Our Countdown ticker just changed!! From 8 monthes to..

.... 2 months and 3 weeks and 2 days!!

We pushed the button last night! We're officially going back to Negril – November 2nd!

We did it!! We finally saved up enough money and bought two cheap tickets to join our friend in Negril for seven days in November! It's REALLY happening! We all celebrated last night and I'm still in a state of complete bliss! I've been doing the happy dance all Day! :D

We're staying 3 days with our friend at the Grand Pineapple (moving our April reservations over) and then we're going to branch off.

Our friend, Jamar is going to stay on the beach and soak in the local scene.

And We're going to travel up to the cliffs for the very first time! We're torn between Catcha falling Star, Seastar, and Xtabi.

Catcha is my first choice, but unfortunately it's the most expensive choice. Xtabi is beautiful for just the snorkeling alone and Seastar sounds like it has a great vibe, plus I love the price there the most. I don't know!

I want to do all three but Markus said I have to narrow it down to ONE. Any advice on which Cliffs hotel we should choose? Which would YOU choose?

I think you would love Seastar Inn, combined with hangin out at Xtabi and wherever else you want to go ....

Gonna miss you guys by just a couple of days, maybe next time......

http://www.iberostar.info/ticker/ima...Xs8Xtill chill

Great see you down there. We will be at Catcha Oct 29- Nov 5 and then off to White Sands for week #2.

Ooooh CONGRATULATIONS! Very excited for you! Will you be doing another one of your fabulous trip reports?

Attachment 3067oh how exciting Charity, ya!!!!!!!! my vote is Seastar, free shuttle down to the beach everyday, phone, and the wonderful staff, and you can always visit Xatabi to snorkeling.

Gerryg123 - That's true! I can just visit Xtabi for the snorkeling and stay at Seastar. Do you know if Catcha is open to visitors or is it only guests? - When are you taking your next trip to Jamaica? You should come visit Negril in November with us! That would be such a blast!

Lenny - Drats, I'm bummed we'll be flying out just before you get there. SO close, maybe we'll end up extending our trip, I know I wont want to leave.. :)

Meinvancouver - That's Awesome! Are you going to Seastar for the Saturday night concert or any of the webcasts? I Hope we'll get to meet you!

Manda81 - thanks! I'm so excited! It's all I could think about today at work, I had a permanent smile on my face! Of course I'll be writing a trip report, probably not QUITE as long as the last one though! No more than 200 pages this time ;)

Negrilbay - The Shuttle, and the glowing reviews I've read from everyone about the awesome staff is definitely a selling point. I also love the idea of a swim up bar... It's such a hard choice because Catcha also looks so beautiful and it's right on the cliffs. I'm so torn...

Being that its your first time on the cliffs, I would suggest staying 'on the cliffs' ie., Xtabi or Catcha. You can always visit Seastar and swim in the pool :)

Awesome birthday gift! Congrats! So happy for you both!

I would say you have picked the top 3 cliff properties, IMO
So can't go wrong no matter what choice you make, but my choice would be Catcha, I'm partial though as it is my all time favorite....but yes you can visit the bar or have dinner or even lunch there even if not a guest
And really in November is low season so you probably could even ask for a tour of the rooms that are open...we did that once, that way you can get an idea of the place and the rooms and maybe stay there on your next trip

For your first stay on the west end, I would want to be right on the water, so if it were me I would choose xtabi or catcha.

Wooooo Hoooooo for you guys!!! We are jealous!!! Our countdown is at the 8 month marker so i cant imagine how excited i would be if it all of a sudden got to be a 2 month countdown!!! I will have to live vicariously through you:)

All 3 of those choices are wonderful. we have enjoyed time spent at both xtabi and seastar but have never been to catcha(woud love 2 as we have heard and read amazing things) Have 2 say that in my humble opinion the vibe, food and those amazing hammocks at SeaStar are just too good to pass up!!! You can always head to xtabi to hang and eat(amazing food and some of the best pumpkin soup ever!!!!) Any choice you make is a great one and I can not wait to hear all about it.

Congrats again!!!!!

I never thought of that , my first time on the cliffs was at Xtabi, I agree the first should be on the ocean side.

