1st time to Negirl, Jamaica and the Riu resorts. Any info will help plz?

My husband and I just booked the Riu Negril for the end of January for our friends 50th b-day. There is about 20+ people going. We've done 9 cruises all in the Southern Caribbean and started spending week long villa rentals in the Caribbean.
I/we have never had a desire to go to Jamaica, to many good, bad and ugly stories we've heard over the yrs with bad and ugly being the worst of them all. For our dear friend we have decided to give it a try. Who knows, hopefully we end up loving it as much as we do the Southern Carib.

PLEASE any insight on what you know of the Riu Negril Resort would be helpful as well as things we SHOULD do and not miss in the Negril area? Of course if you have anything that we absolutely should NOT do as well, please let us know?

Thanks in advance for all your opinions. Excited and well very nervous at the same time. Some things we love to do formost drink and have a great time. Love the beach and swimming. Snorkeling, para-sailing, deep sea fishing, shopping and of course eat tons of shrimp & lobster.

Hope you can help us, Coronawomen - beer is always COLD and great with a lime ;)

You will have a great time. You'll feel safe inside those gates and all of those activities will be available to you without leaving your resort. But don't fear leaving. Jamaica is known for it's warm and friendly vibe.

Some basic tips:
1. Bring lots of US singles for tipping. Tip well. It's worth it.
2. Negotiate cab fare before getting in the cab.
3. A ride to most restaurants in Negril should cost you nothing, you can call ahead for a free shuttle to and from at most of the bigger ones. Your front desk will handle this with a couple hours notice.
4. Negotiate all prices. You should end up paying about 60-70% of the first quoted price, at most, for carvings, tees etc. Be polite, and walk away if you're not comfortable.
5. Enjoy your stay in Jamaica, once you go, you know.
6. Check out a sunset or two from the West End (cliffs).

...others may have better advice...that's my $.02

P.S. Try a Red Stripe.

I suggest that on a monday; hail a cab to the Red Dragon for some outstanding Jerk Pork. Get there about 12:30 when the stuff is real hot and get a small taste of some Real Off the Track Jamaica. Any cab should be happy to fit in four people for the ride over for about $10. U.S. one way. A short treck back into town, and turn left to stop off at the fruit market for some goodies. Then a 100J cab ride back to RUI.
This mini adventure is well worth it.
...Oh By the way, order a rum and ting when you are there.....you will enjoy it I assure you

If its your first time I would say you have to check out Rick,s Cafe for the divers and sunset.

THANKS so far for the great ideas. Keep'em coming PLEASE

Red Dragon is open 7 days a week and the only day they do not serve jerk pork is on Sundays :)

Coronawoman, no worries. Negril is one of the most beautiful places on earth. You will have a great time. Everything you need will be available at the resort, but don't be afraid to get out a bit see some of the area. At first since you are apprehensive, go to some of the more well known places (as poolguywindsor suggested Rick's for sunset, Seastar for the Saturday night party, etc.) you can get in some great partying while enjoying the sites and island vibe. Once you feel a little more comfortable with your surroundings, the smaller local places will let you experience the amazing vibe, great food, music and people that has so many of us coming back again and again.

Here’s my 2 cents…

Having already paid for the all you can eat and drink, you’re going to find it hard to get off the property with all 20 people. In other words, you have 1 maybe 2 nights when you will leave. If you can get the entire group to agree to leave the property, I would suggest renting a tour bus and going to Rick’s for sunset. Plan on getting there around 4PM, have a few drinks, watch the cliff divers (even try it yourself, it’s a great feeling if you can get up the nerve) stay for the sunset then go back to the RIU for dinner and drinking. Rick’s is very expensive… very touristy and the food is not very good but it is an experience for 1st timers. The sun sets around 6 or 6:15 in January so you would be back at the RIU by 7:30 for dinner.

There’s also the reggae parties at Alfred’s and Bourbon Beach; I think they alternate on Tuesday and Thursday nights. This would be a good trip for the entire group. I love the fire eater @ Bourbon Beach. As with everything there is a downside. For the reggae parties it’s the hasslers, cover charges and sand fleas/no see ‘ems. I wouldn't suggest Sea Star on a Saturday Night because it would just be too crowded to try to hang with 20 people.

