A question of when to go.

So we have gone to Negril every year for the last 10 years. We have stayed a bunch of different places and in the beginning we used to go at Christmas through New Years. That's still my favorite time of year to go, so much fun, but the prices are at their highest and logistically it was really hard to get away from family at that time of year. Over the years we have moved from January to February and now into March. We hold out in the MN winter as long as we can because we hope for mild weather when we get back and the start of spring. Anyone from MN knows spring is taking longer and longer to come these days so I have some questions about coming at the start of low season. We are a little torn about still coming during the real cold and splitting winter in half so the speak, any opinions?
But onto the spring questions. Does the vibe feel different in the last couple weeks of April? Is it a little sleepier version of Negril? I don't mind a few less options for food and bevies but I don't want to have to scrounge to much. Are the jelly fish moving in yet, and is it still OK to swim? I've heard horror stories about the crab hatch, like thousands of little spiders everywhere. When does that start? Rooms are half price which is awesome, flights appear to be the same price wise, is it cheaper in Negril proper for services, or do food and booze stay the same for the most part? If the cost savings is just the room then that's a saving of hundreds not thousands and I don't know if it's worth the trade from coming when it's really cold here. So I guess I'm asking for the pro's and con's from boardies who have done both. I respect the insight of this group a lot.

The boardie bash is the last Friday in April. Plenty things going on for the two weeks prior

Cap

My only beef with April is the weather does start to get rainier and begins that switch...but hey..it still is great to be in Negril never the less..another great time is in early December before high season prices start in middle of December..

We've been 9 times & usually have gone in Nov. since that is our anniversary but have gone in Dec. Feb. & April also. We love the sea temp in Nov. it's very warm & it's not real crowded yet & the prices are good BUT you go home & have the long cold winter ahead of you. Not so good. Dec. was nice but the same thing with going home. We went twice in Feb. & it was so nice going home to spring on it's way & getting out of the bitter cold for a while but the water temp. was not as warm in Feb. & took some getting used to. But then it's still the Caribbean water, it's not like trying to get used to the Pacific Ocean at anytime (cold). We went once in mid April after the costs went down & we found the water to be much like in Nov. It was warm. We thought April was fine except the only thing we didn't like was no lobster :(

I like to do what I call "shoulder season". The last two weeks of April and the first two weeks of December. Prices drop or haven't risen yet and it's just after or before rainy season. Then I'll also do first week of July and that's my five weeks in Negril.

I think April is a great time to go. The warmer it is the less my wife wears, which is my reason to go in the first place.

I would like to go this October but my wife keeps saying "hurricanes" and that's the end of the discussion. But I'd really like to go this October.

I personally like it when it is the off season, cheaper and more quiet, which is great with me. I'd like to think I am a social person but I'm also super cheap and the older I get the less I like crowds. After having been to Mexico so many times the relaxed and quiet vibe of Negril fit me just fine.

Late April, early May and early December are our favorite times. Just after and just before “high season”. Good weather, good vibes, smaller crowds!

I think you should pack your bags and go ... right now :)

Summer is great because because Negril empties out of most of those American tourists. It's quiet and empty (except for first week of August when it fills up with Jamaicans on holiday). You can bake and relax in the summer heat. You get a smattering of European tourists, plus the locals. Even the local peddlers and hustlers and prostitutes slow down in the summer heat, with fewer clients to chase after, and you can hang out with them and chill and get to know them as people.

That said, any time of year is good.

My other favorite time to visit is every 4 years during the Olympics. It's sooo much fun!

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Originally Posted by justin_a_lyesse

I like to do what I call "shoulder season". The last two weeks of April and the first two weeks of December. Prices drop or haven't risen yet and it's just after or before rainy season. Then I'll also do first week of July and that's my five weeks in Negril.

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I also agree that the first two weeks in December is fantastic. And like you said, weather is normally awesome (hurricane season has ended Nov 30), it's quiet but there exists a vibe of excitement and anticipation because high season begins the 15th. But because it's still off season, rates are reasonable...