Country Country vs. White Sands Negril

My hubby and I will be returning to Negril in Feb 2024. We've been to Jamaica a bunch (this will be trip #19??) but we normally stay AI (Couples resorts have been our normal go-to) but I would like to stay non-AI this trip.

We did Treasure Beach one year for a few nights, and I loved it (stayed at Jake's) but my hubby thought it was too quiet. So, back to Negril we go!

I've looked at pretty much all the places on Long Beach (Coco LaPalm, Skylark, Idle Awhile, Firefly, etc.) and I think I've narrowed it down to these two. They both tick the boxes...great beach, restaurant/bar onsite, pool, close to other eating/drinking options. Both of these have room types in our budget which makes the decision even harder! We're not big party people, but we do like to socialize. Prefer more adult-oriented property, although I know both of these allow families.

Speaking of budget...that's another thing I'm kinda stuck on. Would approx. $100/day (for both of us) be a reasonable budget? Not enough? We're moderate-heavy drinkers while on vaca. We do like a good, hearty breakfast but, we're pretty happy with just patties and sandwiches for lunch and something a little more substantial for dinner but nothing fancy...some good jerk chicken, burgers, pizza, brown stew chicken, stuff like that. Neither one of us are seafood fans. One of the things that CC has over WSN is they include breakfast in the rate.

Would really appreciate any insight/first-hand experience with either of these two places. Pros/Cons that stand out at either? Advice on budget would also be appreciated :)

TIA!!

We get the one bedroom apartment at WS. It comes with a full kitchen and is closest to the beach. We often cook breakfast and buy liquor at the duty free shop and make our own drinks. Prices are up across Jamaica for food and drinks and I feel it saves us a good amount of money.

The biggest problem with Country Country is its proximity to Margaritaville. Bus loads of people and very loud music.

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Originally Posted by conway scott

The biggest problem with Country Country is its proximity to Margaritaville. Bus loads of people and very loud music.

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Good point! Thanks.

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Originally Posted by gregandkelly63

We get the one bedroom apartment at WS. It comes with a full kitchen and is closest to the beach. We often cook breakfast and buy liquor at the duty free shop and make our own drinks. Prices are up across Jamaica for food and drinks and I feel it saves us a good amount of money.

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That's the category I'm looking at for the reasons you stated :). Thank you!

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Originally Posted by conway scott

The biggest problem with Country Country is its proximity to Margaritaville. Bus loads of people and very loud music.

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We've only stayed at CC since 2000 and the noise from Margaritaville isn't as bad as it used to be. Our last reach was March 2020 and Margaritaville was often closed or at least very quiet by 10pm.

I'm biased but I think White Sands is more centrally located on the beach. Also, $100 a day for a couple just isn't doable anymore in Negril unless 80-90% of your drinks you prebuy and drink out of your refrigerator and eat in at least 1-2 meals a day (Heck, a nice couple's dinner on the cliffs with a couple drinks each can cost close to $100 now, of course we also do cheaper dinners out at Best of the West, Kenny's chinese...etc. to keep the overall average down). As I noted in a previous discussion, I calculated that prices had gone up for eating and drinking out 30%, at least, in the last year and a half.

Hello Oklahoma! Greetings from Minnesnowta! We have stayed at a lot of places. {23 Negril trips} We stayed at Whistling Bird last reach. Loved it! Small property. Very quiet. We had breakfast included. Great location. Super staff. Check 'em out mon'

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Originally Posted by ukran1ans

I'm biased but I think White Sands is more centrally located on the beach. Also, $100 a day for a couple just isn't doable anymore in Negril unless 80-90% of your drinks you prebuy and drink out of your refrigerator and eat in at least 1-2 meals a day (Heck, a nice couple's dinner on the cliffs with a couple drinks each can cost close to $100 now, of course we also do cheaper dinners out at Best of the West, Kenny's chinese...etc. to keep the overall average down). As I noted in a previous discussion, I calculated that prices had gone up for eating and drinking out 30%, at least, in the last year and a half.

