Back from Negril! (Idle Awhile/Caves)
Jun 25th, 2007 | 09:26 AM
#1
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Back from Negril! (Idle Awhile/Caves)
WOW! This was our first trip to Jamaica and I have to say I was blown away! We absolutely LOVED Negril from start to finish and now I can see why there are so many devoted Negril fans out there. It's an amazing amazing place. I think it was CaribbeanSoul that said it was the best beach for natural beauty and local culture and he totally nailed it with that description!
I really debated doing a report since so much of what I have to say will only repeat/reinforce what others have said before me, but I figure what the heck!
**********Transport*************
We used Talk of the Town based on several recommendations. I think I had built them up a little in my mind because I was a little disappointed with the reality. Our driver from Mobay to Negril was nice, but very very quiet and didn't engage in conversation easily. Then, there was a big mix up on our last day and they simply didn't come pick us up. The Caves had to quickly arrange for transport and we made it to the airport in plenty of time. It was just human error on their part and they were really nice and apologetic and the driver even sent me a personal email which really touched me. I just can't say I've had the phenomenal experience with TOTT that others have had.
***********Idle Awhile**************
From the moment I stepped in the lobby I was thrilled! The property is even prettier in person than I imagined. Negril is the kind of place that is so much more amazing in person than in pictures. We had a one bedroom suite on the lower level (106) and we were completely thrilled with the room. It was a little too much room for just the two of us, but it felt kind of fun and luxurious to essentially have an whole apartment to ourselves! The beach and garden at Idle Awhile was really just perfect.
I found the service to be good, but not exceptional at IA. People were nice, but on a few occasions not particularly accomodating. I wondered if this was typical, but then we had some really amazing service next door at Coco La Palm so I'm not really sure. However, I'd still recommend IA and I'd go back for sure. The grounds are just amazing and I think that near the end the staff had warmed up to us a little.
**********Food************
Idle Awhile -- the food was a little on the pricey side, but there were a few dishes that we really liked: fish and chips, coconut shrip. Plus I think the drinks at IA were my favorite -- nice and strong! Mostly, we liked trying out other restaurants.
**Since we had the kitchen we arranged for the chef to come cook for us one afternoon. It was a really neat experience! He made chicken fricassee, salad, and rice and beans. He made so much food that we had enough to munch on for the rest of our trip. The chef's name was Courtney and he was just so nice and took the time to explain what he was doing as he went.
Coco la Palm for breakfast -- the staff is so nice! And they have the best coffee on the beach and breakfast always comes with warm banana bread and fresh juice.
Best in the West for jerk chicken -- delicious!
Patty mon -- I developed a minor obsession with the patties and by day 2 or 3 I was sort of stalking the patty man -- lol. Seriously, though, these are AMAZING creations!
We also ate at Sun Beach and had the 2 for one lobster and listened to some live musice. Another night we ate at Charela and listened to music there as well.
*******TO BE CONTINUED*********
I really debated doing a report since so much of what I have to say will only repeat/reinforce what others have said before me, but I figure what the heck!
**********Transport*************
We used Talk of the Town based on several recommendations. I think I had built them up a little in my mind because I was a little disappointed with the reality. Our driver from Mobay to Negril was nice, but very very quiet and didn't engage in conversation easily. Then, there was a big mix up on our last day and they simply didn't come pick us up. The Caves had to quickly arrange for transport and we made it to the airport in plenty of time. It was just human error on their part and they were really nice and apologetic and the driver even sent me a personal email which really touched me. I just can't say I've had the phenomenal experience with TOTT that others have had.
***********Idle Awhile**************
From the moment I stepped in the lobby I was thrilled! The property is even prettier in person than I imagined. Negril is the kind of place that is so much more amazing in person than in pictures. We had a one bedroom suite on the lower level (106) and we were completely thrilled with the room. It was a little too much room for just the two of us, but it felt kind of fun and luxurious to essentially have an whole apartment to ourselves! The beach and garden at Idle Awhile was really just perfect.
