We loved Negril! We went February 15th - 20th and we stayed 2 nights on the Cliffs and 3 nights on the beach. Both are great, but we prefer the beach. We didn’t do much other than lie out in the sun, swim and walk the beach, but there were plenty of options for tours. You can find very cheap drinks in a number of places, which was cool for us. The weather was perfect with no rain. We had fun trying a number of restaurants and loved that there are so many to choose from! We will definately be planning another trip back!

We used Fodor’s to search for hotels, restaurants and airport transfer before we left. Thanks everyone for your direct and indirect input to our trip!

Hotels
Rockhouse Hotel – The villas were booked, so we stayed in a standard room for our first 2 nights. We were pleasantly surprised with the room, particularly for $115 a night, including tax and service charges. The rooms and private terrace are a pretty good size. The only thing we would have liked is a CD/radio/TV and toiletries (only soap provided), but it wasn’t a big deal. They have a mini bar and safe. The outdoor shower was interesting. It was nice, but there is a property next door that had workers that I could see from the shower, so it seems like there will be a privacy issue for the room we were in. The villas look really cool. The whole atmosphere is very unique with “rock” everywhere. We liked it and the pool and public areas are nice. From a service standpoint, our experience was good.

Idle Awhile – We really loved this place!! We had a garden view deluxe room for 2 nights then moved to an ocean view deluxe room for the last night. You can see the ocean from the ocean view room, but it is very limited view. The gardens are really beautiful. All the staff provided very good service. The room and terrace are very big, very relaxing and nicely decorated. They had an empty refrigerator and safe. It was $210 per night with tax and service charges. The suites looked huge, but I don’t know if we would pay more for them, since our room was so nice. The location on the beach is in the middle of everything. We will definitely stay here again.

Restaurants - Cliffs
Rockhouse – We both had jerk chicken sandwiches for lunch that were really good. We would like to try dinner there.
Xtabi – I had chicken ala King and my husband had pork chops with mashed potatoes for dinner. Just Ok. We probably won’t go back.
3 Dives – Our favorite meal. We both had ½ chicken with rice and peas for dinner and it was fabulous and cheap! It gets rave reviews because it is so great and it is inexpensive! We will definitely go back!
Just Natural – We had drinks here (very very cheap drinks) and the dining area is very pretty and quiet. We were going to have breakfast there, but due to a broken furnace back home (glad we had our cell phones!), we were up very late and didn’t have time for breakfast before our hotel change. It is across the road near Xtabi.

Restaurants - Beach
Kuyuba – I had vegetable quesadillas and my husband had a cheeseburger for lunch. We had very, very slow service and it is a little expensive for Negril, but very good. We aren’t sure if we would go back since there are so many other choices.
Norm’s – We both had jerk chicken with rice and peas. Pretty good, but 3 Dives is better. Nice atmosphere though and we would probably return.
Norma’s – I had Jerk chicken fettuccini and my husband had a steak/shrimp combo. Very good and very busy. We were able to walk in and get a table right away at 8:00 (although it looked like we were lucky). We will definitely go back.
Angela’s – Great pizza, which we split. Definitely recommend for a change from Jamaican food.
Idle Awhile – We had burgers with fries for lunch and omelets with toast for breakfast. Pretty good and we would like to try dinner there.
Negril Tree House – We had chicken sandwiches and fries for lunch. Nothing to write about, except it is a nice atmosphere right on the ocean.

