Best Spot for a Day on the Beach?

Hey all - let me say first how much I'm thoroughly enjoying reading all the trip reports, dipping into the webcasts for a few minutes at a time, and seeing the amazing photos! Thanks so much - the info I'm seeing here will undoubtedly be of the greatest importance on our trip!

My best friend and I are heading down for a long weekend Sept 5th-9th. It's both of our first trips to JA! We are staying at the cliffs but will likely spend one good chunk of a day at the beach. So here's my question - where's the best place for us to have as a 'base' from which to enjoy the beach? Somewhere with good, reasonably priced drinks, maybe a pool we could enjoy, restrooms, and hopefully, a spot that will afford us some nice beach-sitting time.

So - what say you? In all of your vast fields of experiences, what's our best bet? Since we're not there long, we won't have the chance to do a lot of trial and error - we want the most bang for our buck, per say. ;) TIA!

I think Sunbeach is the best place. Good location, beach area, loungers, nice vibe. I can't think of a place with a pool and I don't think you'd need one with the calm, warm, gorgeous sea steps away. Just enjoy the sand and sea.

I suggest stopping at Yellow Bird for a bit too. 2 for 1 cocktails (a handful to choose from) for $400 JMD. They are small drinks, but yummy. Best dirty banana on the beach. It has a nice beach area and you can enjoy your drinks on one of their loungers or sitting at their cute little bar. Don't know about their public washroom facilities. When I was there in April, it was quiet around their beach. Sunbeach is more centrally located where you'll likely see more strolling entertainers and vendors. Freshly squeezed juices (mango, papaya, pineapple, orange), jerk pork, fruit, sugar cane, coconut and of course, Jamaican patties (beef, chicken, veggie, and if your lucky, shrimp and lobster).

[sigh] wish I had a trip in the works. Won't be long now for you, enjoy!

I second Melody's suggestions. If you want the beach but with more peace and quiet, a short drive to Half Moon beach near Green Island is ideal. Another option would be Cosmos up at the north end of the beach. Good food and they have showers and other beach amenities for a small fee.

CoCoLaPalm has the best beach - shade if you want it, lots of sun if you need it. Beers are $ 3.60 US; but Sun Beach is a short walk away - 200 J

I don't think one day would allow you to experience 7 mile beach fully. Get dropped at Yellow Bird about 8:30 , chat with the bartender, get 2 for Dirty Bannanas , walk to the beach, turn right. Walk ,drink, and eat till you can go no further---go 1 1/2 hours more ,then get your driver/taxi to get you back! Next year 10 DAYS AT THE BEACH!!! good luck dave

fun holiday and seasplash and shields has let me use the pool if I buy a drink....all on different areas of the beach...i have taken my beach pub crawl and hit all those pools with my drinks

I would go with Sunbeach although I never miss a day without them dirty bananas at Yellowbird.

lol Browser - you have a point. The big thing for one day is to walk the beach and take in as much as you can. Lots to look at and experience for sure. I wouldn't spend too much time in one spot either, so as to see the rest . Like you say, maybe starting at Yellow Bird and then making your way to perhaps Seasplash would give you a good view of Long Bay. There are a few stops along the way with loungers, Alfred's is another, then of course Margaritaville (they may have lockers/showers to use, but I wouldn't be concerned about showering until the day is done). Again, once you see that gorgeous sand/sea, I think any thought of a pool will go out the window.

Nicole.Edith, did you see the happy hour list? Take a copy of that along as well as a beach map, and you can plot some of your stops for the day. Best laid plans can go awash, but it's good to have an idea for a base. Just each take a lightweight beach bag with a few necessities like sunscreen and bug spray, the sand fleas along the beach come out a bit before sunset, so be sure to spray your feet/legs especially. I'd wear a hat, bathing suit and just a sarong overtop as a skirt (that can come off and on again easily as you wish) and put a lightweight towel in my beach bag. Take an inexpensive camera. If you both go out to swim at the same time, probably a bartender won't mind if you ask to tuck your bags behind the bar, or will otherwise keep an eye on them for you....or other guests beside you on lounge chairs.