I found the service to be good, but not exceptional at IA. People were nice, but on a few occasions not particularly accomodating. I wondered if this was typical, but then we had some really amazing service next door at Coco La Palm so I'm not really sure. However, I'd still recommend IA and I'd go back for sure. The grounds are just amazing and I think that near the end the staff had warmed up to us a little.
**********Food************
Idle Awhile -- the food was a little on the pricey side, but there were a few dishes that we really liked: fish and chips, coconut shrip. Plus I think the drinks at IA were my favorite -- nice and strong! Mostly, we liked trying out other restaurants.
**Since we had the kitchen we arranged for the chef to come cook for us one afternoon. It was a really neat experience! He made chicken fricassee, salad, and rice and beans. He made so much food that we had enough to munch on for the rest of our trip. The chef's name was Courtney and he was just so nice and took the time to explain what he was doing as he went.
Coco la Palm for breakfast -- the staff is so nice! And they have the best coffee on the beach and breakfast always comes with warm banana bread and fresh juice.
Best in the West for jerk chicken -- delicious!
Patty mon -- I developed a minor obsession with the patties and by day 2 or 3 I was sort of stalking the patty man -- lol. Seriously, though, these are AMAZING creations!
We also ate at Sun Beach and had the 2 for one lobster and listened to some live musice. Another night we ate at Charela and listened to music there as well.
*******TO BE CONTINUED*********
Jun 25th, 2007 | 09:47 AM
#2
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 679
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More about the beach at Negril and Idle Awhile....
*******The People**********
The beach vendors were FAR FAR less bothersome than I anticipated. I'm not sure if it was because it was off season or what. Anyway, sure dh got offered drugs and people approached us, but just saying "No thanks" firmly and politely always did the trick. We never had anyone hassle us in anyway.
Our fellow tourists were mostly other Americans and Europeans, with a few Jamaican families and couples as well. I noticed a lot of interracial couples as well. There was a really good mix of honeymooners, retirees, and families. It seems that most people could come to Negril and feel pretty safe and relaxed based on what I saw. I've heard women shouldn't travel alone to Negril, but I saw several groups of ladies that looked like they were having a blast. I suppose the only thing you really don't see are any gay couples.
At first I found some Jamaica people to be a little more reserved (almost on the shy side) than I expected, but it did seem that they did warm up after a while. My experiences were largely positive with everyone I met.
*********Activities************
Negril is so cool because it seems that there really is something for everyone. You can be really really active (parasail, scuba, snorkel, jet ski, etc) or you can be really really sedentary. We chose the latter and loved every minute of it!
*********Weather************
I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in the off-season, but we were thrilled with the weather. It was warm, but for us coming from Texas it was really not too bad.
The sun is *intense* though and it would be very very easy to get badly burnt if you don't take precautions. The water and breeze feels so good that I think a lot of people forget how long they've been out. Another great thing about Negril is that there is so much foliage and shade for those of us that aren't sun worshipers.
We did have several days with some rain showers, but they didn't ruin our days at all. The longest shower we had lasted about 2 hours one day and it was so pleasant to go sit on our patio and read and listen to the rain.
Mosquitos are a problem and there's really not a lot of way of getting around it. If you're one of the lucky ones that gets bitten then you're gonna get bitten no matter what you do. I didn't find that bug repellent really prevented the bites, but maybe I'd be even worse off if I didn't have the spray! All in all it just wan't enough to really bother me or ruin my time in any way.
*******TO BE CONTINUED**********
*******The People**********
The beach vendors were FAR FAR less bothersome than I anticipated. I'm not sure if it was because it was off season or what. Anyway, sure dh got offered drugs and people approached us, but just saying "No thanks" firmly and politely always did the trick. We never had anyone hassle us in anyway.