Clarity you must be so excited! November is a great month to be in Negril. I would say stay at Catcha if you can afford it, or maybe in one of the stand alone cottages at xtabi. While I love Seastar and it is the best value, there is nothing like staying right on the cliffs if you can afford it--especially since it will only be for 3 days. Seastar guests used to be able to go to Catcha and swim, lounge, etc--which was the best of both worlds. But now outside guests aren't allowed to use the facilities except for dinner at Ivans (which is also a treat). Xtabi is in a good location, less $$$ and has some great eating choices nearby. Whichever you choose--you will be in Negril, and soon!

Clarity....you will love Negril in November.It is usually extra green and lush after the fall rainy season. There are fewer tourists than in high season. I would stay on a cliff property directly on the sea side so you can enjoy the cliff experience properly, for a first time.Congrats on your shrunken countdown. We all look forward to your trip reports which are top-notch.

Congrats on ur second trip to Jamaica! WOuld s/o pls point me to the last few days of Claritys firt trip report?? I have searched and canna find it ...:confused:

Clarity Congrats! I guess I get to see you twice!!!
Ill be there from Oct. 30th to Nov. 7th!
Cant wait to meet you!

Im a fan of yours! :)

You are going to miss Mom's Halloween Bday Party, but we can def. party any other day!

Ackee...here's the link to Clarity's blog.
http://negril.com/forum/entry.php?38...151#comment151
At the bottom are the links to the last days.

Thank you everyone for your advice! You're right, Since this is our first time staying on the cliffs and we would like to experience being right on the rocks with a view of the ocean.....Catcha or Xtabi are probably our best choices.

I can visit Xtabi for the snorkeling and I can go to the Seastar on that Saturday night for the concert. So I'm leaning towards Catcha falling star as our hotel choice. It looks so lush and beautiful.

The only affordable option that I could find on their hotel website for the nights we're looking for are at "the Gatehouse cottage". Has anyone stayed there? Where is it located on the hotel? Is it across the street or on the cliffs? They describe it as “being situated in the front of the property” - Since I've never been to Catcha, I'm not sure where that is..

Irieworld, Tbay, Marley – Yes, I'm sooo excited! I dont' think it has even fully sunken in yet that we're actually going!! I haven't had much opportunity to travel at all in the past, so the idea of being able to go to Jamaica again is like a dream come true! We started saving little by little after our last trip (saving money by walking to work every day, packing lunches instead of going out..etc) and watched our little “Irie box” slowly fill up. It helps that the prices have gone down for airline tickets now that high season is over. I talked to my boss yesterday and she just approved the days.. so all systems go!:cool: STILL can't believe it!

7milelover – I'm looking forward to experiencing Negril in November, I hope the weather holds up. I read that it's kind of the tail end of hurricane season so it's kind of hit and miss. How is the ocean water temperature?

Bea – It's too bad I'll miss the halloween bash but I really look forward to seeing you! Can't wait!:D I'm going to try to make it to as many webcasts as I can this time around but I'll def be at the Seastar on Saturday! Are you going?

Ackee – Thanks! I was going to transfer all of my trip report to a blog format but I got a bit lazy near the end. There are links to rest though at the end of Day 4. Update: Lisa just posted the link. :)

And Lisa – We can't wait to finally meet you and Rob!

clarity/daisy/marcus,

In the grand scheme - you can't go wrong unless you just don't go. a highly unlikely scenario according to my best thinking. do it all as i'm sure you will and i'll be right behind you!

peas,

lenny

http://www.iberostar.info/ticker/ima...Xs8Xtill chill

Clarity

I really do hope you can stay at Catcha, you will LOVE it. I am partial of course and I do really love Xtabi but I fell in love with Catcha a while back and the love is still strong! LOL
The Gatehouse cottage isnt really all that bad of a place as it may sound even though it is typically the cheapest room on the property. I would actually pick it over the Little Capricorn which is the small room inside the newer buildings.

