Mr. X does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Mr. X does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Prologue
Summer 2010

This is a made up story. Even if this really did happened exactly as i say, I have some short (and long) term memory issues that would make the authenticity of this version of events dubious at best. (Thats a disclaimer to protect the guilty and allow you to hopefully overlook some of my shortcomings)

No relation to Mr. X from old board and 2009 Trip Report. I am older (about a year), better looking (my story), better shape (slightly) and smarter (at least about Negril). Same wife.

Since this already happened (or not) if I am wondering aloud what I should eat or where I should stay. These are more rhetorical questions therefore advise though nice not exactly helpful NOW! Pointing out that I am a typical loud obnoxious American is not helpful either and wrong (well at least the typical part and hopefully not the obnoxious).

As far as the wanton slaughter of poor animals for my digestive pleasure? It’s defiantly upsetting but at the time the animals had already been sacrificed. I know it is a lame excuse but I was on vacation, hungry and well damn they tasted so good.

After trip to Jamaica last year (2009) over Labor Day Week (US holiday in early September for you foreigners) I decided we don’t always have to go to Jamaica on vacation, at least once a year will be fine with me. This year Wifey has already been to Miami (expensive) with high school girlfriends, Mexico (inexpensive) with her family and we went to friends’ beach house (free except for gas) over Memorial Day. So hard but not impossible for her to grant my One Request in Life.

WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO TO NEGRIL WE HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING THERE?
(She is still yelling and this does not mean she does not want to go just wants me to justify)
Except for last year we have not been there in 13 years and we stayed in an All Inclusive (AI) at the far end of Negril so we did not see that much. And as Marko says Bloody Bay is in the middle of nowhere.
WHO’S MARKO?
Somebody who knows and it is not important. Remember how much fun we had last year?

I DON’T THINK THE FOOD IS THAT ALL THAT GREAT IN JAMAICA!
Honey we went over this. Last year we stayed in an AI and had buffet meals for a week. It is like if someone flew to visit the USA stayed in a Hotel in Cleveland and had buffet food for a week and then flew home to their country and said the food in the US of A sucks! Does not mean it does or does not suck. It is just not a fair sampling of food to indict an entire country and all its food based on eating at one place. Every meal we ate outside the AI you loved. So this time you will get a variety of places to eat and then you can be food critic for a whole country or at least for Negril. Fair enough?

Been checking flights at least weekly for a year mostly for reference purposes and to “keep hope alive”. Delta Airlines direct from Atlanta (ATL). Early flight leaves at 10am lands Montego Bay (MBJ) at 12pm (3 hour flight gain 1 hour going this time of year). Best for us Saturday to Saturday especially holiday week. Slow at work any holiday week. $409 each best fare and mostly had this fare for last 6 months.

Of course I dream of the days (20 years ago) when fares were $250. All in all $409 is not horrible price it is just the actual paying part. Last year (2009) when I tried to book direct from Delta 3 weeks before Labor Day it was $600 each and felt fortunate to pay $450 each indirectly thru Bookit.com. Getting closer hoping maybe it will go down. Little trouble in Kingston. Continued broke ass in Atlanta.

Maybe will not happen this year. Truth is it has been that kind of year. Bummer. So much for the yearly tradition of going to Jamaica for Labor Day Week. Hope fades … fares start going down … what $325 wow … if I had the money I would book it for 2 today! Changing every day for 2 weeks going up to $479 down to $325. Big difference with 2 tickets that’s a $300 savings.

July 29th, 2010 – Thursday morning
Wife said her sister and husband always wanted to go to Jamaica with us could you check rates.
Delta Airlines Low fare is 2nd flight that leaves at 12noon and gets to MoBay at 2pm.
$239 … Holy Moses … $239 must be something wrong with computer … figure flights from Boston so they could be on exact flights as us with plenty of time to make connections for them. $299 for them round trip from Boston. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Story I get is BROTHER-IN-LAW DOES NOT WANT TO LEAVE NEW ENGLAND IN SEPTEMBER. I don’t even get on the phone. Good luck with that. They live on the beach. He is a doctor from NYC. Never been to Jamaica. Once you go you know. He is regular smart and street smart (rare combo) so he is not going to have no problems in Jamaica. Trust me of all the people in the world he would get it. Sorry to hear that.

Baby listen the rates have not been this low since well since I have been old enough to go to Jamaica. $479 TOTAL for 2 tickets on the flights we want … well maybe 2 hours later going but almost half of what we figured to pay. Round trip was actually $140. That’s $70 dollars each way from Atlanta, Georgia USA to Montego Bay, Jamaica West Freaking Indies. With taxes and fees of $99 totals $239. Unbelievable.

We are not talking crappy Spirit Airlines (charging for carry on bs) with layovers in Fort Lauderdale on mid-week bad time of day travel. Direct on Delta Airlines from the ATL to the MBJ. Saturday to Saturday. Sweet!!! I heard sometimes prices are set on midnight Wednesday (or midnight Tuesday). Don’t know about that but I got these on a Thursday morning and within hours price was back up to $325 each. Fortunately for us the trigger was pulled and we are going to Jamaica in 2010.

38 days till September 4th, 2010.
Got to start exercising.
P38X?
People always write in to board. Why you got to get in shape before vacation? Why you got to diet? Lots of answers for me. Don’t know exact one but here is a start. I am going to be running around in my bathing suit without a shirt on all week eating and drinking like a pig and jumping off cliffs into the ocean while my wife is going to be snapping a million party pics. I hate party pics. I beg her not to do it but she is going to do it anyway. Beautiful scenery all around and you want posed fake smile? I am not going to pose so she is going to take shots of me anyway. Damn.

Another possible reason if you cannot climb out of water on rusty uneven ladders then you cannot play in the big boy end of ocean. Best for me to try to get in better shape so my fat ass don’t drown. Long list. Not saying I am going to be in better shape just saying it’s a goal.

Lack of funds is going to be an issue. Ok so luxurious vacation is out (lol was not really an option). Don’t want to stay at an All Inclusive (AI) for too many reasons. We will see what happens in next few weeks. Back in vacation mode looking stuff up. Instead of all this general info I have been collecting now I got exact dates when we will be in Jamaica so I got to figure out everything from hotels, food, drinks, tours, budget, and transportation everything. Me like that.

As a Refresher here is a link to my 2009 Trip Report – Which of course is the real Prologue to this story. Just click on link and go to start (Archive through August 30th, 2010)

http://www.negril.com/discus/message...263#POST441504

Prologue
Chapter 1 – Big Movie Star
Chapter 2 – Why Jamaica
Chapter 3 – Why Negril
Chapter 4 – Negril.com
Chapter 5 - Hotels
Chapter 6 - Budget
Chapter 7 – Snorkeling and Floating
Chapter 8 – My First Trip to Negril
Chapter 9 – Cliff Jumping
Chapter 10 - Souvenirs
Chapter 11 - Airfare
Chapter 12 – Company is Coming
Chapter 13 – Final Week
Chapter 14 – Plane Ride
Chapter 15 – MBJ Airport
Chapter 16 – Ride to Negril
Chapter 17 – Mr. Bigga
Chapter 18 – Seastar Inn and Saturday webcast party
Chapter 19 – am at Seastar Inn
Chapter 20 – Bourbon Beach
Chapter 21 – LTU Pub
Chapter 22 – Catcha and the Walk Home
Chapter 23 – 2nd am at Seastar Inn
Chapter 24 – Review of Seastar Inn
Chapter 25 – BarBBarn
Chapter 26 – Red Dragoon
Chapter 27 – afternoon at BarBBarn
Chapter 28 – Dinner at Jamaica Tamboo
Chapter 29 – Show at Bourbon Beach
Chapter 30 – am at BarBBarn
Chapter 31 – Review of BarBBarn
Chapter 32 – Catcha Fallin Star
Chapter 33 – Field Tour
Chapter 34 – Driving around Red Ground
Chapter 35 – Xtabi
Chapter 36 – afternoon at Catcha
Chapter 37 – sunset at Catcha
Chapter 38 – dinner at Catcha
Chapter 39 – later at Catcha
Chapter 40 – am at Catcha
Chapter 41 – Blue Cave Castle
Chapter 42 – Idle Awhile
Chapter 43 – Coco La Palm
Chapter 44 – Canoe
Chapter 45 – afternoon at Blue Cave Castle
Chapter 46 – trip to L& M
Chapter 47 – 2nd trip to L&M
Chapter 48 – Ciao Jamaica
Chapter 49 – Later at the Castle
Chapter 50 – 1st morning at the Castle
Chapter 51 – Later 1st morning at the Blue Cave Castle
Chapter 52 – Even later 1st morning at the Blue Cave Castle
Chapter 53 – Famous Vincent and the Sunset Cruise
Chapter 54 – Review of Famous Vincent
Chapter 55 – 2nd Night at the Blue Cave Castle
Chapter 56 – 2nd Morning at the Blue Cave Castle
Chapter 57 – Ant Story
Chapter 58 – Review of Blue Cave Castle
Chapter 59 –
Chapter 60 -
Chapter 61 -
Chapter 62 -
Chapter 63 -
Chapter 64 -
Chapter 65 -
Chapter 66 -
Chapter 67 -
Chapter 68 -
Chapter 69 -
Chapter 70 - The End

I enjoyed reading that - thanks Mr X - enjoy :)

Thanks for that link, Mr. X....I enjoyed re-reading your last trip report almost as much as I enjoyed reading it when you wrote it! You are such a fabulous writer!....full of humor & wit....really looking forward to the next exerpt, embellished or not!! Go Mr. X!!!

you gotta love those 'please disregard those last few messages' messages lol...

