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Hey all,
So now wifie and I are considering samsara for 2 weeks.
What's the consensus opinion-wise? What rooms are best? Kinda like those treehouse thingies - what are they like?
Are you able to take advantage of the facilities at Legends?
Any tips, suggestions, or whatever???
Check out my trip report (The Number Five), and you'll see some photos and info. I've stayed at Samsara for years and LOVE the pillar house (it has an outdoor shower downstairs.) The cottages are nice, too. I am not the type of person that likes a "hotel room" so I always look for something a little different. It's pretty calm at Samsara, so if you need action and noise, you might not love this place, but if you just want to enjoy each other's company and have a fantastic view of the ocean, this is the place to be. You do have access to Legends - the shuttle goes daily at 10am and returns at 4pm. There are a lot of great places in Negril and everyone is unique, but personally I feel right at home at Samsara. The AI option is cheap enough in my opinion to get and then still have money to eat and drink else where when you want yet the peace of mind that you don't have to go anywhere if you don't want to.
I like Samsara. Close walking distance to many bars, restaraunts, stores, etc. It is a nice quiet place, with no hagglers. The AI option is just ok, not great. The food is so-so, but the drinks are good and you can also use it at Legends, which seems to have much more activity, as it is on a great stretch of beach. I like to stay at Legends, and if I need a change of pace I take the shuttle to Samsara.
Have stayed at SamSara many times ~ love the chill vibe & wonderful staff. The A/I food options are getting better & better...more Jamaican fare being served. The "free" shuttle saves on cab fare. Also, the L&M Market (just down the road) comes in handy when you're in the need for beer, water, soda, snacks, etc....
My "wifie" and I did the beach in various locations for many years and decided to try Samsara. We thought it might be nasty but were pleasantly surprised and loved the location and vibe. We snorkle swim read and take little road trips during the day including Legends and at night we enjoy all the great food on the cliffs. About the rooms, we have had the superior ocean fronts and they did the trick no problem but last year we were invited across the road for drinks in the garden view cottages and were blown away by how nice the grounds were. If you have never been there you should probably get ocean view. The pillar houses are slightly removed from the general population and require stair climbing under all conditions. But very cool. Hope you go but don't tell anyone,it's secret. Have fun.
Looking good so far!
We're thinking of the pillar rooms - hard to tell from pictures - what are they like?
We're doing TWO weeks - so yeah, we'll shuttle down to legends for some beach time - and hit the west end pubs for food n drink. Also a pelican bar excursion is in order since we didn't do that last year.
is it worth doing the pub crawl again?
Any other "do not miss" things?
I don't have any pictures of the "inside" of the pillars, but I can tell you that they a lot roomier than they might look from the outside. Here's a pic the shower area to give you an idea of what they are like Attachment 30960
If you like privacy here's one of the garden cottages, mind you they do not have A/C Attachment 30961
Almost forgot - we were pleasantly surprised a few weeks ago to see they've added KING SIZE pillowtops in the pillar houses (at least T-1 anyway). We were SO happy. And as Patricia said, the food has definitely improved over the years. I only had one day that I was pretty disappointed with the lunch selection - too American. Other than that, every other meal was at least good, some great.
mi live in that area and stayed at SamSara a few times and that is one of mi stops when mi snorkel.......
the biggest thing with SamSara is the nickel and dime stuff they charge extra for........
the charge extra to use a safe in the office, for A/C, to use their Wifi and to have overnight guests......
the AI is know to being only okay...your money is better spent by going to Pacos across the street to eat....
or any of the other nice places to eat within walking distance of SamSara........
like Pee Wees and even Tony's Barrell Jerk Chicken for a $500J plate of jerk chicken and rice and peas.....
there is L&M Market and the China mon shop right there........
for the money mi think Blue Cave Castle is the cats meow......but they have no pool......
but anywhere in that neck of the woods is quite comfortable for an extended vacation.....
if you need a place with a Kitchen.......Croton Grove is right there and Everton aims to please.......