Our fellow tourists were mostly other Americans and Europeans, with a few Jamaican families and couples as well. I noticed a lot of interracial couples as well. There was a really good mix of honeymooners, retirees, and families. It seems that most people could come to Negril and feel pretty safe and relaxed based on what I saw. I've heard women shouldn't travel alone to Negril, but I saw several groups of ladies that looked like they were having a blast. I suppose the only thing you really don't see are any gay couples.
At first I found some Jamaica people to be a little more reserved (almost on the shy side) than I expected, but it did seem that they did warm up after a while. My experiences were largely positive with everyone I met.
*********Activities************
Negril is so cool because it seems that there really is something for everyone. You can be really really active (parasail, scuba, snorkel, jet ski, etc) or you can be really really sedentary. We chose the latter and loved every minute of it!
*********Weather************
I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in the off-season, but we were thrilled with the weather. It was warm, but for us coming from Texas it was really not too bad.
The sun is *intense* though and it would be very very easy to get badly burnt if you don't take precautions. The water and breeze feels so good that I think a lot of people forget how long they've been out. Another great thing about Negril is that there is so much foliage and shade for those of us that aren't sun worshipers.
We did have several days with some rain showers, but they didn't ruin our days at all. The longest shower we had lasted about 2 hours one day and it was so pleasant to go sit on our patio and read and listen to the rain.
Mosquitos are a problem and there's really not a lot of way of getting around it. If you're one of the lucky ones that gets bitten then you're gonna get bitten no matter what you do. I didn't find that bug repellent really prevented the bites, but maybe I'd be even worse off if I didn't have the spray! All in all it just wan't enough to really bother me or ruin my time in any way.
*******TO BE CONTINUED**********
Jun 25th, 2007 | 09:57 AM
#3
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 679
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*********The Caves**********
After four nights at IA it was time to pack up and head to the cliffs for a different experience. When the time rolled around I was a little reluctant to be leaving the beach. We had really settled in and we were enjoying the liveliness and people watching at the beach. I understood that the cliffs were going to be much more isolated and I wondered a little what we were going to do with ourselves up there for three days. I must admit I was also a little intimidated by the posh factor of the hotel we had selected. The Caves is the top choice for celebrities visiting Negril – chosen, I assume, for its privacy and luxuriousness. The resort also recently hosted the 2007 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot. These are not the types that dh and I typically hobnob with!
Well, long story short, The Caves were AMAZING! Not only was it more stunning than I could have ever imagined, the atmosphere was amazingly relaxed and fun. Our time was made even more fun by the fact that we met and connected immediately with several other couples so it was far from the isolating experience I had imagined. As soon as we arrived we knew this was a one of a kind place. The staff was amazing – far from being stiff and formal, they were fun and interacted with us readily.
Everything you eat and drink is already included in the cost of your room, but it is the antithesis of an all-inclusive mega resort. The best way I can describe The Caves is to have you imagine that you have a really rich friend with a fabulous seaside villa who has put his staff at your immediate disposal while he is away. If the bartender isn’t around you’re encouraged to step behind the bar and make it yourself – and we did many times!
Each meal at The Caves was fantastic. At each mealtime we were given 2 choices, but if both sound great, no problem you could try both. Dinners were always the best meal of the day. They were served up on a candlelit deck where you could see the Negril Lighthouse and hear the waves crashing on the cliffs. Each guest can request a dinner in one of the two caves for a night. This sounded like quite the experience so of course we tried it out. We opted to share our cave with another couple and while it was a unique experience, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. The cave was really magical looking at night all lit up with tea lights, but it was stiflingly hot and combined with the closeness of the cave and the loud water crashing in it was a little overwhelming. I had to get out and get fresh air several times and really couldn’t eat a lot of the delicious dinner.
Snorkel equipment and kayaks were readily available. The best snorkeling was in the morning and we saw some pretty neat things, but sadly I’m not particularly up on my aquatic/sea life terminology so I can’t really give specific/accurate names. Another feature was the many ledges from which guests could jump off straight into the ocean. Being the gigantic chicken that I am I never did it of course, but dh actually got caught up in the moment once and jumped with a group of people. It was an incredibly high jump and it was funny to watch as they would fall to the water that they have more than enough time to think about what they’ve just done. You really could do with your day what you saw fit. Basically, we chose to lounge in and around the pool that overlooks the ocean most of the day and imbibe many drinks. This made for some pretty early nights and some great sleep.