Thanks Mr.X.. Enjoy reading your report and re-reading last years..Looking forward to more, I also love your writing style and wit!

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations



Chapter 1 - Big Movie Star
Spring 2011 (flash forward)

I am ticked off. Don’t want to take things out of context (or order) but …

It’s early April of 2011. Not April 1st but I am not really sure exact date. Wife is running late as usual and I get stuck taking her to work. Promising she will get ride home. I am busy. Lunch time comes and she cannot get ride so I got to go thru traffic and get her. Damn. I am in bad mood and don’t need to be wasting another hour minimum. Soon as I pick her up she is in bad mood and says we have to stop at the PetSmart. She promised me before I came to get her specifically no stops. I asked specifically. No stops. Every stop with her takes forever. Of course we have to stop at PetSmart we got 5 pets we have to stop at the PetSmart every freaking day. I am ticked off and whip her car into PetSmart parking lot.

As I am pulling in a woman/girl in casual clothes is walking across in front of the car so I got to stop not quite to front entrance. She is followed by 2 young kids and then a guy in a warm up suit. I saw him from the side only as he approached and he did not turn his head but slightly towards me. I am 100% sure it is him. Wifey climbs out of car pointing out more of my shortcomings. She usually makes me pull her up another 20 feet so she can be exactly in front of the main entry doors. This time she decides not to wait and jumps out. I am more ticked off. Whatever. Hop out here and as a parting gesture I said “Hurry up and don’t hit on that guy.” She ignored (later claimed did not hear me) per usual.

Now I got dilemma. I could park and go in and see the Big Movie Star. Frankly I am still too mad at my wife and besides it’s not like his wife the other Big Movie Star was with him. That obviously is the nanny or somebody else. Maybe if his wife and DEFINITELY if his old girlfriend (J Lo) was with him, I am parking the car and coming in the PetSmart. Just to see if my wife or ANYBODY else needs help or ANYTHING. I like the guy fine. Just don’t care about him. Got my own problems today that running into a Big Movie Star not going make no differences for me. Besides I am ticked off.


So I shoot thru parking lot drive a couple blocks and pop in Trader Joes to get a few food items knowing she always takes forever to go in a store and come out. Throw in a Big Movie Star and his 2 kids and puppies and kittens. I got plenty of time. I get to cashier at Trader Joes with my 4 items and then realize my wallet is in my car and I drove her car. Don’t even have cash. Damn. That kind of day. Never mind I say and leave everything. Go out to car. She is blowing up my phone. Where are you? Where are you!! I answer be right there. She is still yelling at me on the phone when I pull up in the car. She jumps in.

I am just a little curious how she is going to play this.
(Her) Where was I?
(Me) Told you on the phone I went to Traders Joes!
(Her) You didn’t go to Trader Joes.
(Me) Yes I did go to Trader Joes.
(Her) How come you got no bags in the car from Trader Joes?
(Me) BECAUSE MY FREAKING WALLET IS IN MY CAR!
(Her) What did you do?
(Me) What do you mean I was in line I just put the stuff down and walked out like a moron.
(Her) Kinda dumb to not have ur wallet.
(Me) Kinda dumber to not be able to get up slightly earlier say 5 minutes so you can put gas in ur car and not cause me to waste 2 hours or more of my day and all this aggravation!
(Her) Whatever.
(Me) Whatever urself.

(Her) Guess who was in the line in front of me at PetSmart?
(Me) Hmm I don’t know let me guess “Ben *****ing Affleck”.
(Her) HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT! HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLE KNOW THAT!!
(Me) If I had not stopped ur car I would have run over his kids when we pulled in the PetSmart parking lot.
(Her) HOW DID YOU KNOW IT WAS HIM?
(Me) Well I know his wife has been here filming a movie and he has been around. He did not turn much but I knew it was him. He is a handsome man.
(Her) WHAT ARE YOU GAY?
(Me) Because I can notice Ben Affleck is a handsome man that makes me gay? Don’t seem like a very high hurdle to be gay. Anyhow I could tell he was no regular guy. He was wearing a warm up suit or whatever he looked tall and built. Unshaven but like groomed unshaven. Acting like he is not paying attention trust me he was aware of his surroundings. By the way that does not make me gay (not that there is anything wrong with being gay) just observant.

(Her) WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SOMETHING?
(Me) Um I DID remember when you got out of the car all mad I said “hurry up and don’t hit on that guy”. What did you want me to do? Shout “Look honey its Ben Affleck right in front of you”. You know I am not like that. Would not have said anything except I was really ticked off at you. Anyhow what happened in PetSmart?

(Her) I don’t notice anything. I just got the stuff I needed fast because you said you were waiting on me and went to the counter to check out and there was Ben Affleck and his 2 kids (she knew their names) and the nanny.
(Me) How did YOU know it was him?
(Her) Whole family is on Entertainment Tonight or in People Magazine every week. His picture was probably looking back at him from the magizine rack. Anyway the girl cashier is ringing him up and then all of a sudden she starts acting all goofy and smiling. “I know you” “I know you” Big smile. “Where do I know you from?” Bigger smile.
(Me) What did he say?
(Her) Nothing really. Then she asked him what his name was?
(Me) What did he say?
(Her) He said “Ben” real slow. Just “Ben”. But he like stretched out his name “Been”.
(Can’t help it that made me bust out laughing. Mr. Big Movie Star. How many times he has to do that in his day or in his life? Hey I know you quickly followed by what’s ur name? No Ben Affleck or BEN AFFLECK or BEN AFFLECK YOU IDIOT or anything just real slow and slightly Southern despite him being from up North. He just says “B e e n”. Too funny. Like Jethro on Beverly Hillbillies just saying “Beeen.” Still makes me laugh.)

(Me) So what happened after that?
(Her) Nothing really. They left, girl rings me up. All the other employees are gathering around talking. She is in mild shock acting like she saw a UFO in the PetSmart. I walk out and YOU are not here waiting on me.
(Me) So you had to stand in front of PetSmart waiting 2 minutes for me?
(Her) YOU SAID YOU WOULD BE WAITING ON ME!
(Me) Did you try to hitch a ride with “Beeen”?
(Her) They were gone I think.
(Me) What do big Movie Stars drive?
(Her) Don’t know maybe saw a Range Rover or something.

(Me) Did he hit on you or try to get ur number?

(Her) What’s wrong with you he is married to a Movie Star and has 2 beautiful children!

(Me) So he did not even notice you?

(Her) O HE DEFINITELY CHECKED ME OUT!
(Me laughing now)

(Me) Don’t sound like it to me.
(Me laughing harder)

(Her) WHATS HE SUPPOSE TO DO ASK ME FOR MY PHONE NUMBER IN LINE AT PETSMART WITH HIS KIDS AND HIS NANNY AND THE NATIONAL ENQUIER MAGIZINE STAREING UP AT HIM?

(Me) Bet you would have given it to him if he asked!
(Her) Damn right I would have given Ben Affleck my phone number then invite him and Jennifer to go to … blah blah blah … whole way home I got to hear about tour of Atlanta we are going to take the Affleck/Gardner family ...blah blah blah … and then maybe they would want to go to Negril with us this year... blah blah blah




Delusional is the only word that pops into my mind.


Welcome to my world.



Maybe I am sometimes a bit of a pessimist but I would not put the chances of us showing up with 2 Movie Stars in Negril, Jamaica in 2011 very high. In fact we will be lucky for US to get to Negril in 2011. Yet after our 2010 Trip to Jamaica all I can say is I guess ANYTHING is possible …

So if you see Mr. and Mrs. X with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Gardner in Negril this year (2011) please try to act cool knowing I probably got my hands full.

Ok so what has this 2011 Ben Affleck sighting got to do really with Jamaica or Negril?
Valid question. I guess you are assuming we as a group don’t make it to the rock together? Well yes we are assuming you will not be bringing 2 Movie Stars to Negril this year.

First off you are only at Chapter 1.
Maybe wait to see what happens in the next 60 or so Chapters?

Maybe just celebrity name dropping to suck in readers?
Appeal to the masses?
Of course but writing a “book” for a few people who travel to a small specific vacation destination does not really seem for the masses or frankly smart. Touché. I guess par for my course. Some days I guess I have to remind myself I am (or was) alive.

Maybe give you more insight into what we are really like. No sugarcoating lets even call it say unvarnished truth. We are definitely more Lucy/Ricky Ricardo than June/Ward Cleaver. Too young to get that? Crazy sh*t is going to happen and we are going to yell at each other a lot. Try not to let it freak you out.

Final stab at 2011 Ben Affleck Seagueway to my 2010 Trip Report.
Like Pearl Harbor (the movie starring Ben Affleck not the real event) this 2010 Trip Report is going to have a long build up before we get to the actual “action”. Frankly I thought the sappy melodramatic love triangle in the first half of the movie Pearl Harbor was so bad that I as a lifelong Patriotic American begged the Japanese to bomb them. PLEASE LET THE ATTACK START I CAN NOT TAKE IT!!! Once the action started it was a pretty good movie. So here is to hoping the start of this long 2010 Trip Report does not suck like the start of Pearl Harbor (the Movie) because I promise when the action starts (landing) it is going to be “lively”.

