Planning a trip to Negril
Apr 10th, 2006, 07:35 PM
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Planning a trip to Negril
Hi all. My husband and I are planning a trip to Negril this October. He is currently on a year long deployment in Iraq so this vacation is extremely important to us. We are looking at staying a week. Spending about 3 nights on the cliff side and 3 or 4 on the beach side. We have been looking at Sunset at the Palms for our beach side resort but it's a little pricey. Any other suggestions? As far as the cliff side goes my favs are Xtabi and Samsara. Opinions on these? Also any advice on place to see or eat? My husband wants to go on a mountain biking trip there...anyone done this??? We want this trip to be as romantic and fun as possible. We are both in our early 20s and newlyweds. Any advice will be extremely appreciated!
Apr 10th, 2006, 07:58 PM
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Congratulations,
I do understand you wanting this to be a special vacation - you must be missing him so much
Check out Idle Awhile - it's a small hotel owned by the same company as Couples. Very relaxing and in the center of the beach, we walked in one direction for lunch and the other for dinner
Eat? We liked Kuyaba but we only ate appetisers (twice
) Normas, The Beach Bar for breakfast
I do understand you wanting this to be a special vacation - you must be missing him so much
Check out Idle Awhile - it's a small hotel owned by the same company as Couples. Very relaxing and in the center of the beach, we walked in one direction for lunch and the other for dinner
Eat? We liked Kuyaba but we only ate appetisers (twice
) Normas, The Beach Bar for breakfast
Apr 10th, 2006, 08:05 PM
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Ooops - posted too soon
Country Country served the best calamari.
Since you're in you're early 20's you will probably like the atmosphere and vibe of Margaritaville but they served us packet potatoes - yuk.
Can't advise on places to visit - we stayed in Negril for 6 night before staying at the Jamaica Inn for 5 nights, I did have excursions planned while we were in Negril but as it turned out, we never left the beach
Have a wonderful, wonderful time
Country Country served the best calamari.
Since you're in you're early 20's you will probably like the atmosphere and vibe of Margaritaville but they served us packet potatoes - yuk.
Can't advise on places to visit - we stayed in Negril for 6 night before staying at the Jamaica Inn for 5 nights, I did have excursions planned while we were in Negril but as it turned out, we never left the beach
Have a wonderful, wonderful time
Apr 10th, 2006, 10:20 PM
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It's not an ordinary vacation, so max the credit cards and go for an extrordinary time. Idle-A-While/beach and The Caves/cliff might be choice #1.
Or Sunset at Palms/beach and Tensing
Pen/cliffs. Country/Country and Rockhouse is also a good combo. Food:3 Dives, Rockhouse (which should also go on your shortlist for
accomodations), Norma's -- plus, all the little cookshops == stroll around,
use your nose and eyes. Eat like a local for breakfast and lunch with 1 dinner at each of the above restaurants during your stay. The Jungle for dancing,esp. Ladies Night Thurs and
Alfred's might be more intriguing and better bets than Marguerittavilla or Rick's for a scene/nightlife/music. If you must, do the tourist thing with drinks at sunset at Rick's to watch the cliffdivers and party-hearties == but dine elsewhere. Mayfields Falls a good day trip with guide outside Negril, into the mts.
Or Sunset at Palms/beach and Tensing
Pen/cliffs. Country/Country and Rockhouse is also a good combo. Food:3 Dives, Rockhouse (which should also go on your shortlist for
accomodations), Norma's -- plus, all the little cookshops == stroll around,
use your nose and eyes. Eat like a local for breakfast and lunch with 1 dinner at each of the above restaurants during your stay. The Jungle for dancing,esp. Ladies Night Thurs and
Alfred's might be more intriguing and better bets than Marguerittavilla or Rick's for a scene/nightlife/music. If you must, do the tourist thing with drinks at sunset at Rick's to watch the cliffdivers and party-hearties == but dine elsewhere. Mayfields Falls a good day trip with guide outside Negril, into the mts.
Apr 11th, 2006, 09:46 PM
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I really wish we could max out the credit cards on this trip. We have a 5 month old baby boy that we have to save money for his college fund. We are trying to keep this as cheap as possible...like around $1000 FOR HOTEL, $1000 FOR FLIGHT, and about another $1000 for food and fun
Apr 11th, 2006, 10:11 PM
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I love the fact that you are thinking about your son's education - very sensible.
However, your husband will have been away for a year and I can't imagine how hard it is to 'reconnect' after that time.
You have your routine - he had his. He will be re-adjusting to life back in the US, the 2 of you need this time together - I take it you're not taking the baby?