Our room was a little thatched roof hut tucked away at the back of the property. The rooms all have names instead of numbers and ours was called “Two Birds”. It was really very small, but completely charming. The lighting and decoration was just really simple and natural looking – sort of Caribbean shabby chic. The best feature was the outdoor shower right off the bathroom. The rooms have louvered windows and doors, but ours was also air conditioned and stayed really cool and bug free at night. I know that some other rooms on the property are not air conditioned, but do come equipped with fans and mosquito nets and I didn’t ever hear any complaints.
Even though our room was one of the furthest from the actual cliffs it was a short and enjoyable walk through amazingly maintained paths and gardens to get to the cliffs. One of my favorite paths went by a blue hole that very brave people could jump into if they liked. I was never brave enough to even swim in there, but I heard there were lots of bats hanging from the top.
Your experience at The Caves is basically what you make of it. There were several young honeymooners that hid out in the many available romantic and isolated nooks. Then there were the thirty-somethings who had been married a while, like us, who were happy to spend the day lazing around the pool drinking, eating and chatting.
I feel like I have to tell everyone that I know and love that they MUST begin planning a trip to The Caves today. It seems too good to be true, too good to last really…And when you go make sure to let us know and we’ll join you!
*******TO BE CONTINUED***********
After four nights at IA it was time to pack up and head to the cliffs for a different experience. When the time rolled around I was a little reluctant to be leaving the beach. We had really settled in and we were enjoying the liveliness and people watching at the beach. I understood that the cliffs were going to be much more isolated and I wondered a little what we were going to do with ourselves up there for three days. I must admit I was also a little intimidated by the posh factor of the hotel we had selected. The Caves is the top choice for celebrities visiting Negril – chosen, I assume, for its privacy and luxuriousness. The resort also recently hosted the 2007 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot. These are not the types that dh and I typically hobnob with!
Well, long story short, The Caves were AMAZING! Not only was it more stunning than I could have ever imagined, the atmosphere was amazingly relaxed and fun. Our time was made even more fun by the fact that we met and connected immediately with several other couples so it was far from the isolating experience I had imagined. As soon as we arrived we knew this was a one of a kind place. The staff was amazing – far from being stiff and formal, they were fun and interacted with us readily.
Everything you eat and drink is already included in the cost of your room, but it is the antithesis of an all-inclusive mega resort. The best way I can describe The Caves is to have you imagine that you have a really rich friend with a fabulous seaside villa who has put his staff at your immediate disposal while he is away. If the bartender isn’t around you’re encouraged to step behind the bar and make it yourself – and we did many times!
Each meal at The Caves was fantastic. At each mealtime we were given 2 choices, but if both sound great, no problem you could try both. Dinners were always the best meal of the day. They were served up on a candlelit deck where you could see the Negril Lighthouse and hear the waves crashing on the cliffs. Each guest can request a dinner in one of the two caves for a night. This sounded like quite the experience so of course we tried it out. We opted to share our cave with another couple and while it was a unique experience, it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. The cave was really magical looking at night all lit up with tea lights, but it was stiflingly hot and combined with the closeness of the cave and the loud water crashing in it was a little overwhelming. I had to get out and get fresh air several times and really couldn’t eat a lot of the delicious dinner.
Snorkel equipment and kayaks were readily available. The best snorkeling was in the morning and we saw some pretty neat things, but sadly I’m not particularly up on my aquatic/sea life terminology so I can’t really give specific/accurate names. Another feature was the many ledges from which guests could jump off straight into the ocean. Being the gigantic chicken that I am I never did it of course, but dh actually got caught up in the moment once and jumped with a group of people. It was an incredibly high jump and it was funny to watch as they would fall to the water that they have more than enough time to think about what they’ve just done. You really could do with your day what you saw fit. Basically, we chose to lounge in and around the pool that overlooks the ocean most of the day and imbibe many drinks. This made for some pretty early nights and some great sleep.