Wow. That's it... just wow. :)

I just love it. :)

I can relate to everything but the part about seeing a movie star :-)

So glad you're back! Can't wait to hear about your "lively" time in Negril...

I need more....i'm hooked after reading your previous trip report. Lots of laughs, thanks

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations



Chapter 2 – Why Jamaica?


Distance from my home.
No since getting into debate about vacation length. Lucky to be able to go for a week. Period. This is not some kind of sabbatical. I don’t get any “summer vacation” anymore (guess that was long ago). I do not have unlimited amounts of time (or money). Basically a week with maybe extra day added in. Traveled enough to know that the last day coming home is not going to be fun so to me the only question is how long it is going to take me to get somewhere and get settled and start relaxing or having fun. Going to friends’ beach house is a 7 hour drive. Only a 1 hour flight but when you add all the airport BS in. Takes about 5 hours door to door flying. Plus I got to get rides to and from airport on both ends. Easier just to drive so I can control the times.

For the most part I can get entire East Coast of US in that 5 to 7 hour range driving or flying. West Coast and Las Vegas take me a couple hours longer door to door. Europe, Far East etc way longer and hence to me out of question for a 1 week trip. Going south I can go anywhere along the panhandle of Florida and/or Atlantic side all the way to Miami. Cancun. Jamaica. Several other places in the Caribbean all fall in this basic time frame. So these are what my choices are. Might be a beautiful and perfect place on the other side of the world but time wise I cannot do it now. So this is timeframe WHEREEVER we are going on vacation. I can leave my house at 7am on Saturday morning in Atlanta and arrive Jamaica before 12noon.

Price
Because of taxes and fees it is more expensive for me to fly to Jamaica than NYC and Miami but not much more. About the same price for me as flying to LA or SFO. Bora Bora may be the bomb but cost and time wise not really an option for me. Even paying tourist prices in a tourist part of Jamaica the prices are lower than NYC, Miami and San Francisco for me. Additionaly once you get off the main tourist path which can litterly be a few steps away you can dramatic lower ur costs on everything from food to lodging.

Weather
I don’t like to be cold and damn sure don’t want to be cold on vacation. It is always warm in Jamaica (almost). Like at home the late summer/early fall is about the hottest time. I like to be warm. I do not like to be hot. I find the weather to be perfect at this time. Except for the hottest part of day. Then I just don’t want to be in direct sun light for prolonged periods.

Food
Lots of Fresh Seafood – Favorite food my whole life.
Jerk Anything – Jamaican BarBQue. Love me some jerk.
Fresh vegtibles and fruits. - Including many I am not familiar with but taste great.
Food is a big deal and many places take pride in what they serve. You can but you don’t have to spend a lot of money on food. Locals are not paying tourist prices for food. Many local places where the food is outstanding and inexpensive (by US standards).

I went to St Lucia 15 plus years ago. Beautiful country. Extra friendly people. Read up and ate at best places. The food was not that good. I ordered orange juice at nice breakfast place. I am sitting outside on a restaurant patio and less than 15 feet away is some kind of orange tree growing with oranges all over it and they brought me a little rusty looking 8oz can of “orange juice” from England. Probably charged me $5 for it. I am a foodie. Not saying I am planning vacations around food (ok maybe I do). No matter how much fun I am having bad food is going to effect my vacation. Better the food better the overall vacation.

Music
In Jamaica music playing everywhere. Every car. Every house. Every business seems like. All types. I am not music expert guy. I am probably stuck in 60’s and 70’s time warp for both American and Jamaican music. Despite being out of date on music I still enjoy hearing all kinds of good music. Live music all over. During times of the year huge music shows with big name stars all over the island.

Language
English is spoken. Like Mr Smith744 says even the guy who is talking in the thickest patois had English in school and English is official language. More English spoken in Jamaica than Atlanta that’s for sure. Love my Spanish speaking peeps and I can communicate in Spanish but just not the same for me. I can walk in some back village and have a conversation with about anyone in Jamaica. May take a few minutes to get ahold of each others’ accents but eventually we will be conversing. Not same for me in Mexico. I guess same for the DR and Puerto Rico. Enjoyed visits and would go back but not the same for me.

History
This is not some podunk little island. Reading and reading about history is a lifelong passion of mine. Jamaica is a country of tremendous rich and diverse history.

Topography
Is that the right word? Anyhow an island surrounded by beautiful water. Interior is tropical jungle and hilly. Makes for stunning views in so many places. Mountains, rivers and waterfalls. Natural beauty all over. Beautiful rolling green hills. I could just sit on one of those hills and stare at the view all day.

People
If you asked people who go to Jamaica regularly the main reason. They would say its many things but on everybody’s list would be the people. Sounds like a weird answer especially for guys to say. Hard to explain if you have not been. Does not mean you don’t run into as*holes like everywhere else but most of the people are very friendly. Sounds like a cliché but it is true. You will run into nice, smart, funny, athletic people who are hardworking and care a great deal about their family, community, country and future. They may not be as well off financial or as formally educated as you. Or the other hand they might be both.

In general they are going to be direct. Sometimes too direct. Nowadays many people avoid direct. Some cultures never say no to a visitor. They got no intention of doing what they say but they will not tell you no. I don’t like that. Say what you mean. Do what you say. In Jamaica people are more direct (most of the time). Don’t beat around the bush out with it. You would be surprised at the depth of a conversation you end up having with a complete stranger. Just not the same at home. At home mostly just BS about the weather or small talk.


This chapter has been the hardest to write. Mostly finished rest of trip report long ago just kept skipping this part. I will come back to it I keep telling myself. Some thoughts are hard for me to express in words. Since I first went to Jamaica with my parents as a teenager I have always felt like I had a bond with Jamaica. (Does not mean Jamaica has a bond with me.) People always ask me why Jamaica and I just kind of laugh it off and joke around. Certain comfort zone that I don’t seem to have anywhere else.

Completely agree! My heart is in Jamaica too! Please continue...

I like this Chapter 2, my husband and I were just discussing this topic earlier tonight. People always want to know why we keep going back to Jamaica and it's very difficult to summarize in a single statement or a few sentences...it's all the reasons you list. Especially identify with what you said about the people and the in-depth conversations you can strike up with perfect strangers. Loving your report, can't wait to read more!

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 3 – Why Negril?

I am often accused of being a Negril “snob” by friends and family. Negril has all the things for the most part that the rest of Jamaica has. Negril is a tourist town. Yes I know but I am a tourist so …

Location
Easy to get to from airport (now). Good roads. 90 minutes from airport. Anywhere I go it takes time to get from airport to where you are going so less than 2 hours is no problem. Closest big city in US to airport is Las Vegas. Last trip I waited an hour and half to get my bags. Add 15 minute ride to hotel and an hour to check in. It is not going to happen again. Cause my ass won’t go. Even if you were staying in MoBay it would take you half hour to get there. If you are riding a bus with lots of people going same place as you I am guessing you going to be waiting in line upon check in.

The ride to Negril can be part of the fun of vacation. I enjoy the ride from the airport. Scenic. Beautiful. Most tourists who land in Jamaica go the opposite direction in big buses towards Ocho Rios. I see that as a positive for me. Use to be a lot harder to get to Negril. Bad roads. Long waits. Now it’s a piece of cake. Inexpensive to get from airport to Negril. Basically same cost for me to get to airport in Atlanta from my home.

Food
So many great places to eat and many within walking distance from almost anywhere you are staying. Because it is a tourist area there are tons of places to eat. Most are small mom and pop type places instead of mass produced food places. Local people got to eat as well. They cannot pay tourist prices yet they want good food. Plenty of these places around as well. Can get excellent food at both tourist and local places.

Weather
Is the weather the same all over Jamaica since it is a small tropical island? It is actually a pretty big island but not near the weather diversity of say the US of A. In general it is mostly the same weather on the island. In mountain areas like Mandeville it is going to be cooler. What is really different is when during the day it clouds up in the rainy season. Other side of island it clouds up at lunch time. In Negril during the fall it clouds up and rains in the late afternoon. This is perfect for me. I am up early and have had a full day by this time. It cools the hottest part of the day down. If it rains it’s only for a short time. Maybe 10 minutes of actual rain. If I were to take a “nap” this would be the ideal time. Additionally due to the clouds (I guess) the sky has beautiful dramatic colors during sunsets.

Music
Like the rest of Jamaica, Negril has music playing everywhere. Because it is a tourist town it attracts many musical acts including big names. Concerts are usually held in the high season when the most tourists are on the island. Rest of year there is always live music somewhere.

Easy to Get Around
It is actually a pretty small town/area. Broken into a few parts. Only one main road is Norman Manley/Highway #1/Beach Road/One Love Drive/Cliffs Road/Interstate #1/Autobaun. Once you get lay of land it’s easy. I am telling you this because I can get lost in a parking lot.

Beach
Best beach in Jamaica by far. 7 miles is a lot of beach. No high-rises. No tall buildings. Can’t be that many people without high-rise hotels. Beaches are mostly cleaned. Not stuff in the water. You can go away from the 7 mile area and find beaches in their more natural state. When swimming and hanging out I prefer a clean beach with nothing to step on. Clean beautiful sand. Not mud or gook. Some parts are more crowded but off season there are lots and lots of beach with hardly anybody around.

