1st timers just back from Negril, definitely not a long enough stay

We flew out a week ago today, arrived to not so great weather thanks to Joaquin. We cannot recommend highly enough Kevin from Coleman K Jammin Jamaica Tours! Kevin was waiting with cold Red Stripe and waters and took EXCELLENT care of us with transports for us and others in our wedding party, as well as tours for the 7 of us on Sunday. He treated us like family, and will always be our 1st choice for anything when we go back (because we WILL GO BACK!).

Arrived at Catcha to find the Water Commission was on strike and the water and power were out, broke my toe, the groom got food poisoning (not at hotel!) and was super sick the day before the wedding, and we couldn't snorkel or swim due to weather until the last day.

However, it's funny how things work out. Wedding was scheduled for 5 pm, but as usual I was running late getting ready ;), so we told them 5:15. At 4:50 a storm blew up and it POURED....for all of 10 minutes. Then the sun came out, the wind died down a little, and we were married with the most beautiful backdrop of the ocean and amazing sunset! Weather was perfect for the rest of our stay, but the ocean didn't calm down enough to snorkel until Monday. Holy cow, what a GORGEOUS DAY! Needless to say we have already decided we have to return, if only to do all the things we had wanted to do this trip.

One thing did bother us. I have dealt with higglers/beggars/sellers before in other places, but we took a cab (thanks Dougy!) into town on Saturday to walk around before the wedding and honestly, by the time we got back we didn't even want to make eye contact when walking because that's all it took. Hubs had a somewhat difficult time getting rid of one who insisted on escorting us around the shopping center. Tried very politely many times to let him know, and finally had to be abrupt to get him to leave us alone. Between that and so many asking for money for literally walking across the street with us, we were a little put off. But there was balance, the 3 guys hanging out at Traveler's Rest were great company and had cold beer, the staff at Catcha was absolutely amazing, people in the supermarkets we shopped at were very nice, and when the groom's sister slipped and twisted her ankle about 10 people came and shielded her from traffic and made sure she was ok. It's a balance, and I get that, just wish it wasn't quite so prevalent.

Beeeaaauuutiful wedding pic! Congratulations!

What a positive refreshing attitude. You'll find, and give a lot of happiness by maintaining that balance! Congratulations !!!

Congratulations and thank you for sharing your special day. I'm glad the trip was positive enough for you to already know you will return. Anniversaries are always good. During winter and spring there are no hurricanes! lol

Howdy neighbors, glad you liked Negril even with all the problems... I'm sure you will enjoy it even more next time.

Congrats on your wedding and visiting a beautiful place.

The non stop higglers and beggars are the only reason we quit coming multiple times a year. Hope they can find a solution to that huge problem.

Congratulations , you'll always remember your first trip , hope to meet you folks sometime .

Beautiful couple! Congrats.

Thanks for sharing your special day! You will find that the more you go to Negril and get comfortable moving around,the less people try to hit you up.It's almost like they know your not a tourist anymore.The wife and I wonder all over town and the cliffs and are hardly bothered at all,maybe after 14 trips some of them recognize us!!

More pictures? I love pictures!!! Congratulations! :o

Thanks for the write-up and pictures! Please come back and give us a trip report someday.

I think you have learned the paradox that is Negril. However, as you become more experienced you will figure out how to avoid the hassle. Sometimes, just the way you carry yourself will tell people to leave you alone. But yeah - walking around downtown Negril on your first strip can be an eye opener!

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Originally Posted by davevols

Howdy neighbors, glad you liked Negril even with all the problems... I'm sure you will enjoy it even more next time.

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Wow, small world fellow East Texan!

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Originally Posted by KitchenBeeotch

More pictures? I love pictures!!! Congratulations! :o

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Seriously, look at that sunset! It looks like a fake backdrop, had we not been there we would never have believed it was that gorgeous!

Congrats!.....and thanks for the photos....There is no place like catcha!!

Timing is everything, balance is everything else!

Now I know who cut my stay at Catcha short!!!! :cool:Congrats to both of you and thanks for sharing the pics. Glad to see the pool is back to normal as well........

Wow, beautiful pictures! Kevin would like to take the time to thank you for your patronage and for entrusting Coleman K Jammin Jamaica Tours with your airport transfers and day tour. We appreciated your patronage and sincerely wish you all the best on your journey together. We were pleased that we could contribute in our small way and take some of the burden, of making plans, off your shoulders. Cheers and we look forward to seeing you in the future. :cool:

Very Very Nice!!

Thanks,

VVHT

Your totally right billndonna we have been coming on and off since '74 and they do recognize you and respect your "no thank you". Of course you will get a few that are persistent. But as long as you are respectful they will back off.