Mr. X does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 31 – Review of BarBBarn
September 7th, 2010 – Tuesday – (Day 4)
I loved the BarBBarn. Can also recognize it is not going to be for everyone. Perfectionists. High maintance people. Expecting luxury. No no and no. I found it to be an excellent value.

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Main road to the left

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Main road to the right

Location
Prime location. Local food and Tourist food close by. Spectacular water and sand. Beach not too big (width or depth).

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Rooms
I only looked at the 2 best rooms. Clean. Rest of rooms I would have to see first but I figure a lot of them have to be fine. Not really balconeys per say more like walkways but it’s a small property. Compared to American hotels u would say slightly dated. Things like tv but not like nice flat screen tv’s. I care zero about tv on this short vacation.

Bar
Not cheap but not expensive either. You are staring at the beautiful beach. Nice Bar. Good quality drinks. Friendly. Main thing I guess even if we were obviously tourists it felt comfortable there. Hot part of day bar area still cool.

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Food
Late lunch? Of club sandwich first day. Best club sandwich ever.
Breakfast next day. Excellent.
Did not get to get that much there to form definitive anything but they are not skimping on the food at BarBBarn. I would stop in for food or drinks anytime at the BarBBarn. More expensive than the Seastar but definitely not resort prices.

Overall
Wifey would probably want to stay further down the beach with less vendors and bigger beach. Single male travelers or with ur buddies would work. Rooms are cheap enough u could get ur own room. Single ladies I would say would have to be of a little tougher skin. Not ur first trip.

Specials
Specials they run offseason including standard room and breakfast for $65 a night. Special I saw was $90 for room with breakfast and a $40 credit on dinner. If u got any interest in eating there (and they are open) seems a great deal for AC room. Yes I would stay there again in a heartbeat. With Bourbon Beach directly next door BarBBarn it is a great option. Small refrig in room with good ac. Seems pretty good home base on the beach to me. First timers to Negril? Probably not good choice unless u are an “adventuresome” or well traveled type. I took my newbie friends on their 3rd night in Negril but they had hung out at Bourbon Beach the day before so they knew exactly what to expect from the bad (aggressive vendors) to the good (stunning beach, value priced hotel, sunset, food etc)

I would recommend BarBBarn with the note that it is a great place but not for everyone.

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 32 – Catcha Falling Star
September 7th, 2010 – Tuesday – (Day 4)
All 4 of us and all luggage packed in with Granville and we are off to Catcha Falling Star. 5 minute drive from beach back to cliffs. Pull up to gates. Hop out pull string that rings bell. Not long security gates open we pull in and up to office. Jump out and leave everything in car. I have been giving the girls prices and how many rooms are rented. Mention the 25% discount I saw online and maybe we can afford to stay here. As per usual our female negotiating team tell the men to zip it they got they situation well under control. Ok whatever control, get us on the property I tell my wife. They pop in office and say hello to Andrea. Explain and next thing we are walking around the property. Sure it helps to be the world’s greatest expert on something but not going to help me in this situation. If wifey and friends don’t like the room then who cares what I think.

We walk around and look at the various rooms that are available. Looking at 2 bedrooms first. Moon room. Nice. Really nice. I Loved it. All surrounded by pretty landscaping. Private yet right close to everything. Loved it. No AC so friends say not happening they got to have AC. No worries I am very happy our friends are here we have had so much fun and frankly has saved us money. Next we go to big building set way back on property. I am not thrilled. Never actually been in building. I like the rustic rooms which are private separate bungalows. Don’t want to stay in big building with 7 units. 3 rooms over 3 rooms. (With little Capricorn tucked in 1 side) Not my first choice but got to be flexible. But I will look at building just so I will know what it is like. Go in door kind of Tudorish. Not good or bad. Upstairs up to second level. Long hallway with doors to right.

