usvi-on-line
Anyone ever vacationed in Jamaica?
I honeymooned on Jamaica in 1999 and loved it. We flew into Montego Bay and went straight to a little non all-inclusive (not behind gates) resort called the Rockhouse. Jamaica is definitely not STJ but I loved it just the same and have great memories from there. We rented a scooter and felt completely comfortable running all around Negril.
This was right around the time of the Kingston gas riots and we were a little nervous about going there, but had committed and we went.
The beaches are beautiful and the people in Negril including the staff at the hotel were lovely. We had a little hut right on the cliffs over the ocean and got to see the sunset each night. The restaurant there was fantastic and we enjoyed beachfront dining further down the beach a couple of nights.
Like any other vacation, you have to be careful and yes, you will be offered Ganja, but a polite "no thank you" did the trick. I didn't feel that hounded. I have heard that it is totally different in other areas of jamaica however. It is such a large island compared to STJ that it really is apples and oranges, but if STJ has been vetoed, I don't think its a bad option.
This was right around the time of the Kingston gas riots and we were a little nervous about going there, but had committed and we went.
The beaches are beautiful and the people in Negril including the staff at the hotel were lovely. We had a little hut right on the cliffs over the ocean and got to see the sunset each night. The restaurant there was fantastic and we enjoyed beachfront dining further down the beach a couple of nights.
Like any other vacation, you have to be careful and yes, you will be offered Ganja, but a polite "no thank you" did the trick. I didn't feel that hounded. I have heard that it is totally different in other areas of jamaica however. It is such a large island compared to STJ that it really is apples and oranges, but if STJ has been vetoed, I don't think its a bad option.
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cypressgirl
- Posts: 2178
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:42 pm
- Location: houston
Yea we go every year to negril a little mom and pop place called white sands we love the place negril has any kind of accommidations that you want from $ to $$$$ Negril is alot different than st john lots of bars right on the beach and places to eat, lots of places you can get a table on the beach. The beach goes forever very pretty, snokeling not that great go to the cliffs for snorkeling. Many hotels have beach patrols so the higglers won't bother you.No problem at all if all inclusive.Don't be afraid to go out in negril meet the people thats half the reason we go there great local places to eat cheap. Go to negril.com great sight to learn about negril they have a forum. Yes you will be asked to buy ganga just say no thank you mon everyting irie.The first time i was a little intimidated now i like to have fun with the higglers you can get some preety good deals on stuff. Always hate to here how dangerous Jamaica is can't speak for the rest of the island but negril seems ok to me take the kids down every year just don't do anything that you would't do in your city.
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Tracy in WI
- Posts: 1624
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:39 am
- Location: Wisconsin
I was just in Jamaica in February for the first time. Girls (long) weekend at an all inclusive resort in Montego Bay. We enjoyed it very much and thought the island was pretty and lush. We were also not comfortable leaving the grounds of the hotel but did go for a day with one of the hotel lifeguards on a day trip around the island.
The resort was nice, I enjoyed the all-inclusive (especially those rum drinks!). I am happy I went, but would probably not return. There were men trying to sell us things from the water - they would stand in the ocean and ask as we walked by. Most were very happy with a polite "no thank you" and the guards on staff made sure they weren't harassing us.
The day trip was nice and we were able to see more of the actual island and the lifestyle of the people. We visited Bob Marley's home and grave site as well as Dunn's River Falls - which is beautiful. The vendors at the plaza there were alot more aggressive and not very happy when we said no. We enjoyed our day with this local man and he answered all our ignorant questions!
Tracy
The resort was nice, I enjoyed the all-inclusive (especially those rum drinks!). I am happy I went, but would probably not return. There were men trying to sell us things from the water - they would stand in the ocean and ask as we walked by. Most were very happy with a polite "no thank you" and the guards on staff made sure they weren't harassing us.
The day trip was nice and we were able to see more of the actual island and the lifestyle of the people. We visited Bob Marley's home and grave site as well as Dunn's River Falls - which is beautiful. The vendors at the plaza there were alot more aggressive and not very happy when we said no. We enjoyed our day with this local man and he answered all our ignorant questions!
Tracy
Tracy, Seaside Properties at Grande Bay
I am beginning to think that Negril is very different than the rest of Jamaica. If you ever do go, be sure to look into Negril (esp the Rockhouse http://www.rockhousehotel.com/about/index.php - they do amazing things including having a foundation for the children of jamaica) anyway...its a beautiful area, lovely people and a great resort, if you can call it that. VERY Small. And not that expensive. We had an amazing little hut right out over the cliffs. I have nothing but good memories ... except a little terror getting from Montego Bay to Negril but that was mostly the roads! They were in the process of building a real road between the two while we were that so that was interesting.