Cool Runnings, Marko
Wifi is FREE @ the bar :rolleyes:
You get what you pay for here. There's a reason the prices are so good. The food is basic and made from inexpensive ingredients. The drinks are bottom shelf and the Red Stripe on tap is nothing like in the bottles, which they charge extra for.
The rooms are basic, the A/C works, we had an issue with water leaking through the light fixture on the bathroom, if you were sitting on the toilet you got wet. Repeatedly complained and were told it would be fixed. It was not. On our last day we were asked to check out early so they could then fix it. What?!
The cliffs are nice, there were plenty of loungers, we liked the beds on the cliffs as well. Lots of access to the ocean. The pool was clean, but the hot tub was not... the water was a funky green color.
The owner spends lots of time around the property. We found him to be strange, his presence almost creepy. Got the impression the staff is not comfortable when he is around.
Took advantage of the shuttle to Legends, was able to eat lunch there and drink at the bar, no problem. Same issue there with the Red Stripe on tap - not the same as what's in the bottles... however that seems a recurring theme everywhere we went that had it on tap and in bottles.
We stayed at Samsara on a Groupon over Thanksgiving last year. Overall, we had a great time, but I don't know that we'd stay there again. The breakfasts were good, but the lunch reminded us of cafeteria food. We ate breakfast at Samsara and did the Jamaica dinner at Legends, but ate elsewhere for lunch and dinner(LTU/jerk chicken stands, patties at the roundy round place, Seastar a couple/few times, etc).
The "hoverer" when we were there was a hired consultant, not the owner, and he was a bit creepy. The drinks included in the AI were not good. No matter what concoction I ordered, I was disappointed.
They did not provide pool towels which really surprised me. We overpayed for the typical non absorbent Jamaica themed towels sold at the on-site gift shop. I normally bring our beach towels, but thought they would surely be provided at an AI with a pool. The pool was itself was nice, but the loungers are old and 2 were broken. The room was comfy, and we met some awesome people.
Overall, I'd say we got what we payed for as far as the food and room was concerned. The view is beautiful, and given the rough seas, it was nice having a pool (that was a first for us). If I were in better shape, I'd go back to the penthouse suite at Blue Cave Castle (those stairs nearly killed me last time!). Teddy's an awesome cook and the vibe there is perfect. If I weren't addicted to the ocean, I'd stay at Seastar. Again, awesome food and fantastic vibe.
I prefer Jamaican owned and managed properties. Search Samsara and read the reviews. Everton 's, Seastar, and Greenleaf on the beach are all Jamacian owned and managed. They treat their staff and other Jamaicans very well and are very accommodating. You can swim at Xxtabi from Everton 's Cotton Grove, Seastar provides a daily shuttle to and from the beach and have a great pool, and Greenleaf guests are allowed to utilize all the facilities at Cocolapalm. All have well stocked stores near by and you will be treated with respect and dignity.
You can pick it up from T-1, too. :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Patricia
you don't need to go to Xtabi from Croton Grove.....just go across the street to Pee Wees and jump in!Quote:
Originally Posted by brihinds
Cool Runnings, Marko
that's because it's not Red Stripe beer.....Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryS
most places pour the inexpensive Real Rock draft beer made by Big City Brewing CO LTD in Kingston......
and it's the worst beer mi ever tasted......seriously......
don't know if they are still in business.....hope not......lol
but in the 2000's most places that served draft in Negril poured that chit....
just horrible mon........
Cool Runnings, Marko
Lot of mixed reviews about this property....some REALLY positive and Some on the EXTREME end of negative.
My take: I stayed there on my first trip to Negril. For a VERY budget minded traveler it's totally adequate. I paid something like $49/night.....any more than that and it would not be worth it. Now that they have raised their rates and knowing what I know now about other properties in the area, I will not be staying at Samsara again....imo there are too many wonderful possibilities on the cliffs....it's a no-brainer.