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view towards entry door from living room

Go in room top middle. When you enter it’s a long hallway into room with bathroom, bedroom, bedroom all on ur left and then into open living room with kitchenette. Big bathroom – nice clean tile/marble. Not as nice as a RIU or Ritz Carlton but still nice clean and fairly new looking. Nicest bathroom by far we have stayed in on this trip. The first bedroom looks nice and clean appears to be queen size bed with big posts and canopy. Tile floors. Frankly looks clean and nice more what I would call contemporary by that I don’t mean the typical dated Negril hotel room. 2nd bedroom looks similar. End of hallway opens into living room kitchen with 2 seating areas. Nice. Then double doors lead out to balcony on to very large rounded terrace. Don’t look like the brochure at all.

Covered in vines and strategically places lattice work that gives a ton of privacy. Nice wooden table to eat on for 6 people easy and really nice outside couches to sleep/lounge. You could have 10 people out here comfortably. This is an incredible terrace.

View?

View you ask?

How is the View?

I am in shock.
It is stunning.
You don’t feel far from the water at all. 2nd floor all you see is beautiful ocean and sky. Being elevated only gives you a better view. I don’t know what I thought it was going to be but I could just sit on this balcony forever. Wow. It is awesome. I cannot believe how good the view is. You feel the breeze blowing. Smells so clean. Wow what a great terrace. Despite a terrace on ur left and a terrace on ur right u still have a lot of privacy considering you have a stunning 180+ degree view of the water. The furniture on the patio is great for lounging and enjoying the view. Completely covered and has fan and electricity. Not trying to overdo things here but this is a BIGTIME view.

I am not the only one who feels this way but I did not say a word. The Girls are putting their feet up yelling how great the view is and what an awesome room this it. Jumping up and down like high schools girls.

LOOK AT THE VIEW!
LOOK AT THE VIEW!!
LOOK AT THE FREAKING VIEW!!!

I am not professional negotiator despite plenty of negotiations over my lifetime. Girls are supposed to negotiate for us and get a good deal. If you start taking photos, saying you love it and put ur feet up kind of ruins ur negotiating stance a little don’t you think? I mention this to the girls. If I were you girls I would go with the tact that ur husbands are cheap ba*stards or if all else fails the truth that we are broke. They tell me to shut up and they will handle it. We leave it to girls to work out a deal.

Girls work out deal and we are in. Yes we are paying more per couple then the 60 dollars a night we have been averaging for the first 3 nights but frankly not much more. Don’t know for sure what we paid but they definitely gave us a break. This going for the 2 bedrooms and splitting the cost is big savings. Just depends on who you are going with. I am not normally a want to share rooms with anybody at this stage in my life but with family and/or friends it is cool. Lol not like we are on our honeymoon.

Wife says she booked us in my favorite room for our last night on friday.
Cool we are staying in the Libra on friday?
I thought ur favorite room was Sagittarius
No its Libra which one did you book
The lady said Sagittarius was the best room.
No problem honey we will be fine.
I am in pretty good mood. Got tonight in this great room then 2 nights at the Blue Cave Castle followed by our last night staying back here at Catcha in the best room. No wonder i am in a good mood.

Move in our new room. Bring all our suitcases up. Its only 1pm. Room was not actually ready yet. No problem we leave luggage in room in corner and get ready for next adventure.

great report, really like the details of the different places you stayed at

the only thing so far that I was really familiar with was the food at BarB Barn and of course the jerk at Bourbon Beach

pit stop at Ivan's coming up???? LOL

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 33 – Field Tour
September 7th, 2010 – Tuesday – (Day 4)
Our Friends last full day and he wants a field tour.
He has mentioned it every day so I know he is serious.
Despite this being my 8th trip to Jamaica I have never gone on a “field” tour per se.
Set up friend of friend.
Don’t really know what to expect.
Road side stand 10 minutes from Negril
Guy walks up
Introductions
Start walking on a trail uphill.
We follow

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No telling how far.
I don’t know if we are walking for 1 more minute or 30 more minutes.

