Negril vacation tips wanted
 

My husband and I decided that Negril is going to be the a good place to go for our 10 year anniversary (late spring, end of May, beginning of June). We have never been to the Caribbean before. The reviews of Couples Swept Away, which fits into our $4000 total budget, has been really appealing to us, but we are not sure if AI is what we want. A lot of the reviews suggest staying at small beach hotels and eating out, as the restaurants are inexpensive. Being able to spend under $3000 (flight cost included, which is about $1000) would be nice, but, as I said $4000 is our absolute MAX. If anyone has suggestions for a trip that can include a lot of spontaneity and some seclusion it would be awesome. I do have a couple things I am looking for in the place we stay.
-Beach (calm, blue water near a bar)
-Hammocks on the beach, in our room or both
-Rustic bungalow style rooms with lots of privacy. Something unique to the area that you wont find anywhere else.
-Pool. I would like a pool bar, but I find that they are pretty hard to find outside of an AI resort.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. If I am leaving out any details that would help just let me know.

Aqua Negril might be worth looking into. No pool however.

Nirvana and Idle Awhile also come to mind as more high end places that might suit your needs. Keep in mind that you are going off-season so there should be some great deals if you spend the time investigating. I believe the off-season discounts will be higher at non A-I places as well

You might look at Sunset at the Palms. It is an AI resort and across the street from the beach, but will give you the seclusion and pool you are looking for plus their rooms are like little treehouses. Should come way under your $4,000 budget with the right room catagory. It's very popular with honeymooners. Would be great for an anniversary.

http://www.sunsetatthepalms.com/

If you don't mind moving a bit, I'd split your trip. Spend a few days on the beach and then a few days up on the Cliffs. It really is like two vacations in one.

If you want to lounge at the beach during the day, it's a cheap cab ride.

Check out the upper-floor junior suites at Coco La Palm, too, which is just next door to Idle Awhile. They are very roomy and private. The hotel is on the best part ( I think!) of Negril's beach.

Thank you for all of your replies. Idle Awhile definitely looks like a possiblility. Idle is exactly the type of place we are looking for, but it looks like it is booked around the time we would like to go. Also, is Aqua Negril closing?

COCO is not quite as upscale, but it is next door to IDLE AWHILE, and the upper floor junior suites are spacious and private. Just make sure to ask for one that is NOT over the bar!

I had heard that AQUA NEGRIL was closing or did close. Don't know anything else about its status.

http://www.fodors.com/community/cari...to-jamaica.cfm

This is the best trip report re Idle Awhile and Negril, it may be old but most of the info is still pertinent.

We stayed there in 2004 (or was it '05?), when we returned to Negril in 2010 we stayed next door at Coco La Palm and were contemplating going back last month but the room we wanted wasn't available so we headed to Nevis instead.

I did do a trip report but I can't find it :(
BTW in 2010 we ate at Chill Awhile and one of the waiters stared at my DH and said "You've stayed here before!". It freaked the pair of us out in a humorous way :)