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Thinking back, I think some of the changes I've noticed:
1, Now it is less crowded in indy hotels/more crowded at the AIs
2, Now there are more beggars/hustlers
3, Now there is much more public ganja smoke
4, Now there is a much bigger emphasis on the Net
5, Now the prices have gone DOWN considering inflation
6, Now the airport is much more modernized (I miss the smell of Negril on the tarmac instead of a tunnel)
da Vibe
re: #5 I question that one-seems like prices are way up :eek:
1.more progress-(ie more built up-)starting to look to clutterd on that beautiful stretch of beach..Thank goodness thay still have the two public beach areas-more pristine and natural-I encourage everyone to hang there-next door to cosmos is #1 and you pay a few Jam dollars (help upkeep) there is bathroom, shower..primitive but nice..
2.the vibes- more apathy towards visitors as well as increased aggressiveness(people trying to sell you stuff)
3.more interesting and unique places to eat
4. The music scene and venues to see bands/dj music has gone down-use be quite a few places you could party on late in the eve-now sadly, just a few..Now the scene ends early-and just over-all boring compared to other places on the island
5.lots more "open" ganga smoking..
Began going to Negril in 1980 less ganja smoking on beach now. More aggressive higglers. most of them not from Negril. Locals use to keep low lives away. South end of beach much less busy.
-Yup...even in the last few years...NO WAY is it more public.Quote:
Originally Posted by Van
AND...
-Current/electricity is much better....keeps your beers nice & frosty in those steadily running refrigerators. :)
-Food service/quickness has greatly improved.
-Water supply is so much better than it ever has been.
yes suzengrace, i hear ALLA that except for your #5, lol. Van, glad to see i'm not the only one who thinks just the opposite of "Now there is much more public ganja smoke".
IME it's just the opposite - used to be you could set out on the beach and chill right out in the open... and so did everyone else, and nobaddy bothered nobaddy. It was generally more open & friendly vibes, way more mellow on the beach, no cops - and less need for cops everywhere, cause it was a more 'share and share alike' atmosphere, overall. Nowadays those who partake must be ultra-discreet. At that time it was a less popular vacation destination in general, so less hotels, less crowded overall, and more chill than it is now.
also not sure how you figure prices are down - again, IME just the opposite. It's not nearly as inexpensive to go there as it was.
not saying the old days were 'good' and now is 'bad' - just noting the difference. which is of course, the normal progression of things. but nonetheless, one of the reasons i loved it so much was cause it was rustic and quiet. I'm not a fan of the jetways and bigbox stores and corporate resorts and nail salons and party-til-ya-drop-barhopping. Again not saying it's 'bad' - of course that is 'progress'. It's just not my preference, and i painfully miss those vibes that I loved with my whole soul. That which is now gone, is where my heart was. that was what i loved best about the place.
Agree w/ Dave re: # 5 Prices are NOT down... much, much higher.
Yep... more folks in AIs, for sure.
Many more cars & fast ones, too. Much more traffic on the beach road.
The ROADS!!!!!!!!!!
The roads are so much better!
Oh my gosh I remember driving up the west end in 1999 and 2000 and how horrible the roads were. I remember so many potholes and bad areas you would have to bring your car to a stop almost to get through it all. We rent scooters now but back then there is no way I would have ridden a scooter on those roads!
Also the Spring Break has definitely died down quite a bit....I remember how it used to be pre-9/11 and also when MTV used to be there....they would bring in special trucks and tents and vans, I think even like Taco Bell and what not up and down the beach so much craziness....I avoided that time of year like the plague!
cell phones, some have two!....the service for anything is much-much faster.......
Cell phones have been around more than 10 years . Had my first JA cellie since Jan. 2010. Many more people have cell phones now but not new in the last 10 years. Just more people w/ one or two cell phones now. What's different is that it no longer costs an arm an a leg to call from one provider to another or to call the US. I remember when calling from CW Jamiaica to Digicell cost as much as calling to the US. I eventually ditched CW Jamaica & went w/ Digicell.
Marley, that was my thought...the roads!
Airport much more Americanized. (still miss the old one though and the ladies singing, etc ) Roads better yet leads to increase speed.( may seem crazy but I still miss the old road)
More food selections...really like this! Better "current" and water pressure. Easier access to cash and internet. Cell phones now EVERYWHERE!
More folks on the "bad drugs", ie, crack, cocaine, etc......... However, with all the changes...somethings remain the same. Great people still around...still good local places to eat, yardie style, and my favorite island in the world is still affordable...at least for now, if the airline prices will cooperate!!
As they say, nothing is an inevitable as change. Considering how fast things have changed here at home, I still prefer the slower paced changes of Negril. With just a few miles, one can still enjoy the countryside and feel the old school feel if we so desire.
It was dirt cheap when we got married 10 years ago. We had our 'reception' at 3 dives and 2 lobsters, a couple jerk chickens and at least 30 beers came to something like 80 bucks!
I miss the welcome singers at the airport too!
This is an interesting thread to read and see what take people have on things from their visits to Negril.
In the last decade there have been some great changes. The most obvious ones are the improvements of the roads, water, electricity, phone, internet and availability of items to purchase. It is much easier to get around, stay in touch and get the things you want and need. These are major improvements for sure.
The perception about the ganja and the other illicit drugs are interesting. While still common, the public partaking of ganja is much less than it was 10 years ago. Perhaps a few folks hang around in a small group and their group are more public users, but overall the public visibility is way down. The police patrols see to that.
The cocaine/crack use is also way down. Unfortunately Jamaicans learned the same way as most places have, that cocaine is simply not a wise idea. The few that survived their habits are walking lessons for others, and the few addicts still alive are becoming so well known for their behavior that regular stints in jail are the norm for them.
One of the most obvious signs that the cocaine use has diminished is the fact that the late late night shows are no longer well attended by locals and visitors alike. The number of 24 hour spots have decreased as well - there is no longer much "need" to find a beer at 4am because you are too wired to go back to your room. The local enforcement of the laws are reflecting this change - and the police are taking a bit closer watch on those who regularly stay out all night.
The "higgler" changes are much harder to gauge, it seems that like the shifting sands, it depends on the day you are experiencing it. I have heard a person say that it was the worst experience they ever had and the very next day have someone say it was the least aggressive they have ever seen it. And I think that last part is the real explanation. It is only based on what the person "has ever seen" and not based on a large statistically significant study.
Again, this is an interesting thread.
My lst visit to Negril was on a day visit with a rental car from Mo Bay! Loved the old dirt road I drove to get there, the open space and the laid back astomphere of the town. Course I was only there for a 6 hour visit, but it had a lot of charm!!
For me, two things. The road from the airport, now much better and the beach. The beach is a strange thing, it moves in and out and up and down.
Everything else, hasn't changed (much) in the past 10 years> Now if you ask what has changed in the past 25 years........................
Yeah ask about 25 years ago. Ted says there was hardly anything on the cliffs, only bush. Road was worse than it is now, if that's possible. On the beach part he said there weren't as many places which allowed him to capture land and put up a craft place, until the authorities tore it down, then he'd move somewhere else on the beach. Did that for years. Then he moved into the craft market over 10 years ago, but just recently moved his wares to our home in the hills. He actually makes more now than he did in the market. Other vendors would be too agressive at the market and stop the tourists from getting down to his booth. Sometimes he didn't sell anything for weeks and with his overhead, he finally gave it up.