Gatehouse is located on the cliffs, the entire Catcha property is on the cliffs it does not stretch across the street like Xtabi does.
You will enter the property through the gates and to the left will be the office/lobby/check in whatever you want to call it. Across from the office will be the path down to the ocean, Ivans, pool, etc And all of the cottages will be alined along that path too. If you went straight past the office and the path you would see the main building in front of you which houses all the newer rooms like Virgo and Aquarius and Little Capricorn and Sun, etc.
On your way to that building and just a little past the office (almost actually across from it) would be the Gatehouse Cottage, so that is what they mean by the front of the property. The cottage basically faces the street and/or the office/lobby, while all other rooms (etc Little Capricorn) face the ocean.
There is a wall around the whole property so you are not really on the street but you are closer to it then you would be if in one of the other rooms, so sometimes I hear people say they can hear the noise from the road....but that is kind of common on the cliffs unless you are in a cottage right over the ocean.

I think the Gatehouse Cottage is actually very cute and beleive me when I say (or you hear others say) that I am pretty sure I would be happy anywhere on that property.


But let me also suggest this, if you can hold out, they almost ALWAYS post specials on rooms closer to the date when they still have vacancies. So if you were up for it you could wait until it gets closer and see if they post specials on any of the other rooms

OR.....you could book Gatehouse and then while there if there is another room open maybe upgrade one night, being on site you would probably get a great deal

Check out this video for a tour of the property, its been a while since I watched it but I think they have the Gatehouse on there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahPqY...layer_embedded

...... Also, when we go we are staying at Catcha (of course) so if you have any questions, load them up and I will answer, document and photo or do whatever you need!

So excited for you!

I think we all are....this means you really caught it now.....the first year I discovered Jamaica, I went 3 times in that one year (January, May and November)!!! :)

Congratulations Daisy and Markus! I'm so happy for you! If you can afford Catcha, I'd vote for that; otherwise, Xtabi all the way! Have never stayed there myself, but after all the good feedback from Shelly K, on my next trip I will be stopping by there for a dirty banana for sure.

Congrats....I can't imagine how happy you are to be returning so soon. Since I came home from my first trip to Negril, you've inspired me to start my own "irie box". I hope it fills up quickly like yours did....but with my kids going back to school and a recent family crisis....looks like it will be quite some time....SO....I'm begging you, please take TONS of pics (i love your pics) and post just as SOON as you get back, you know everyone will be eagerly waiting. lol

P.S. I stayed on the cliffs and absolutely LOVED it. The beach was fun during the day but it was so nice to retreat to the peace and serenity of the cliffs to recharge.

Clarity....just to correct Marley9808's info a bit. The Gatehouse cottage is to the right of the main gate entry and sits next to the road....it's not located near the new building. The Gatehouse is quite lovely with an outside shower and large deck...but is more affordable because of its location....there is no sea view but you will have complete access to the property.

Oh my bad I thought it was on the other side...must have been drunk last time I was there because I swore it was closer to the main building than to the gate, anyways, yes, it is a cute room, you can see from the video or pictures

Thanks for correcting the info Bnewb!
Sorry about that Clarity

Marley...the Little Capricorn is closer to the office. :)

LOL, thanks Bnewb....one room I definitely know how to find is Sagi and thats where my happy butt will be in a little over 50 days! Awww yeah :)

Thanks everyone for your advice!

Marley- I can't wait to see all of your pictures from Catcha and hear about your trip when you return! It's right around the corner now! So excited for you guys!

thank you for the property description and the video footage. That really helped me get a feel for what the grounds looked like and the footage of the inside of the Gatehouse cottage was really great

I was kind of worried because it didn't describe a private bathroom on the website and Lisa, when you mentioned there was an outside shower... I imagined one of those garden hoses attached to a tree stump or something.;) I thought.. uh oh.. THAT'S why it's cheaper than the others. But it's beautiful! I love that the shower is open on top like that and it looks really cozy.

I feel like our mind is made up, but we'll wait a bit to see if they run any specials through one stop negril at the end of the month... :) *fingers crossed* I know the current 49 per night deal only stretches until the end of october.

Are there any good restaurants or pubs walking distance from Catcha? Is there a happy hour at Ivans?

