CocoLaPalm Negril advice

Old Feb 9th, 2012, 09:11 AM
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CocoLaPalm Negril advice

We just booked a Honeymoon Suite at CocoLaPalm in Negril, for 8 nights. Looking for some specific advice.

We're experienced island travelers in our late 40s. We enjoy laid-back, "bare foot" vacations with beach, a few beers in cooler, relaxation, music (blues, roots, reggae), and mingling with the locals. We enjoy a good cocktail (or two or three) but we're not late-night partiers. Don't like AIs and big resorts. Don't like having to get "dressed up" for dinner.

1) There appears to be several Honeymoon Suites, and from the pictures, there's some variance. Which specific one should be ask for and why? We're guessing upper level to start with, as they'll be more private.

2) We assume that most of the local restaurants are casual (shorts OK for dinner); at least we hope so, as that's why we chose Negril and CLP. True? Any "don't miss" restaraunts that require long pants/collared shirt?

Thanks!
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Old Feb 9th, 2012, 09:23 AM
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I've stayed at Coco many times, but I can't quite remember the location of all the Honeymoon Suites. You definitely want an upper-level one, and I think there are some that are AWAY from the main pool, which would be good, too, since it tends to get noisy there sometimes into the evening hours. Also would ask for a suite AWAY from the bar, which can also be noisy into the early morning!

You are right in thinking that most- if not all- of the restaurants in Negril are pretty casual. I have seen people go to dinner in bathing suits, not that I'd really recommend that!

My faves:

BEST OF THE WEST- diagonally across the street from Coco, only open I think for lunch. Has great jerk chicken, very cheap!

On the cliffs:

Oceanside of cliffs: THREE DIVES- very basic place that does grilled lobster, fish, chicken. Think of it as one step up from a great picnic on the beach.

ROCKHOUSE- Food not the best and a little pricey, but the views at sunset are GORGEOUS, right over the water, and the fresh fruit daquiris are excellent. Lively bar scene.

On the other side of the West End road, on the cliffs: CHICKEN LAVISH- again, a nothing fancy place that's been there forever, but it has some of the best fried chicken I've ever tasted, ice cold Red Stripe, really good homemade conch soup, and good fresh fruit drinks.

As for COCO itself: Breakfast is the best meal of the day there. Good pancakes, excellent banana bread. Lunch at the bar is typical beach fare: jerk chicken, burgers, etc. MICHELLE, the longtime bartender during the day makes great drinks! SKIP DINNER unless they've recently hired a new chef. It's usually not very good, and there are so many other places that are better.

Just a FYI- ROCKHOUSE used to offer free roundtrip transportation. It's worth checking, since when we last visited, roundtrip transfers were running about $25+ to the cliffs and back, even though it's a very short ride!
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Old Feb 9th, 2012, 09:25 AM
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Lastly, I am hoping that you're not going spring break? Only because it's a crazy time in Negril, lots of partying, lots of noise, lots of rowdy guests.
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Old Feb 9th, 2012, 01:03 PM
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Thanks for the info, Weadles.

If the map on the Rooms page of their website (http://www.cocolapalm.com/rooms.asp) is correct, then the Honeymoon Suites are all in one building, kinda in between the pools.

Which pool is the "main pool"? The one by the beach?

Can you describe where the bar is, perhaps in relation to the pools? Sorry, I know that may be difficult.

We're going the last full week in April. Hope Spring Break is done by then!
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Old Feb 9th, 2012, 05:20 PM
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I just remembered that the honeymoon suites are in a building to the right of the office as you face the beach. It's a very small property, and that building and the one across the way from it, are the two buildings closest to the main hotel pool.

The pool closest to the beach used to be an adults-only pool.

There are two bars. One is connected to the main restaurant which is located in front of the main pool, just before you reach the beach. This is the one that we most worry about when booking rooms, because it used to stay open later than the smaller, almost beachfront bar.

I think end of April will definitely be better than anytime between March and mid-April in term of spring breakers. But you should be aware that this hotel sometimes draws a crowd that is rowdier than it used to be when we first started going there. If you want a slightly
more upscale and typically quieter place, I'd look next door at IDLE AWHILE.
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