Hello,

We would really love to spend our honeymoon at "The Caves", Negril in April 2005, since this place just sounds like paradise to us.

I don't mind the lack of a/c BUT could you please tell me honestly if there are bugs, insects, roaches, mosquitos, ants in the appartments/restaurant?? This really could mess up the whole honeymoon Is there a daily housekeeping service?? And can somebody tell me about the meals there? I read in one report, that there's no buffet?? How does the all inclusive work ??

Looking forward to some answers

linchen

Linchen

The Caves is really a special resort. The colors and views are mesmerizing.

Are there bugs? Yes. Did I feel like they were a problem? No.

Flying bugs cant be avoided. Mosquito nets on the beds keep them at bay in the evenings. Some spray on your legs would help in the evenings. With a nice breeze I didnt notice any problems. The rooms and dining areas are primitive chic. They feel very clean.

Ants are attracted to sugar, I recommend keeping the sugar away from your bed.
If seeing insects will ruin it for you? stick to something more like a Ritz Carlton.

This resort is really intimate. Its way up on my list?
Consider having a special bath set up? there is a private jetted tub on a cliff with windows that over look the sea. They will set it up with candles, floating flowers and aromatherapy.
Also consider a romantic candle lit dinner in the cave. With waves echoing next to you. Very private, very romantic?

The staff is attentive and they will ask you to make selections for meals, snacks, cocktails etx in advance. The beauty of it is that this level of personal service can get you just about anything you could want.

We were there the third week of May (as repeat visitors) and it was just as great as we remembered..actually better, as far as the food is concerned. Although we thought the food was amazing last time, it seemed even better. There's no buffet--yes indeed--which is a very good thing. Each meal is usually a multicourse affair, and they give you choices of two entrees at dinner, or a combo of both (which is what I often did). If lunch or dinner entrees didn't interest you, they will always try and whip something up to suit your tastes. We had all sorts of great dishes, including grilled lobster tails, a curry conch dish, crab backs, kingfish escoviche, ackee&saltfish (if you want the "jamaican breakfast&quot, johnny cakes, snapper, etc.....and a deliciously garlicky green salad dressing that we had every day with our luncheon salad course....love that stuff.
As far as insects are concerned, we left our hut wide open for most of the time, so insects did make it in from time to time, but it was really no big deal. We slept gloriously under the netting (to the extent that, after returning, I kept waking up at home expecting to be under the net, only to be deeply disappointed). Depending on the breeze, there may be some insects flying about while eating lunch, but it's certainly nothing bad. it is no big deal at all....we found that some people were bitten on their legs while we dined on the dinner deck....may have been the only time to use some bug spray (which is provided in your room--don't bring any). Nobody noticed it at the time, but we sat out there for hours drinking wine and looking at constellations, so we were fairly numb to any bugs....and yes, there is a daily housekeeping service, and they are quite attentive to your needs.

the all inclusive is just what it says....you have the run of the place. breakfast and lunch are served in an open air thatched hut area which also functions as your daytime bar. Dinner at nigh switches to the dinner gazebo, which has a great deck jutting out on a point to the edge of a cliff. After dinner, we often strolled to the daytime bar (which is self serve at this point). You can help yourself to anything in there (including the Haagen Dasz, if so inclined). There is also a key to the music room/dj booth, so we would have our own little party over there, concocting drinks and mixing music (we went with another couple and shared the Moonshadow hut)...it was pretty ideal. I posted my recent photosat the following website(paste the address into browser)---they give you a good idea of the place:
http://community.webshots.com/user/caseyc64

Thank you so much Miss Lynn and nigelfinnegan for your information about the caves The pictures are amazing!!

I'm glad to hear that the bugs won't eat us up I do have another question concerning the crabs! I'd really love to jump off the cliffs, BUT are there millions of crabs sitting on the stairs on my way back?? Please don't laugh at me,I'm really afraid of crabs (the big ones)

linchen

In my experience, the occasional crab may be on the steps but as soon as you are spotted, they do their little sideways thing and run away....fast.

right...the crabs are skitterish and disappear quickly....except for the two large ones we found when we tipped over a couple of kayaks that were stored near a cave. They were big, and their retreat was much slower...like they wanted to prove they weren't afraid (but they would continue their sideways/backwards retreat nonetheless). It was quite humorous. It looked like they had been hanging out under the kayaks for some time...