Soft white sand. What does that mean? Gentle on my feet. It’s actually pretty sand. Most places keep the beach clean and well maintained. (Stayed in Ocho Rios when I was younger. The beach was ok but the minute you went in water in was not sandy but like packed mud. Not gross like squishy mud but not nice.)

Gentle Water – Some parts of East Coast we actually get waves and can surf. It is fun to jump in the big waves. But not relaxing at all. A calm sea with little waves is actually way more relaxing and don’t have to constantly be on guard that a big wave is going to crash on top of you. For the most part on the beaches of Negril just a tiny little baby wave that breaks at water’s edge. Very calm and relaxing.

Warm Water - I love the fact that i can get in the ocean at 7am and not feel cold when i get in or out of the water.

Crystal Clear Water – So what? I grew up on the East Coast of USA where ocean water is green. Cannot see 1 inch under water usually. Since I was kid in the 70’s every time I get chest deep in any non-clear water music starts playing in my head. Same music. Always the same music. Dun Dun … Dun Dun … Dun Dun (Jaws). My ass is not going in the deep water and not thrilled about chest deep. Anything that I touch on the bottom or anywhere else that does not feel like sand makes me jumpy. Lakes I don’t hear the Jaws music but I think about snakes and alligators sneaking up on me.

In crystal clear water like a swimming pool I am much more relaxed. I am not saying sharks cannot get me but at least I can see them and decide whether to swim for it or try to poke the shark in the eye or whatever. Does Negril have jellyfish? Of course sometimes but the difference between murky Atlantic Ocean and clear Caribbean Sea is I can see jellyfish so I know to float/swim around them. I can see the bottom so when I walk in the water not going to step on anything. For the most part on the beach is just soft sand in the water. If there is a rock the size of a pebble I can see it and not step on it. Maybe nothing to you but this is a big deal to me. Yes I guess technically that would make me a tenderfoot.


These things alone would be enough to set it Negril apart from the rest of the Jamaica. (Tourist visiting on vacation for a short time not living there) But Negril has even more.

Sunsets
The Western part of the island is where Negril is located in Jamaica. This means the sun sets over water. Living on the East Coast of the US we don’t get sunsets. Sun goes behind the hills or trees or houses or buildings and that’s it. Not that way in Negril. Most nights a giant orange fireball disappears into the vast horizon of beautiful calm water. To me it is magically. I am a guy not the kind of thing I would normally care about but to me the sunsets are stunningly beautiful. Once in lifetime beauty. We often go in the fall and something about the weather causes the sky to have colors you would not believe. Huge Expansive Sky, beautiful captivating.

Cliffs
Negril has an added bonus. It is not for everyone. Unique to Negril that is not in the rest of Jamaica. The cliffs. Hard to explain to people and frankly most photos don’t even come close to the actual beauty. The cliffs are the deep end (adult swim) of the water. To stand on a 25 foot sheer cliff and look down into 25 foot deep water and be able to see small fish 40 to 50 feet below in crystal clear water is amazing. On the cliffs I feel as if I am on the end of the earth looking out into an endless horizon. The cliffs curve in and out so in many places you feel as you are the Westernmost person in all of Jamaica. Last person in entire country of Jamaica to see the sun go down. May or may not be true but you feel like it. Downsize is it makes you feel pretty insignificant in the Cosmos.

Even the sound of the water crashing against the rocks is relaxing to me. Because you are on a cliff nobody is walking between you and the water. All the property is private so it is like being in individual embassies. Additionally since you are elevated above the water it makes the sunsets more dramatic and last longer. Near sunset the colors are amazing. Boats are driving by, people are waving. It is like a small town. You are sitting on your front porch (cliffs) and everybody is driving by (boats) and waving. Yet you can move a few feet and be totally private if you desire. Castles. Caves. Cliff Jumping. Sign me up.

Fabulous! I am gonna book my next trip through bookit.com Had never heard of the site but they have great deals for the dates I need!

Delta...If you don't book via Bookit.com.. Keep an eye out for flights via Orbitz. I got mine RT plus tax for $378 out of Ohare.. Booked my room via NegrilOneStop.com - booked Coco la Palm for $87per night-(taxes & fees included)-Superior room includes continental breakfast. Just an FYI from a fellow
Chi-Towner :)

Thanks Honey! I wish I could just pay for it all right now but I've become quite fond of a few things like, place to live, car to drive, and food to eat LOL.

Lol... I KNOW the feeling, seems like it never ends! One good thing about Negrilonestop and what I really liked and appreciated is that you can put a deposit on the room.It just has to be paid in full 30days prior to you leaving.. * I WISH* air fare worked that way!:rolleyes:

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 4 - Negril.com

I felt I always had a comfort level and fascination with Jamaica. Since visiting long ago I tried to read every book I could find. Travel books, history books, James Bond books, etc. Before the internet it was much harder. The travel info was so dated mostly useless. Only ways basically was if someone told you about a place or you stumbled across it urself. To me so hit or miss on everything from food to hotels to basically all facets of travel. Yes I can see the adventure in that. I had a 13 year break from Jamaica. Can’t get that time back. I am short of time. Don’t want to wait 5 years or more of once yearly weekly vacations to find exactly where in Negril I want to be.

Every previous trip before 2009 would be a great time but Jamaica would still be such a mystery to me. Like I had a few pieces to the puzzle but not enough to make any sense of it. I somehow got into arguments with people. This is the kind of thing that bothers me and ruins my day. I am thinking next time I go to the beach if this jerk starts in I am going to knock his ass out. Turns out the guy I think I am about to get in a fight with has been pissing 100 tourists off per day every day year after year. He forgot about me the second he walks off. I am still mad about it hours later. Once I learn other people have same problem as me then it is not a problem for me. That’s just some crazy person just like at home or NYC or San Fran. No reason to get mad or let it upset me. I can forget about an idiot no problem.

All has changed for me. Why? How?
Don’t know for sure but I would guess it is a combination of things.
Growing up? Maturity? Doubt it.
Access to quality useful information. Mostly I attribute it to this site Negril.com, Rob and the boardies who contribute to it. The information now is so vast on the internet. Since this board was started so long ago I can search and still get valuable information in so many areas. Other sites and travel stuff is ok and I can get some broad general information.

Problem I have with that is many people who write are people I have nothing in common with, have an agenda or are reporting stuff I already know or don’t care about. Difference here (Negril.com) is that in general most people like me have a deep love for Jamaica and its people. Always talk on the board being one big happy family. Too funny. VERY DIVERSE GROUP. Other than love of Jamaica and its people would be about the only thing we all could agree on. I know it is not a lot but that is exactly 1 more thing I have in common with you then I do with everybody else in the world.

It’s one thing to read in a travel book that a food place is good. Problem is that writer may (or may not) have stopped in that food place 5 years ago. Different chef, different owners maybe. So outdated. With this board (archives) I can search and get tons of stuff about a particular place. Not just 1 person who I don’t know anything about giving me an assessment of a place.

Travel reports are the best. A good one gives me insight into the people. I can figure out if they are newbies, what type of lodging and food they like. A million people can like a place but that does not mean I will. Same thing on food. Just cause McDonalds has served Billions don’t mean I want to eat there.

With the vast updated information available on the internet. Anybody can read all about what is currently happening anywhere including Negril. Harder part is trying to decipher what is useable and applicable to me. I try to go thru as much stuff as I can and pull out information. If you wrote a trip report in the last couple of years and put it on Negril.com I read it. Like what kind of information? Anything. Location of clean bathrooms. Places to stay. Fun things to do. Places to eat and what people ordered and liked. Costs.

I have been to Jamaica enough to know that it is possible for 2 similar people to go to the same places and have the total opposite experience. Expectations. All about setting expectations. (JoeT). Last year (2009) I went and stayed a week at an All Inclusive in Jamaica. Frankly I am not an AI person but I knew that was the only way we could go so just had to make the best of it. I knew EXACTLY what to expect from the RIU Tropical Bay (from boardies) and had the best vacation of my life. By the time I found Negril.com we had already booked the AI so it was just a matter of making the best of what we had. We had a blast at the RIU but our trips outside the AI were way better.

I understand Jamaica and Negril is not for everyone. Actually this is a good thing. In my opinion many people go and stay at the “wrong” place, eat at the “wrong” place and go about trips in the “wrong” way. They have bad experiences and don’t go back. Normally I cannot let this worry me. Tourism is down and it was way down in September of 2010 in Negril Jamaica. Like at home times are tough. I will attempt to regale you with tales of my last vacation (2010) to Jamaica in hopes of you saying Hey even this guy and wife seemed to have lots of fun on a moderate budget. Maybe we should go (or go back) to Jamaica.

I am going to tell you where we stayed, ate, what we did, costs and how we arrived at those decisions. All info for trip was gleaned from Negril.com. Trying my best to give my honest opinion. Dealing with real people and real lives and real places is well you know tricky. Read whatever you want between the lines. Each person has different standards, traveling companions, budgets, wants and desires, etc. This is true of me as well. In this particular case these are what my choices in 2010 are:
Wife and me and whatever money we got for 7 nights/8 days in Jamaica.

:)Ohhh Mr.X.... SOOO looking forward to you report...:)

I like the way you write... can't wait to hear your recap. I'm planning my first and no joke these trip reports help so much, I appreciate you taking the time share.

