Our Countdown ticker just changed!! From 8 monthes to..

[tbay]

Wooooo Hoooooo for you guys!!! We are jealous!!! Our countdown is at the 8 month marker so i cant imagine how excited i would be if it all of a sudden got to be a 2 month countdown!!! I will have to live vicariously through you

All 3 of those choices are wonderful. we have enjoyed time spent at both xtabi and seastar but have never been to catcha(woud love 2 as we have heard and read amazing things) Have 2 say that in my humble opinion the vibe, food and those amazing hammocks at SeaStar are just too good to pass up!!! You can always head to xtabi to hang and eat(amazing food and some of the best pumpkin soup ever!!!!) Any choice you make is a great one and I can not wait to hear all about it.

Congrats again!!!!!

[negrilbay]

I never thought of that , my first time on the cliffs was at Xtabi, I agree the first should be on the ocean side.

[irieworld]

Clarity you must be so excited! November is a great month to be in Negril. I would say stay at Catcha if you can afford it, or maybe in one of the stand alone cottages at xtabi. While I love Seastar and it is the best value, there is nothing like staying right on the cliffs if you can afford it--especially since it will only be for 3 days. Seastar guests used to be able to go to Catcha and swim, lounge, etc--which was the best of both worlds. But now outside guests aren't allowed to use the facilities except for dinner at Ivans (which is also a treat). Xtabi is in a good location, less $$$ and has some great eating choices nearby. Whichever you choose--you will be in Negril, and soon!

[7milelover]

Clarity....you will love Negril in November.It is usually extra green and lush after the fall rainy season. There are fewer tourists than in high season. I would stay on a cliff property directly on the sea side so you can enjoy the cliff experience properly, for a first time.Congrats on your shrunken countdown. We all look forward to your trip reports which are top-notch.

[ackee]

Congrats on ur second trip to Jamaica! WOuld s/o pls point me to the last few days of Claritys firt trip report?? I have searched and canna find it ...

[Bella Bea]

Clarity Congrats! I guess I get to see you twice!!!
Ill be there from Oct. 30th to Nov. 7th!
Cant wait to meet you!

Im a fan of yours!

You are going to miss Mom's Halloween Bday Party, but we can def. party any other day!

[Bnewb]

Ackee...here's the link to Clarity's blog.
http://negril.com/forum/entry.php?38...151#comment151
At the bottom are the links to the last days.

[Clarity]

Thank you everyone for your advice! You're right, Since this is our first time staying on the cliffs and we would like to experience being right on the rocks with a view of the ocean.....Catcha or Xtabi are probably our best choices.

I can visit Xtabi for the snorkeling and I can go to the Seastar on that Saturday night for the concert. So I'm leaning towards Catcha falling star as our hotel choice. It looks so lush and beautiful.

The only affordable option that I could find on their hotel website for the nights we're looking for are at "the Gatehouse cottage". Has anyone stayed there? Where is it located on the hotel? Is it across the street or on the cliffs? They describe it as “being situated in the front of the property” - Since I've never been to Catcha, I'm not sure where that is..

Irieworld, Tbay, Marley – Yes, I'm sooo excited! I dont' think it has even fully sunken in yet that we're actually going!! I haven't had much opportunity to travel at all in the past, so the idea of being able to go to Jamaica again is like a dream come true! We started saving little by little after our last trip (saving money by walking to work every day, packing lunches instead of going out..etc) and watched our little “Irie box” slowly fill up. It helps that the prices have gone down for airline tickets now that high season is over. I talked to my boss yesterday and she just approved the days.. so all systems go! STILL can't believe it!

7milelover – I'm looking forward to experiencing Negril in November, I hope the weather holds up. I read that it's kind of the tail end of hurricane season so it's kind of hit and miss. How is the ocean water temperature?

Bea – It's too bad I'll miss the halloween bash but I really look forward to seeing you! Can't wait! I'm going to try to make it to as many webcasts as I can this time around but I'll def be at the Seastar on Saturday! Are you going?

Ackee – Thanks! I was going to transfer all of my trip report to a blog format but I got a bit lazy near the end. There are links to rest though at the end of Day 4. Update: Lisa just posted the link.

And Lisa – We can't wait to finally meet you and Rob!

[Lenny]

clarity/daisy/marcus,

In the grand scheme - you can't go wrong unless you just don't go. a highly unlikely scenario according to my best thinking. do it all as i'm sure you will and i'll be right behind you!

peas,

lenny

[marley9808]

Clarity

I really do hope you can stay at Catcha, you will LOVE it. I am partial of course and I do really love Xtabi but I fell in love with Catcha a while back and the love is still strong! LOL
The Gatehouse cottage isnt really all that bad of a place as it may sound even though it is typically the cheapest room on the property. I would actually pick it over the Little Capricorn which is the small room inside the newer buildings.

Gatehouse is located on the cliffs, the entire Catcha property is on the cliffs it does not stretch across the street like Xtabi does.
You will enter the property through the gates and to the left will be the office/lobby/check in whatever you want to call it. Across from the office will be the path down to the ocean, Ivans, pool, etc And all of the cottages will be alined along that path too. If you went straight past the office and the path you would see the main building in front of you which houses all the newer rooms like Virgo and Aquarius and Little Capricorn and Sun, etc.
On your way to that building and just a little past the office (almost actually across from it) would be the Gatehouse Cottage, so that is what they mean by the front of the property. The cottage basically faces the street and/or the office/lobby, while all other rooms (etc Little Capricorn) face the ocean.
There is a wall around the whole property so you are not really on the street but you are closer to it then you would be if in one of the other rooms, so sometimes I hear people say they can hear the noise from the road....but that is kind of common on the cliffs unless you are in a cottage right over the ocean.

I think the Gatehouse Cottage is actually very cute and beleive me when I say (or you hear others say) that I am pretty sure I would be happy anywhere on that property.


But let me also suggest this, if you can hold out, they almost ALWAYS post specials on rooms closer to the date when they still have vacancies. So if you were up for it you could wait until it gets closer and see if they post specials on any of the other rooms

OR.....you could book Gatehouse and then while there if there is another room open maybe upgrade one night, being on site you would probably get a great deal

Check out this video for a tour of the property, its been a while since I watched it but I think they have the Gatehouse on there


...... Also, when we go we are staying at Catcha (of course) so if you have any questions, load them up and I will answer, document and photo or do whatever you need!

So excited for you!

I think we all are....this means you really caught it now.....the first year I discovered Jamaica, I went 3 times in that one year (January, May and November)!!!