A Wedding in Negril

I never thought I would be asking about an all inclusive in Negril but here I am trying to help friends plan a wedding in Negril over the XMAS Holidays 2018.

Back story......Feb 2015 a group of 30 friends traveled to Negril for my birthday. Everybody knew me but not everybody knew each other....one gal friend thought she should be bored and another guy friend had to be convinced to come along. Well who would have known this was the beginning of an amazing love story between those two.

Our group of friends usually stay at NBCC and Travellers so staying at an AI will be an extra treat and an extra extra expense that we aren't accustomed to soooooooooo........keeping that in mind what all inclusive would you suggest in Negril that allow children and is within a decent budget? The bride to be is also open to Montego Bay.

anybody out there?

Grand Pineapple is an AI that won't break the bank and allows kids

THANK YOU!

I was thinking Grand Pineapple also and added it to the list for them. I wanted to give them some options. It seems like most of the AI's in Negril don't allow children

What is the expectation of the all inclusive? For example, what are the expected inclusions, meal expectations, watersports/activities expectations, and modern vs. out of date decor/room/bathroom expectations?

Understand that Grand Pineapple has limited inclusions and is a budget all inclusive, so be sure that the expectations meet the reality. I enjoyed staying at Grand Pineapple twice but totally understood that it was a very different stay than my experience at Sandals. I just want your friends to be happy and realistic about their experience. Buffet meals, out of date decor, basic rooms, second hand furniture and lounge chairs, limited watersports activities, no group activities, basic/well bar brands, draft beer. That said, staff are amazing, I always feel safe, and the location on the beach really can't be beat! I would try to stay in the cottage rooms, not the manor rooms, and for a little extra, stay on the beach side, although the garden side is nice, recognize that you have to cross the road and that can be exhausting for some guests. I would stay at Grand Pineapple again if I could purchase a room-only, not all inclusive, stay.

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Originally Posted by LivinInThe603

What is the expectation of the all inclusive? For example, what are the expected inclusions, meal expectations, watersports/activities expectations, and modern vs. out of date decor/room/bathroom expectations?

Understand that Grand Pineapple has limited inclusions and is a budget all inclusive, so be sure that the expectations meet the reality. I enjoyed staying at Grand Pineapple twice but totally understood that it was a very different stay than my experience at Sandals. I just want your friends to be happy and realistic about their experience. Buffet meals, out of date decor, basic rooms, second hand furniture and lounge chairs, limited watersports activities, no group activities, basic/well bar brands, draft beer. That said, staff are amazing, I always feel safe, and the location on the beach really can't be beat! I would try to stay in the cottage rooms, not the manor rooms, and for a little extra, stay on the beach side, although the garden side is nice, recognize that you have to cross the road and that can be exhausting for some guests. I would stay at Grand Pineapple again if I could purchase a room-only, not all inclusive, stay.

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I agree. But we have paid less for the GP all inclusive than we have paid for a room only at other resorts. Just depends on what you are looking for.

Jamerican71, also check our Beaches for the kids activities. There is no activities for children at GO

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Originally Posted by gregandkelly63

I agree. But we have paid less for the GP all inclusive than we have paid for a room only at other resorts. Just depends on what you are looking for.

Jamerican71, also check our Beaches for the kids activities. There is no activities for children at GO

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that's true, Greg. I totally agree about the price point.

I am curious what the all-inclusive expectation is becuase I have stayed at Grand Pineapple, only to eat the breakfast and an occasional dinner, but if the guests are expecting a full all-inclusive experience, I'm curious of the expectations.

I have a friend who really likes the Merrills hotels, with three stays there.

Thank you for the input on Grand Pineapple. That location is off the list because they do want a better AI experience. The guests that come will be okay with paying more given it's a special occasion. I did look at Beaches for them but I think it will really be over run by children. The only other AI's that I could think of in Negril that allow children are Riu Negril or Riu Tropical Bay.

Hi ! I would rethink Beaches. I have a couple friends that work there, and I visit them, a few times during my stays on the beach. I have never seen it overrun by children, they have a lot of watersports, and I know the food is pretty good. just a thought !

If they don't mind staying at Bloody Beach(a 5-10 min cab ride away), the RUI Club is affordable, more updated than the GP and has most of the expected Amenities of an AI.


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Originally Posted by ukran1ans

If they don't mind staying at Bloody Beach(a 5-10 min cab ride away), the RUI Club is affordable, more updated than the GP and has most of the expected Amenities of an AI.


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Is that Riu Negril or Riu Tropical Bay?

I stayed at the RUI Negril... it's a lil cheaper than the Tropical (which does have a lil nicer beach though)...


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Why not let the happy couple stay at an AI and the rest of the guests stay where they want? Can still attend all the activities without breaking the bank. You know once you've been out on the beach an AI will disappoint in the food and cultural department no matter how good it is. The cost of an AI may exclude a lot of people which can be good or bad depending on what you want. Also Christmas is brutal for extra costs in flights and AI's. Just my two cents.

I totally agree Irine but some people could care less about 'food and culture' when they come to the Caribbean (which is why the AI's exist).


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Sadly true. Blindfold them and take them to Florida, cheaper and they will never know:rolleyes::rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by ukran1ans

I totally agree Irine but some people could care less about 'food and culture' when they come to the Caribbean (which is why the AI's exist).