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It was a trail and steady uphill but certainly easily accessible. About 10 minute uphill walk. Place opens in forest and light comes through.
Tires everywhere. Plants growing out of tires. Had to lug each one up here. Hundreds. Dirt is dug out between rocks and put into tire. Baby plants are started from seeds. Then baby plants after big enough are moved to tires.

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Did not realize they had varieties. I guess I am dumb I thought if u grew tobacco in say Maui it would be just Maui tobacco. Which would make all tobacco Jamaican or whatever Jamaican.

Turns out all kinds of varieties. Can’t remember all but some did catch my attention. Blueberry. Blueberry makes u happy. Cool. White Widow. Strongest. Ok. Everything else I forgot. Take photos. Learn stuff I did not know. 8 weeks from start to finish. Did not realize that fast. Seeds from Amsterdam. No sh*t.

Has his own watering system piped up. I would say small operation. But still pretty impressive. Lots of work lugging all this stuff up mountain. Full time job looks like to me lots of work. He said rain messes him up. He can control water. Too much water a problem. Drying hut.
Take some photos and head back downhill. We decide to support local merchants. Everything is cheaper and fresher when you are buying from the farmer.

So we are hanging out back at very small shop and we are kind of curiosity how much of his own crop the farmer smokes? He said he does not smoke. Un huh. He does make a tea every morning which what he showed me was about an ounce (unbelievable huge amount for 1 pot of tea) of tobacco. I asked how much of the tea he drinks. He said just a cup of tea in the morning and it lasts all day. No sh*t.

He just drinks tea


He offers us the “special cake” I have extremely high tolerance based on over 30 years of giving thanks and praise. But follow his advice and opt for very small sliver. We are back on the road driving. I got this strange floating feeling. Not a good thing for me. Little dizzy no more cake for me. Not now. Not ever. My guess is this cake is nothing compared to that tea.

Review of the Field
Seemed like a ton of work for 1 person. His customers appeared to be middle aged and older working local people. Small amounts for personal smoking. Based on what I saw I don’t think he was part of some giant Agro Farmers Group or Gang. You know marketing their product to young people etc. Appeared to be hardworking young guy lucky to have some family land to eke out a living as a farmer and small stand owner.

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 34 – Driving Around
September 7th, 2010 – Tuesday – (Day 4)
We tour a little bit. I just love driving around countryside in Jamaica. Drive back thru Red Ground. Back by the Red Dragon.


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Love Ocean View

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Going to be a big house

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U can smell the ocean from up here. So fresh and clean.

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This is how much of Jamaica has always looked to me. Once you get outside tourist area. In Red Ground lots of homes under construction. People build as they get the money. May take 20 years or longer to build a house.

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Then stop into town. Tait’s Plaza my Negril map says.
Juici Patties for a few patties. Unlimited Fries for fries of course. Coco bread for 45J. Devon House for Ice Crème. Kids all in uniforms walking home. Granville saw his niece. She came over and said hello. Pretty funny they have the exact same smile.

:) what a treat through out the day to take a break from work and read your report :)

With all the lead up about the "view" at Catcha...expected a picture of it to follow! You did take one, didn't you?

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 35 – Xtabi

September 7th, 2010 – Tuesday – (Day 4)
Next we are heading back to Catcha. Decide to stop at Xtabi and get tour of property. Have been by so many times yet never stopped in. One of the places that everybody wants to see.

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Still hottest part of day. Nice lush landscaping. Not many people around. Perfect for me.

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Looking towards 3 Dives

Starting next to water at end the cottages are numbered 1 – 4 in a U shape with 1 and 4 being on ends and better view. Cottage #1 is the most photographed hotel room in Negril. #1 is rented so we are going to get a tour of cottage #4. Downstairs is ok. Basic. Dated. You climb up a built in ladder to get to the Upstairs. Upstairs is a hardwood floor with a bed and slotted windows all round. So you can lay in bed elevated up 30 feet above water level and see and hear water all around you. So cool. Bad news is no AC; have to climb up ladder to upper level (bed). Does not matter to me. To wake up in that bed looking out at all that water has to be so worth it. Don’t think I would be hanging around the cottages midday in summer time. Best not turn the bedroom light on at night with the blinds open. Lit up like a beacon. But lights off and blinds open has got to be pretty sweet view and sound day or night. Each has separate access to the water. Classic Negril on the cliffs.