Or, start out on the north end, get dropped off at Margaritaville, walk through, turn right when looking at the sea, 2 doors down is Country Country (yellow beach umbrellas). Have breakfast at the beach restaurant there (opens at 7:30) - the BEST banana pancakes, juice and carafe of coffee for about $10 - enjoyed while just a few feet from the sea. The juice man walks by in the a.m., you can call him over from your table...delicious and cool to sip on in between bars! Treehouse is to your right (again when looking at the sea) and just past there a bit is Seasplash. You could check them out if you like, before heading back towards town along the beach...for the rest of your adventure! Just plan to get to Yellow Bird before 6 p.m. for dirty bananas!

Thanks all - great suggestions. Yellow Bird was for sure on the list, but there's some new suggestions as well. I don't think Margaritaville is our style, but we'll probably walk through. I was thinking of a pool with a bar where you sit in the pool - but maybe that's not a deal in Negril?

I only wish we had 10 days - we couldn't afford it money or time off wise (we're both teachers and this trip is basically a budget-buster as it is!) - but maybe in the future we'll bring our husbands back (during the off season, of course!). Haha. I have been itching for a little getaway, but we couldn't afford both my husband and I to go, hence the birth of the BFF trip. We've been friends since high school (over 20 years, wow!) and we went to college together too, but somehow we've never managed anything more than road trips together - so we're looking forward to some girl time in JA!

I will be adding all of this info to my list, which will probably get thrown out the window like someone said, but it'll be good to have references and good info. ;) Once we slip on our 'green sweaters' as we say, I'm sure we'll just allow this so-called sand gravity to take full effect. ;)

Thanks again - I hope there are a few good shows to hit up while we're down there - and we'll keep an eye on the board so we can make a webcast!

Wait hold up happy hour list>>>where is this holy document????

This list was originally prepared by Marko, edited by Melody. Some may be a little outdated, but it's a great reference...

Bars (there are 100's and this is just a sample - mi favorites):

Legends (beach) and SamSara (cliffs) Happy Hour 4 - 7PM
YellowBird Happy Hour 9:00 – 6:00 on da beach – 2 dirty bananas for $5
Rockhouse 6-7pm (cliffs)
SeaStar Inn Happy Hour 4-6pm (cliffs)
Canoe Happy Hour 2-6pm - 2 for 1 cocktails, 5 or 6 varieties (cliffs, close to roundabout)
Coco LaPalm 2 for one Happy Hour from 5 to 7 every night but Monday
Boat Bar for 200J Red Stripes on da beach
Sunnyside Bar (Yellow and Green with bench seating - next to ROOMS) 150J Red Stripe Beers, small little place,
SunBeach for 170J Red Stripes on da beach – “it's mi hangout on da beach”
Firefly for 170J Red Stripes on da beach (the small, clothing optional hotel)
White Sands Mondays $170J Red Stripe Beers – daily drink specials 1-4
Wild Parrot – great drinks and food, Excellent. Coconut shrimp. sunset happy hour 5-after sunset

2012 Negril Nightlife & Party Schedule
Clubs (these are the most popular but there are more)

Alfreds for Live Music on Sunday on da beach 10PM - 2PM $500J's Admission - Drinks & Beers $200J's
Cafe Goa on Sunday for Brunch on da beach road with live music - Best Coffee in Negril
Palms has Jazz on Sunday Evenings with no admission cost
White Sands on the beach, During the day on Mondays has $170J Red Stripe Beers; daily drink specials
Bourbon Beach Ladies Night on Monday at with Live Music 8:30PM to 2AM
MiYard for live DJ's on da West End Rd Late Tuesday nights till sunrise at – Open 24 Hours
Alfreds on da beach for Live Music on Tuesday nights 10PM - 2PM $500J Admission
Roots Bamboo on Wednesday nights for Live Reggae Concert on da beach 10PM till 2AM
Love Bus Pub Crawl on the Cliffs every Wednesday afternoon, usually Fridays, and sometimes adds extra nights if there’s enough people (pickup begins at 2:30, return after sunset) with free pickup and drop off; email Lenbert (best to do before leaving home, has been getting booked up, very popular) at bananaznegril@hotmail.com; Call: 874 6631 - great guy, I tipped him $20 for 2 people
Bourbon Beach Live Music on Wednesday Nights 8:30PM till 2AM and no coverage charge usually; Live Concert 9PM - 2AM on Saturday Nights
Jungle on Thursday nights for Ladies Night (no cover for women) on da beach road 10PM till everyone leaves (late party place, usually till 4 a.m.) young locals and mix of tourists. DJ, dance club place; Sat is open bar or "all inclusive" they call it there all night...and ladies get in free from 9-10pm only...
Sunset's on the Beach on Thursday nights for 2-4-1 redstripes & rum & free live music.
Charela Inn blues on Thursday nights on da beach, Jamaican folk dancers/entertainment on Sat. nights (early crowd, 7-9pm ish)
SeaWind on Thursday nights has a dinner buffet with live music and show
Canoe Bar and Grill - Thursday afternoons at da for Live Steel Drum Music (6-9pm); 2-6PM is Happy Hour everyday, 2 for one on 5 or 6 drinks – also have Caesars (Canadian influence) – good food, pineapple chill dessert. Just past the cliff side of the roundabout.
Alfreds on da beach for Live Music on Friday nights 10PM - 2PM $500J Admission
Idle Awhile restaurant (Chill Awhile) Friday night buffet (can order from menu) and live music show
LTU on the Cliffs DJ on Friday nights
Margaritaville. Upstairs Fridays from 10PM until 2AM $1000J's all you can drink DJ's
SeaStar Inn on da Cliffs on Saturday nights for $18 for the buffet and entertainment - free pickup and dropoff too!
Jungle Disco is happening on Saturday nights 10PM till 4AM - Ladies drink free from 9PM - 10PM