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Originally Posted by Irine

Why not let the happy couple stay at an AI and the rest of the guests stay where they want? Can still attend all the activities without breaking the bank. You know once you've been out on the beach an AI will disappoint in the food and cultural department no matter how good it is. The cost of an AI may exclude a lot of people which can be good or bad depending on what you want. Also Christmas is brutal for extra costs in flights and AI's. Just my two cents.

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It's more fun to stay together and everybody who can make it will bite the bullet and pay the extra but it will exclude a lot of people. I told them how brutal the Christmas holidays can be but as of now they are set on it. I've sent them a list of possible properties in Negril and MoBay and they are reviewing now.

Well one thing, if you have never been there over Christmas/New Years the decorations and parties are the best I have ever been to. You will definitely enjoy that part.

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Originally Posted by Irine

Well one thing, if you have never been there over Christmas/New Years the decorations and parties are the best I have ever been to. You will definitely enjoy that part.

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Love anytime of year in Jamaica but especially love being there for Christmas and New Years. There's nothing like waking up Xmas day and being on the beach in Jamaica!

That would be great if I didn't mind breaking the bank (I just checked and they want $1200 for the flights alone for one person to get there xmas/new years week and back).


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Originally Posted by ukran1ans

That would be great if I didn't mind breaking the bank (I just checked and they want $1200 for the flights alone for one person to get there xmas/new years week and back).


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The flight prices are CRAZY!! I used to pay about $700 for the Christmas Holidays but now it's close to $1000!

Yeah... just last year, I flew myself, my girls and my grandson down after thanksgiving for $2000, so $500 a piece. The best price I found for the same time this year is $620.... that's a 24% increase!! I'm convinced they are in collusion now...


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We usually pay 550 to 620 out of Minni. We take the shuttle from Duluth at 129 for two, plus a night at the hotel as the flights leave so early, another 100. This year after Dr. Dao got bet up on United I kept an eye on their website and sure enough about 10 days later they had one stop flights out of Duluth for 480 a piece. That's a savings of 229 bucks just on the shuttle and hotel, never mind the cheaper flight and leaving from home. I'm 10 minutes by cab from the airport, it will be a delight. So back to Christmas, wait till you see what the AI's add on, ouch! But ukran1ans 500 is a steal, we would take that anytime for sure.

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Originally Posted by Irine

We usually pay 550 to 620 out of Minni. We take the shuttle from Duluth at 129 for two, plus a night at the hotel as the flights leave so early, another 100. This year after Dr. Dao got bet up on United I kept an eye on their website and sure enough about 10 days later they had one stop flights out of Duluth for 480 a piece. That's a savings of 229 bucks just on the shuttle and hotel, never mind the cheaper flight and leaving from home. I'm 10 minutes by cab from the airport, it will be a delight. So back to Christmas, wait till you see what the AI's add on, ouch! But ukran1ans 500 is a steal, we would take that anytime for sure.

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Yeah, $500 is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, there's no direct flights out of Buffalo (where I only have a 15 min cab ride to) so I have to get creative on my flight down. I try to use my company holidays to extend my time in Negril (Like I fly down on Black Friday, after Thanksgiving, since it's a company holiday) but being locked into certain days (around the weekend) to maximize my time down there costs extra. In Feb though, I'm flying out on friday evening, right after my workday, to Charlotte with a 11 hour layover, where I'm using my expedia points to get a free hotel there by the airport. The cool thing is that I'm flying out the next morning early to be landing in Mobay by 1030am, thus maximizing my 7 mile beach time on the first day!


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Originally Posted by ukran1ans

Yeah, $500 is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, there's no direct flights out of Buffalo (where I only have a 15 min cab ride to) so I have to get creative on my flight down. I try to use my company holidays to extend my time in Negril (Like I fly down on Black Friday, after Thanksgiving, since it's a company holiday) but being locked into certain days (around the weekend) to maximize my time down there costs extra. In Feb though, I'm flying out on friday evening, right after my workday, to Charlotte with a 11 hour layover, where I'm using my expedia points to get a free hotel there by the airport. The cool thing is that I'm flying out the next morning early to be landing in Mobay by 1030am, thus maximizing my 7 mile beach time on the first day!


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It's getting near impossible to find a flight out of Minni that isn't a plus one. I don't get it, maybe someone can shed some light on why so many more people are flying to Jamaica and the airlines won't do directs? Have to think the planes would fill up even faster. I would pay 600 for a direct flight out of Minni in a heart beat, I can't be the only one wondering why it was so much easier to fly there 10 years ago when a lot less people were going.

I flew last week round trip for about $850 each from NY!!! And that's during low season! It was a hard to deal with, but beats going somewhere else. The flights were non stop at least, but not an open seat on either flight.
Ukran1ans, you did it right. In the end it's all about the maximum beach time! Unfortunately I'm the furthest from my next reach at this point ��

Hi,

I'm in the process of planning my wedding in Jamaica as well :). They just opened the new Royalton resort in Negril next to Couples (we recently stayed at the new Royalton location just built in St. Lucia) the food was excellent, the rooms were spectacular, and overall the resort was great. Not sure what the rates would be now, but being that the resort just opened recently you should check out the prices. Best of luck with your planning!