Jsteil Trip Report Jun 7th -15th 2013

Hello, I've been on the forum for a few months now and wanted to share my trip so far.

I've been to Jamaica three times now in the last 5 years. The first was at Sandals Grande in Ocho Rios. The second time was in the West End at Banana's Garden and this time we are at the same place.

Friday

After 5 years of asking I told my parents at Christmas we already purchased plane tickets and they are coming with us this time. Fast forward to June 6th. My parents arrive at 11pm at my house for a 5am flight on June 7th. We have about six hours of flying and a 3 hour layover in Atlanta. The first flight to Atlanta was on time and great. The second plane from Atlanta to Montego Bay was fantastic. The captain of the plane set the mood with Jamaican phrases and asked if it was the first time for anyone to which half the plane raised there hand.

We landed in Montego Bay and it took us about 45 minutes to get through customs. I brought the food processor for St. Anthonys and put it down as a donation, so they flagged my wife and I to station 1 to look through our things before saying thank you for thinking of Jamaica have a good vacation.

Contacted Robert to let him know we were being checked, so it would be a little bit, but he waited nicely out front of the airport for us. Robert was filling in for Kingsley because Kingsley was out of town. Robert took us to Negril and we stopped off at Hilo for some preparations. My father quickly filled up a cart full of Red Stripe and then found out they had cases. The young man went and got him two cases for the week. Mother got some coffee, rum, and food for lunches. I stocked up on the sour sop juice. Now on our way to Banana's Garden to off load. We were greeted with hugs and fist bumps coming into the West End.

Unpacked our suitcases and thought about going down to 3 Dives, but my parents just wanted to walk to LTU for some pumpkin soup and fish.

Saturday

Ate Breakfast at the gardens and then headed to the beach. Picked up a taxi for $10 to take all 4 of us to Margaritaville since that's were my parents wanted to start first. My wife and I put down our stuff and my parents walk the beach. I spend about 5 hours in the ocean and my wife reads while sun bathing. Parents come back and tell us that Negril is fantastic and tell us about places they might want to eat at (Alfreds, Chances, Fun Holiday, etc). I told my parents that we are going to Seastar, so we will eat something lite.

It rained three times while on the beach, but it didn't phase us one bit and we just waited 10 minutes and it was over. Everything dry again and back in the ocean. At about 6pm we walk the beach toward town and my parents point out all the places the looked over. Talked with a nice gentleman named James who drove a licensed taxi and offered to take us home for 10$. James washed our feet with bottled water and took us back home.

We come home eat a sandwich, swim in the pool, take a nap and head down to Seastar when the music starts. As we are walking we come across a fellow named Dilbert who has a friendly conversation with us about fruit and the lighthouse on the way to Seastar. We make it to Seastar and CaptainD I believe got up on stage and gave a speech. After the speech the drummers came on and then back to live music while enjoying the food.

Sunday

Got up and ate breakfast, swam in the pool, got out to dry off because we were doing the One Love Pub Crawl. Waited outside the gate for the 2pm pickup and waited about an hour and a half before making some phone calls to see what was up. Chatted with a few people who walked by from our past trip to Negril and caught up. Gave up on the bus and walked down to Ahhh Bees for the best hamburgers I've ever had.

Monday

After banana pancakes for breakfast we swam in the pool until noon and headed to Chances Pizza. Called up Niah who hangs out at LTU to take us to Chances. Ordered some drinks, but they didn't have everything to make dirty banana's, so we went with Jamaican rum punches. My mom wanted to take a picture at a palm tree the entire trip and Chances had some small palm trees that meet the need. The Pizza at Chances is very good. Ordered the Jerk Chicken, onions and escallions pizza. Stayed on the beach until 6pm and headed back to the west end. My dad wanted something to eat, so we called up someone we knew who was at Debar, but Eddie wasn't cooking yet. Tried a new jerk stand across from Ricks where the buses park, but wouldn't recommend it. Tomorrow is another beach day and then an early day at St. Anthony's.

Tuesday
Pretty much did the same thing as the previous day. Ate breakfast, took a nap in the hammock, swam in the pool, then went to the beach. Went to Idle Awhile because we were told they have really good dirty bananas. My wife and mother said the dirty bananas were great. My dad on the other hand kept ordering the casadias because the paddie man wasn't on the beach. Headed back to the west end to get dressed because we were going to Eddie Debar's. My father got a taste of good jerk at Eddies. Pam, Eddies wife was in town, so we got to talk with her about things we were doing. Nicole, who owns Bananas Garden was at eddies also, so we all had a good time.

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Nice! Cant wait to see pics!

Wednesday
Father Jim picked us up at 7am to go to St. Anthonys. I posted pictures in this threadhttp://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...ony-s-Pictures. Since we got home early my dad and I hit up Ahhh Bees again for a burger. Those burgers are so good. We forgot he didn't open until noon, but no worries. Damian Marley playing in the background while sitting back and enjoying the west end is fine for us. Went back and swam in the pool. Opal, who takes care of us at Banana's Garden made curry chicken, peas (red beans) and brown rice for us for dinner. It was nice to eat a home cooked meal with our extended Jamaican Family. Spent most of the night sitting outside listening to Jah9, Kiddus I, Burning Spear, and The Congos while smoking a cigar.

Thursday
Robert from Kingsley Taxi picked us up. We started on our way towards Sav La Mar. We talked about Seaford Town and he said it would be somewhat out of the way and would need to be a tour by its self. Ended up going to Peter Tosh, YS, and Appleton. First stop is Peter Tosh. The guy sitting outside wanted $50 for us to go in and really didn't want to talk to us. Robert paid the guy 500jmd for us to take our picture. A guy came out from the gate and the two gentleman yelled at each other. We left and continued to Y.S. Falls. Y.S. Falls is one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. Onward to Appleton Estate. Robert missed the gate and we got a big breath of liquid fertilizer haha. Turned around and headed back to the guest parking lot. Did the all you can drink rum punch at the bar before taking the tour. Pretty awesome tour for the money and knowledge. Robert became part of the family on the Appleton Tour with us. Got to try all 13 Appleton Estate rums. My mother and wife got in trouble for letting someone in our group have a small sample of rum cream. Headed back to Negril and got back about 6pm. Got a taxi and headed down to 3 dives for some sea food and jerk chicken. Wife and Mother tried the king fish for the first time and liked it. Dad went into a shrimp coma.

Friday

Last day in Negril, so we did the beach thing and went up and down the beach. Went to Hi-Lo and bought last minute items. Headed back to the West End. As we were heading through the gate Kingsley got our attention and told us that Robert was going to do another tour and that he would be taking us back to the airport. My mom got a sad face and told him that Robert was part of our family after Appleton and he should take us. Kingsley laughed and said he would talk to Robert.

Saturday/Sunday

Robert picked us up at 8am to take us to the airport. We listened to a gospel show from Mobay the entire way. Seems like a very popular show as Robert was really into it. Robert dropped us off at the airport and we said our thank yous.

We arrived very late to Kansas City Saturday night. Sunday mid afternoon Robert called my parents and I to make sure we made it home which was very nice. Highly recommend Kingsley taxi (takecaretours.com)

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nice TR, thanks. i was sad when it ended, a week goes by too fast.

Thanks for sharing your report-nice:o

Great pictures and report,thanks for sharing!