I have never been to Jamiaca so I am counting on those of you who have.

Obvious pro for Negril is 7 mile beach, are there any mountain views from Negril or just the cliffs?

I have heard Ochos Rios has beautiful beaches although cannot compare to 7 mile beach, but it boasts the mountain views.

What else can you tell me about each area??

Which area for a first time visitor and why?

If you're looking for a sanitized version of Jamaica, you might like Ocho Rios. It is a port for major cruise ships, and at times the whole town is overrun with tourists and daytrippers headed to Dunns RIver Falls.

The food we had in Ocho bordered on inedible ( watered down chop suey, anybody?) and the beaches were OK, but nothing to get excited about. Can you tell we loved it?

Negril has a spectacular 7-mile white powder beach, as well as plenty of local color and decent restaurants. It's true that there are no mountain views, but watching the sunset from one of the cliffside restaurants is an unforgettable experience, to say nothing of the dolphins that sometimes ride right alongside your boat in season!

Forgive me throwing another suggestion out there, but I think you might enjoy a combination trip of a few nights in Negril for the spectacular beach and more activities than you can possibly take advantage of, and then a few nights in Treasure Beach on the south coast. It's old-style Jamaica without any real tourism infrastructure centered around a collection of fishing communities. There are beautiful views of the Santa Cruz mountains, and the people there are so warm and generous that it will break your heart to leave for home. Do a search here using Treasure Beach or Mar Blue as search terms to find out lots of reviews for this area.

The beaches here are more cove like than the long stretch of sand in Negril, but I think a combo trip of both regions would be perfect for you if you're looking for both beach and non-beach activities.

True if you're looking for a spectacular beach and good food, Negril does offer both those. Ochi on the surface is much as the previous post described (though "sanitized" might be the wrong term). Still, the north coast overall though lacking the beach of Negril does offer more for the active vacationer. There really is great food in the area, one just has to look search it out. (Lobster Bowl in Rio Bueno, High Hope above St. Anns -with res., Toscannini at Harmony Hall and Evitas just to name a few. If you're looking for things to do, you'll not beat the area between Runaway Bay and Ochi. Rafting, horseback riding, biking, tubing, the falls, Cranbrook Flower Forest. to name a few) Personally we've been opting for a combo of Negril and Runaway Bay. Runway Bay is close enough to Ochi while still being removed from the it all. A great beach is hard to beat, but there is so much more to Jamaica than the beach. Please try to get out and see it's beauty. Have fun!

I stand corrected. "Sanitized" may well be the wrong term for Ocho Rios, but it definitely lacks the local flavor and color of a place like Negril.

Anyway, I think you've gotten great advice on where else to go. I've never been to Treasure Beach or Runaway Bay, since I'm a real beach potato, but I would love to hear more about them! Please post back if you go. Thanks

Ochi: more city feel, complete with at least one high rise. Beaches small. Cruise ships fill the town on those days. Plenty of good places to eat though, we had great meals at Spring Park, BibiBips and the Jerk Center. Seems most tourists here are cruise shippers or staying in AI resorts.

I've not stayied IN Ochi, but within a half hour to the east twice, which put us closer to Portland. Portland is a beautiful part of JA, if rather far from the MoBay airport, with lovely beaches and real mountains right there.

Negril: more laid back feel, most people stay in small hotels NOT AI so the social scene at bars and such is, IMO, much better since most people are eating/playing out in public. Great beach, plenty to do in the area. Locals and tourists seem to hang out together here more than other parts of JA.

You do have mountain views across the morass in Negril but not as dramatic as Ochi, Ochi is somewhat lusher due to getting more rain.

Both are tourist towns and will have people wanting to sell you stuff, to avoid that you can do Treasure Beach which is a very mellow part of JA, but partly because the beaches there are wavy and have brown sand, not your typical Caribbean palm tree-white sand-clear water setup.

I would say it depends on what you want from a vacation. If you are looking for a relaxing, get-away-from-it-all vacation, I would choose Negril. I have been to both areas and I believe Negril is the definite winner. Negril has a more relaxed atmosphere - and the beauty of the water and sunset is picture perfect. We thought the service was friendlier in Negril - the people seemed more relaxed (gauging that based on Jamaica-time, mon) and we felt the food can't be beat. I wasn't convinced on a return visit to Jamaica after staying in Ocho (it took 16 years), but I am sure glad we did the return visit to Negril. We will not let that many years go by again before visiting this very special place. Good luck with your planning.

Negril is always my first choice for all of the reasons stated above. I have stayed in Ochi a dozen times or so as well, mostly for the resort. I find it much more commercial and the beaches cannot compete. It definitely has a more high rise feel to it and the cruise ships are an annoyance.

But there are some neat little inns (Hibisucs Lodge is one) with grea views that offer a very nice vacation at a good price.

Depends what you are looking for.

just got back from negril, its very nice beach, just stay away from the superclubs service there isn't worth it, and when problems arise there not there for you, sandals looked great though, thats your best bet for a wonderful vacations, i would stay away from funjet too satisfaction guantee is not really there motto and my last trip was terrible and cost us 1120.00 more just for a good room. the whole week i was there i dreamed i was booked with sandals but i wasn't

Negril gets my vote over Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios beach does not even compare to Negrils. Negril is so laid back and care free. Ocho Rios is to touristy for us.