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 5 - Hotels

2010 Hotel Want List

Coffee
Got to have lots of good coffee. That’s first on list? Well I am just saying I like to start the day off with good coffee. And I am in Jamaica home to some of the worlds best coffee so … In addition I like to have breakfast at the place I am staying or close by. I might be up 3 hours before wife, got to be able to eat if needed. Got some routines even on vacation. It makes a difference to me if breakfast is included in room rate. And if the breakfast is good.

Most important to me is view.
Can be view of the Great Morass, of mountains or just view of the property. I like to sit outside on patio, deck or balcony and give thanks and praise in a semi-private space. If we have a view of water, beach or ocean then that much the better.

Room
Want the room to be clean and safe. Don’t need luxury just clean and maintained. Dont care about flat screen tv. In fact I dont care if room has TV or telephone. Wife would like TV. Prefer a room safe but depending on the property not a deal breaker. The safe at the RIU Tropical Bay was easy to use and putting laptop, iPods, money and passports was comforting. And really easy.

Where to stay
She wants beach and I want cliffs. So some kind of combo sounds like the order for the week.

The first choice for me on cliffs would be Catcha Falling Star. Have not stayed there in 13 years but was there last year for dinner at Ivan’s. Only sunset of our vacation that was not beautiful. Pool was not finished but I have seen the photos online and it looks perfect. The grounds were beautiful, flowers everywhere. When I stay there I will not want to leave. I can just sit on those cliffs and stare at the beautiful vista with the ocean crashing against the rocks. Looks mostly booked up and rates are above what we can really afford.

Catcha Falling Star Gardens (old LTU gardens) looks great and affordable but not on water and no pool yet (Nov 2010?) so maybe I could use that on days when we are on the go all day and just want clean safe place to sleep. Big rooms. Big patios/terraces. Special rate of $50 a night with the 4th night free seems like a great deal. When you add the almost 20% tax and then divide by 4 it works out to $45 a night. Fan only rooms.

Seems like Seastar Inn could do this as well. Their $59 rooms look fine and they include all taxes plus breakfast. So for $14 more we get breakfast for 2 and a pool and AC. Plus not have to commit to 4 days.

I see something about the Blue Cave Castle. Cannot help it always wanted to check that place out. Somebody is writing on (Negril.com) asking should they stay in Penthouse in late September because it is available? Everybody says yes!!! Hey wait I am going to be there in September too. So I check on their website and Penthouse is available for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of our trip. Rate is $120 a night plus tax. At top end of my budget. But it’s the Penthouse of a Castle and its Wife’s birthday on Wednesday!

3 night minimum, know it would be worth it but don’t/can’t commit for 3 days right yet. Will call or email if I can do 1 or 2 nights. Soon as I said the word Penthouse wifey was in. The fact that the Penthouse sat on top of a Castle perched on the Caribbean Sea in my favorite place in the world was just an added bonus.

I call Blue Cave Castle and ask can we do 2 nights Wednesday (9/8) and Thursday (9/9) in the Penthouse. No problem. I pay in advance (because I have the money today). Tax title delivery it is about $280 so $140 a night. Wednesday night is wife’s birthday so staying in the Penthouse of a castle on the ocean killing 2 birds with 1 Penthouse.

Would have booked the penthouse of BCC for Friday night as well but she wants to stay at the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall (MoBay Area). Knows somebody and we can get special rate. Free? blah, blah, blah.
How special rate? She is vague so we will see.

Have pretty much decided to go with Seastar Inn on the Saturday we get to Jamaica. She wants to make sure we have a place. Does not look to be a problem. They have Saturday night buffet, band, webcast etc. that goes to midnight. Rave reviews for Seastar Inn from Board. Regulars seem to LOVE the Seastar Inn. Don’t want to go too expensive. Plan on arriving about 5pm. Check in room. Don’t unpack much. Slip out and see sunset happy hour and hopefully get in water. Maybe LTU, Xtabi or even Canoe. Then come back for dinner buffet/show about 8pm.

Special on Negril.com for $200 total for 4 nights at Xtabi. Check around must be for rooms across road. They have air conditioning. I call Xtabi directly. They don’t know anything about internet special tell me to call back in 15 minutes. 30 minutes later I call back and they tell me that special is just for August. So don’t matter. But 30% off in September ok then I will check back later.

Days we have no hotel Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. BCC for Wednesday and Thursday and assuming we stay at Ritz Carlton Rose Hall on Friday.

August 6th, 2010 (D-Day minus 29)
Wife emailed friend about Ritz no news yet. I would like to do the zip line in MoBay but $89 each plus tip and if we will be staying at the Ritz so everything will be expensive. If we eat dinner at Ritz, do zip line, drinks at Ritz even if it is only a $99 a night then it could easy be a $500 day. Not saying it would not be worth it just it’s a lot of money considering I don’t care that much about it. No zip line will save probably half that with tips transport snacks drinks etc. Ok if she gets Ritz deal we will have to skip zip line this trip. Besides she went on zip line in Mexico this year so it is only me who gets no zip line. I know it would be fun but it will be there next year or the next….

Seeing $99 suite special at Tree House for September want to leave our options open but if it’s got a balcony with a view and includes breakfast (which is supposed to be excellent). Got to find out about what suites are good at Tree House.

Thinking stay down at far end of cliffs 1st two days (Seastar Inn). Then beach for 2 days (where?) make her happy and I can check out other places. Then Blue Cave Castle on early part of cliffs then probably last day at Ritz Carlton (MoBay). So that would be cliffs, beach, cliffs, and beach. I know that’s a lot of moving but how else are we going to experiences lots of places. Last year stayed whole time at RIU Tropical Bay so I am excited about staying at different places.

Got to try to stick with plan of keeping options open.
No reservations.

August 8th, 2010 (D-Day minus 27)
Xtabi has specials including ocean front cottages for $65 a night for 3 nights got to pay cash. No problem. Wow what a deal. Damn just for 8/8 to 8/15/2010. Maybe some kind of deal week we are there. Been by Xtabi from road and sea many times, heard a lot about it but never been there. They have run a lot of specials recently but I would have to know more about which room and which price. Still would like to see the property, drink at the famous bar and go snorkeling. In fact probably would like to go there Saturday when we check in the Seastar Inn so we can see the sunset and jump in the water while we are there. Plus we can check out if any rooms are available when where how much.

Have semi schedule then change based on where we are staying and what deals we get.

Check Bookit.com who I used last year but cannot seem to get any good deals on just hotel rooms.

Chapter 5 (cont) – Hotel

August 9th, 2010 (D-Day minus 26)
Papamark with his daily musings reporting directly from the Blue Cave Castle so I got a pretty good idea what is going on at BCC. Sounds like having my own snorkel gear, float and footies (so not cut my baby feet) will be perfect to just float and snorkel along cliffs.

Kind of excited thinking about staying at a place like Xtabi right on the water for $65 a night! Boss still wants reservations for the first night. I am going to wait as long as I can because nothing going on that week so most places are not going to be anywhere near full.

Wifey says Cocolapalm has $100 a night suite on their website.
She cannot take it anymore not having hotels all lined up with less the 4 weeks to go.
What is there to take?
The prices are getting better every day! Be calm!
Your ONE JOB is the Ritz on Friday night how’s that going?
HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING!
If you don’t find out soon we are going to stay in the Penthouse at Blue Cave Castle for 1 more night!! FINE! (Super cool! I say to myself)

August 11th, 2010 (D-Day minus 24)
Going through old trip reports for ideas. Somebody asked about Idle Awhile. Looks really cool. Love those covered patios. Got to check that place out when we are there. Looks a little out of my budget on this trip but you never know. $130 plus tax would be $156. I am sure it’s worth it just cannot afford it this trip. Also they are owned by Couples Swept Away so you get to use their sports Facilities. I don’t really care about that for me on vacation but if you have friends that are all into that it would be nice. My father would probably play tennis 3 or 4 times a week so looks like a good place.

I have been checking Catcha Falling Star website regularly. Given the choice I would love to stay there but cannot afford it. On website there are only 2 rooms available for the Saturday we arrive and both are 2 bedrooms suites at $175. Sunday they only have 2 rooms available but Monday (Labor Day in US) and Tuesday they are only half full at most so maybe …

Sale at Catcha hits Negril.com yes! Finally! 25% off rooms in September! Fine print for 2nd and 4th week not for the 1st week when we are there. OK no problem $70 for Gatehouse cottage and Capricorn 1. I could do the Gatehouse because it has a little private patio but the Capricorn 1 has no patio or view but you are on the property.

Wife’s friend stayed at the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall and thought it was sooo nice. Whatever! They probably never even left the property. Has not heard from friend with the hook up at the Ritz. Would not be punishment to stay at the Ritz, just would rather stay in Negril for 1 more day.

August 12, 2010 (D-Day minus 23)
What if we stayed in a different place every night? Well it would be a pain packing and unpacking. Unless you planned it like that. Mrs. Rockafeller doubt will go for it. Would be cool to check out lots of places. Another problem is you usually have to check out by 12pm and new check in is 3pm at most places could be a problem dealing with suitcases.

Banana Shout
Read the reviews would like to see the place meet the owner Milo. With only a few rooms on the property I know it would be worth it but still probably out of my budget this trip. At $100 a night looks pretty cool. I actually stayed on this property for 1 night 20 years ago. But that was before Ivan.

