Hotel on the Beach Advice

I have stayed at the same place the last four times and I desperately need a new place! (NOT an A.I.)

I'm trying to plan a trip for my 23 y.o. son and myself for mid- July or August.

It will be his first time!

I have stayed at Firefly once but I'm not sure they have the type of room I want, I have also stayed at the Blue Cave Castle (Cliffs not for me), Coco La Palm once(Loved it there and it is in my top running right now), and one other place 4 times (Cannot bring myself to say the name of because, although security and the words of the owner left such a sour taste in my mouth --the rest of the staff is phenomenal -- I will never bring my business there again but also will not trash them by name. The reasons for my hurt feelings are best left for a different post.

Number One Requirements:

LOCAL (& especially VENDOR) FRIENDLY and to be in a Hotel ON the BEACH

****When I am in my beach chair I want to be ALLOWED to do business with VENDORS from my chair, without security chasing them away; especially when I am the one who waves the Vendor over to me!!

I have become acquaintances with a hand-full of Vendors to where I bring little gifts for them and sometimes like to buy them a drink and let them sit on my chair with me for a few and have a nice chat.

(Before anyone gets negative feelings about this, I must mention that I always place my chair as close to the water as possible and keeping distance from other guests specifically because I intend on talking to the Vendors. It is not an "Invitation" for them to attempt business with other guests and not one has ever tried to do so when they stopped to spend a few minutes with me. ( I interact with Respectful People.)

I also want to be able to invite a few of my friends (especially with little children - who don't get a chance to go to play in the water much) to the beach for a day of hanging out with us.

I also expect to be allowed to have a few of our friends to our room for a drink and snack or to change their clothes after a day of swimming. (My friends are respectable and have no problem checking into the front desk with their license. For whole day visitors I would happily get them a day pass.) I am also as respectful as possible to other guests.

I'm looking for suggestions from like-minded travelers who have stayed in local-friendly places.

Naturally, I like to have security where I stay. However, I expect the locals that I am interacting with to be treated with respect by security. It upsets me to the point of tears seeing how Vendors are sometimes treated on the beach.

Other Top Room Requirements:

No Bracelets forced upon us at check-in

Two full or queen size beds

In Room Safe

if not a Bathtub, at least a Large Shower (large enough for an average sized person to sit down in)

Refrigerator

First Floor best

Decent Patio with some Privacy a major plus

Big Bonus if it is Close to Sun Beach (Wish they had a room available for us!)

We do not need a swimming pool or hot tub, would enjoy a bar and or restaurant on premise.

The more I write this I am picturing myself booking at Coco. LOL

I have stayed in the beachfront room before but I wonder if anyone could PM me with room numbers that would meet our needs???

I also took a gander at the Wild Parrot Beach Cottages. They look adorable and I loved the one I saw with a Kitchenette. But it appears I would need to book two rooms; which would be fine if they were close together and the price was right. However, in the pictures I saw, I thought the beach looked a little small and shaded. I also noticed that it appears the jet skis are stationed next door to them - that I would not like at all.

Thank You in advance to anyone who can give some POSITIVE Feedback on this. Hoping to booked within a few weeks; I need a countdown!!

Beach girl here too! Definitely CocoLaPalm.

Check out SeaSplash, They have everything you mentioned and they guys next door at Aunties are great locals that have patties, drinks, a few vendors and to sit around and talk to. They aren't too far from Sun Beach.

You might want to try gatehouse villa? That's relatively close to sun beach. They are local friendly. On the beach. I have never stayed there, but they have good reviews on TA, I have used the bar many many times, and it's awesome.

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Originally Posted by Prism

Check out SeaSplash, They have everything you mentioned and they guys next door at Aunties are great locals that have patties, drinks, a few vendors and to sit around and talk to. They aren't too far from Sun Beach.

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Thank You! I looked at Sea Splash and was taking it under consideration until I looked at the Beach Map and it is a wee bit farther down the Beach than I want be. I should have mentioned that I don't want to go any further than the Margaritaville area in that direction. In looking at the map, I would say my hotel would ideally be between the following areas:

Country Country / Country Pepa’s Bar & Grill

Crystal Waters Villas

Margaritaville

BeachComber Club

Moon Dance Villas

Chances Restaurant / Wild Thing /Cigar King Gift Shop

Sunquest Cottages

Ceta Water Sports

Firefly Cottages

Sunbeach Bar & Restaurant

For Real Hotel

CocoLaPalm / Marley‘s by the Sea / Ja Ja Rick’s

Idle Awhile / Chill Awhile

Charela Inn / Le Vendome

Rainbow Arch Restaurant & Bar

White Sands

Nirvana Cottages

Lazy Dayz / Gatehouse Villas / Tony’s Bar

 Wood Carver Mason / Waves Events Lot / Niah’s Patties

Mariposa Hideaway / Ristorante da Gino

Boat Bar & Restaurant

Rondel Village / Irie on the Beach Restaurant

Speng Bike Rental

Westlea Cabins

Hati (private residence)

Whistling Bird

Fun Holiday / Vernon’s Car Rental

Aqua Moon Villa

Roots Bamboo / Roots ‘N Reggae Gift Shop

SunDivers Watersports & Scuba School

Cigar King Gift Shop

Rooms on the Beach

You might want to check at Rondel Village. They have mostly everything on your list. I know that they are local friendly and allow you to register friends for day passes, etc. I've had friends come visit me and have dinner/drinks with me at the restaurant, etc. Only thing is that all of the ground floor units are 1 & 2 BR villas. Also, the buildings are a little close, so I'm not sure that you could be guaranteed a lot of privacy on your patio/porch. Security there is fantastic -- if you need them they are there, but don't intrude.