Idle Awhile is showing a rate of $115 a night for a garden room - they are very nice rooms, we stayed in them and would recommend them wholeheartedly! That comes in at $850 for a well recommended hotel for 7 nights on the best section of the beach. Try searching Fodors for Idle Awhile and you will get many recommendations.
You have quite a few years before you need to worry about your son's education - he is lucky to have such caring parents, but I do think you should take this time and enjoy the time with your DH.
Good luck! - we married young (probably younger than you )and nearly 24 years later I think it works because while we realise that our 3 children are a wonderful bonus in our relationship - he's the most important person in my life and I'm the most important person in his.
However, your husband will have been away for a year and I can't imagine how hard it is to 'reconnect' after that time.
You have your routine - he had his. He will be re-adjusting to life back in the US, the 2 of you need this time together - I take it you're not taking the baby?
Idle Awhile is showing a rate of $115 a night for a garden room - they are very nice rooms, we stayed in them and would recommend them wholeheartedly! That comes in at $850 for a well recommended hotel for 7 nights on the best section of the beach. Try searching Fodors for Idle Awhile and you will get many recommendations.
You have quite a few years before you need to worry about your son's education - he is lucky to have such caring parents, but I do think you should take this time and enjoy the time with your DH.
Good luck! - we married young (probably younger than you
)and nearly 24 years later I think it works because while we realise that our 3 children are a wonderful bonus in our relationship - he's the most important person in my life and I'm the most important person in his.
Apr 11th, 2006, 11:50 PM
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If you're not dead-set on a resort or hotel in Negril, your budget will buy a
lot more in Treasure Beach on the South Coast, far more remote and romantic.
From a luxe suite at an upscale boutique
inn/restaurant to cottages to private villas, the luxury of privacy can be had for less. As well as access to
mt.biking, Pelican Bar, a fair array
of very cool diversions. We've had couples in similar situations, either coming back from deployment or about to go. It's decidedly not the tourist thrash big-developed scene of Negril --
a lot quieter, more laid-back and
'real'. But perhaps that's what
you both need. See the community Web
site at www.treasurebeach.net for the full spectrum of choices and a feel for the area. Alternately, the suggestion about to stay put at Idle-A-While for a week in Negril is a very very good one...
lot more in Treasure Beach on the South Coast, far more remote and romantic.
From a luxe suite at an upscale boutique
inn/restaurant to cottages to private villas, the luxury of privacy can be had for less. As well as access to
mt.biking, Pelican Bar, a fair array
of very cool diversions. We've had couples in similar situations, either coming back from deployment or about to go. It's decidedly not the tourist thrash big-developed scene of Negril --
a lot quieter, more laid-back and
'real'. But perhaps that's what
you both need. See the community Web
site at www.treasurebeach.net for the full spectrum of choices and a feel for the area. Alternately, the suggestion about to stay put at Idle-A-While for a week in Negril is a very very good one...
Apr 13th, 2006, 07:35 AM
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have a great time in Negril! Idle Awhile is right next door to where i stay (CocoLaPalm- check their website for hot deals, and read the guestbook!). And a heads up, Sunset at the Palms is NOT on the beach, you have to go across the street to get to the beach. If you are looking for a cheaper all inclusive, try Negril Gardens (I would choose beachside accomodations-which is owned by Sandals, but not overdone like Sandals)-it's a moderate all inclusive and prices really good too. I have sold it alot over the years to people wanting AI, but at a cheaper rate. This way if you want to leave the resort and eat elsewhere (which i recommend) you won't feel like you've wasted $$, they also have a nice spot mid-beach. Food recommendations- Norma's at Seasplash, the LTU Pub on the cliffs, and the beachbar at Coco has great lunch prices. And there's always the "patty guy" on his bike, that sells the meat/vege pattys for $1-2 on the beach. Kuyaba is good too- callaloo/mushroom quesadillas are awesome! I do not recommend Sam Sara, it's VERY budget, and looks kinda funky- we've had drinks there. Been to JA 12 times (also a travel agent), so feel free to ask me more questions.
Chesney
Chesney
Apr 13th, 2006, 08:17 AM
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mrandmrmrsmcdonald,
I've been going down to Negril for about 25 years, but usually from late December on since the Fall is still hurricane season. I'd hate for you take a chance on bad weather when you're planning such an important vacation! Is there anywhere else that you could go instead?
I've been going down to Negril for about 25 years, but usually from late December on since the Fall is still hurricane season. I'd hate for you take a chance on bad weather when you're planning such an important vacation! Is there anywhere else that you could go instead?
