MM

Hi,<BR>My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Jamaica in early July. Wondering in which city we'll find the best nightlife (we are mid-20's)?<BR>Also, which resorts (A/I or no?) are the best to stay in? Want somewhere with nice rooms, lots of activities and not many kids!!<BR>One more thing....What is the best way to find the BEST deals????<BR>Thanks!!!

ohliz

I'd have to say the best nightlife is in Negril. There's the 7 mile beach which has several live-music places, and many many bars and restaurants. Then there's the cliffs, with many bars, restaurants, very private hotels and a couple of live music places too. There are two discos as well.<BR><BR>Also, it is very easy to get from place to place in Negril, the beach is public, so you can wlalk it all, there are taxis everywhere and they are cheap, there are bicycles, scooters, etc for rent (NOT advisable to drink and drive, hard enough to do the left-side driving thing as it is).<BR><BR>Also, Negril is very casual..no need to dress up (tho you can if you like).<BR><BR>However, there is nightlife in MoBay and Ocho Rios too, just city life rather than beach life.<BR><BR>The nightlife in Negril is NOT in the resorts. We have stayed on the cliffs and the beach, always at small hotels or cottages. Prices and room quality range from under $20 anight for shared bath/no hot water to over $500 a night for a villa or cottage or deluxe room..it all depends what you like.<BR><BR>A good overview of hotels (ignore the spring break stuff, this site just happens to have the most pictures and videos of any I know) is http://www.sunsplashtours.com/sunsplash/htmls/frames.cgi?menu=2&dest=NJ<BR><BR Liz

MM

Hi Liz,<BR>Thanks for the quick response! You seem to know a lot about Jamaica...I've seen you post to quite a few questions! I know you're not a fan of A/I in Negril, but have you stayed at either Beaches or Sandals in Negril and which is better? Also, exactly how far are the A/I hotels from the real action of Negril and what is the best way to get around if I do end up staying at an A/I?<BR>Of the smaller hotels, which would you suggest?<BR><BR>THANK YOU!!!!!

kim

Sandals Negril, or Sandals Montego Bay.

ohliz

Hi,<BR><BR>I haven't stayed at either one but here are some trip reports from both: http://www.caribtravelnews.com/jam.htm<BR><BR>They are near each other, Couples is on Bloody Bay next to Riu and Sandals is, I think, on the point between Bloody Bay and the 7 mile beach (Long Bay).<BR><BR>Map: http://www.alink.com/personal/liz/negril/negrilmap.htm<BR><BR>You can see there are a lot of smaller hotels along the 7 miles and on south to the cliffs, and a couple of AIs also, Negril Gardens is now owned by Sandals and is right in the middle of everything, you can walk to nightlife and down the beach, it's smaller than the other Sandals. Swept Away is now owned by Couples and is on the main beach also but there has been some beach erosion between it and the rest of the beach, you have to walk in the water in some places (their beach is fine).<BR><BR>For non-AI, we have stayed at two places on the beach and liked both, I'll save time and just give you the trip reports which have links to the hotels: http://www.alink.com/personal/liz/negril/<BR><BR>Some nice beach properties include Coco la Palm: http://www.cocolapalm.com/, Charela: http://www.charela.com/ , Idle Awhile: http://www.idleawhile.com/ , Beach House Villas: http://www.jamaicanegril.com/ , if money isn't much of an object look at Moondance Villas: http://www.moondancevillas.com/ .<BR><BR>Some nice cliff properties include Rockhouse: http://www.rockhousehotel.com/ , Tensing Pen: http://www.tensingpen.com/ .<BR><BR>If you do stay up at Sandals or Couples up on the point, then you can easily take taxis down to the beach and cliffs.<BR><BR Liz