Idle Awhile, Coco & Charela

Good Morning All! Because this winter has been sooooo long and cold, I can't get away from this site and everyone's great posting and pictures ( I am missing 3Dives lobster and Catcha's jerk penne pasta, and the ocean - I can keep going)! I am living thru you all and I love it, so thanks everyone! Here is my question, I never read too many postings on Idle Awhile but it looks really, really nice! Even though is on a great stretch of beach; Coco & Charela get most of the postings. Don't get me wrong, they both look and sound like wonderful properties, but Idle Awhile seems to have the nicest rooms. Am I missing something? I know it doesn't have a pool but I would love to hear what you all think so I can compare them all. Thanks!

I'm at Idle Awhile now and its great!! The other properties look nice as well. I like the small size of Idle Awhile

IA is so small, it's not going to get as many reviews. Stayed there for the first time this January, very nice place, the nicest rooms I've seen on the beach since Moondance closed.

danthemanpurdue - I'm so jealous!!! Have a great time! Can't wait to hear your trip report?!! and
Saeyedoc - I really liked the smallness of Catcha - it really felt like the staff (family) got to know you and we got to know them. I really don't like the real big resorts. Thanks guys!

Getting married at charela in 3 weeks. I havent stayed there but we toured the grounds. Definitely nice.

Thanks Flip. Congratulations!

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Originally Posted by jesswade

Thanks Flip. Congratulations!

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Thank you. Should be a great 2 weeks.

My buddies and I are going down on the same flight 3 days prior to the wedding and getting a cottage at yellow bird.

Rehearsal dinner at Tree House.

Wedding and 2 nights in the honeymoon suite at Charela.

5 nights in a villa in Port Antonio. (I am renting a car and we are doing the drive back and forth ourselves. Pray for us and our first challenge in our married life :-D)

Then 4 more nights in negril to finish it off. Hotel TBD

Sounds like an exciting time! I've always wanted to try Treehouse as well. I remember our honeymoon, we went to Sandals Ocho Rios and although it was beautiful, we could have been anywhere in the world, there was no "Jamaica feel" - so I was so lucky to find this website and find Negril, we've never gone anywhere else.
Best wishes again on your wedding!

Saeyedoc,
We were walking by Moondance yesterday afternoon and I wanted to show my wife. As I was walking up towards them, a nice lady who works for security came up to us and offered to show us around. she said the Couples (Issa) owners bought them and will start refurbishing them soon.

Hopefully they won't price Moondance out of the market, like the previous owners. At double the cost of a place like Idle Awhile, it's difficult to justify the expense.

I have only stayed at Coco out of the 3 you mentioned, but my pick would be Charela. Large beach, great restaurant and I like the charm of the rooms...upper floor beachfront would be my pick.

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Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26

Getting married at charela in 3 weeks. I havent stayed there but we toured the grounds. Definitely nice.

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Congrats Flip!! What's the date? We'll be down in 2 weeks (staying @ IA). If we're there I would love to watch your wedding if it's on the beach?

Flip,

Miss G and I are in Ja from 5/25 - 6/1

Will you still be in Negril?

Cap

That's very interesting. I have always admired the Moondance Villas property and really hated to see it go on the block and go down. I'm pretty excited to see what the Issa Family does with the property.

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Originally Posted by NoWorries4 me

Congrats Flip!! What's the date? We'll be down in 2 weeks (staying @ IA). If we're there I would love to watch your wedding if it's on the beach?

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Hi! Contact us if you need transfers from and to airport , tours all over the Island and taxi services all around Negril. We offer visitors in Jamaica a safe and hassle-free way to visit all main tourist attractions.

We would be very pleased to be part of your next trip to Jamaica!!! We will drive to you for pickup, so just let us know where you will be.

Check out our website and facebook page to learn more about us

Owen.

Phone: (876) 362-4906

Website: http://crossjamaicatours.com/

Email: crossjamaicatours@gmail.comights!