The good: I can't really rave about anything....everything was just "ok" as far as the hotel itself. I enjoyed myself very much but I will enjoy myself wherever I am. The AC blows cold (but I'm pretty sure they nickel and dime you in order to get the KEY to turn the sucker on). The location Is good and there is a free shuttle to the beach. The cliffs, view, sea access, FANTASTIC, but that's basically anywhere on the cliffs. :rolleyes:
The not so good: I booked a King cottage. Verified this TWICE over the phone before arrival. Our arrival was delayed by a day and when I called to make sure there would be no problem with the room etc, I was assured that everything would be just fine. When I checked in, the girl at the front desk seemed put out and surprised that we were a day late. ???? They showed us to our room....not cottage....a "superior ocean view" room. The only thing we had a superior view of was a huge palm leave lol. The room was comfortable enough to not complain. The door/lock bothered me a bit. The door didn't really "close" and I don't know how else to explain it. The only think keeping the door shut was the sliding lock mechanism....which had clearly been manipulated at some point.... I don't know, just didn't seem real secure. The food was not ok by me, and I didn't not eat more than one meal on the property, but did eat at Ciao Jamaica twice as it was delicious. Note that it is not included in the AI plan, and neither are Red Stripes or any decent liquors. The staff was not very friendly or warm or helpful. The bar was dead. NObody seemed very happy there. NO VIBE whatsoever.
My biggest concern...
While I never encountered the owner personally. I have heard and read plenty of ridiculous stories about abusive mistreatment of guests. While I usually take negative reviews with a grain of salt.....these are just too outrageous and consistent to ignore. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and assume that the attitude of his staff might be a reflection of the environment that he has created there? Anyways, you might read some of those and just be aware....he sounds like a live wire
jeez sorry for the long winded post lol
Not a fan of Samsara.....as for legends...what beach remains is just flooded during the day; in both places food mediocre as are the drinks.....they have deals with travel agents which is why they surviveQuote:
Originally Posted by TandJ
What beach remains at Legends? Well, this picture taken today before the webcast at Café Goa shows it quite clearly.Quote:
Originally Posted by ed kennedy
Two rows of beach loungers and plenty of beach in front of it....
Attachment 31000
Nice pic Rob :cool:
The ever-changing 7 mile beach.
the picture is NOT a true representation of the beach when occupied.....almost appears staged for a shot.....Legends lost its beach many years ago and during the say when the samsara folks come down along with other stragglers it is extremely crowded and unpleasant for those who want a little relaxation...this opinion is offered by someone who has beenthere and has no financial interest in promoting the place
Ed,
Thank you for accusing me of lying and deceiving people. But unfortunately you are simply wrong on this one man.
One of the advantages of living here is that I can correct misinformation in a timely fashion. The picture is not staged, but an exact, accurate and truthful view of the beach yesterday morning.
I think that your opinion that you seem to be confusing with a fact is based on the limited time you have "beenthere". Beach sand everywhere on the planet comes and goes, one of the bases for the term "shifting sands".
I have "been there" daily for 20 years now, and yes, there are times when the sea is rough that it can roll up higher on the beach, but from a 365 day year standpoint over 20 years of daily experience, they are fairly rare occasions. It happens mostly when the winds blow strong churning up the Caribbean. But to categorize it as "what beach remains is just flooded during the day" and "Legends lost its beach many years ago" is clearly inaccurate.
While Legends, Kuyaba and Tamboo may not have the widest stretch of beach in Negril, there is clearly a substantial amount of beach there now as the un-staged photo shows.
Negril.com was created in 1995 to provide a place where visitors to the island can find the best, most accurate, most helpful and useful information available anywhere. Our credibility is based on that premise. Negril.com does not allow anyone to use the site to deceive, and that would also include the businesses in Negril, myself or any of our Negril.com staff. That includes you too Ed...
