Initial thoughts of Trip - February 1-8,2013

Will be posting a trip report with pics and details later this week (just back yesterday and have a business trip for work during the week this week), but I thought I would provide a few quick thoughts of our recently completed trip back home to Negril.

1. Tried out the new Gardenside Rooms at Rondel, they were great, very quiet across the road and the Jungle didn't bother us on Saturday night, but was a little louder on Thursday night, but I think it depends on the amount of rum you drink beforehand, the less rum the better I sleep (heavy drinking makes me wake often at night, call me strange if you want). Would stay in those rooms again.

2. After many stays at Rondel, we finally made it over to Tony's Hut. Crazy cold beer, "Red Dragon cold" as Melo said. She was right, and the price was right, $200J. Will make many more visits to Tony's on future trips.

3. Nothing better than the first stripe from the Groovy Grouper stand just outside the airport. Not the coldest and certainly not cheapest, but when that first splash hits the back of the throat.....happy, happy, happy is the mood for sure.

4. Those guys at Bourbon Beach have improved the place 100% over what it used to be. I visited there in October as well, and hit it once this trip and found consistent results in vibe, beers and chicken.

5. Although I heard from lots of folks that Hotels and Motels were busy and fuller than usual, the beach seemed emptier than previous Februaries (this was our 5th visit during the first week of February). Maybe it is that more folks are staying on the cliffs, maybe more latenight partiers that weren't out on the beach when we were (we are early to bed and early to rise types), or maybe the AIs are full and the small hotels on the beach are indeed struggling (I certainly hope that is not the case).

6. If you go to Negril and don't give the good folks at One Stop a chance to book your vacation you are making a mistake.

7. If you go to Negril and don't go see Bentley, you are missing something from the experience.

8. Not only is the pork at Red Dragon excellent, the experience is something not to be missed...hard to explain, but the combination of really cold beer, great pork, the in and outs of locals buying phone cards, rum and single cigarettes is something to see. Visit once and you will be hooked.

9. New lights going up on the beach road along with plans for sidewalks will transform Negril over the next few years, hopefully for the better. I'm excited to see the changes.

10. Never had a bad meal, bad service or bad attitudes from a local for the entire trip.

11. Being a frequent visitor I tend to get left alone by a lot of the beach vendors (hustlers if you must call them that), and I miss the interaction. It seems strange sometimes to be the one initiating the interaction with them. In my opinion most of the guys or girls are just trying to make a living, so give them a break and interact with them, you generally won't be sorry.

12. First time Eggs Benedict experience complete with snorkling at Xtabi. Susan from OneStop is right, best Eggs Bendict ever and cheap to boot!!!

13. The list of locals that I would miss not seeing if they were not around for my next trip keeps growing with each visit. There are several locals that I simply cannot do without and still enjoy myself.

14. The most expensive food in Jamaica (and unfortunately not very good) can be found in the departure area of the Montego Bay Airport!!! I can get a huge plate full of Curried Goat, Rice and Peas and Veges from Chicken Lavish for the same price as a Wendy's Burger or a Nathan's HotDog in the airport. Which would you rather have?? DUH

15. Next year I am staying until Monday so I can take in the Donkey Races!!!!

16. More thoughts to be added to the trip report....I don't expect 100% agreement with all of them.

If you are considering a trip to Negril, in the words that Smith made famous, "Book, Pack, Go!!!"

M&M

Monty&Melo,love it so far. Looking forward to more!

Looking forward to hearing more and seeing your pictures. We are booked in Rondel's new Garden Rooms in April.

Great start M&M. I was there during the same dates...it will be interesting to hear another perspective for that time span! Please continue

Thanks for the preview! Looking forward to your report! :)

Great start and you really made some good points...especially about the airport food! Anxious to hear more! :)

Nice!!!

EXCELLENT! Hope our paths cross at Rondel again. We share a similar mindset on many of the points you made. I'll have to try out Bentley's and Red Dragon. Glad you finally found Tony's hut....we have always had a good time there. You DO HAVE to catch the donkey races some year - so much fun!

I love Tony's Hut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gonna be there Tuesday!!

Big up for defending the VENDORS! I recently returned from (what used to be) my favorite hotel disgusted with how terrible the security and the owner treated the vendors.

I also call them over to me and have gifts in my bag for a certain special few. Although we had our chairs very close to the water and away from other guests -- not only did security chase them away but treated us terribly. It came to a head when a security guard showed me his club and said that was what the young boy would get if he came by again! We spent the rest of our week at Sun Beach where we were "allowed" to buy artwork, patties, pork, etc.

More to come on this subject...I will be looking for a new place to stay that is not an open air prison.

That said, I love the style of your report; I'm taking notes!

Thanks M&M for the tease :) Looking forward to more!

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Originally Posted by Kiwifrench

More to come on this subject...I will be looking for a new place to stay that is not an open air prison.

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Where were you staying Kiwifrench? I too love the vendors, they make the beach fun and interesting IMHO...

Looking forward to it........................

Awesome tips. I agree with the vendors, they are part of the experience. They provide me with some of my favorite things in Negril. Honey bananas, oj, jerk pork, patties. Yum! And they are great to talk too. The husslers, well... Some of them I can take or leave. Either way, they are some of the most interesting characters.

Do you have pictures of the new rooms at the Rondel? We have stayed at the Rondel many times, saw the outside of the buildings the last time we were in Negril, but didn't stop by to see the interiors. I'm just curious how they turned out. I love their beachfront villas, that hammock is one of my favs.

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Originally Posted by Jaherring

I love Tony's Hut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gonna be there Tuesday!!

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I'll 2nd that!!! Is Grace still working behind the bar? My wife spent a good chunk of an afternoon playing Connect-Four with her. What a great lady....

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Originally Posted by Muck

I'll 2nd that!!! Is Grace still working behind the bar? My wife spent a good chunk of an afternoon playing Connect-Four with her. What a great lady....

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I'll 3rd that! Spend some time with Grace and you will quickly become a Tony's Hut regular.

Looking forward to more M&M.

Oh goody. I really enjoyed your last report and got a few tips from it for our upcoming trip. Look forward to getting some more!

Is Tony's hut the one close to wave park? Love ice cold beers.

About to hit tonys in a bit- coldest red stripes on the beach

Tonys is right next to Wavz (sp?) by Niah's. Princess Grace is still there and we've had tonnes of fun hanging out with both her and Tony. DO NOT want to go home :(

Just left tonys. Icy cold stripes.