Apr 13th, 2006, 08:09 PM
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Thanks everyone for all the info. I am looking in to all of the advice you have given. Keep it coming if you have anymore.
Yes we are pretty set on Negril. We have looked around for months on the perfect place to go and settled on Jamaica. Negril is the most reasonably priced. Price is pretty important to us. We have a lot to do before January of next year...buy a house, car, and other things...so we are trying to do this on a budget but don't want to miss out on having fun.
We have settled on not doing anything more then snorkeling, maybe scuba diving once or twice, may go cliff diving (who knows), and spend lots and lots of time lying on the beach in each others arms. So if anyone know of any good spots to do any of these please let us know. Again thanks for all the advice so far!
Yes we are pretty set on Negril. We have looked around for months on the perfect place to go and settled on Jamaica. Negril is the most reasonably priced. Price is pretty important to us. We have a lot to do before January of next year...buy a house, car, and other things...so we are trying to do this on a budget but don't want to miss out on having fun.
We have settled on not doing anything more then snorkeling, maybe scuba diving once or twice, may go cliff diving (who knows), and spend lots and lots of time lying on the beach in each others arms. So if anyone know of any good spots to do any of these please let us know. Again thanks for all the advice so far!
Apr 14th, 2006, 05:09 AM
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If you're set on Negril, definitely check out a jr. suite at Coco La Palm, which is just next door to Idle Awhile. That's where we usually stay when we go down there, and it's on the best part of the beach and has an unbelievably friendly staff. I think you'll find it somewhat cheaper than Idle Awhile. Also, the jr. suites are a lot larger than regular rooms at Idle Awhile.
The best jr. suites are the upper suites that have views of the beach, or the upstairs oceanfront suites that are right on the beach. Beware of the suites that are right over the bar!
I hope that you have a wonderful time!!
The best jr. suites are the upper suites that have views of the beach, or the upstairs oceanfront suites that are right on the beach. Beware of the suites that are right over the bar!
I hope that you have a wonderful time!!
Apr 14th, 2006, 01:26 PM
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I would skip Samsara. Xtabi is nice if you can get cottage #8, on the cliffside but at across the road price. Also consider Blue Cave Castle - our longtime favorite, or if the budget allows, our new favorite: Catcha Falling Star. Some of the cottages there are less $ and they share the same amenities.
On the beach consider Nirvana, Rondel Village or Whistling Bird.
On the beach consider Nirvana, Rondel Village or Whistling Bird.
Apr 14th, 2006, 01:32 PM
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My husband & I went to Negril for the first time in 1986 when we were in our 20's.....we stayed at Samsara for a week and I thought it was great. But that was many years ago and there are many more places to choose from that are much nicer. Samsara is OK, it just has a lot of concrete and not much charm. I think the patio room at Tensing Pen would be in your price range and the property is very cool & romantic. Or one of the cliffside cottages at Xtabi would be preferable over Samsara. They are right on the cliffs and the bar/restaurant area is great.
On the beach, my favorite spot is Idle Awhile. Not only are the rooms upscale and comfortable, but the beach area is very nice with good music at the bar. I have also stayed at Mariposa which has 2 beachfront rooms very reasonably priced. I loved our room, but the beach is not quite as wide or landscaped as nice as at Idle Awhile. There are lots of great spots to hang out so you do not necessarily have to sit in front of your hotel all day. I think Idle Awhile has a deal that time of the year where you get one free night if you stay six nights. We like to divide our time between the beach and the cliffs, but I would stay on the beach for my first visit if splitting up the week isn't practical or affordable. You can just wander from one bar/restaurant to the next without putting on your sandals and everything is very low key and casual. Of all the islands we have visited, Jamaica is the most affordable. You will love it there. Lori
On the beach, my favorite spot is Idle Awhile. Not only are the rooms upscale and comfortable, but the beach area is very nice with good music at the bar. I have also stayed at Mariposa which has 2 beachfront rooms very reasonably priced. I loved our room, but the beach is not quite as wide or landscaped as nice as at Idle Awhile. There are lots of great spots to hang out so you do not necessarily have to sit in front of your hotel all day. I think Idle Awhile has a deal that time of the year where you get one free night if you stay six nights. We like to divide our time between the beach and the cliffs, but I would stay on the beach for my first visit if splitting up the week isn't practical or affordable. You can just wander from one bar/restaurant to the next without putting on your sandals and everything is very low key and casual. Of all the islands we have visited, Jamaica is the most affordable. You will love it there. Lori
