The last person to have seen her was a lobby receptionist at Beaches Negril hotel, one of the Sandals Caribbean all-inclusive properties popular with honeymooners.
Ms. Kirschhoch's parents flew to Jamaica, posted a reward for information, distributed flyers on beaches, and and worked with local authorities to locate their daughter. They were joined in the search by Michael Spring, Frommer's publisher.
- Claudia is 5'2'' and slender, with long dark brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. If you know anything about her whereabouts, call Negril Police at 1-876-957-4148 or 1-876-957-4857.
For quite a while, her disappearance sent a chill through anyone planning an island getaway.
This was not the first time the lush and beautiful island of Jamaica has seemed like a threatening place. According to the Times in 2000, "Recent years have seen a surge in street violence due to turf wars between rival drug gangs. Last year the number of visitors declined."
Because of the stark contrast between the island's poverty and the relative affluence of its visitors, overzealous street vendors have also been a problem. So much so that a few years ago the government of Jamaica imposed stiff fines for those found harrassing tourists.
With my husband, I last visited Jamaica in 1998. Before we left the Montego Bay airport for our hotel, someone pressed us to buy marijuana. Aside from trips to and from the airport, we kept to the 400-acre resort for the three days we spent in Jamaica. The resort's beaches were constantly patrolled by guards. During our isolated visit, there was no trouble of any kind.
Are you in danger if you're heading for a Jamaica vacation?
Most likely not. If you make safety a concern, stay within the confines of your resort or travel with a reputable guide, your trip is likely to be uneventful.
Before you go anywhere in the world, though, read How to Avoid Crime on Your Vacation.