But it is interesting to note that you mention the loungers are filled during the day. Maybe that is because people enjoy the beach there at Legends. The folks from Samsara and Legends are both free to stroll the beach and go where ever they choose. But people do tend to frequent places they enjoy...
if you enjoy being packed in like sardines, and like mediocre food and drink, by all means go......you can go as well Rob...relax on the lounge chair.....surrounded by fellow sardines
Ed,
When we vacation on the island, we tend to head to Kingston. Love that town!
so Rob...tell me...ever chill out on one of these lounge chairs at legends for the day? and in America, BTW, we spend time in NYC....we know what we are going for....
Ed,
To be honest, it seems that I am always "on the clock" when in Negril, which only makes sense since I started Negril.com and the internet never sleeps. Someone is always asking about some help with their websites or on how best to market their business so to simply "chill out" anywhere on the main beach is really not a luxury that I have at my disposal as I did when I was visiting Negril about 30 years ago.
But having spent literally hundreds if not thousands of hours at Samsara, Legends, Kuyaba and Tamboo for that matter over the last 20 years, I am keenly aware of aspects at all these properties as I am with virtually all the businesses in Negril. That happens naturally when you live in a place and make it your home.
Ed - enough is enough man. You already stated it, you get what you pay for and if you somehow misunderstood the bargain deal you were getting or had a bad travel agent, well, sorry about that. But that doesn't change the fact that there are repeat visitors that swear by Samsara and Legends so your negative opinion of them is just that, your opinion.
The fact of the matter is that Legends did not lose their beach years ago and that it does not flood every day. They have a beautiful beach as shown in yesterday's photo.
I happen to be one of those "repeat visitors" to SamSara/Legends & wouldn't have it any other way :o
Rob...you state: The fact of the matter is that Legends did not lose their beach years ago ..THAT sir is a lie and you know it......and the proof is the sign that is no longer there as the loss of beach required it be taken out.....tell me that is not true sir......or perhaps I have been there longer than you
and to prove my point Rob, here is a post on YOUR board from many years ago....and you know that one of he references is to that neon legends sign.....hope you will leave this up to prove that ALL can make mistakes, right?
"Agree 100%. Long time posters may remember the discussions here on the board when Margaritaville & neon lights showed up on the beach."
here it is....
http://www.negril.com/discus/message...41/237802.html
Ed,
If you are truly interested, please educate yourself on how a beach eco-system works, that is beyond the scope of the focus of Negril.com. There are many great places to find out about it on the internet, please google it.
But to put it simply, this has to do with nature and how a seashore is in a constant state of change. It never stays the same from day to day, year to year. During rough seas, entire areas of sand on a beach can be essentially pulled out to sea only to be brought back within the days and weeks afterwards. The beach sand is not lost never to return. All the sand is still there, and it returns as nature intends it to return. That is how the nature of a beach works.
The picture I took yesterday showing the beach that you claim is not there will look different today, tomorrow and the next day as it will next week, next month and next year. Such is the nature of any coastal area.
If Legends took down a sign to save it from being washed out to sea, that is an economic decision. Saving the sign prevents it from being rebuilt. The same thing is done at properties on both the beach and the cliffs. During rough seas the properties will pull back anything they don't want washed out to sea further back on the property, be it a beach or cliff location.
If Legends chose not to put the sign back up after the beach restored itself, that is also an economic decision. Perhaps they didn't think it was necessary and the expense of saving it wasn't worth the effort.
But your opinion is misinforming people. It is misinforming to make claims that "what beach remains is just flooded during the day" and "Legends lost its beach many years ago" when the beach is clearly visible to all those in Negril today and is not being flooded every day. It may have been that way during your vacation stay, but that does not make it true everyday. To claim it is not accurate and not helping anyone.
As for the neon light reference to a 2009 post addressed to Negril vets and what they missed most, I have no idea what this adds to the discussion other than to prove that there was a sign removed, which no one disputes.