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Based on #4 means #1 has got to be as good or better. #2 and #3 were set further back but still on water. Walk property on other side of restaurant/bar and look at bungalows on that side. Not as nice as #1 and #4 and pretty basic but you are very near the water.

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We walk across road and see rooms on other side. Good bit of property on other side. Pool looks nice and big.

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See all rooms including ones across the street. Upstairs across street you have pool and can see over road and see water. So sitting out on upstairs baloneys along entire top floor looks pretty cool to me.

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Hard to tell from photo but this is across the street upper level. Can actually see the ocean. These rooms all have AC. Truthfully I could stay across street on upper level. Nice rooms moderately priced. Not bad.

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Back across road and next to bar we explore cave in middle of property that takes you directly into ocean. Cool. Wind down steps until you reach the ocean. I could come down here and step in 2 ft. of clean water and float right out to open ocean. Reverse if u fell and hit on the sides anywhere on the way out. Ouchie. Cool. Don’t know why I got a fascination with caves by the ocean with built in stairs.

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Go to bar. My group is petering out on me. They are ready to go back to Catcha.
Hey now we are at a famous resort, a famous bar and a famous bartender is going to make us his world famous drinks.
Of course they think I am messing with them.
Seriously he is a well-known bartender.
They don’t believe me. I know his name. They don’t believe me. Confidence takes slight waver and don’t want to fall on my face. Ok If he tells me the first letter of his name. I will tell you what his name is. They don’t believe me.
Excuse me sir could u tell me the first letter of ur name.
He says “D” and I say Donovan it is honor to meet you and order 2 mudslides from you.
They are not sure how I tricked them. I didn’t.

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I liked Xtabi.
Water, Cliffs and View are first rate.
Cottage Rooms are Rustic (dated) but cool. They use to be some of the coolest rooms in Negril. Rooms are the same people have changed. Cottages are great but some people are not going for no AC (our friends). Would I stay at Xtabi? Hell yes. Get a deal on one of those rustic cottages. Snorkel right off anywhere there. Lay in bed and see beautiful water around you. Reverse is no AC can be brutally hot during middle of day. I would do usual routine and play in the water until about 11am and then be gone and come back at 4pm if hot or earlier if overcast. Get back in water and see sunset. Lots of great places to eat walking distance. Rooms across the road. Looked at top level. Frankly not bad at all. Breezy . Partial view of water over everything. Large pretty gardens.

Like seeing something a few years past its prime but would I stay there or go for drinks? Hell yes. But for others it would maybe not be what you wanted. If you showed up and stayed in this cute little bungalow expecting flat screen TV and AC and you wanted to hang out in the hotel room all day might be a problem for you. Large pool on other side of road. If u are staying on that side probably jump in a couple of times. Don’t know if I would even get in pool unless I was staying on that side or ocean was too rough. The stunning views are on the other side of the road at main part of Xtabi. I will be back for more research.

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 36 – Afternoon at Catcha
September 7th, 2010 – Tuesday – (Day 4)
We pull back in from Xtabi and pull up and guard opens solid gates back into Catcha. 5 minute drive at most. Pull all the way up to side of big white building where entry is. All get out and say goodbye to Granville we will see him and his wife back here for birthday dinner tonight. Walk into building with half Tudor entry way. Up stairs.

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Back into our room the Aquarius Suite. Room all fixed up and our suitcases are still in the corner where we left them. Don’t care just want to go out to terrace and see view.

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Going to provide additional disclaimer on photos. Photos just showing tiny snapshot.

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blueberry makes you happy. Ha this view makes me happy.

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blueberry just an added bonus

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Ok can't take it anymore thats me saying come on down to the water.