Need guidance for my next trip home

Hello All,

Longtime lurker first time poster. First a little background. First went to negril back in the 90’s with a buddy and stayed at the Negril Beach Club. The purpose of that trip was to get over a divorce and as a reward for going through a tough year of rehabilitation after having broken my back. Within 5 minutes of getting off the plane getting over the divorce was completed, I found a new love. Had a great trip and went again the following 2 years. Life’s responsibilities soon caught up to me (raising my son, paying alimony, career etc.) add to that I was broke as hell and Negril became just a beautiful memory.

Fast forward to 2010. I had remarried a few years back and wanted to share with my wife my love for Negril. Only challenge was she was raised in a sheltered family, in a very sheltered community in New England (aka prude). Now don’t get me wrong this girl can party like a pornstar, but the scene at Negril can be overwhelming for some folk at first and I didn’t want her to get turned off right away so I constructed a strategy. Ease her into the life. By that I mean, first trip was to Riu Club Negril. The AI was a very sheltered first reach. She loved the weather, the water and the people. We walked the beach, did a tour of Appleton and ran some school supplies to Grange Hill Primary. I could tell however that even though she loved all that she still didn’t quite get it. You know, the vibe.

2011, phase 2 of my plan. Another AI vacation but this time at the Riu Palace for a week. More beach walking, a quick visit to Time Square market and a little bar hopping. Surprisingly the wife was slowly coming out of her shell. She was starting to find her groove. As we left that year she looked at me and said “I think I could do 2 weeks here.” So as you can imagine I was doing the Snoopy happy dance at my great fortune.

2012, 2 weeks (Feb25th to March 10th scheduled at Riu Palace again. Here is my dilemma, while I enjoy the AI’s in other places (Dominican, Mexico, etc.) I found I had a much better time staying in the smaller more intimate resorts. I want to make this trip convince her that we don’t need to stay at an AI and that we would have a much better time in the Cliffs or on 7-mile. Please all of you experienced boardies, if you wanted to show the best that Negril has to offer in the categories of Romance, Food, Music and Bar life where would that 1 place be? Thanks for your help and I look forward to hearing from everyone. Yay me, I just popped my posting cherry!

Catcha Falling Star ...... no question

it would be 2 places, idle awhile for 1 wk then either tensing pen or catcha for the second wk. be sure to go to seastar for the saturday night entertainment & buffet.then maybe next year she'd go for seastar for the whole 2 weeks.good luck!

Perhaps grand pineapple on the beach. Small ai, right in the thick of things. I stayed there on my first reach many years ago, on my own. You still have that ai vibe, but can walk the beach and stop at restaurants, bars, vendors as you like. I decided within a couple of days that an ai wasn't really my thing since I was never there!

I am in Negril now, trying yet another hotel, I like to change it up each trip.

The cliffs are wonderful, will be moving there for my last two nights, but you are a little more insulated there....behind a gate at many properties, but excellent food and little bars if you venture out.

Let us know how it goes.

my vote would be Rockhouse,small great swimming nice pool, very private we love it there. Amazing place to have a very romantic dinner.

catcha,.....go to Ivans for dinner when your there in late feb,look around.FAN TAS TIC.Most places will let you look around,Just wondering up the west end you'll be able to check out a bunch of great places to stay.Check out the thread about 5 top pics.Last time I looked,Catcha was #1

Another option would be the Blue Cave Castle on the cliffs. A most unique and affordable property. My Empress and I were married there and have stayed there many times. It is small and romantic and they have an excellent restaurant on site, Teddy's Hideaway. Lots of bars and restaurants in easy walking distance, even more by a quick taxi ride. Check out their website: www.bluecavecastle.com

On the beach check out the Charela Inn. Their ocean front rooms are fantastic.

Bless...
Ed

If you have the money.......Catcha

if you lookie for just a great time with no worries......SeaStar Inn

if you need a place on da wata on the Cliffs besides Catcha........Blue Cave Castle.........

those are mi top three picks!

oh......mi originally from New England too........so your wife must be okay........

Cool Runnings, Marko

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Originally Posted by marley9808

Catcha Falling Star ...... no question

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What she said

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Originally Posted by pekingduck

catcha,.....go to Ivans for dinner when your there in late feb,look around.FAN TAS TIC.Most places will let you look around,Just wondering up the west end you'll be able to check out a bunch of great places to stay.Check out the thread about 5 top pics.Last time I looked,Catcha was #1

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Yet another vote

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Originally Posted by Marko

If you have the money.......Catcha

If not, find the money

if you lookie for just a great time with no worries......SeaStar Inn

if you need a place on da wata on the Cliffs besides Catcha........Blue Cave Castle.........

those are mi top three picks!

oh......mi originally from New England too........so your wife must be okay........

Cool Runnings, Marko

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Catcha all the way.... Everything you mentioned it has. Bar is intimate but fun, especially with the right crowd. Food is great, romance is what you make of it however the setting could only help, and the music is mostly reggae at night if that is what you are looking for. Just check the place out and cancel your RUI reservation.

BigBamboo.....I hear ya....wife and I have been going to JA now for 6 years....all Couples Negril(next door to Palace)...with one exception to Couples San Souci in Ochi....we are stepping down to Grand Pineapple this reach...and hopefully getting even more adventurous next year...plan on doing a lot of exploring Negril this time, and getting a better feel of it..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marko

If you have the money.......Catcha

if you lookie for just a great time with no worries......SeaStar Inn

if you need a place on da wata on the Cliffs besides Catcha........Blue Cave Castle.........

those are mi top three picks!

oh......mi originally from New England too........so your wife must be okay........

Cool Runnings, Marko

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I've loved reading your posts Marko, i appreciate the tips. Yeah the little lady is okay i'm very fortunate that she has the same belief as i that 'If it can't kill me i"ll try anything once" lol.

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Originally Posted by Ras Walleye

Another option would be the Blue Cave Castle on the cliffs. A most unique and affordable property. My Empress and I were married there and have stayed there many times. It is small and romantic and they have an excellent restaurant on site, Teddy's Hideaway. Lots of bars and restaurants in easy walking distance, even more by a quick taxi ride. Check out their website: www.bluecavecastle.com

On the beach check out the Charela Inn. Their ocean front rooms are fantastic.

Bless...
Ed

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I;d have to agree. Even if you don't stay there you can have Teddy cook you dinner while you sit cliffside. That should give you a good idea of the vibe there. It may be a bit too much of a change going from a beach AI to the quaintness of the Blue Cave Castle but if your looking for something more low key I highly recommend at least giving it a visit next time you're there.

Thanks everyone for your help. So this is what it's gonna look like. We're going to check out the grounds of Catcha, Tensing Pen, and the Rockhouse wrapping it up with a dinner at Blue Cave Castle. I’ll let Teddy know that he has many enthusiasts on the board. I’ll post some photos when we go and thanks again aeveryone.