My first trip to Negril

First off - Hello. I am new here and I Just returned from my first trip to Negril. I am tempted to write vacation, but it was much much more.

Being newbs to the the Island, my Girlfriend and I booked a vacation a Riu Club at bloody bay. While I will say the grounds were nice. The pool was nice, the staff was nice. This was not what I had in mind for a trip outside of the country. Lucky for us, we booked an afternoon boat trip to Ricks for our first full day. From the boat we saw 7 mile beach and I had a chance to talk to one of the guys on the boat. I asked him, if it was cool to go visit the beach. He emphatically said yes, even after we were told be the resort not go on self guided tours.

The boat pulled up to ricks and they gave us an hour. I looked at my girlfriend and told her, to hell with the boat. Let's stay and take a cab back. So we stayed for several hours talking to people and getting ideas.

Day 2 we were dropped off at Margaritaville - we had a backpack with towels and sunscreen. We walked straight out to the beach and hung a left and never looked back.

The first person we met was Dennis the Menace. Who apparently is pretty popular amongst the locals as well as other visitors to the island. He sat us down. He fed us, he gave us drinks for a few hours. Introduced us to a few other locals around the bar and we got to hang out and just get to know some people for a bit. We paid up and continued on our way.

Stop 2, which ended up being our final stop of the day it was at Tony's Hut. Just awesome. We saw the most romantic sunset there.

For our 3rd and final full day we decided to wake up early. Get out to the beach and walk down into town. We made it to Bourbon beach, The Yellow Bird, Mom's, and a few other places. We had lunch at bourbon which was excellent.

We ventured into town. took some pictures. Walked around etc. Then headed back and stopped at every single one of the previously mentioned bars all the way back to Tony's for the sunset.

This is where I fell in love with Jamaica and really felt a connection. We were told to go next door to Niah's for Patties. There we met Niah. One of the kindest most gentle and spiritual people I have ever met. He came over to Tony's after awhile and sat with us and I bought him a couple beers and just talked with him for a good long while. He was super sweet to my girlfriend also. He brought me over a carving with his name in it, and a bracelet for my girlfriend and wanted nothing in return.

Upon leaving he offered a hug to both of us and told us to hurry back down to Jamaica and visit him at his hut.

So we will, and we have been back less than a day and are planning a 7 day stay on the beach for thanksgiving.

We have looked into Tony's, the Yellow Bird, Nirvana, Mom's They all seem to be VERY reasonably priced. We dont want or need all inclusive.

If anyone has any other beach suggestions please let me know!

My body is back in Philadelphia, but I feel like my soul is still in Negril

Once you go, you know.

GOOD FOR YOU MAN!!!! Like the saying states.."once you go, you know". Well....now you "know"...lol. Sure the AI doesn't want you to go on self guided tours.....they get NO $$ that way. Good for you guys for challenging your comfort levels and getting out there on your own. There are bad folks everywhere in the world, and Jamaica is no different. But, if you are respectful and thoughtful of others, Jamaica is a magical place!! It sounds like you are both. ;) Welcome to the board mi fren!!

Good on you for getting out there. Now you know. ;)

Absolutely wonderful review. Like they say ... once you go … you know. Think of all those poor suckers that never escaped the fences of the Riu.

For your next trip I'd recommend CocoLaPalm. It's one hotel away from where you met Dennis. We spent Thanksgiving week there last November.

Also I hope you know your going to need to visit the cliffs next time. That is a whole different Negril up there. Rick's, while on the cliffs, is not a good example of a true cliff experience.

Timm

This post makes me so happy!

Way to go!
And yes, now you know.....welcome to the board!
What you are experiencing is referred to as PNS (Post Negril Syndrome) the only way to get over it (I have found) is to book another trip.....you learn fast my friend!

Congrats!

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Ti2m definitely need to check out the cliffs. And will look at your recommendation. We only had 3 full days and that wasn't close to enough. And now we know how much less it costs to stay on the beach at a normal place as opposed to an AI, we can stay much longer. We don't need free red stripe when it can be had for 100-150 JA on the beach and the money is going straight to the people that need it the most genuinely appreciate not only the business but the company.

The plan is to go the friday before thanksgiving and leave the friday immediately following. It's cheaper to fly on non weekend days we've seen.

As for the PNS - When we landed in philly yesterday i got a lump in my throat haha. - marley - I have spent lots of time in clearwater. I enjoy it there as well.

Its a good thing you got out of the hotel or you would have missed it. You now uderstand why we all go.

You fell into our little stretch of heaven. I drive so I'm away from the beach often, but we have stayed at Mariposa for many many reaches and that area is our loose short and wet hair out of the shower stretch of the beach. The amp at Tony's is compliments of a mobile sound rig I had, we helped Niah re-build after Ivan in 2004 (?), I have countless sunset and sunrise shots on that stretch of the 7 Miles. Hope the sand is fading back and am very happy to hear you had a soft landing on the Island.

Funny thing is I know Dennis, have spent many a day at Mom's, like the shady escape into Nirvana and have quite a few memories of Yellow Bird from over the years, sure would be hard to give a reccomendation but do hope you fall soft to whatever your choice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26

- marley - I have spent lots of time in clearwater. I enjoy it there as well.

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Awesome! Maybe next time you are here you and the girlfriend can join my hubby and I for a drink on the beach somewhere.....anyone who loves Negril is a friend of mine!

Excited for you, you will see this board has loads of knowledge and advice for you, so stick around and ask anything you want to know, and your next trip will be even better than your last one!