A question of when to go.
So we have gone to Negril every year for the last 10 years. We have stayed a bunch of different places and in the beginning we used to go at Christmas through New Years. That's still my favorite time of year to go, so much fun, but the prices are at their highest and logistically it was really hard to get away from family at that time of year. Over the years we have moved from January to February and now into March. We hold out in the MN winter as long as we can because we hope for mild weather when we get back and the start of spring. Anyone from MN knows spring is taking longer and longer to come these days so I have some questions about coming at the start of low season. We are a little torn about still coming during the real cold and splitting winter in half so the speak, any opinions?
But onto the spring questions. Does the vibe feel different in the last couple weeks of April? Is it a little sleepier version of Negril? I don't mind a few less options for food and bevies but I don't want to have to scrounge to much. Are the jelly fish moving in yet, and is it still OK to swim? I've heard horror stories about the crab hatch, like thousands of little spiders everywhere. When does that start? Rooms are half price which is awesome, flights appear to be the same price wise, is it cheaper in Negril proper for services, or do food and booze stay the same for the most part? If the cost savings is just the room then that's a saving of hundreds not thousands and I don't know if it's worth the trade from coming when it's really cold here. So I guess I'm asking for the pro's and con's from boardies who have done both. I respect the insight of this group a lot.
Re: A question of when to go.
The boardie bash is the last Friday in April. Plenty things going on for the two weeks prior
Cap
Re: A question of when to go.
My only beef with April is the weather does start to get rainier and begins that switch...but hey..it still is great to be in Negril never the less..another great time is in early December before high season prices start in middle of December..
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We've been 9 times & usually have gone in Nov. since that is our anniversary but have gone in Dec. Feb. & April also. We love the sea temp in Nov. it's very warm & it's not real crowded yet & the prices are good BUT you go home & have the long cold winter ahead of you. Not so good. Dec. was nice but the same thing with going home. We went twice in Feb. & it was so nice going home to spring on it's way & getting out of the bitter cold for a while but the water temp. was not as warm in Feb. & took some getting used to. But then it's still the Caribbean water, it's not like trying to get used to the Pacific Ocean at anytime (cold). We went once in mid April after the costs went down & we found the water to be much like in Nov. It was warm. We thought April was fine except the only thing we didn't like was no lobster :(
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I like to do what I call "shoulder season". The last two weeks of April and the first two weeks of December. Prices drop or haven't risen yet and it's just after or before rainy season. Then I'll also do first week of July and that's my five weeks in Negril.
Re: A question of when to go.
I think April is a great time to go. The warmer it is the less my wife wears, which is my reason to go in the first place.
I would like to go this October but my wife keeps saying "hurricanes" and that's the end of the discussion. But I'd really like to go this October.
I personally like it when it is the off season, cheaper and more quiet, which is great with me. I'd like to think I am a social person but I'm also super cheap and the older I get the less I like crowds. After having been to Mexico so many times the relaxed and quiet vibe of Negril fit me just fine.
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Late April, early May and early December are our favorite times. Just after and just before “high season”. Good weather, good vibes, smaller crowds!
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I think you should pack your bags and go ... right now :)
Summer is great because because Negril empties out of most of those American tourists. It's quiet and empty (except for first week of August when it fills up with Jamaicans on holiday). You can bake and relax in the summer heat. You get a smattering of European tourists, plus the locals. Even the local peddlers and hustlers and prostitutes slow down in the summer heat, with fewer clients to chase after, and you can hang out with them and chill and get to know them as people.
That said, any time of year is good.
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My other favorite time to visit is every 4 years during the Olympics. It's sooo much fun!
Re: A question of when to go.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
justin_a_lyesse
I like to do what I call "shoulder season". The last two weeks of April and the first two weeks of December. Prices drop or haven't risen yet and it's just after or before rainy season. Then I'll also do first week of July and that's my five weeks in Negril.
I also agree that the first two weeks in December is fantastic. And like you said, weather is normally awesome (hurricane season has ended Nov 30), it's quiet but there exists a vibe of excitement and anticipation because high season begins the 15th. But because it's still off season, rates are reasonable...
Re: A question of when to go.
I love being there in the off season, either October to November, or end of April. The only thing I miss when I go in April is the lobster. Like rtitle said, it's a good time to get to know the local folks. Not sure where you've heard about spiders everywhere, unless you're sleeping on the ground in the jungle. it's nothing to worry about.
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We try to go in April to celebrate the end of winter and Nov to prepare ourselves for winter. I love the Chicago winter, my wife does not...
Seeing the crab migration in Negril is amazing. We crushed so many of them once from MoBay to Negril on a dark, stormy night. I tried to avoid as many as I could but at some point in their scurrying they stop, stand defiant with claws raised and dare you with those black eyes to trust your tires (bald tires from Island Rental). Also very tasty! You'll see people on the side of the road with big pots boiling them up.
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Well, not spiders, but the crab hatch on the beach. "Like spiders" is how I have heard it described. You have to wear flops everywhere because there are so many you step on them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
phineasfreakears
I love being there in the off season, either October to November, or end of April. The only thing I miss when I go in April is the lobster. Like rtitle said, it's a good time to get to know the local folks. Not sure where you've heard about spiders everywhere, unless you're sleeping on the ground in the jungle. it's nothing to worry about.
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Re: A question of when to go.
Well April 15th is the start of the 'slow season' which is why the hotels start their 'summer prices' then. The last 2 years, I've been going after thanksgiving, to start the season (while it's still summer prices), Feb (to get the hell out of Buffalo weather at it's worst) and then April (when it's cheap again). I'm thinking of giving up my April next year because 1) Alot less people, so night activities are shutting down (like the Sat night Seastar show shut down last April, even though Easter was late this year). 2) Lobster season is shut down. My philosophy is to stay out of the worst of the Buffalo weather, so I'll probably just make the Feb trip longer.
Re: A question of when to go.
Even though I hate to say it, if the crab migration has started I won't care much for that. There are so many excellent fish dinners there I could live without the lobster. To quote MickeyNYC my FOMO has turned to JOMO over the years, so not being with the crowd won't bug me. We rarely go out at night unless we are meeting someone or going to there room or pool for drinks, but that's very occasional. I guess the last hang up besides the crabs is the weather thing. Usually by April I don't need a getaway anymore, although this last spring was brutal. We can't afford to go twice yet, not the money or the time off. The money we save going offseason would pay for another set of flights for a second trip for maybe a week in Fed, hmmm. This is a tougher decision than I thought.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ukran1ans
Well April 15th is the start of the 'slow season' which is why the hotels start their 'summer prices' then. The last 2 years, I've been going after thanksgiving, to start the season (while it's still summer prices), Feb (to get the hell out of Buffalo weather at it's worst) and then April (when it's cheap again). I'm thinking of giving up my April next year because 1) Alot less people, so night activities are shutting down (like the Sat night Seastar show shut down last April, even though Easter was late this year). 2) Lobster season is shut down. My philosophy is to stay out of the worst of the Buffalo weather, so I'll probably just make the Feb trip longer.
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It's been so hot this summer in the US that I'm joking to friends that I'm going to Jamaica in August to *cool* off :)
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I like going in June. It's just as great as it is in the winter months, without all the people.
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Irine...sadly, the crab migration doesn't happen like many years ago.
There used to be a sea of white crabs crossing the roads everywhere in May/June...and it absolutely horrified me to tears. Nowadays you can steer around the odd few in the road.