August 13th, 2010 (D-Day minus 22)
Only special I saw today was the Yellow Bird. Think I should check out when we are there. Special starting at $48 but don’t know which rooms that is. Says good happy hour there would like to check that place out.

Boss still wants to stay on beach for two days but have not got figured out where yet. I would like a great room at a good price or a good room at a great price.

BarBBarn
Read all the reviews on TA very mixed. Much better on travel reports on Negril.com. Did a search on Negril.com and read everything in last 2 years. People who like it seem to really like it. (Seveen) I read about some really bad rooms. Other people like rooms. I just will have to see the room in person. Beach looks good. No pool but not a big deal with the beach right in front of me and no kids. I know there will be lots of people try to talk to us. No problem. Special is $65 total with breakfast. $90 total for breakfast and dinner. $20 max per person on dinner plus complimentary drinks. Not counting drinks that’s $40 for dinner so that leaves $50 for the room and breakfast. Well if the room is acceptable to boss lady, seems like another sweet deal to me. Bourbon Beach is next door and they have a show on Monday Night might be cool. Jamaican owned.

August 16th, 2010 (D-Day minus 19)
Not much happening today. Looks like room is not available at Ritz Carlton Rose Hall. Another day and night in Negril. Nice. Don’t know where we will stay last night but so many places so many options.

Thinking it would be nice to stay at Seastar Inn first 4 days. Would be good for my budget and make things easier. Mrs. Rockefeller wants the beach so I got my work cut out for me. We are going to be on the beach Sunday at Aqua for webcast and Wednesday at Rhodes Hall. Maybe one day looking at places on the beach. Last night we are there stay at the beach such as Idle Awhile. Maybe 1 night.

Checked exact info for our trip last year to RIU Tropical Bay which is now the RIU Palace Tropical Bay. To get same flights and everything else the same as we had last year is about $3600 for which we paid $2600.

August 19th, 2010 (D-Day minus 16)
Still think the Seastar Inn will be perfect and affordable for the first night if they are doing the webcast and party.

More reading just makes me want to stay on the cliffs and play on the beach. I like walking on the beach but doubt long walks at night on beach.

Thursday August 26th, 2010 (D-Day minus 9)
Trying not to let work interfere with my vacation dreaming/planning. Checked Negril.com. Aqua’s bar is closed and no webcast for 2 weeks including the Sunday when we are going to be there. Lol. that’s 2 years in a row will miss Sunday webcast at Aqua. Well that kind of was the plan on Sunday sunset. Ok no problem

August 27th, 2010 (D-Day minus 8)
Agreed to book Seastar Inn (she is freaking? About going on vacation with no reservations.) Sure I know on the surface it looks strange to the uninitiated. But its offseason. You can go on hotel website and put dates in and see that many are completely empty. Not going to be a problem to find a room. I will book a room for first night. Just got to wait until have the money I guess.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mr. X

[B]Thursday August 26th, 2010 (D-Day minus 9)
Trying not to let work interfere with my vacation dreaming/planning.

---

I'm encountering that same problemo right now matter of fact. lol Looking forward to Chapter 6

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 6 - Budget

Budget for trip.
Looks like we will have about $1600.
So that’s exactly $200 per day for 8 days/7 nights.
Airfare already paid and is a distant memory.
Not exactly Rock Star budget (old boardie Michael can explain this to you) but not $10 a day budget (Smith744) or even his purported budget of $20 a day for 2011 either. Btw he is not traveling with Mrs. Rockafeller. This is offseason in a slow ass year.

Got Wednesday and Thursday night at the Blue Cave Castle already paid for so got $200 on those days. Will need the $200 on last day to get to airport, gifts, meals and get car out of airport parking in Atlanta (1 week) so don’t try to get in that.

$1600.
$200 a day.
This includes everything from transportation to souvenirs.
Every Single Thing.
Not worried about sticking to exact budget on a given day just overall average of $200 per day.
Running Estimated Total for 2010 would be $1600 plus paid $280 at Blue Cave Castle and $474 to Delta for a rounded total of $2354. ($2400).
2009 at RIU TROPICAL BAY it was $2600 plus spent probably $800 extra so a total of $3400.
Apples to Apples I saved over $400 on airfare 2010 vs 2009
so estimated for 2010 if I stay on budget would be $2400 verse a prorated $3000 in 2009 when airfare difference is allowed for.
So I guess we will see how it compares AI vs non AI.

Wifey says that seems high budget.
You would be surprised honey how much stuff cost in the real world.
Let’s say we go Horseback Riding and by the time we get back with horses, tips, transportation there and back we have spent $130 easy and the hotel is $70 so that’s our total budget for the day so no money for food, drinks anything!

(Her) LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT SO YOU CAN EAT 20 JERK CHICKENS ON VACATION BUT WE CAN’T GO HORSEBACK RIDING ON MY BIRTHDAY?

Apples and Oranges.
Yes we can go horseback riding. I am just trying to demonstrate how easy it is to spend $200 a day on vacation. We just have to spend less some days so we can spend more other days. If we stay at Seastar Inn 4 nights ($59) a night including all taxes and breakfast that gives us $141 dollars a day to spend with hotel and breakfast paid for.
Not VIP budget but this is what we got to work with and it is offseason.
Frankly I am thinking that’s a lot of money but I know how stuff adds up on vacation.
Quite confident I can budget it’s just I have to keep Mrs. Rockafeller out of the shopping areas.

It might be cheaper to rent a car whole vacation but I hate driving.
I don’t want to be the designated driver as usual, I want to relax and be the village idiot.

Keep it comin' Mr.X....

Yeahmon, can't wait to hear where you ended up and how it all worked out! Suspense, suspense! ;-))

This is so great! I've been really enjoying your writing! I've been devouring every word! You have great insights and thoughts that are a pleasure to read. I also can't wait to hear how it all ended up!

Quote:

---

"Crystal Clear Water – So what? I grew up on the East Coast of USA where ocean water is green. Cannot see 1 inch under water usually. Since I was kid in the 70’s every time I get chest deep in any non-clear water music starts playing in my head. Same music. Always the same music. Dun Dun … Dun Dun … Dun Dun (Jaws). "

---

lol - Boy do I relate. I grew up on the east coast too and I always had the JAWS music playing in my head everytime I entered that murky water.

Negril was such a welcome change. I was in utter bliss. That was the first of many things that just blew me away about Jamaica. The people, the culture, the food.. everything. You summed it up really well in your "Why Jamaica?" post.

I can't wait to go back! Thanks for sharing this. Please Keep it coming:)

Not to rush you MrX but ummm its been a few days since you posted more of your report. Just thought I'd put it out there (since I'm sitting here patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for the rest)

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 7 - Snorkeling and Floating

Snorkeling Equipment
Snorkeling gear check buying at home verse renting in Negril. Would be great to have our own set so we can just go in the water any time we want. Since we are going to be near the water most of vacation. Check at sports places and wholesale clubs. About $39 for full set of fins, mask and snorkel. When I tried to put my foot in the fins it was like hard plastic and painful so knew cheap sets were not going to work. I went in local dive shop and got the scoop on what I needed. Fins, mask and snorkel.
With these I got pair of rubber booties ($10) which is good so I will have something to wear on the walk to the water. The thing I liked the most about these were they were very light weight fins which will be great for travel. Masks with snorkel fit good and felt fine. Black mesh bag big enough to carry 2 sets.

Excited about being able to go snorkeling anytime I want on vacation. I know I could have got them a little cheaper online but I wanted to feel them myself plus local businesses need my money and the guy was nice and helpful. Little over $100 total for mask, snorkel, fins and footies. Times 2. but looks like stuff that could really last. Not super heavy duty for everyday use but hopefully work for our purposes.

Even more excited about combining snorkeling and my other main vacation pastime of laying on my float. That reminds me I got to do some float research.

Floats
Got float for $4 at Marshalls. Only had one. Wife got. It’s exactly what I want. Just so happens Marshalls is on her regular circuit of shopping. Wifey is in the shop everyday mode for vacation only x days to go. Gee how many more beach covers, bathing suits do you really need?

Richards Variety Store
Got all kinds of cool stuff but more importantly they had cheap floats for $4 cool. Bunch of floats. Got 3 and had 1. Got other float ($7) that rolls up? So you are bringing 5 floats to Jamaica? If I have room in my suitcase I might. Floats are light enough to carry easy in suitcases and at $4 won’t care about leaving anywhere. Why do u need float? I notice especially on the cliffs some kind of float is very helpful. If u are cliff jumping you don’t need a float. Just jump. Swim to ladder climb out and repeat. But if u are in the water relaxing or swimming. I notice many people swimming and treading water and start to get tired. Not me I am just hanging on my float expending no energy. In fact you could smoke or drink or whatever it is you do all while relaxing on ur float.

August 28th, 2010 - Saturday
1 week baby we will be on Jamaica time. Tested my fins out today. Black water socks that slide right into fins. Worked great. Feet little sore but not bad. Mask and Snorkel seemed fine but water was so muddy (it’s a lake) could not see 3 inches. Did not leak so that’s a plus. Few minor adjustments but will do fine. Try it again on Sunday.

August 29th, 2010 - Sunday
Tested flippers again. Water visibility same zero. Normal. No wonder I don’t like lakes. Feet not sore this time.