If you can only talk one or two other couples to going off property with you, I would suggest a sunset dinner at one of Negril’s finer restaurants. My first suggestions would be either the Rockhouse or Catch-a-falling-star up on the cliffs. You will need reservations at these places, my suggestion would be to make it for 5:30 and enjoy a 2 hour meal. My other suggestion would be to walk the beach to either Norma’s or Kuyaba for dinner (reservations again around 5:30). A taxi back would probably be best call. Negotiate before you get in.

As for day trips, I would skip them. You spend too much time in a taxi/bus and it’s better to enjoy the beach and/or pool.

Before I get hammered for the touristy suggestions remember that they are 1st timers staying at an AI.

Corona… you will have a lot of fun doing any of these suggestions. If you are interested in a more “local” experience or just have a more adventurous group let us know. This is a great community of people and they give great suggestions.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Russ In Mn

I wouldn't suggest Sea Star on a Saturday Night because it would just be too crowded to try to hang with 20 people.

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Great info...Russ...but, a little update....Seastar is actually fabulous for a group of 20...even more so now as they are currently in the process of expanding the dinner, dance and bar area. It's going to be great!!
Free pickup & drop off from all hotels in Negril for Seastar Saturday night...call 957-0553.

I want to echo what some other boardies have said "Get off the reservation!" You will likely be subject to sand gravity* - and at some of the smaller places that's OK because Negril will come to you! But at the larger AI's you are insulated - "gated in" - and you need to "get up and go" - Take a cab to the turnaround and spend the day just walking in any direction! Go to the craft market - MINGLE! - You will find the BEST part of going to Jamaica is the PEOPLE! The WONDERFUL people! If you stay on the resort grounds you will meet some of them - but you will miss SO many more!

(*Sand Gravity - an affliction that over takes driven vacationers in Negril, compelling them to plant their derrieres in the sand, and only arise for drinks, food, an occasional dip in the wata and bathroom breaks - not necessarily in that order)

So you are staying at RIU Club? Here's the lowdown:

1. The buffet is OK. Sometimes really good, but usually just OK. We've never eaten in the ala cartes because of the stupid policy of having to queue at 7am for reservations.

2. The jerk chicken hut on the beach produces EXCELLENT jerk chicken and sauce. EXCELLENT.

3. The rooms are nice, big and have a great minibar and liquor dispenser. Don't be shy about calling the front desk for anything. We needed OJ for some screwdrivers and they brought a gallon jug up to the room.

4. The swim-up bar and the bar above it have had consistent sewer gas(methane) odors since the first time I was there in 2007. Still had the odor in June 2010. Very unappealing.

5. The entertainment was barely watchable, unless it was the nighttime beach reggae bash.

6. The gift shop at the very front of the resort has the most reasonable prices on the resort. Its almost hidden.

7. The internet availability sucked. They may now have wifi. If not, good luck. Their internet room's computers never worked in 3 trips to the RIU.

8. The staff is OK. Not the most friendly, but not hostile.

9. The resort is kept VERY clean, as is your room.

10. No beach higglers.

11. Visit the Office of Nature on the beach for good lobster and good vibes.

12. Don't get taken for a ride by the contract cabbies out front, use a route taxi.

Any specific questions about the RIU will be answered.

If you go to the office of nature for lobster ask to see them first or they may try to slip you some smaller sized lobsters. They are excellent though. If you go off the property try not to let the locals know you are staying at the RIU. You will become an instant target for the higglers. Last time I stayed at an AI we had to wear the bracelet things and they pick up on that right away. You will love Negril have a great trip. Cosmos is not to far from there either for some good food and local atmosphere.

also - a comment on the rockhouse hotel restaurant.. my group of 11 called them for a reservation and they sent a brand new 40 passenger bus for us - free of charge from any negril hotel. but the return trip cost us $25.. we still thought it was a great deal.. 12.50 each way for a nice ride all together.. if you go to negril, and dont catch a sunset at the rockhouse - i dont feel your vacation is complete.. they have the best service i have ever seen ANYWHERE in the world. i swear if you drink some of your water, they atomatically come fill, before it is even empty.. we always get the servers opinions on whats is best today - they are always sooo knowledgeable about the dishes, and so very friendly.. and the view of the cliffs and cottages and the sunset CANNOT BE BEATEN.. i am rambling, but it is only because i really love the Rock House..

i have been to RIU Negril many times, here are some inside tips and suggestions:

1, email ahead of time about which room you want -- the closest to the action is building one, first floor, the best rooms of all being 1013, 1014 and 1015, imo ....

