(Please dont take offense boardies that may read this a negative way...)

Personal, if I wanted to be around a bunch of experienced North America's, way up on the cliffs, waiting around for a shuttle to take me to the beach, then Sea Star is an awesome hotel. Beautiful gardens, tranquil vibes, can't say about the food but the drinks are good....

If I wanted to be around a variety of vacationers, right on the famous Negril Beach, in the center of a lot of activity, with easy, cheap local taxi fare to take me anywhere... to Sea Star perhaps....then a hotel on the beach would be the way to go...IMO.