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Thank you for your input! Sounds like I'll need to increase my food/drink budget :)

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Originally Posted by rocknrollfarmer

Hello Oklahoma! Greetings from Minnesnowta! We have stayed at a lot of places. {23 Negril trips} We stayed at Whistling Bird last reach. Loved it! Small property. Very quiet. We had breakfast included. Great location. Super staff. Check 'em out mon'

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Thank you, I'll check it out!

Well, poo!! White Sands is already fully booked for Feb :(

Now I'm second guessing CC because of it's proximity to Margaritaville. And, I just discovered that the windows don't have glass or screens, just shutters. Not sure how I feel about that. Anyone who's been there have thoughts about that? Were bugs an issue in the room? Was it noisy? Was the room dark with the shutters closed?

Ugh, I didn't think this decision was going to be so difficult. Couldn't possibly be because I'm being picky :rolleyes:

There is a reason we rebook WS a year in advance while we are there. We want to make sure we get the room we want!

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Originally Posted by whitesandsok

Well, poo!! White Sands is already fully booked for Feb :(

Now I'm second guessing CC because of it's proximity to Margaritaville. And, I just discovered that the windows don't have glass or screens, just shutters. Not sure how I feel about that. Anyone who's been there have thoughts about that? Were bugs an issue in the room? Was it noisy? Was the room dark with the shutters closed?

Ugh, I didn't think this decision was going to be so difficult. Couldn't possibly be because I'm being picky :rolleyes:

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Correct no windows/screens but all windows have wood slats that can be closed. We leave those closed and run the A/C 24/7. Not very many bugs to be a bother. I'd prefer to leave the slats open for the breezes but the Mrs. has this thing about mosquitos, she really gets welts from bites so happy wife ....

I don't find CC noisy, the worst time we had was from a crying baby next door. Margaritaville was usually quiet well before 9 pm when we were last there March 2020. Tree House next door has a fun bar to hang at compared to CC's bar which doesn't get many visitors. The room is dark with closed slats but there are plenty of lights in the room. Room prices at CC already include all fees and taxes which is a considerable value.

Wait, February 2024? That's when we plan to visit so don't go to CC it's terrible, noisy and did I mention crying babies lol?

Yeah, you're pretty late in the game to book a popular boutique hotel for Feb next year (One year, I waited a couple of weeks to book for the next year at WS and was forced to break up my trip into 2 locations since WS didn't have any rooms avail for the full time I requested). So looking into the available hotels online, I noticed Rondel still had rooms. Have you done any research there? I've met my share of tourists that luv going there (just ask Monty & Melo).

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Originally Posted by Homebrewer

Correct no windows/screens but all windows have wood slats that can be closed. We leave those closed and run the A/C 24/7. Not very many bugs to be a bother. I'd prefer to leave the slats open for the breezes but the Mrs. has this thing about mosquitos, she really gets welts from bites so happy wife ....

I don't find CC noisy, the worst time we had was from a crying baby next door. Margaritaville was usually quiet well before 9 pm when we were last there March 2020. Tree House next door has a fun bar to hang at compared to CC's bar which doesn't get many visitors. The room is dark with closed slats but there are plenty of lights in the room. Room prices at CC already include all fees and taxes which is a considerable value.

Wait, February 2024? That's when we plan to visit so don't go to CC it's terrible, noisy and did I mention crying babies lol?

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Haha! Too late, you've already spilled the beans :) If this is where we end up, we'll buy you and the Mrs. a drink! Assuming we're there the same week LOL

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Originally Posted by ukran1ans

Yeah, you're pretty late in the game to book a popular boutique hotel for Feb next year (One year, I waited a couple of weeks to book for the next year at WS and was forced to break up my trip into 2 locations since WS didn't have any rooms avail for the full time I requested). So looking into the available hotels online, I noticed Rondel still had rooms. Have you done any research there? I've met my share of tourists that luv going there (just ask Monty & Melo).

