Charela Inn vs SeaStar

Husbby & I are booking our yearly summer trip to Negril...last summer we stayed at Catcha & had the BEST time of our lives. Everyone, EVERYONE was wonderful, the property was beautiful and the food was excellent. What we also liked about it was we could "charge" everything to our room so we didn't have to think about money untill we actually left the property. Sometimes I felt alittle out of the way & I felt that I really had to know where we were going before we left for the day, does that make sense? So we thought we would stay on the beach this time & be right in the middle of everything.
In our search, Charela Inn keeps coming up - and you can do the AI option. But we have also keep hearing about SeaStar amd although it is not on the beach they have the free shuttle (best of both worlds). So I need your help here...your thoughts? BTW - and totally off topic - I cant say enough about Clarity & HubbyMan, everytime I read your postings (and sometimes I reread them) I feel like I am right there with you, you guys make my day everytime!!!

Charela Inn & Seastar Inn are both great properties & each offer their own unique vibe that should be experienced.
Are you in Negril long enough to maybe consider a stay at both properties?

Charela Inn is a great place. we have stayed there many times, as recently as last December. It's more expensive than Seastar but it's my favorite place to stay on the beach. I agree with Bnewb, split your stay. Start at Charela and the move to Seastar. That way when you want to go to the beach you can hang out at Charela. We visit Charela even when we are not staying there and are always made to feel welcome. We've never stayed at Seastar but partied there numerous times. You won't find nicer people than Chris and Francine the owners and the food is great.

Aww thank you Jesswade for the compliment on our TR! So glad you enjoyed it. Hearing that makes MY day! :o

I also agree with Bnewb, If you are staying long enough to split your trip between both properties I would go for it.
Seastar inn has such a great vibe, they really make you feel at home there. The food is amazing! I have some video footage of the grounds that I'll try to post soon.
I've never been to Charela Inn but it looks beautiful and I've heard a lot of great things about that property.

I agree with the split stay, I have done this and it works outs great. You get a chance to experience all of Negril. Pro's and cons for both cliff and beach it just depends on you. Lots to do at each end.

Both good options with different vibes! You might also check out Charela's sister property on the cliffs, Le Mirage. They might work with you on prices. Then you could have the cliff vibe with a new infinity pool and still be able to have a ride down to Charela's for beach vibe. So many options to consider. Whatever decision....ya just can't go wrong!

If you thought catcha was "out of the way" then Seastar might seem even more so.

Kevin......I was thinking that same thing!

i love charela! it was a romantic inn reminding me of "old jamaica" - some of the beach front rooms have jacuzzi's

not sure i would do AI - the food is excellent there - but there are so many places to eat up and down the beach

thank you so much for the feed back...it does sound like a split vacation is the way to go (have to convence hubby)! When we stayed at Catch last year (our 1st time to Negril) we didn't do as much research as we should have & didn't know really where to go. I'll tell you where we did end up "3 Dives" and had the best lobsters we have ever had in our lives!!!! :) So that is why I thought stay on the beach and walk a few steps and be in the middle of the action. BUT on the other hand, I keep hearing about the shows and the free shuttle at sea star. If this is my problem today, isn't it great? I keep hearing about the "best room" at sea star, something about right above the bar, nice and private with a great view? I think i'm leaning toward sea star...okay guys anymore tips, where to go & how much to bring ($ wise for a week) for 2 pretty good drinkers, pretty good eaters 30somethings , lol! THANK YOU!!!!

I have stayed at Charela many times. Their beach is awesome and you will get great photos too. The staff is very friendly
and I enjoyed staying there. It is a great location on the beach.Attachment 12481

Seastar is indeed lovely - once you get there. for me, it being nowhere near the water and a bit of a walk back off the road puts it out of the running in my choice of vacation hotels. now if i was ever planning a longterm stay i'd consider it, but just for a short week or two, i'd choose Charela. taxi'ing to the beach just isn't the same as waking up and being right there ON the sand, stepping out your door right into the sea for a morning swim, having coffee/breakfast right there in bathing suit & bare feet, having everything right there without having to do anything, go anywhere, or even get dressed..... now that's my personal ideal for relaxation. i also enjoy cliff stays sometimes too, but only in hotels right on the water; seastar is a wonderful place, but imho is just too out-of-the-way -

We've never stayed at Charela but all I've heard about it has been positive!

We have split our vacation between the beach and the West End and it was a good thing for sure!

We have had the pleasure of staying at the Seastar inn and I gotta tell you, it was all good! The shuttle did make it easy to get to the beach or anywhere along the way for that matter and a cell phone too. Pool is good and the food is too along with the Saturday nite shows and the 2 for 1 drink specials as well.

If you're going to stayin the West End then the Seastar Inn is a great choice! Chris and Francine & company will take real good care of you!

Peace
Elvino

We have decided to stay at drumroll......Charela Inn! I am so excited! Thank you all so very much!!!

Just saw this thread and had to laugh. I'm heading to Negril for the first time this December and after weeks of reading the forum and reviews on tripadvisor, I booked 5 nights and Charela and 5 nights at Seastar Inn! Sounds like we must have the same kind of preferences!

I hope you post a report and some picts post-trip! I'm dying to hear how your experience was at both places!

it's really apples and oranges in this case.............
one is directly on the beach........the other is on the road side of the cliffs and not on the water..........
one is kinda expensive.........one is kinda inexpensive..........
personally I would choose SeaStar Inn because overall it's a lot better setup for this guy............
it would be living it up big time at Charlea Inn being a solo guy and not worth the extra bucks.........

now comparing Charlea Inns sista property Mirage with SeaStar Inn would be more like oranges and oranges.........though Mirage is directly on da wata

Cool Runnings, Marko