RIU Negril January 27th, 2012 anyone or any info PLEASE. 1st time to Jamaica

:D We are going with 30+ people to Negril and staying at the Riu Negril. Many have been to Jamaica before and just a few to the Negril area years ago. This is our FIRST time ever to Jamaica, spent the last 25 years covering the entire Southern Caribbean and figured now time to try
a new place.

Riu Negril - first time ever doing the Riu resorts, anyone been here or know of people who have?

Negril - what can you tell me? I want all the MUST things to do and all the MUST NOT things to do. Only thing I know forsure is Rick's Cafe.

Thank goodness I found these boards as we've learned and hired Clive's transportation from the airport to our resort and back again. Thanks to
the people to posted his website, life savor these boards are :D

Wellllll, its funny because we used to go to Ricks but its so overrun with tourists that we tend to avoid it now. YS Falls is nice (rafting down the river is relaxing). I really liked Rose Hall (but that said, my husband thought it was just ok). Enjoyed the Appleton tour especially the tasting at the end. Just a few ideas...

I've been to several islands and Cancun a bunch of times, too, and you're going to LOVE the RIU Negril. It's a great hotel.

If you have not been to Rick,s it is a must do while in Negril, it will give you a chance to get to the westend. Another great way to see the westend is the wednesday pub crawl.

riu has a good snorkle/sunset cruise to the cliffs(ricks) you have to book it asap,because it fills up fast. when they let you off at ricks go out the front gate,turn right and go to ltu pub for drinks & food (much better than ricks & will save you $$$$) then you can go back to ricks to see the cliff divers. maybe you can charter a boat with that many people,check negril onestop to charter a catamaran(booze cruise). good luck!

RIU Negril is located at a place called Bloody Bay. It is a ways from the town of Negril and separated from the 7-Mile Beach by a point called Rutland Point. Bloody Bay is arguable one of the best beach locations in all of the Caribbean. Soft sand, shallow water and protected from the wind.

On your list of things "to do"/"don't do" is Rick's Cafe, I'd say that’s something to "don't do". I mean sometimes you have to go there just to say you've been there, but here is my take on Rick's.....It's very Americanized (not that there’s anything wrong with that, but that’s not why you came to Jamaica). The food is not Jamaican, the beer and booze is over priced, the bar tenders will rip you off unless your paying attention, and the divers begging for money get annoying very fast. If you take a bus up there, it's about a 1/2-hour ride and the driver will rocket you up and drive even faster on the way down. This is not the way to see Negril. If you have to go, take the sail boat or, if you are in a group of 30, rent a couple of glass bottom boats and go as a group.

The top of your "to do" list should be just walking the 7 Mile Beach. It's free and something the whole group can do (or just a few in the group). Take a cab (or bus) to Cosmo's for lunch and then walk from there. Stop when tired, have a beer when thirsty, and go as far as you want. It’ll get you off the AI property and get to see what bring the people back year after year.

You and some of your friends would probably like a day tour outside of Negril to see some of the Jamaican countryside and its people. Two of the most popular tours on the South Coast are:
Mayfield Falls-SavLaMar;
YS Falls-Black River-Pelican Beach Bar

Links to reliable tour operators are:
http://www.rockystaxiandtourservice....excursions.htm
http://www.clivestransportservicejam...HighlightTour1
http://chickensmagicbus.com/


As you are already booked with Clives for airport transfers, I would check with him first as he will probably give you a good deal.

Enjoy your stay!

While you are there you should take the time to check out the local eating places. All kinds of outlets. Some of the best foods I have eaten anywhere and very reasonably priced. It helps support the locals. CAIO, Hungry Lion, Just Natural, Xtabi on the cliffs......too many to mention along the beach. Next time you may want to forgo the All Inclusives.
Have a great time in Negril.

Respect

There's the Wild Thing party boat http://www.wildthingwatersportsnegril.com/

If you are staying at the Club Hotel you will find it to be a very nice property. You will find if you stay longer than a week that everything there repeats on a schedule. So if you are in for two weeks I would definitely head into Negril on the seven mile and experience the true Negril. Couple of things about the hotel, if you are wanting to use the A la Carte you best get someone up early each day as you have to go stand in line to sign up for a reservation. They were all very good especially the steak house. Although they say that its not needed to tip I still did and got exceptional service from everyone. We used the swim up bar pool as there were less kids and had a lot of fun. We took the snorkeling tour and it was great. They have jerk chicken on the beach almost every day and they usually have some kind of entertainment to accompany it. Hope you have fun.