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Originally Posted by NoWorries4 me

Congrats Flip!! What's the date? We'll be down in 2 weeks (staying @ IA). If we're there I would love to watch your wedding if it's on the beach?

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5-22-2015 at 4 or 5. I forget.

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Originally Posted by captaind & Linston

Flip,

Miss G and I are in Ja from 5/25 - 6/1

Will you still be in Negril?

Cap

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We will be returning to Negril 5-29 through 6-2. Will have to get together for a cold one. I also sent Linstons info to our wedding planner.

Congrats and best wishes on the wedding. Marriage is wonderful. I hope to meet and have a drink with you two again sometime sooner than later.

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Originally Posted by BostonBob

Congrats and best wishes on the wedding. Marriage is wonderful. I hope to meet and have a drink with you two again sometime sooner than later.

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It shall happen. I cant believe we havent crossed paths again.

Hey Flip, Any secrets to flying out of Philly (I assume that's where you fly out of)? Ever since Air Jamaica left PHL, US Air seems so expensive. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by jesswade

Hey Flip, Any secrets to flying out of Philly (I assume that's where you fly out of)? Ever since Air Jamaica left PHL, US Air seems so expensive. Thanks.

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Yeah. If it's feasible for you. Fly out of BWI on SW. Cheaper parking, cheaper tickets. Longer drive, but worth it.

I will look into it, thank you so much. Is it straight thru or do you stop?

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Originally Posted by jesswade

I will look into it, thank you so much. Is it straight thru or do you stop?

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non stop. Paid 335 RT non stop per person for this upcoming trip.

So much better than US AIR! Thanks again!

Thats the second time someone has posted about Issa family buying Moondance. Hope its true! Since Lee Issa also owns Idle Awhile, and thats my favorite non a/i on the beach, I"ll be very interested in seeing what he, or Couples Corporataion, does with it. I"m heading to CSA next week.. Lee Issa or his son Abraham are often on property, I'll be sure to inquire about it if I see them.
Oh and to the original question... Obviously my choice is Idle Awhile. I agree that the lower number of reviews is because its a smaller property.

jesswade~ I'm flying on Southwest out of BWI for the first time next week. Also very much miss the AJ flight out of pHila. I"ll let you know how it goes!

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Originally Posted by jesswade

Hey Flip, Any secrets to flying out of Philly (I assume that's where you fly out of)? Ever since Air Jamaica left PHL, US Air seems so expensive. Thanks.

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I've looked into bwi, as well. The fares are tempting, however we live in Philly and can't justify the longer drive as we are only a 20 min. cab ride away from phl. US Air is the only game in town, so my secret is - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Sign up for the US Air frequent flyer program and their Mastercard (now being switched over to American). Aside from Jamaica, we usually fly to at least one other destination a year. And every year we rack up enough miles to for at least 1 ticket to mbj or 2 tickets to a domestic location. We always fly non stop. For our upcoming trip we actually had enough miles for 2 round trip tickets

Also, in 6 trips to mbj on US Air, we have never had any service issues. I think the issues some people have had are related to transfers at busy airports like mia. Flying non stop, we have always arrived at mbj on time, or early. Last trip, we beat our driver to the pick up spot.

Please do Shell! Have a great time and I cant wait to read all of these trip reports (hint, hint)!

After reading many posts, I think the major differences are, and please correct me if I'm wrong and/or please add too...Charela & Coco have pools, Idle Awhile the nicest rooms, Coco has continental breakfast and a little bit of an older crowd (?), nicest beach is Charela & Coco. Omgosh, I'm no closer, what a great dilemma to be in :)

i took the Southwest Airline BWI direct flight last August and it was great. I am also taking this flight in a couple weeks. You can't beat the price and the fact its direct!! I rarely stay on the beach anymore (love the cliffs) but this time I am bringing my two boys 8 and 5 so i got a suite at IdleAwhile which I think is one of the top spots on the beach.

Thanks Koolbreeze, I am a cliff girl as well, this will be our first beach trip. I'm so glad to learn about SW out of BWI! Enjoy!