Ricks I agree with, we usually stop in once per trip just to watch the divers for a few minutes, but we won't spend money there. M'ville, I just don't see what there is to experience there...
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instead of going to Ricks, it is better to go out the the Red Stripe Catamaran for 45 bucks with a meal and booze for a sunset cruise and snorkle and a stop at Ricks as well, soon come
Don't be afraid to blaze your own trail. You cannot possibly see and do everything each reach. Nothing wrong with checking out places like Ricks or MGville, but I've found that my favorite places are the ones I've stumbled upon myself. Walk the beach, create your own pub crawl, take a walk on the west end from Ahbees all the way up to Canoe. Establish new friendships, smoke some high grade with the fine folks you meet on the way. Be sure to try some conch soup, ackee and saltfish, and a vegetable patties. Hell, I think I've talked myself into booking a trip right now!
Sorry but I agree, do not miss out on the pub crawl! It's free, buy what you want and share what you want. The view is great anywhere to watch the sunset. I've never seen a green spark from the area you are staying!
Pub crawl is definitely worth it, especially since you haven't been to Negril or the west end before.. I suggest you do it early in your trip that way can go explore the cliff area on your own later on.
And you did good picking CSA for your first trip to Negril! Its a great resort on one of the nicest stretch of beach ,and the location gives you easy access to the rest of Negril. Be sure to do an early morning beach walk(to the left if facing the water). Also grab a drink(or bottle of sparkling wine):) and stay on the beach for sunset. Its one of my favorite times of day there. Truly magical. Hope you enjoy CSA and Negril as much as I do. Im sure you will!
Once you experience Negril, Mo Bay will just become your landing point.
Here's my experience:
My first trip to JA was to a major AI in Ochi. I loved it, but what I loved was talking to the people who worked at the place. We hardly let the resort and it was a great vacation, but when I left I knew I wanted more out of my trip. I would be back. So the next year I went to Negril. I decided to take my very own trip to Negril. All by myself. To do and see what I wanted. I chose a place on the beach right in the middle of the action. I had a blast! I loved almost every second of my trip.... The first 7 hours were a "what the hell did I do", but after a good night sleep, I was ready to face the town on my own! Luckily, I did my research and knew where I wanted to go and what I wanted to see. My point: your AI will suck you in... Make time to get out and see the beach, meet the people, and try something unrelated to your resort. I have read a million great things about CSA. You will have a great time, but there's so much more to see. After one trip, I know there is so much more for me to learn!
I highly recommend the one love bus, half moon beach, drifters, walking in town, walking around the cliffs and generally just talking to anyone who will listen. Once you get past the sales pitch, you learn a little about life on the beach. It's even better when people start to tell, you a bout where they are really from up in the country.
Ricks was fun once. Tried to do the big jump but chickened out. The little jump was fun!
CSA has a lot included. For your first trip, maybe take advantage of what they offer... And go from there?
I love the luxury of the AI, but in JA, there is so much to learn, do and see. Take advantage :) I'm headed back in a few months. Can't wait!
Just my humble 2 cents!
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
i hate having to pop-your-bubble, BUT that Pub Crawl thing-y IS a ''..big *touristy* type stuff..''
..it's not just ''big'' ...... it's BIG BIG...!!!
:-(
so,
here's a *thought*:::>>>> hire CaptainD's son Linstead, and let him take you on a pub-crawl ''yardie-stylee'' ... maybe over to Sav, or some other community and/or town(s) in the Negril suburbs ..... do it on a Friday and/or Saturday evening ---- after sundown.
a big-bonus would be 4-5 stops in the countryside ..... it's NICE up in dem der hills.
big fun WILL be had.
Great suggestion! Nothing better than inna da country! Linston is a super guy and a safe driver.
here's more-thoughts:::>>>> a possible itinerary for that yardie-stylee bar-crawl
leave resort ::>>>> toward beautiful downtown Negril ::>>>> round the round-about ::>>> and STOP at the first road-side shop and get a likkle something-something to drink, munch-on, and smoke ... make-SURE that first-shop someplace (anyplace) between the last gas-station and the golf course.
''..smoke..'' = a single CravenA or Matterhorn cigarette .... or some tobacco and rolling paper
or don't smoke
get a hand-full of ''..sweeties..'' (aka penny-candy) :::: Jamaican 'sweeties' are nice-nice
then:::>>> continue along the Sav-road to Little London
..you might be lucky-lucky and theirs an *event* taking place on the socoor field behind the little shopping center ...
if not,
make a right turn into Little London, and look for ANOTHER-shop --- stop,,, drink,,, blah blah blah
oh
oh
ooooooooooooh:::>>>> on this yardie-bar-crawl you might run-up-on a wake, party, or something-something .... join the festivities ... drink, eat, sip, blah blah blah
then:::>> go BACK to the main road, and at the main cross-road make a LEFT toward Grange Hill and/or SpringValley ..... i'm SURE Linstead knows the area.
big-fun should/would/could be guaranteeeeeeed in & around Grange Hill.
stop, and repeat stuff above
then::>> roam around the country side in that area::::>> such as Santoy, March Town,,,, a good spot is Logwood ....
stop along the way, of course, blah blah blah
work your way over to Dias,,,,,
Then loop-down to Lucea-town:::::GOT TO stop in Lucea-town
and work your way back to Negril, with stops along the way, on the main road::::: such as Cousin Cove, Green Island,
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
i would make a left at GreenIsland and go explore ...... good possibilities that you'll find something(s) on a Friday and/or Saturday evening/night
then::>> back to the main road and continue on to Negril
...stop in OrangeBay,,,,,, but to-me, folks up in der are ***different*** ... dem nice, but different
then:::>> back on main road, and back to BeachRoad and your resort.
let Linstead drop you off at the Security-guard desk at main gate
you might be drunk, so stay a little alert and don't get out and enter at the staff entrance
cue the music::::>>> ''''....happy trails to you, la la la la la la...''''
one more final things::::>>> DO NOT leave the resort without a big wad of toilet paper in your back pocket ,,,,, just in case Nature calls.
and the most-most-MOST-est important thing:::::::>>>>> have on-hand ONLY Jamaican currency ::::: DO NOT take/have USofA, Canadian, or where-ever-foriegn currency. .....
i repeat::::>>>> use Jamaican currency ONLY !!!!! --- probably won't need more than US $20-25 for booze, food, smoke, snacks, meal