith
Moderator posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 04:11 pm
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Post Number: 193
Registered: 05-2007
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I have spoken to Management at White Sands and was informed that they are waiting for the police report to get this situation resolved.
Insofar as this thread, it appears to me that the many comments on this topic has dissected this issue from every angle and I think it's time to move on... |
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all smiles
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 04:18 pm
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Post Number: 268
Registered: 08-2007
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Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth.
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ohliz
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 04:39 pm
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Post Number: 732
Registered: 07-2006
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One reason I join AAA every year, in addition to their roadside assistance, is that members get free travelers checks.
I've never used a hotel safe.
We cash the checks in small amounts as we need them, at cambios, or spend them directly if we are at a restaurant or shop that accepts them.
The peace of mind, knowing that if they are stolen or lost they will be replaced in 24 hours, is well worth any inconvenience in cashing them (and frankly it's not very inconvenient in Negril - all the cambios cash them and cambios have short to nonexistent lines and fairly long hours).
We do carry a credit card and ATM card too, just in case, but I get the bulk of our spending money in TCs before we go. |
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smith744
Member posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 04:42 pm
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Post Number: 1502
Registered: 10-2007
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ohliz on: Monday, December 17, 2007 - 04:39 pm, wrote:is that AAA-members get free travelers checks.
AmEx cardholders same-way |
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dreadneck
Moderator posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 04:49 pm
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Post Number: 1644
Registered: 08-2006
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http://DREADNECK.COM
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dreadneck
Moderator posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 04:50 pm
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Post Number: 1645
Registered: 08-2006
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http://DREADNECK.COM
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