Flip Flop I think your right Negril is special.Went to Ochie 15 years ago scared us $hitless your ok if you dont leave your all inclusive but stay in the compound took 15 years to go back. Read alot of cool stuff and we fell in love with the place and the people. Have actually meant some people that i would consider friends.Yea the higglers can be a pain at times but once you know how to handle it no big deal.Negril is not ST John but it is nice just different. I guess we like it because out of all the islands we have been to we have we have meant some of the nicest people. Oh yea it can be cheap if you want to go that route. The first time we went 4 years ago $300 for the hotel 7 days at white sands gardenside not for everyone but its clean, staff is great,beach is gorgeous little more than that now but still cheap,
Have the other three definitely decided on Jamaica or are you still trying to find an island and they have ruled out STJ? While I definitely prefer STJ to Jamaica, I could make the most of a vacation there. We have been there twice and what I regret is not exploring the island a bit more. Montego Bay doesn't do much to entice me and Ochi is a hike from the airport. Both of our trips were to Negril. The first was on our honeymoon in '98 at a Sandal's all inclusive. The second time we stayed right on Negril Beach at a small hotel called CoCoLapalm. Not all inclusive. I much preferred the smaller hotel in the midst of the beach. We walked the beach alot during the day. Yes there are higglers and they will try to sell "ahem" various things. If I were to return, I would stay right in the middle of that beautiful beach. We walked to dinner most nights and you can eat fairly cheap there. We liked 3 Dives on the cliffs (taxi needed for this). STJ and Jamaica are really apples and oranges though
Based on the advice on multiple forums, we opted not to drive on Jamaica. For guided tours, Talk of the Town Tours and also Barretts Adventures get consistently good reviews. If I can tear myself away from STJ long enough to return to Jamaica, we would do the Black River, Pelican Bar excursion. Negril Beach has soft white sand and great sunsets. The water is so calm that you can float on a raft and not be swept away. We rented a waverunner (my apologies to the motorized watersport dissers
) and saw a couple of dolphins. Overall a great trip except for Hurricane Emily "extending" our trip for 3 days, not all of which were convenient.
Based on the advice on multiple forums, we opted not to drive on Jamaica. For guided tours, Talk of the Town Tours and also Barretts Adventures get consistently good reviews. If I can tear myself away from STJ long enough to return to Jamaica, we would do the Black River, Pelican Bar excursion. Negril Beach has soft white sand and great sunsets. The water is so calm that you can float on a raft and not be swept away. We rented a waverunner (my apologies to the motorized watersport dissers
) and saw a couple of dolphins. Overall a great trip except for Hurricane Emily "extending" our trip for 3 days, not all of which were convenient.-
ILoveTheIslands
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:33 pm
- Location: North Carolina
WOW!!
WOW!! Thanks for all the great info! Keep it coming! It sounds like Negril is the place to stay. We are actually looking at 2 resorts there Couples Negril and Couples Swept Away.Has anybody had any experience with either place?
Thanks Again!
I visited Couples Swept Away while in Negril (in fact, I still have a t-shirt from there that I really like) but didn't stay there. Really beautiful and romantic resort on a great beach. Has a lush, exotic feel to it---good choice. I hear great things about Rockhouse, too, in all the travel magazines.
---Jim
You've gotten a lot of good information. I'll give you my Jamaica experience. I went for three nights in 2000 and we stayed at Sandals in Negril. We went as part of a 30 person corporate group. We had to choose a family resort as some people wanted to bring their kids.
For me, the trip was free, and I had an okay time. Honestly, if I'd paid for the trip myself at the rates I know we were charged, I would have been pretty ticked off. Negril is at least a 2 hour drive from the airport. It's a long, hot, bumpy drive. I've heard the roads have gotten better. The poverty in Jamaica surprised me.
The resort was nice, but I don't like being marooned to one small area. To leave the designated beach for our resort, you had to "sign out" with security. They stood at either end of the resort's beach. That didn't inspire much confidence. We did one "excursion," to Rick's Cafe to see the cliff jumpers. That was really fun. My husband jumped off the high jump two or three times. Not my thing, but he liked it.
I would never go back to Jamaica. I personally don't like AI's. I travel to relax and explore, and Jamaica just isn't safe (in my opinion) for females to explore. A month before we arrived, a travel writer named Claudia Kirschhoch who was staying at the same hotel we stayed at disappeared. She apparently left the premises to seek out "local culture" and was never seen again. For some reason, that left an impression on me.
I went to Aruba for our honeymoon, and I don't have the same issues with that island, for some reason. I think it's because, as a whole, Arubans are very friendly, where I felt hostility from the locals in Jamaica. I've traveled extensively in the Caribbean, but I've never felt as intimidated by locals as in Jamaica.
This is just my experience, take it or leave it.
For me, the trip was free, and I had an okay time. Honestly, if I'd paid for the trip myself at the rates I know we were charged, I would have been pretty ticked off. Negril is at least a 2 hour drive from the airport. It's a long, hot, bumpy drive. I've heard the roads have gotten better. The poverty in Jamaica surprised me.