Jamaica Table
Have had a Jamaica table since we got the airline tickets. Just put anything we are thinking about taking on the Jamaica table. Got snorkel gear, floats, sun screen. Negril is the easiest place in the world for me to pack for. Let me see it’s going to be warm 100% of the time. Shorts. Bathing Suit. Shorts. Bathing Suit. Keens and flip flops. No dress shoes. Comfort and practicality all the way. Could take a backpack and easy have all my stuff. Nowadays with iPods and kindles don’t have to lug a bunch of music or books on vacation with me.

Professional Floaters League
Last year I mentioned maybe some kind of professional floaters league might be interesting. On further thought I realized there would be no way to eliminate floaters to have a “winner”. It would have to be some kind of competition such as really cold water or shark infested water. There would be some Chinese guy who could go without food for a month or some Russian guy that the cold water did not bother or some Jamaican Floater that was really fast. I would have to specialize in warm non shark infested waters. Best for me maybe to keep my amateur floater status I guess.

Can't wait till you and Mrs. R. hit the island!!!
Love your writing style and sense of humor!

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 8 – My First Trip to Negril

I had visited Ocho Rios (70's) from a cruise ship and later stayed for 1 week with the parents in Ocho Rios (80's). So it's the early (90's) I guess. Now this was my first trip where I am paying. Girlfriend at time wanted to go on vacation so I said we have to go to Jamaica. Talked to travel agent etc. Ocho Rios was the only place I knew besides MoBay. Came up with Sandals. Funny how travel agents always put you into an AI. Sandals at the time big advertising was stay at one Sandals and play at any of the other Sandals. I guess they were doing this to show they were a big chain etc. Anyhow so we split the 8 days over Ocho Rios and some place with supposedly the best beaches called Negril.

It was a nice luxury resort at Sandals Dunn River Falls. High rise building. Enormous pool. Beach small and just ok at best. Dress up for dinner etc. had fun but was really looking forward to seeing something new in Jamaica.

So on the appointed day we are supposed to catch the Sandals shuttle bus to Negril at 9am. We are up packed and ready. Looks like it’s going to be a long ride so we load up our drink things with a strong cocktail to at least last until the airport.

Way it works is a lot of hurry up and wait. Stopped and picked up people at this Sandals and other Sandals who were on the way to the airport. We enjoyed view but still spent about 2 hours getting to airport. Once at airport we wait another hour for new people at the airport to load up. Drop them at Sandals in MoBay. Drive 30 minutes and then stop at their approved stop. Where it’s clean and safe and expensive for beer or food. Of course we want to get to Negril. Finally about 330pm we are pulling in the Sandals Negril. Then got to get off big bus and wait to check in with everyone else. 30 minutes later we get to our room. We had a view in Dunn River because it was a high rise. Less expensive rooms face away from water. I liked inland view.

In Negril we have the least expensive room which is still pretty expensive. No patio no view but we knew that and not a big deal. Put all stuff in room. I get my groove on. She wants to unpack. Of course tons of outfits she does not want to get wrinkled I guess. No problem I am going to beach. I hit beach and then go to right - away from all the people. At the time it took about 1 second to realize the beach in Negril is way way way better than Ocho Rios. Natural beach verse man-made beach. I get situated with my towel, frozen drink and try to relax after long travel day. Beautiful property, beautiful beach and beautiful water. This Negril place is pretty cool.

They always say out west in USA is Big Sky Country. Felt like Negril was really Big Sky Country. Could see so far with nothing but beautiful sky and water. Chillin. Finally starting to relax. Way in the distance I can see a tiny little plane flying. Cool because the sky is so big and vast that I can follow this plane. Appears to be headed this way. Wow flying really slow because it seems to be taking forever to come this way. Chugging along not too high above the water and appears to be heading directly towards me. Too funny. Couple more minutes and the plane is slowly coming at me and is still what looks like 20 feet above the water. Truth is I have been drinking on the long ride here but I am not tripping the plane is coming directly at me. Nobody else within 100 yards of me. Nobody else even close enough to notice plane. I am laughing to myself that I just got here and now a freaking plane is going to crash into me on a deserted beach.

Now I don’t want to look like an idiot and move from my lounger because a plane is near me on the other hand I don’t want to be so cool that I let a plane crash into me if I can move a few feet to the left or right and save my life. Closer. Closer. Damn that plane is going 100% directly at me and only 20 feet (?) above the water. It’s going really slow but I sit up in the chair just in case. I fight the urge to move and the small plane passed directly over my head. Of course it was probably higher but seemed like 20 feet. Anyhow I stood up dumbfounded and turned to watch the plane crash into the marsh or whatever is on the other side of the road. I don’t hear anything. No crash. No sound. No nothing. Just quiet. WTF?

Girlie finally gets done unpacking and makes her appearance at beach. I tell the story of the plane and it must have crashed or something over there. She has no interest in the mystery plane (crash or no crash) just wants to know if her hair looks good.

I got other things to worry about instead of that plane. We sit on beach and see our first Negril sunset. That did it. Relationship with her did not last but the relationship with Negril sure has.

Was not till a couple of days later when I went parasailing that I noticed the small airport and runway across the street. No wonder, I knew I was not (that) crazy.

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations


Chapter 9 - Cliff Jumping

Growing up I was always fascinated with jumping off something into the water. I am not a diver. I dove off high dive as a kid at the pool and no matter what I did my head hurt when it hit the water. Maybe something to do with my pumpkin sized head I guess. Anyhow don’t care about diving but love to jump.

As a young kid visiting relatives in Oklahoma they have a state park nearby called Roman Nose State Park. They had kind of a swimming pool surrounded by rocks. You could jump off the rock ledge into the pool. So cool and seemed so high. (When I went back a couple of years ago I was shocked that it was only like 10 feet high but as a little kid you felt as you were jumping off a high cliff.)

I remember Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid jumping off cliff to avoid the law. Just seemed to me if the water was deep enough you would not get hurt no matter how high the cliff.

So I hear about this Rick's place where you can jump off the cliffs into the water. So my first venture outside Sandals (early 1990’s) will be a trip to this Rick's place. Not like it is now but was still one of biggest tourist stops in the whole country.

Same as now big giant tour buses full off tourists driving at breakneck speeds from Ocho Rios, MoBay and all over the island – think Atlantic City Junket Buses. Show up at Rick’s hour or 2 before sunset. 2 minutes after sunset they are loading everybody up and hauling ass back. All the AI’s in Negril Area sent people to Rick’s everyday on “guided” tours. This basically is you paying 30 bucks a person for a ride to Rick’s and back on a bus. We don’t know any better so we are on that “guided” tour.

Had to wait in line and buy tokens. Then use the tokens to pay for drinks. Pain in the ass. Seems like it got filled up with people and things were fun and then its curfew and everybody leaves. 645pm curfew is a little strict in fact I am for no curfew. Seemed a big tourist trap with stunning location and views.

In order to jump off the high ledge back then you had to walk out and climb up to the right spot. Had to go barefoot on rock edges. This was my first time jumping off anything higher than the high dive at the pool. Yes this was higher. Seemed like 3 times as high but was probably only 2.5 times higher than high dive at pool.

Main thing is jump out so you don’t hit the rock edge. Not going to be a problem only got to jump out 2 feet. I played sports my whole life. I am going to jump out far enough where there is zero chance of me clipping the edge where the rocks and water meet.

Water was deep and clear not like Acapulco (remember cliff diving on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Where divers would have to time their dive with the surge or hit bottom.) Water was bouncing around but mostly from all the people jumping from the lower platform and boats etc.

Like parachuting (I guess) before for u know it was my turn. Not going to lie it looked high but since I had no intention of diving was not that scared.

So I made sure girlie had video camera on.

JUMP she said

Whatever just make sure you get it on tape.

JUMP JUMP JUMP

I hate when people egg me on but I was just getting ready.
So I took a little step and jumped out about 10 feet no problem
Right after I jump on my first ever high cliff jump, it quickly came to my realization that balance was going to be a problem. Cause I am rotating forward and a little to the right. Problem is I am flying thru the air and can’t just adjust myself upright. So I remember my arms. Rotating arms forward or backward you are able to make corrections. I am just getting the hang of it as time runs out. I hit the water mostly upright. I know one of my legs must have been a little bent because it feels like the back of my thigh and butt on right side had been paddled really hard. (Public school). Additionally as I was trying to swim to the surface I also noticed a pain in the right side of my chest. Had to swim over to ladder and get out without showing since many people are looking and girlie had to have a video of it.

Climb up ladder and figure out what the pain is. When I hit the water of course my arm was out so the impact of the water hitting my elbow (or vice versa) pulled a muscle in my rib cage.
Self-diagnosis guess I will live.
Whatever.
Anyhow I played it off and popped up the stairs to have a look at my big jump off the really high cliff.
Little bit of me getting “ready” to jump and then … the tape just stops. (That was our technology at the time)

She said don’t worry about it just jump again.
If the tape ended how are you going to video tape?
I will rewind just a little then turn it on.
My leg hurts my chest hurts, no chance of me jumping again.
I can’t believe you did not check that before I walked my ass up that rock cliff barefoot with my tender feet.
My chest and leg stopped hurting after a couple of days.

Lesson learned
1. Even jumping into water can hurt

To this day I still love to jump off cliffs into the clear ocean in Negril just prefer jumping from cliffs anywhere between 2 feet to about 15 feet high. At these heights I still have fun but don’t have to worry about getting hurt.