2, if there is a problem, tip the desk guy five bucks, and he will help you a lot. the women workers at RIU dont respond as well to tips ....

3, tip five bucks for a small handful of extra towel cards -- they come in handy if you want to leave a towel or two behind during your stay ....

4, use a route taxi during the day and pay 100j per person to the roundabout, and 200j per person to the CLiffs .... if it's late at night, ask for P KING, a private driver who ALWAYS hangs in front of RIU. Tell him Gerry G from LA sent you, and he will take good care of you .....

5, While at the buffet, you can tip the worker at the pasta station to give you a sampling of the meat entrees at the ajoining LIUGI BRAZILIAN restaurant -- it's like getting two meals in one.

6, of all the workers, hang with Spiderman. He's a great guy.

7, Check out the singing bar man at night, he is good. in the lobby.

8, make SURE to get an RIU awards number, and use it for 15 percent off all scubacaribe services like snorkeling and scuba .... You can save a lot of money but no one tells you this unless you ask!

9. take a ride the other way towards the air port to Half Moon Bay and/or Rhodes Plantation -- you will feel like you're in a scene from The Blue Lagoon movie.

10, order drinks two at a time. not sure if they're watered down, but it just seems like you can drink a lot more in Negril compared to USA .... and have fun!!!

Da Rev - Sand Gravity is hilarious! I love it!

I would suggest a quick stop at Rick's, but got to Catcha Falling Star for a really good time. I personally find Rick's rather American/Canadian and that's not why we go there!
Catcha is great! Beeeyooooteeeful! Much less crass and commercial than Ricks, and tres elegant.
Before you go, check out the web casts that the lovely people who run this message board do, and find out when the One Love Pub crawl is going (I think it's Wednesdays).
Rob and Lisa are AWESOME and the pub crawl will give you a taste of the Cliffs! It's wonderful!!! Great fun. good times and you will see the Real Negril (pun VERY intended, Rob!)
realnegril.com. Trust me.

If you are going in January, there may be again this year some great concerts at Negril Escape, again on the Cliffs. We saw Taurus Riley. For the price, it is Awesome.
There is a fab little hotel on the Cliffs, The Seastar, that has a live Reggae show every Sat (you can get your friends back home to log into the chat room and you can wave to them)
with a great buffet ($18-20 all you can eat and worth it; or order off their menu as it's the best food on the island!). Go early because the atmosphere is so fun.


Enjoy your stay. Get off the reservation. REally! Do the Pub Crawl. You won't regret it. Party on!

THANKS SO MUCH to everyone so far for all the wonderful information, good and bad. Of the 20 of us going I know forsure at least 10 (great friends of ours out of the 20) of us will head out a night here or there. Helps to know what we need to do ahead of time to gather up this many as well as line up taxi's or a bus. Being our 1st time there, we DO want to adventure out and see different things. With many trips to the Southern Caribbean islands we've always rented a care and checked out everything we could about the island, however I know this is something we will not do in Jamaica as it's much larger of an island vs. St. Thomas or St. Maarten where you can drive around the whole island in half a days time. Not to mention heard it is dangerous to rent a car and venture out along, thanks to those people who told us this.
I'm getting more and more excited reading what everyone has to say. So much to do and lots of planning still to come, but love the ideas so far.
Yes, we do not want to hang out at the AI all the time - we like to get to know the 'real' Jamaica and island life. Thanks again for now.

So.....outside of Red Stripe beer, what other brands of beer does Negril offer?

Most all Jamaican establishments offer Red Stripe, Red Stripe Light, Heineken and Guinness. The ones that offer more will also offer Red Stripe Bold (think Sam Adams), Real Rock, Dragon Stout (very sweet) and Dragon Stout Spitfire (very strong). Occasionally, you will find a stray Bud Light, Miller Lite or Corona, but those places are few and far between in Negril.