Airport transfers
We used Talk of the Town for our transfers. They charge $55 one way and then $10 from the Rockhouse to Idle Awhile. It was well worth it. We really liked that they include stops in the cost, so we were able to get to the ATM for money and grocery store for beer, soda, rum, etc. on the way to the Rockhouse and we did the same stop on the way to Idle Awhile. They also provide a cell phone free of charge. I guess you buy minutes with a phone card to use it, but it had some left over minutes that we could used just to get our cell phones working. (I have a dual band phone and my husband has a quad band phone and both worked after International service is activated.) We never actually met Solomon, instead David transferred us. He was very accommodating. Contact Information -Soloman [email protected] (876)826 8085 and (876) 955 7906 home) http://www.geocities.com/talkofthetowntours/

Travel Advice for Negril (from our experience only)
Bring a ton of US $1 dollar bills. They come in very handy for tipping.
Almost every place we went accepted US or Jamaican (Jays) dollars.
Typically paying in Jamaican is a slightly better price than the US exchange rate.
You will be offered drugs. It is a part of tourism and don’t be offended, just kindly say no thank you. Use the same response for offers for crafts and stores.
Service is much slower than the US. If you go in expecting slow service, you will have a better time.
Customs when you arrive in Montego Bay Airport is long. Go in expecting long lines (up to an hour).
A number of restaurants and hotels include a 10% service charge in the bill.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Thanks for taking the time to write your helpful trip report. Glad you had a great time.

Hubby & I are looking at going to Jamaica for the first time at the end of May, staying at Idle Awhile,also. Two questions, please:

1) Was your deluxe room at Idle Awhile upper or lower? Does it matter?

2) We're torn between staying a few nights at the beach, then moving up to the cliffs (maybe Tensing Pen.) If you could do it over again, would you just have stayed at Idle Awhile?

Thanks,

Pat C

Tweeter,

Thanks so much for your helpful report! I am considering honeymooning at Idle Awhile in early June. My first choice, a one bedroom suite with ocean view, is not available. Remaining are the one bedroom suites with garden view and the deluxe room with ocean view. I really wanted an ocean view, but interpreting your post, there really may not be much of an ocean view to see. Which option would you suggest? Thanks so much for your help!

PatC - We had a lower room. I guess I would say the upper rooms might be a little more private, since you wouldn't have people walking by on the sidewalk. I didn't see the upper rooms, but I would imagine they are the same. That is a tough call on splitting between the Cliffs and Beach. They are both very different. We definately liked the beach better, but it was nice to have different restaurants and a different landscape on the cliffs too. Another thing to factor in is the time of switching rooms. I think we will stick to the beach next time and take a cab up to the Cliffs for dinner 1-2 times.

EKeley - The ocean view is a little deceptive. The buildings are set back from the Ocean in gardens. In the Ocean view, you could see a bit of the Ocean, but not how I normally would consider an ocean view room. We thought the deluxe rooms were gorgeous, so the Suite's must be even better. I think I would pick the Suite over the Deluxe for my honeymoon. If money plays a factor, the Deluxe rooms are a great price.

I hope that helps! Enjoy your trips!

Hi, Tweeter:

Thanks again for taking the time to reply -- it's a great help.

Pat C.

I should comment too that we loved Idle Awhile and we plan on staying there on our next visit. Keep in mind that they only have 13 rooms, so don't expect "resort" activities.

Thanks, Tweeter! Your reply was very helpful. I booked the garden-view suite today for my stay. I can't wait!

I can't wait to get to Idle Awhile. It's going to be next year though. I haven't read a bad review yet and I've read a ton. The difference on an upstairs one bedroom suite would be the vaulted ceilings. If you are looking for some additonal pictures on Idle Awhile, check out Lizardbeth.com. They were married there and go back every year. She's a very good photographer and has taken some excellent pictures.

Thanks, Dantheman. I was hoping the second floor would have vaulted ceilings! The pictures on Lizardbeth.com are awesome, especially the sunsets. I appreciate your forwarding the site.

Sounds like a wonderful trip!! 3 Dives is always our favorite meal too...and the cheapest to boot!

I hope you get back to Just Natural...breakfast in that garden is the best way to wake up.

I agree on Kuyaba. We used to love it there but I think there must have been a management change a year or two ago because the service and food both seemed to get worse at once.

Norma's is STILL on my to-do list!

Thanks for the report.

Hi Liza - I had read many of your posts on Negril and they were very helpful for our trip. Thanks a ton! We are thinking of going back again this year!