Sounds like Coco LaPalm is what you are looking for. Although hubby and I always stay at Sea Splash and do enjoy the same types of interactions with the locals as you!

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Originally Posted by JahC

You might want to check at Rondel Village. They have mostly everything on your list. I know that they are local friendly and allow you to register friends for day passes, etc. I've had friends come visit me and have dinner/drinks with me at the restaurant, etc. Only thing is that all of the ground floor units are 1 & 2 BR villas. Also, the buildings are a little close, so I'm not sure that you could be guaranteed a lot of privacy on your patio/porch. Security there is fantastic -- if you need them they are there, but don't intrude.

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Wow!!! Love the looks and summer prices for the Villas -- Just put it on my bucket list for me and my Better Half!!! Looks very romantic there!!! THANK YOU!!!

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Originally Posted by Kiwifrench

Wow!!! Love the looks and summer prices for the Villas -- Just put it on my bucket list for me and my Better Half!!! Looks very romantic there!!! THANK YOU!!!

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If it's in your budget for you and your son, a one bedroom villa would be great for you. There is a full size murphy bed in the living area in addition to the bedroom, so you'd each have your own sleeping area. Plus full bath and powder room. Kitchenette, plus your housekeeper will cook one meal per day for you. The verandah's have hammocks and look wonderful. I think guests just register and can visit free until 10 p.m. Not sure if they're allowed to use the swimming pool and jacuzzi, but if you're just using the beach and your room during the day, should work great.

Here is a map with the Coco hotel room numbers - http://keithpaul.net/2011/01/cocolapalm-map/

I believe they would make your friends check in and the patio areas vary on privacy, but overall a nice place and we had no problem chatting with and getting things from the vendors on the beach while we were there. If you go through negrilonestop.com you get a free breakfast. Close to Sunbeach (we went over there for a day) and in the middle of everything.

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Originally Posted by Melody

If it's in your budget for you and your son, a one bedroom villa would be great for you. There is a full size murphy bed in the living area in addition to the bedroom, so you'd each have your own sleeping area. Plus full bath and powder room. Kitchenette, plus your housekeeper will cook one meal per day for you. The verandah's have hammocks and look wonderful. I think guests just register and can visit free until 10 p.m. Not sure if they're allowed to use the swimming pool and jacuzzi, but if you're just using the beach and your room during the day, should work great.

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Ok, so the 1 bedroom Villa does not have the Jacuzzi then? That does look nice for me and my son. Rondell is getting higher on the list! :cool:

I would vote for seasplash too -- that area of the beach is lovely. And never an issue when I have friends and their kids all around the property and in my room. I realize you've already said too far up the beach, but just chiming in with my two cents ...

I LOVE Rondel as well.. have stayed there several times

All of the villas at Rondel have private jacuzzis.

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Originally Posted by Mrs Wilson

I would vote for seasplash too -- that area of the beach is lovely. And never an issue when I have friends and their kids all around the property and in my room. I realize you've already said too far up the beach, but just chiming in with my two cents ...

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Thank You. I am keeping a list of all the properties mentioned here -- Guess I will have to try them all. :cool:
For this trip, I would rather not have to navigate around the bar/restaurant that takes up so much beach (if the water level happens to be high).
I also hope I never end up staying at a hotel that the locals refer to as an "Open Air Prison" -- as that is what our former hotel has so unfortunately turned into.

Why would you hold back the name of the hotel with bad service? Thats what this site is all about....We help each other with our real experiences good and bad. I've done CoCo twice and decided when I do beach/cliffs I will always use CoCo for the beach......It just has all you need. Don't be afraid to go have a beer in the lifeguard chair,I mean there is no lifeguard anyway.

The beach at Rondel was pretty small when I walked by there in January. You can't beat the beach at Coco. IMHO the beach between Coco, Idle Awhile and Charela is the best.

CoCo Wins for next trip -- sadly may not be this summer afterall though.... Thank You all for the advice!

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Originally Posted by Kiwifrench

****When I am in my beach chair I want to be ALLOWED to do business with VENDORS from my chair, without security chasing them away; especially when I am the one who waves the Vendor over to me!!

I have become acquaintances with a hand-full of Vendors to where I bring little gifts for them and sometimes like to buy them a drink and let them sit on my chair with me for a few and have a nice chat.

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Yes I too am looking for this mystical place where I can buy subs from the local vendors right from my beach chair(all respectable people I have known for years) without security harassing them or maybe invite one of the local working girls to sit in my chair for a bit maybe even go back to my room for a drink or even to the bar for a cocktail. I mean after all some of them are single moms just trying to raise a child. How rude security can be seeing how these people are sometimes treated on the beach. And I too interact with respectful people.