Jamaica -- Where to stay

Old Jun 24th, 2014, 06:48 AM
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Jamaica -- Where to stay

Hello!
I am looking for advice on where to stay. Our budget is $2,500 for hotel (total for a family of four). This is our wish list:
--Beautiful typical Caribbean beach (i.e., crystal clear turquoise water, white sand) -- Bloody Bay?
-- no rough, rocky beaches, easy to swim for kids
-- No big resorts, no all inclusives
-- we'd like to rent a 2-bedroom villa on the beach with a restaurant on site
-- safe!!
-- clean rooms!
-- we want jamaican culture
-- appropriate for kids (so not a lot of partying)
-- we'd like a family-style place where you get to know the staff and other guests. However we don't want to be right on top of the other guests. Some privacy if needed.
Some places we looked at are Past Time Villas, Nirvana on the Beach -- any thoughts on those? Other ideas?
Thank you!!
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Old Jun 24th, 2014, 05:21 PM
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When are you traveling and how long are you staying?

Negril's beach is one of the prettiest in the Caribbean. It's a great beach for kids because it's typically shallow until way out, with few waves unless a storm is coming in.

I'm not a fan of Bloody Bay. It's far from things ( almost at the edge of town) and not as pretty as the rest of the beach.

We have often stayed at COCO LA PALM, which has a few two-bedroom units available in the newer section of the hotel. It's on the best and widest part of the beach, family-friendly, but there can be some heavy partying late at night amongst repeat guests.

For a quieter and more upscale resort, look next door at IDLE AWHILE, but I don't think it will fit your budget.

Just an FYI: Negril is known for partying etc., so if you don't like that kind of thing, you might want to consider another destination.
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Old Jun 25th, 2014, 08:57 AM
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So sorry that I'm the only one replying (!), but a couple more thoughts:

I would not rent a villa on the beach in Negril unless it's part of an established hotel/ B&B. While nothing has ever happened to us in over 30 years of visiting Jamaica, I just think security is better there when you're not isolated.

When I said that Negril is known for partying, I should have said that's it known for music, and some of that- on the beach- goes quite late. If that's going to bug you, look at some of the properties on the West End ( cliffs). One I'd highly recommend is TENSING PEN, but I'm not sure it will fit your stated budget.

That's it for now... Back to work! Good luck!
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Old Jun 28th, 2014, 08:11 AM
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I really like Negril, I've been there three times but many years apart. It's the only place I'd go in Jamaica. I also *love* the Cliffs area mentioned above, but I'm not sure about Tensing Pen for a family with kids. I'd recommend someone on the 7-mile beach instead.
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Old Jun 28th, 2014, 08:12 AM
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Also... it doesn't fit "villa on the beach" but on the inland side of the West End road (up on the Cliffs) there are lots of cute garden-setting properties with little cottages. Same thing down on the beach, on the opposite side of the main road you'll find less expensive places that have more room.
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Old Jul 2nd, 2014, 03:48 AM
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suze,

You're absolutely right. I forgot about the kids when I was posting!

Just a heads-up to the OP: Nirvana on the Beach only has AC in the bedrooms. It can be very hot/humid in Negril, so if that bothers you, look at other properties and make sure they have what you need!
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Old Jul 2nd, 2014, 09:40 AM
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I really do love the island of Jamaica. I just don't think of it as being particularly "family friendly" for travel.

They could find exactly what they want easily in Mexico (Mayan Riviera, which is the Caribbean coast below Cancun).
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Old Jul 6th, 2014, 09:28 AM
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Forget Negril with a family.

How about Ochie?

This villa looks promising

http://ochoriosbeachvilla.com/
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Old Jul 6th, 2014, 02:12 PM
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Families do just fine in Negril. Mine has been going there very happily since 1982. The beach is ideal for little kids, and many of the smaller hotels ( COCO LA PALM, to name one) are very family-friendly. But if you are seeking American-style hotels, or a more luxurious style of vacation, it might be the wrong destination for you.
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