The resort was nice, but I don't like being marooned to one small area. To leave the designated beach for our resort, you had to "sign out" with security. They stood at either end of the resort's beach. That didn't inspire much confidence. We did one "excursion," to Rick's Cafe to see the cliff jumpers. That was really fun. My husband jumped off the high jump two or three times. Not my thing, but he liked it.
I would never go back to Jamaica. I personally don't like AI's. I travel to relax and explore, and Jamaica just isn't safe (in my opinion) for females to explore. A month before we arrived, a travel writer named Claudia Kirschhoch who was staying at the same hotel we stayed at disappeared. She apparently left the premises to seek out "local culture" and was never seen again. For some reason, that left an impression on me.
I went to Aruba for our honeymoon, and I don't have the same issues with that island, for some reason. I think it's because, as a whole, Arubans are very friendly, where I felt hostility from the locals in Jamaica. I've traveled extensively in the Caribbean, but I've never felt as intimidated by locals as in Jamaica.
This is just my experience, take it or leave it.
The drive from Montego Bay to Negril is now about 1 hour and 15 minutes as the road is relatively "new". It's actually quite scenic, but yes, there is poverty. I really don't know anything about the two properties you asked about, but what I do know is that CSA is on a very nice stretch of Negril Beach as we walked past it many times. There is a group of AI's on Bloody Bay which is away from the main stretch of Negril beach. Not sure where Couples Negril is located.
We stayed at Swept Away for our 10th anniversary, but that was in 1999.
Anyway...we really liked it. I went diving everday, once in the morning and once in the afternoon - all one tank dives from their boat, to reefs that were a short ride away.
It was very laid back. The beach is beautiful and you could use their kayaks, paddle boats, and small sailboats as much as you wished. Leslie couldn't dive that trip, but went on a snorkel boat daily.
There is a rec center, lap pool, and fitness center across the road from where all of the rooms are. Our room was gardenview, and had a great verandah with a hammock and sofa where we would sit and nap or read during the daily afternoon rain shower.
Most of the dining is done at their open air buffet restaurant, or you can make reservations for their sit down place across the road by the rec center. There is also a poolside snack hut for sandwiches and snacks.
The staff were incredible and we made some lifelong friends from among them.
It wasn't a huge party place, at least not the week we were there. They had a couple of pre-dinner cocktail receptions, a couple of "theme" nights, and after dinner there is some kind of show that takes place in the same buiding where dinner is served. Most nights we would go upstairs to the piano bar to hang out for happy hour.
We never felt confined. Between all of the water activities available, the pickup games of volleyball and some of the other beachside games and contests they put on, and our desire to hang out and relax, we were as busy as we wanted to be.
Leslie went on a shopping expedition "off property" one time, but it was with a group from the resort and they had staffers nearby, but we had been to Jamaica before and were comfortable looking them in the eye, smiling, and saying "no thanks", so "no problem mon", "respect", and "irie" were what we usually got in reply.
We also took a catamaran booze cruise to the west end where I jumped off of the cliff - we had a great time that evening as well.
I don't know how much the place has changed but we liked it a lot, and planned to return, even though we have not made it back yet.
Anyway...we really liked it. I went diving everday, once in the morning and once in the afternoon - all one tank dives from their boat, to reefs that were a short ride away.
It was very laid back. The beach is beautiful and you could use their kayaks, paddle boats, and small sailboats as much as you wished. Leslie couldn't dive that trip, but went on a snorkel boat daily.
There is a rec center, lap pool, and fitness center across the road from where all of the rooms are. Our room was gardenview, and had a great verandah with a hammock and sofa where we would sit and nap or read during the daily afternoon rain shower.
Most of the dining is done at their open air buffet restaurant, or you can make reservations for their sit down place across the road by the rec center. There is also a poolside snack hut for sandwiches and snacks.
The staff were incredible and we made some lifelong friends from among them.
It wasn't a huge party place, at least not the week we were there. They had a couple of pre-dinner cocktail receptions, a couple of "theme" nights, and after dinner there is some kind of show that takes place in the same buiding where dinner is served. Most nights we would go upstairs to the piano bar to hang out for happy hour.
We never felt confined. Between all of the water activities available, the pickup games of volleyball and some of the other beachside games and contests they put on, and our desire to hang out and relax, we were as busy as we wanted to be.
Leslie went on a shopping expedition "off property" one time, but it was with a group from the resort and they had staffers nearby, but we had been to Jamaica before and were comfortable looking them in the eye, smiling, and saying "no thanks", so "no problem mon", "respect", and "irie" were what we usually got in reply.
We also took a catamaran booze cruise to the west end where I jumped off of the cliff - we had a great time that evening as well.
I don't know how much the place has changed but we liked it a lot, and planned to return, even though we have not made it back yet.
Come see us!