I am sure some of those "old timers" would probably complain about the new traffic lights, medians and sidewalks being built, but if there is one thing constant in life it is change...
Ed,
I worked on that beach at Cosmo's and Sands Club for eight years from 79 - 86
I watched the sand come and go. That beach is supported by the morass and balances the pressure of the sea with the flow of fresh water coming from the hills.
It's always in a state of flux.
It's not the beach I first saw in 1969 but it's still there and a certain ways still the same.
You know if you don't like it you don't have to come.
Myself, I live in the hills
If Legends took down a sign to save it from being washed out to sea, that is an economic decision. Saving the sign prevents it from being rebuilt. The same thing is done at properties on both the beach and the cliffs. During rough seas the properties will pull back anything they don't want washed out to sea further back on the property, be it a beach or cliff location.
Rob....why can you simply acknowledge that for the past ten years, at least, the beach is definitively smaller than when it opened....
And as for the word "flooded" I speak of people, not water.
You constantly explain away any valid observations that are not Irie as they say......perhaps this is a business decision on your part; perhaps even samsara saw he was being clobbered on there and asked for your help(if you wanted to keep him as a sponsor).
The bottom line is: walk past Legends on a beach day and it is crowded, VERY crowded; with very little beach to enjoy...period
Ed,Quote:
Originally Posted by ed kennedy
Give me a break man! After all those posts you have made, you finally state that you meant Legends is flooded by "people"? Well if that wasn't a rather misleading statement that could have been corrected in your first reply but wasn't.
And I do remember the day Legends opened, I was there back in 1997 and took a picture of the beach.
As with any concrete structure on any beach, I personally think they tend to build them too close to the sea line. The sea seems to not like concrete structures in its way. The sea wants to roll in and roll out naturally and any concrete structure inhibits that desire.
Over the years, the beach did expand for a while, then receded for a while, and it has been repeating that same pattern since the day it opened.
Here are two pictures the first one taken the day Legends opened in 1997:
Attachment 31008
and then the one I took yesterday.
Attachment 31009
Although they are taken at different angles, I cannot say with any great certainty that the beach is substantially bigger in the 1997 photo or substantially smaller in the 2013 photo. There is the high water line which seems to be nearly in the same area, although it seems to be at a somewhat steeper angle in the 97 photo, and the new Legends sign wasn't even there in the 1997 photo, but now sits before the concrete dining area which is not visible in the 2013 photo.
And before you say I edited the photo back in 1997, you can check it yourself on the WayBack Machine at archives.org - search for any date in 1997 after May.
The bottom line is that you admit that Legends is crowded, very crowded. That would tell me that they must be doing something right. If it is as bad as you claim, why would people simply not walk over to Tamboo or Kuyaba which are right next door?
The tale of the tape ! :p
sorry Rob...something missing from the photos...the neon sign...you KNOW the sign was there yet it does not show....what happened to the sign in your photo.......
and papa bear.......trust me...saw the sign many many times....where is it in pic #1.....interesting
Hey,
We stayed at Kuyaba/Sea Gem when Legends was being built. The beach was small then!
We stayed a year later and the Legends guests were encroaching on the Kuyaba beach.
Fact is, the reef is decaying, the owners have built to close to the beach, the entire Negril beach is in jeopardy.
We've walked the beach since 1992, last year we didn't because there were so many places where you had to "go inland".
Painting the roses red.
Ed,
There was no neon sign there in 1997. It wasn't installed until years later... me thinks you are confusing your trips...
Exactly - the beach at Legends was small even when it was being built. I have been walking the beach since 1985 and the heavy storms of the mid 2000's really took their toll on the reef and the beach. But this past couple years of no serious storm activity has started improving many places that seemed to and "inland" route....Quote:
Originally Posted by Papa Georgie
with all the time you have spent researching this matter today, I have to believe you could come up with a photo of the sign which would clearly show how much smaller the beach has become...