Our room was a little thatched roof hut tucked away at the back of the property. The rooms all have names instead of numbers and ours was called “Two Birds”. It was really very small, but completely charming. The lighting and decoration was just really simple and natural looking – sort of Caribbean shabby chic. The best feature was the outdoor shower right off the bathroom. The rooms have louvered windows and doors, but ours was also air conditioned and stayed really cool and bug free at night. I know that some other rooms on the property are not air conditioned, but do come equipped with fans and mosquito nets and I didn’t ever hear any complaints.
Even though our room was one of the furthest from the actual cliffs it was a short and enjoyable walk through amazingly maintained paths and gardens to get to the cliffs. One of my favorite paths went by a blue hole that very brave people could jump into if they liked. I was never brave enough to even swim in there, but I heard there were lots of bats hanging from the top.
Your experience at The Caves is basically what you make of it. There were several young honeymooners that hid out in the many available romantic and isolated nooks. Then there were the thirty-somethings who had been married a while, like us, who were happy to spend the day lazing around the pool drinking, eating and chatting.
I feel like I have to tell everyone that I know and love that they MUST begin planning a trip to The Caves today. It seems too good to be true, too good to last really…And when you go make sure to let us know and we’ll join you!
*******TO BE CONTINUED***********
Jun 25th, 2007 | 10:07 AM
#5
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Joined: Mar 2005
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*******Final thoughts********
I'm sad that Jamaica gets such a bad rap. I found it to be an amazing place that I would return to in a heartbeat. It's true that there is poverty and crime and that Jamaica (like most countries) has it's share of problems, but I don't really know why that should prevent someone from visiting. I absolutely never felt unsafe, but I also used common sense.
I want to thank everyone on the board who posted about Negril and/or replied to my posts. Your advice really helped make my trip a success! I hope my post will do the same for another lucky traveller that makes it to Negril!
I'm sad that Jamaica gets such a bad rap. I found it to be an amazing place that I would return to in a heartbeat. It's true that there is poverty and crime and that Jamaica (like most countries) has it's share of problems, but I don't really know why that should prevent someone from visiting. I absolutely never felt unsafe, but I also used common sense.
I want to thank everyone on the board who posted about Negril and/or replied to my posts. Your advice really helped make my trip a success! I hope my post will do the same for another lucky traveller that makes it to Negril!
Jun 25th, 2007 | 10:28 AM
#6
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Oh, one more thing...I forgot to mention that the first day I got a patty from the Patty Mon, I didn't have my cash on me and he just said, "No problem mon...I'll catch you here tomorrow." That's pretty amazing and generous if you ask me!
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Jun 25th, 2007 | 01:38 PM
#8
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Well, while we were there we kept talking about how great it would be to take our 3 year old back (we went alone this time). I don't know if we could find a nicer beach for a family vacation to be honest. However, I'm such a sucker for trying out new places I'm not quite sure yet...
Jun 25th, 2007 | 06:41 PM
#9
Joined: May 2004
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Another one bitten and suffering from Negrilitis! I am so glad you had such an amazing time! There really is no other place like it. I hope you and your family are able to return soon. Sounds like Coco La Palm may be a nice option for you (our favorite). Thanks for the great trip report!
Jun 26th, 2007 | 06:40 AM
#10
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Joined: Mar 2005
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CS -- I read your report just prior to my trip and kept thinking about you everytime we went to CCLP for a meal. The staff there really is very nice and I can see why you love it so much. I'd have a hard time deciding where to stay next time. IA was just so gorgeous, but the staff was just OK, imo. Great people can really make such a HUGE difference in the experience. Anyway, I was really thrilled to see and hear about so many people bringing their kiddos to Negril. We really want to get our kiddo to the Caribbean next year so Negril just might be it!
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