Tizzy - I'll be taking tons of pictures and I'll post them along with lots of ramblings about our experiences when we return! I anticipate this trip will be a bit more adventurous than the last one. The first part of it anyways, Jamar likes to party and He doesn't sleep. He plans on dragging us into Scrub a Dub and triple XXX He also wants to go to Teds Shroom shack:eek:

I would definitely stay in a sea view room. Check out Banana Shout, which is right next to Catcha. You would have your own likkle cottage, wake up, sit on the porch and stare out to the sea. IMO, I would not pay to stay on the seaside without seaview. It is a wonderful small property, you can dive off of the rocks or sunbathe on a large ledge. There is also a real cool shower, level with the sea. You are within walking distance of LTU, a grat place to eat with stunning views. You can snorkel from the Shout or still go down to Xtabi, I have stayed at Banana Shout 9 times and love it. Check out the site: http://www.bananashoutresort.com/ I would stay in either of the Dolphin Cottages, I stay in the one on the right, they both face the sea and to hear the waves crashing at night into the cliffs is awesome. Just my 2 cents. Looking forward to your awesome reports.

Lol Clarity
I was literally laughing out loud at your outside shower worry! A garden hose!
The open air/ outside showers are fun! A lot of cliff properties have them actually.

Catcha is in a really good location IMO
Plenty of good places in walking distance like Sharks and Ros Roddy, even LTU. You can see Ricks cafe from the property so you have the great view without the crowds. You could even walk to Seastar or Negril Escape (for the concerts if they are running)

The $49 special you mentioned is actually for there other property which is called Catcha Falling Star Gardens. It is up the road a bit and on the other side of the street, across from LTU pub

Here is a link to Catcha on the cliff. This page will take you to their last minute specials. Usually throughout the year if they have vacancies they offer them at a discount a week or two before the date
http://catchajamaica.com/special.htm

I say go for it, Catcha is awesome, you will love it no matter what room you stay in.
Oh and every hour at Ivans is happy! Lol

Attachment 3098LOL I really wanted to hit up the shroom boom then check out the luminous lagoon ....didn't pan out for me lol....next time maybe. Ya'll are gonna have a great time, can't wait to hear how you like the west end!! The cliffs are magic, and the water is so beautiful....

Okay I have to ask .. Shroom Boom ?? Scrub a Dub ? XXX? LOL

LOL ... magic mushrooms (shrooms) are not illegal in JA. Tedd's is the most popular place where you can buy you mushroom tea. I don't recommend mushrooms - in most people the effects last for hours and not all good effects. I tried some tea once years ago - first I felt like I was going to be sick to the stomach, then had a crying jag for a bit, then started laughing nonstop for hours - my entire body hurt from laughing but could not stop. Scrub a Dub is a carwash by day, and a X rated late night strip club close to downtown - some of the braver tourists, both male and female, do drop in to see what is happening. There are several strip clubs in Negril which are XXX.

A better idea would be to go the The Jungle Nightclub (no shrooms or strippers) but great JA dance music and a fun place. Best nights are Wednesday (ladies night when the ladies get in free) or Saturday nite.

Ooohh hahaha I had no idea that Mushrooms were not illegal in Jamaica. News to me! So really I could get high from Mushroom Tea and then go have a beer at the local Police Station.. then head over to a car wash to watch people get naked? LOL This has totally made my Monday I can't stop giggling lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Manda81

Ooohh hahaha I had no idea that Mushrooms were not illegal in Jamaica. News to me! So really I could get high from Mushroom Tea and then go have a beer at the local Police Station.. then head over to a car wash to watch people get naked? LOL This has totally made my Monday I can't stop giggling lol

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LOL Manda! I know! I still can't get over the idea of getting beer at a police station and the fact that scrub a dub is a carwash/stripclub either! I'm not sure if I'm going to partake in the tea drinking.. especially after what I read above, but I'll need to be there to carry everyone home if they decide to go for it.:eek:

Marley - Thanks for the link to the Catcha specials. I'm going to keep my eye on it and wait a bit before I book my room. I'm hoping I'll get lucky and snag a last minute special.:)

Huahine - Thanks for the suggestion! "Banana shout" looks beautiful on the website and I love that you can have a cottage with right on the edge of the cliff for an affordable price. I also like the history of this hotel. I noticed that there isn't any AC though. Can anyone tell me how the weather is in Negril in November? Will we be sweating and twisting uncomfortably in the sheets at night or is it cool enough at night to not have to worry about AC?