The best part of Negril is seven mile beach the bad part of where you are staying is that you cant just walk the whole beach. You should really spend a day just walking the beach you will really see the best part of what negril has to offer. I would usually never tell anyone to go to margaritaville but it is a good place to sit on the beach for free and it is right in the middle of the beach its a good location to base from for a day. and then you can wonder the beach. Otherwise a cruse on the wildthing is alwayse fun if you decide to do that ask for nicko he runs the snorkling you will have a good time for sure.

One week to go and we'll be sitting on the beach having cocktails and dreams in Jamaica. THANK YOU everyone for the help and your opinions. I have started a folder and put all this information in it to bring along.
ANYTHING or anyone have anything else to say?

If you are a fan of lobster I would suggest taking a stroll down the beach to the left of the Resort. There is a place in the trees that freshly grills lobster right over an open fire. Garlic butter and garlic bread accompany it. For 10-20 dollars they pull it right out of the trap on the beach and cook it right infront of you. It was an awesome experience. The best place for lunch, other than the Jerk Chicken Stand, is the open air eatery on the right hand side of the main part of the resort. At night its the Steak House but during the day they have patties and more Jamaican type food for you to eat. If you happen to run into the guys filling your fridges make sure to tip them and tell them you would like Red Stripe in your rooms instead of Real Rock(gross beer). They will fill the fridge to the brim with Red Stripe if you do. Also there are no elevators in the resort so if you have some in your group that have difficulty make sure you let the front desk know so they can get a main floor room.

The jerk chicken on the beach is actually very good. I hope they have resolved the sewer gas odor issue at the bar and swim up bar...

You have to get up early and queue for dinner reservations for that day only. It is a stupid system. Also, you'll find guests playing the towel game at the pool. I have always found the "entertainment" to be less than entertaining, and the disco is kinda claustrophobic...

The service is very good at the hotel. The buffet was actually very good to excellent. Make sure to check out the buffet if there is a wedding that day...the leftover wedding cake goes on the buffet!!!!

Get off the property and see Negril. A good way to do this is to get dropped at TreeHouse on 7mile. We had no problem using their pool and beach chairs for the price of a Red Stripe. Then, just walk the beach. It is one of the funnest and best beaches in the world. Really. When you are done, take a cab up to Ricks to watch the sunset and the divers. It is free. You don't have to order a drink. Then, go next door to LTU for a good dinner. And that's just one day!! Otherwise, all you will do is hang on the beach at Bloody Bay, which has no services, except for the Office of Nature....

well a must do if you are going to be in the area is to visit the Canoe Bar and resturant located on the West end road jus past the round about...its very local so you will have a sense of the true jamaican vibe along with great food,great music especially on thursday nights when we have a live web cast with live steel band!!! we also have a great beach which is open to relaxation at your own pace and great snorkeling....also open for breakfast from 7 a.m for a great breakfast here...also i'll post a plate and a view so you can get a feel before handAttachment 8717Attachment 8718

It's off the beaten path a bit from the RIU experience, I'd be sure to grab some jerk chicken from a roadside vendor. It's just...better!

Also a few other tips:
Carry small change from the airport to the hotel, for tipping, or to use when your bus stops for a bathroom/beer/refreshment break. I'd suggest $100 US in $5 and $10 bills, with some $1s, too. This way, you can be sure you won't lose too much cash on the exchange.

Clive's is a great choice. Since you're using him, take advantage and equip yourself. I'd suggest getting a Jamaican cell phone from the driver, they are around $20 US for a week and make it nice for calling home, or for calling for yours, delivery, cost-wise it beats using your own cell or room phone.

Take a walk on the Seven Mile Beach. A simple "no thanks" will keep the vendors off of you, and the walk will expose you to some of the famous beach life and properties you read about on this board.

Have fun. Smile. Be firm. Pay about 70% of what you normally would..or less...for goods and services.

Enjoy!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brownsd54

and the divers begging for money get annoying very fast.

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While I agree that the divers can be annoying at times you must remember are not paid and rely on any tips they can make.

I have been to Rick's 3 times - the first for myself and the other two times with newbies. it is a place you should go at least once but, as others have said, watch the sunset and the divers and then go to 3 Dives or LTU for dinner and drinks.

THANKS AGAIN everyone. 3 days to go and it's party time. With a couple of inches of snow this morning I am more excited about going now. I've printed everything out - so much to do.