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I'll know next time LOL. I had no idea it was so popular. But then again, I've never looked at it before since we always just stay AI :) Yes, I have looked at Rondel. It just didn't give me the same warm fuzzies that the others did. But, I may look at it again...

It's official! We're booked at Country Country for Feb 3-10 :cool: I'm excited (and a little nervous) about staying non-AI in Negril.

Thank you to everyone for the helpful advice :)

Hi, How was your stay at Country Country? I hope you enjoyed it! We are thinking about booking as well...we usually go to Treehouse and my favorite Catcha Falling Star....I would stay there every time and all the time except for the lack of beach.

Ukrans,

Did you ask permission from Monty and Melo to reveal their beloved Rondel???? LMAO!!!

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Originally Posted by ukran1ans

So looking into the available hotels online, I noticed Rondel still had rooms. Have you done any research there? I've met my share of tourists that luv going there (just ask Monty & Melo).

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I'm sure Delroy won't mind a few new customers!!!!!

Enjoy,

VVHT aka Happy

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Originally Posted by VVHT

Ukrans,

Did you ask permission from Monty and Melo to reveal their beloved Rondel???? LMAO!!!



I'm sure Delroy won't mind a few new customers!!!!!

Enjoy,

VVHT aka Happy

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Well they still posted in this season's Roll Call, So I assume they didn't hate the suggestion? Besides, Delroy needed new blood from his usual surly crowd :biggrin-new:

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Originally Posted by ukran1ans

Well they still posted in this season's Roll Call, So I assume they didn't hate the suggestion? Besides, Delroy needed new blood from his usual surly crowd :biggrin-new:

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Ha! The more, the merrier at Rondel!

We are booked for trip number 16 for next April at White Sands. Actually booked last April so we could get a room choice. Sad to have to book so far in advance but I expect everyone else is just like me and love the management and staff at White Sands too much to deviate from the norm. I eat dinner often at Rondel Village. I always find the resturant comfortable with excellent food , but the quests don't seem nearly as engaging as the White Sands vacationers. White Sands really does feel like a home away from home to me.

Ironic that my original post on this thread was telling how we always booked a year ahead at WS to get the room that we want. Last December as we were checking out of WS, we went to book for Dec 2024. Sadly the one bedroom apartment that we have had the past few years was already booked! We were going to settle for a kitchenette room, but those were all booked as well. Soooo....Dec 2024 we will be spending 2 weeks at Country Country!

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Originally Posted by gregandkelly63

Ironic that my original post on this thread was telling how we always booked a year ahead at WS to get the room that we want. Last December as we were checking out of WS, we went to book for Dec 2024. Sadly the one bedroom apartment that we have had the past few years was already booked! We were going to settle for a kitchenette room, but those were all booked as well. Soooo....Dec 2024 we will be spending 2 weeks at Country Country!

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The last few years, you guys usually show up a lil later into December at WS after splitting time at another location. I think you trying to get at WS earlier this year than usual bumped into someone that usually leaves after the first week of Dec (cause 60-70% of the 'after thanksgiving crowd' is the same, year after year there)

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Originally Posted by ukran1ans

The last few years, you guys usually show up a lil later into December at WS after splitting time at another location. I think you trying to get at WS earlier this year than usual bumped into someone that usually leaves after the first week of Dec (cause 60-70% of the 'after thanksgiving crowd' is the same, year after year there)

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You are probably right. Especially with Thanksgiving being so late this year. We usually go to Jamaica the first 2 weeks of December. We do Thanksgiving with our kids the Saturday after Thanksgiving, but we didn't realize until a few weeks ago that the Saturday after Thanksgiving is Dec 1st!. We told our kids they are on their own for Thanksgiving this year because we will be on our way to Negril!