Reminds me of when I jumped...I gave my camera to someone to take a pic of me..and of course he forgot..so I had to jump a second time, but it's all good, he bought me a drink to make up for it. Now that I have been there done that don't think I will jump from that high spot again. ;)

I want to say thank you and am enjoying reading your posts very much.

I just started reading this today. Very nice! I'll be checking in to see what more you have to share. Thanks!

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations


Chapter 10 – Souvenirs/Craft Markets

Craft Market
2 main craft markets in Negril. One up by the big All Inclusive (AI) and the one down by the River. Truth is I got zero interest in going to the Negril Craft Markets or the Craft Market anywhere on vacation. Would rather spend my money on food than crafts. Went to craft market in Haiti when i was a young teen. My sister says she still has nightmares about it. Craft market vendors anywhere are super aggressive because they got to beat everyone else. Who said the first front left vendor as you come in probably gets 50% of the business at whole craft market? Too funny and probably true. If I was to go to the craft market I guess I would go to the one near the river and enter (sneak in) from the beach side hopefully with a regular. I know there is food, great people and beautiful artwork I am missing out on but just not my idea of fun.

If you collected something specific like wooden turtle carvings for example you could get beautiful pieces at low prices. Or beach towels. Or whatever. Just have to have the right mind set for this kind of shopping.

Due to my budget last year (2009) did not factor in many/any souvenirs for us. Normally I don’t go for this kind of thing. Wife wants to shop (buy) 24/7 vacation or not. Mostly stupid sh*t. Dislike mass produced tourist trinkets in NYC, ATL or Negril. But those original paintings look really nice. I figure I cannot afford one. Read some trip reports including one where a lady had to track Ras Husmo down. Love those paintings. Now that’s something that would have real meaning for me.

Running out of things to check on. I guess I will read up on Karl Ricketts and Ras Husmo to see where they might be when we are in Negril.

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations



Chapter 11 – Airfare Revisited

This trip or any vacation is not on for me until the airfare is booked. If I don’t have tickets then not even a trip just a dream. Once I get tickets then it is on. Can get excited. In season you better have hotel lined up at time you book airfare. Offseason not problem to find a place to stay but the airfare can get booked up. Fewer flights I guess. If I got tickets good chance no matter what we are going on vacation. No airline tickets yet? Then just talking theoretical vacation.

Recent thread on Negril.com about staying for one (2) week vacation or two (1) week vacations from our favorite San Francisco couple. For me it is much better to go on two (1) week vacations. Easy Choice. This has to do with how long we can be away from home, pets, work etc. Gives you shorter time between trips etc.

In our example say it cost them (Daisy and Markus) $600 each ticket from SFO. So that’s 2 people so $1200 to fly one trip and $2400 to fly 2 trips. If you divide $2400 over 14 day trip then airfare is costing them $171 per day. If you divide $1200 over 14 days then it is a more manageable $86 per day. Other factors come in to play such as time it takes to arrive in Jamaica. In D and M’s case they have long flights and layovers. Lots of travel time. So (2) trips twice as much travel time. So while it is much better for me to do two (1) week trips it may be better coming from California (not direct to Jamaica) to do one (2) week trip.

So that means if you live far away you cannot come for a week?
No it has to do with many factors. Direct Flight. Say poolguywindsor is coming from Windsor, Ontario. I am an American Idiot so I don’t exactly know where that is but suffice to say somewhere in Canada. This trip he decides to come by himself and stay for 7 days. He says he has paid $350 for a direct flight. Even though he is coming all the way from Canada his airline cost per day is only $50 and a direct flight. Same example instead of coming by himself he brings family and pays for 6 tickets for a total of $2100 and only stays a week. So now the airfare cost per day is $300 and that’s getting a great rate of $350 per ticket. I don’t even want to think about how much it would cost per day if tickets were expensive. Yikes. You can do the math for you and ur party. Once you get to Jamaica the costs are the same for everyone. Getting to Jamaica costs are different for everyone. Travel time, number of people you are paying for, and actual cost of airfare are major factors.

For us it is (2) in our party. So for 2010, I paid a total of $474 (8 days). So we are at $59 per day. Got a steal. Still because we are just here for a week its costing us almost 60 dollars a day for airfare. In 2009 I paid $900 total and we stayed for same 8 days so that works out to $113 a day for my airfare cost. Looking at that number it seems high and don’t even want to venture a guess at what some people are having to pay. I guess around $100 per day and above starts to be (or seem) expensive to me.

People coming from far away say England then the cost is much higher. I understand these peoples need to stay longer due to the high cost of airfare.

Of course the regulars know all this and they are constantly coming up with ways to stay longer and spend less and still have it pretty nice. In our particular case cannot go for any longer and whatever it costs us on airline tickets we already paid so if it was cheap or expensive it’s irrelevant now. Distant memory. But when I look at total budget for trip ($2400). And planning future trips even getting a steal on airfare because of short length of stay it’s still costing us $60 a day for airfare. Well I guess that’s for 2 people so actually only $30 a day per person. Damn I knew I got a deal. Airfare is the biggest cost variable that i can not control.

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations



Chapter 12 – Company is coming


August 18th, 2010 (D-Day minus 17)
Our friends say they would like to go to Jamaica. Exact flights we are on is now up to $1500 for which we paid $479. We will put you on the list for next year’s trip I am thinking.

August 19th, 2010 (D-Day minus 16)
Friends are serious about going but they can only stay till Wednesday. No problem. Not on same flight as us but arrives 30 minutes before us. Which is perfect. Not going to do anything until they have the tickets. Changes the trip around but it will be a blast with them.

Still think the Seastar Inn will be perfect and affordable for the first night if they are doing the webcast and party.

Having 4 people actually gives us more options on the hotel and will get us a better rate. Some like Catcha have the 2 bedroom suite available for some nights. When divided by 2 more reasonable.

Cliff options
Seastar Inn
Catcha Falling Star
Banana Shout
Xtabi

Beach options
Idle Awhile
Bar B Barn
Tree House


August 20th, 2010 (D-Day minus 15)
O sh*t they are booked! They are flying American Airlines to Miami at 830ish then land MoBay at 130ish us land MoBay at 2pm promptly. Well sure in theory it sounds perfect. We all know amount of things that can go wrong. But if we both are anywhere near on time things should work out swimmingly. (Is that really a word?).

Got to go over options with upper management. Then talk to them about budget etc. They got an anniversary on the day before they leave. They might want to blow it out one night. I mean get a nicer room or place just for them. I still would like to stay in the Seastar Inn on Saturday.

Maybe Seastar Inn 2 nights then Catcha for 2 nights. Would be awesome but girls might try to weasel the beach. We can stay at Seastar Inn and go all over the beach Sunday and then end up at Aqua for webcast. Wait no webcast at Aqua that sunday.


August 24, 2010 (D-Day minus 11)
Friends are coming over to dinner. That way I can explain what I had in mind on trip. Not have to answer million questions spread out but answer all at once.


Big Jamaica Pow Wow
Lot of eating, drinking and Thanks and Praise. Explained the 411 (my version) on Jamaica. They are only going to be there from Saturday to Wednesday. People told them they had to do Dunns River Falls. I explain that we are going to be on other side of island. Showed them utube video with 500 tourists locking arms climbing up Dunn River Falls. They and us are not those kind of tourists. Big trips that take all day are out. We will give them a great tour of the Negril area. People told them they had to stay at Catcha Falling Star. Yes we will show it to you and maybe even stay there.

They are cool with Seastar Inn the first night and then see what happens for the next 3 nights. I explained how we could visit beach anytime and still stay on cliffs.

Friend is big into music. It is off season for concerts. Sure there is still plenty of music to hear. It is Jamaica. If we decide to see a show at Bourbon Beach then we could stay next door BarBBarn.

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations



Chapter 13 – Final Week (August 28th, 2010 - September 3rd, 2010)

Seastar accident
Read online Negril.com where a young well liked employee and family member at Seastar Inn was killed in an accident. (Please don’t ask details). So sad. Last thing I want to do is be acting like an idiot on vacation when people have this to deal with. Guess I better find someplace else to stay. Back to the drawing board.

As the week goes on I don’t know what to do. I am following events online. If Seastar Inn is going to be open for business and have the Saturday night webcast and show then maybe we should go and stay there and be supportive. If they cancel the show then obviously we better find somewhere else and stay at the Seastar Inn another time. Seastar Inn gets such rave reviews. I want to be there if they want us but do not want to “get in the way” or be a “burden”.

Damn I don’t know what to do.
Damn. Damn. Damn.
Thursday (September 2nd, 2010)
I call the Seastar Inn and ask if they are doing the show on Saturday night. They don’t know but said no problem if we want to stay at the hotel. Ok I figure even if they don’t have the show we will still stay there on Saturday and just stay the hell out of the way.

Last few days went by moderately fast. Basically did not get anything done. Could not get motivated to clean house, laundry, yard etc. Just did not happen. Few things to pick up and do at work. Getting pets organized before we left.

Cannot find passports day before we leave. I know I saw them. Damn got to go thru bunch of stuff looking for them. Trying not to panic. Only mild panic. Only waste about an hour of time on afternoon before we leave. Found them on the mantle, right where I put them so I would know where they are. Damn. That wore me out. Got to sit down and rest. Going on vacation can be stressful.