Well you're stuck with me now. . . first came to the conclusion that Sandals Negril was not for us, sounds too heavy on the party scene and a little too cheesy and commercial. Decided then on Grand Lido Negril, but then started seeing all this good info on Couples Negril. . . you can really get any opinion on any of these resorts if you stay on here long enough, now I really need a vacation! I think my TA hates me. Ha. But I have had to do the research, she has never been to these resorts.<BR>We want a restful, relaxed, clean, not over populated drunk disorderly resort. Something elegant but not stuffy. Somewhere romantic. Which is best for the $ ?

Hello Indecisive<BR>First of all, your travel agent shoudn't hate you because she needs to qualify your hotel. The worst thing would be to put you in a Sandals when you should be at Couples/Swept Away or Grand Lido.<BR>From you list of requirements, Couples Negril sounds like it is a perfect fit.<BR>Although I don't know if I would call it elegant, it is definitely not stuffy which is exactly how I found Grand Lido Negril to be. Swept Away was a bit too quiet for us but we have been going back to Couples Negril for the past 4 years.<BR>Good Luck with your decision!!

It depends on what is important to you.<BR>My favorite is Couples Swept Away, but there are only 2 Restaurants (they do change the menu nightly about 8 items) at the main resturant. They do not have TV in the room. It is romantic and laid back. There is an excellent sports complex across the street. The vegetation is very lush. Beach experienced some erosion last year, but is building back nicely.<BR>The lanai in the Atrium and Beachfront rooms is wonderful, with curved lounge chairs I could spend the entire week on.<BR><BR>Grand Lido Negril has 24 hour room service, free manicure and pedicure. Chef has won a award as "Best Chef in the Caribbean". There is the Yacht Zein for sunset sails. Excellent beach, at they do have a nude section which may bother some. All 3 Lido's are AAA 4 Diamond Properties.<BR><BR>Couples Negril is on a gorgeous beach, very modern in style. It has lush vegetation and a gorgeous beach. I only ate at the buffet her, but it was very good. They offer free trips to Rick's Cafe (drinks not included), a sunset cruise and a shopping tour, as does Couples Swept Away.<BR>Rooms are not as pretty as Swept Away in my opinion, nor do they have the huge lanai.<BR>Great pool area at this property. Swept Away has a very small pool and a 25 meter lap pool in the sports complex.

I forgot to mention, I have stayed at all 3.

Thank you for your great input! One thing that I did decide on that I haven't changed my mind on is to take the puddle jumper flight from MOBay to Negril vs. the bumpy dusty 2 hr by bus trip. Eegads, that sounds horrific. Thx for the resort input! You guys rock! Am soooooooo thrilled won't be at Sandals.

ATT: Caribbean Specialist<BR>If you stayed at all 3 resorts why did you just eat at the buffet at COuples.<BR>Are there no other restaurants??<BR>

what about the rui at Negril. I'm not a big all inclusive person but have toured many of the places you mentioned and spoke to MANY people while I've been Negril about them.<BR>Riu brand new and beautiful. I have heard great things about the service and think it deserves a look- it's also the cheapest of all as I understand it.

RIU is one of the least expensive because they do not include things like <BR>scuba,snorkling on the reefs,water skiing,catamaran cruise,shopping excersions ,ect.these are at additional cost.

We were married at GLN and stayed for 9 nights. It was great. We strolled through Couples and a couple other resorts and were glad we made the choice we did. Age is a factor. Couples and Sandals are younger 20-30's. GLN 35 and older. Hospitality was awesome. No stroll throughs from other resorts because of the rocky area on the far side of GLN. Across the street is Hedonism, but we never noticed. The messages and manicures and pedicures were great. I loved the steam room and plunge pool. We went in December and it was still great weather. We cruised on the M/Y Zein, Princess Grace's honeymoon yacht and got to see all the resorts on the coast. If you want a lot of night life, don't pick GLN. There is some, but not as much as the younger resorts.<BR>

To budnipper:<BR>Just to get an idea if it was worth it for me : I looded up prices from New York to Negril, air, transfers, taxes and 6 night...<BR>Grand Lido Negril was $1469<BR>Riu was $919. <BR>A trip out to the reef is about $10 bucks with a local guide, etc. <BR>With the extra money you save you can feel free to experience Negrils local food and people with lots of cash left over to put into the local economy while staying at a much nicer place. <BR>

Lots of kids at RIU, and it is alot bigger than the other, more intimate, adults only resorts. We stayed at Couples in November and loved it. The beach is incredible. I think it would be superior to the Swept Away beach, because Couples is on the Bay. We walked by the Riu, which is right next door, but like I said, LOTS of kids, and a HUGE resort.

Indecisive -- Take the luxe villa route instead and you'll match all your keywords and add romantic privacy, probably the hardest thing of all to find in Negril. bluefieldsvilla.com<BR>might be your solution. The Montcures' villas attract Euros, celebs, politicos<BR>(Kissinger,Jodi Foster,etc.) and just orindary folk who need a real getaway .

Becca,<BR><BR>I guess it all depends on what you want to do.RIU is right for us.We like to just lay on the beach and run around Negril visiting all the shops and resturants.I agree that the RIU pricing allows one to have extra bucks to play with.For others that may want to do a lot of diving,snorkling,sunset cruises,ect.It may be better to try an AI that includes that.<BR><BR>I am not sure how much you would pay for a 1 tank dive.I have met people at Couples that have made multiple dives.Add in some water skiing and that could really add up.BTW,I think Couples is typically less expensive that GL.May be a better value for the more active traveler.<BR><BR>A couple of things about the RIU that I do not like but can live with is that they charge to teach you how to operate the non motorised water sports equip and the 2 seating times for dinner.But it sure is nice to have the cold drinks right in your room.<BR><BR>