Groceries and booze:

Mega Mart, Montego Bay – beer in with the groceries; hard liquor, separate area after the tills (pay separately), accept VISA, has a LIME cell phone counter in the store (to the right and towards the back wall when you come in the store, also has a Scotiabank ATM that you pass by when going to LIME counter), may have to ask an employee to call someone to the LIME desk (it’s just a small counter) – paid $999 JMD ($10.50 CAD) for cheapest cell phone incl SIM and $100 JMD in minutes. Can call Can. for $2.99 JMD per minute (3 cents per minute), don’t need an “international plan”. Local LIME to LIME calling is the same cost, LIME to Digicel or local landlines is $8.99 JMD per minute (9 cents per minute)
Negril:
ValueMaster (right by roundabout, closer to beach road, if taking route taxi, you can ask to be dropped off in front). LIME cell store is above this store
HiLo (close to roundabout, but on the cliff route, better for cliff stays) HiLo: 9-7 M-Thur, 9-8 Fri & Sat; 9-3 Sunday
Shamrock (about a mile along the beach road towards the roundabout). Small shop (like a convenience store) on the beach road. Good Prices, well stocked small store
K One (in burger king mall by roundabout), often called, Chinamon’s. Good prices, grocery items and booze, open longer hours, than Valuemaster or HiLO, will also cash travellers cheques, and exchange money for a good rate. Digicel cell phone store is in this strip mall


Mikey's is expensive and very small (close to CC, North, across the road) – mix or small selection of booze in a pinch. There is a better one a bit further North, but I haven’t been. Shamrock works well after going to ATM at Time Square (shopping centre) or to the Cambio (to exchange cash or travelers cheques, in front of Bourbon Beach)

live local entertainment:
beach bars usually have live reggae bands doing cover material of familiar reggae tunes -*Alfreds (Sun, Tue, Fri) cover charge $500JMD $6CDN,
*Roots Bamboo (Wed)
*Canoe Bar (Thurs)
Boat Bar for some free live reggae featuring Otis gayle.....ice cold redstripes and food that is delicious!!! ??? Red Stripe catamaran

One Love Bus bar crawl, Lenbert @ bananaznegril@hotmail.com; Call: 874 6631

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Originally Posted by Beebeluv

Wait hold up happy hour list>>>where is this holy document????

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LOL re "holy document"!

This is why you all are the best! :)

Fun Holiday has a swim up bar, never stayed there but sat at the bar many times. As others suggested, start at one end and work your way up or down the beach. There's alot to do and see around Negril but our favorite thing is walking up and down the beach (or West End road) stopping at the various places for food and drinks.

Thank you again, everyone, for the tips and lists, and suggestions. I'm busy printing off all of the info I've compiled - we leave at 4:00am Thursday for the airport! Yesssss!

Have a wonderful trip! :)

White Sands has an excellent bar and staff, and a different two for one special every day.
They also have a decent restaurant and very clean change/rest rooms as well as a clean beach and well; it's just a comfortable hang.

How was the trip? What did you end up doing?

M&G: I literally got in the door about an hour ago! I am too jazzed up to sleep so I posted a few teaser pics for my trip report. We crammed so, so much into four days, plus plenty of chilling. I hope I can rock out a report that accurately describes our experience, but I'll try. :)