If you love Jamaica let me see your hand - A Trip Report

“You will receive most when you will expect least.”
― Santosh Kalwar

Hello, my name is Cherry and I am a Negril addict. When I first introduced myself last year, I wasn't sure about that statement. There remains no doubt now that I am really and truly hooked.

If you want to start this story from the very beginning, you can read my first trip report here. It is a newbie's recounting of our first visit to Negril.

I've got to find my way back, back to Summer Paradise

Be forewarned, if you prefer the condensed version of a story this (and our last) trip report might not be for you. I rarely run out of words when I am talking about things I am passionate about and I am passionate about Negril.

I say our report because I do not travel alone. I am blessed to share my adventures with my best friend and husband of 11+ years. I call him Sunshine and so can you.

When I wrote our first trip report last year, Sunshine and I were preparing to head back to Negril for the second time. I had a big case of the pre-trip fidgets and I used writing our trip report as a productive channel for my nervous energy.

I have to admit I didn't expect to enjoy writing and sharing the report as much as I did. I think the mental exercise of putting our story in print contributed more to our trip than I could have imagined. It was as though it freshened up the memories and got me into a Negril frame of mind before our plane had even left the ground. I also got to meet great folks along the way that I never would have had it not been for the report. I hope that is a trend that continues.

So I am back again for another round. This report is from our trip at the end of November 2012. There is a pattern forming here as this year finds us getting ready to head back for a third time almost exactly a year later.

How do I now know for sure I'm a Negril addict? The first year our trip was 7 days. Last year, we were blessed with 10 days. For this year? We are eagerly anticipating 14 days in paradise.

Here is a little tune to set the mood. I think it's reggae's answer to a rock anthem. If I'm having a down day, this song somehow helps to make it all okay. I can't help but want to sing along. There's something about just knowing my sweet Jamaica is there waiting for my return.

http://youtu.be/b9ZJ7FpXiEg

Chapter 1

Never forget that anticipation is an important part of life. Work's important, family's important, but without excitement, you have nothing. You're cheating yourself if you refuse to enjoy what's coming.
- Nicholas Sparks


Getting home from our first trip to Negril at the end of 2011 was a bit of a shock to the system. We woke up that Sunday with snow outside and the dawning realization that there was in fact only one full weekend left until Christmas, which we were hosting. There was not a single decoration hung and not a meal planned. So we got up, put on our winter gear and made our annual Christmas tree pilgrimage.

It was February before I recovered from the season. I had one big thing on my mind and that was getting back to Negril. The boards at this point where starting to light up with talk of April gatherings. There was bash, a magic bus and a flop off. I really wanted to join in the festivities, so I set to planning our return. It wouldn't be April, but it could be November.

I was excited to discover that Westjet had their early winter schedule out and they appeared to be adding a second direct flight on Wednesdays. That opened up the possibility of a 10 or 11 day trip. My father had requested our presence at a family reunion in Northern Saskatchewan that was going to eat up two vacation days in the fall. That left three days that could be added on to our week in Negril.

The stars were all aligning.

I started in on Sunshine to get his vacation approved early, because when I saw a fare in our price window, I wanted to jump on it. Basically at the same time as he got his vacation approved, Westjet revamped their schedule - no more Wednesday direct flight. We talked about it and decided that Negril was more than worth a connecting flight. We would travel down through Toronto but we could still take advantage of the direct flight home.

If you are really paying attention to flights for a particular set of days, it is amazing how much the fares can fluctuate. It is crazy even how much two flights from the same airline on the same day can have differences in the hundreds of dollars. Westjet seemed to be using fares to push people onto a flight that didn't get into MoBay until 7pm. I wanted to be there for sunset, but I wasn't willing to pay an extra $500 to do it.

At least 2 people suggested on the board watching one way flights on multiple airlines. They were so right.

One Friday afternoon mid-August I was at my desk trying to kill time for before the weekend. My work neighbor started talking about booking flights for her vacation and I popped onto Air Canada's site. Their roundtrip was no deal, but the trip down was cheaper than any I had seen and it was scheduled to arrive with plenty of time to sunset. Westjet actually had a seat sale on, which put the whole trip into our fare window.

So I pushed the button and it was good.

A week before departure my cell phone rings and who is on the other end? Air Canada customer service, informing me that their schedule has changed and they have rebooked us on the Winnipeg-Toronto flight the night before and they will be putting us up in a hotel overnight in Toronto.

I know for some people this could be a real issue with shuffling kids and jobs and pets. For Sunshine and I this was big woo-hoo moment. I don`t get to Negril any sooner, but my vacation starts when I get to the airport, so I just got an extra day of vacation on someone else's dime. We hatched a new plan. We'd get the airport in Winnipeg in plenty of time and have a nice dinner. With a small bottle of rum tucked in our suitcase, we could suitably toast the start of our vacation in Toronto and arrive not too worse for wear midday in MoBay.

It all sounded like a rather dignified way to travel.

more please . . .

Great

Uh Oh Cherry is back!!! Yippee I read your newbie report and absolutely loved it and I stayed at Coco there after and love it too...so this is just what I need 8 days away from Paradise!

Yes!

Whoot....Whoot....... another cherry report!...........Cherrylisous.LOL

Do you see my hand? Whootie whoot let's keep it going:o

Chapter 2 please!

YAY!!!! SO excited to read this report, Cherry - especially the cliffs part! Thank you!!!!