The awful truth..

[juls]

Ok, here it is...I can't write a trip report! Honestly...I am just not that talented...I think my trip report will come about in little snippets... I got home on March 26th and have been stressing about that...and decided to just get it out there! I have tried posting pics in the past and I believe my computer hates me..I do promise that if any of my kids can figure it out..I will post some in the future.. I just want to say that I am so grateful for this message board..I had a great time in Negril..We made some newbie mistakes..but I think all in all we were prepared due to this message board..Thanks soooo much!.. We are definitely going back next year..and changing our location to the beach with a couple of snorkel trips up to Ixtabi and to Samsara..Wheww...glad I got that off my chest!!!!

[Seveen]

how was immigration? what did you think of the drive to Negril - did you stop for a snack? when you arrived at your hotel - what did you think? where'd you eat first?

that should get you started :-)

[juls]

ok..Here I go...Immigration went well...no problems and not a long wait...Did not do Mobay and it worked out for us..The drive to Negril was fantastic..I had only been to Jamaica once and that was 9 years ago at an AI south of MB. We saw little of the countryside at that time..this was sooo much better.. So many different landscapes and so much to look at.. I think my husband was in awe..This is the first time he said...Next year when we come...... So I think I have him hooked! That and I also made sure we had some leftover Jamaican money for the next trip..(as I have read on this message board!)The trip from airport to Samsara was approx.. 2 hours plus..letting some people off at other hotels...I I don't think my hubs was prepared for the driving..but got used to it as we went...After checking in..I felt the need for my Red Stripe...my better half walked down to the L&M..His first of many trips to the store.. encountering Ganja Bob on each trip..He always started with the same line..Hey! I'm from the mountains and I have some real fresh stuff..come.. I'll show you! My husband would say..I don't smoke...Ganja Bob would say...Just come and look at it!! Ok..the first mistake.. no matter how I tried..(ok at the last minute) I couldn't get a copy of the map..I knew that we needed it...My Mom and the Les (the hubs) kept telling me..we will find another map when we get there..ahhhh I knew better than that..I will NEVER go there again without the map! Day 2 ...I was thinking..how the hell am I going to find things...So I put on my walking shoes..told Les..we're outta here!..Made it up to Ricks with a straggler..nice kid....here comes the second mistake..we really didn't know why he was walking with us. On the way I was noticing a lot of things mentioned on this board and became HAPPY! I am here, I thought!! We got to Ahhbees and since I am a hamburger freak..I planned on a big ol burger from this famous place..Dang, we were there at 10:00 and they wouldn't be open til 11:00 we were told by the guy selling stuff outside. So our 'straggler' wanted us to continue walking so he could show us Ricks Cafe.. I told him that I was on an exploratory mission..was not planning on going there this early in the trip..He insisted we go..I actually thought he worked there..So we get to the gate.. this kid with us asks the guard if we can go in and look around...the guard says.."Sure, when we open." Ok, back to Ahhbees...its a little past 11:00...and I am grateful to sit some where in shade. The owner showed up and said they wouldn't be open til 12:00..dang...So this kid with us is saying he will make sure we don't get ripped off by a cab to go back to Samsara...we believe him..but I think we weren't reading between the lines..I think this kid wanted to go to Burger King...He mentioned it earlier and I told him I can eat at BK at home..We start off in the cab and soon I tell Les..we went to far..He looks around and tells the cabbie to stop and we told him we were going to Samsara..The cabbie was confused..For another $4..he will take us back.. I believe this kid had his own agenda. When we got back to Samsara the kid got out with us. I just tapped his shoulder and said 'See ya.'..We left him standing there..or I think he would have moved in to our room...Ok..Those are the first mistakes we made.. More to follow!

[rjonsun]

This has the makings of a great trip report!!
What happened next?

Regards,
Bob

[Patricia]

What were your impressions of SamSara?

[nutz4travel]

Great start - looking forward to more

[Jenn]

Yeah~ another trip report! Love it so far!

[Seveen]

YES!

so what'd you have for lunch, dinner --- how'd you sleep? did you hear the tree frogs, roosters and dogs?

and breakfast the next morning?

LOL --- we'll pull you through this ha - a newbie report is always the best

and yes the kid would be back in Minnesota if allowed hehe . . .

great report --- thanks for sharing


pssst --- you're doing a trip report (((Juls))) and we are all here salvitating :-)

[juls]

My thoughts of Samsara were positive..It was a clean hotel..it looked like it was making changes to upgrade everything..I brought everything I heard people complain about..extension cords, bug spray, towels..I was pleasantly surprised and felt comfortable there..Actually seeing two dolphins jumping on our first day..what?? How cool was that! We only ate there twice..we didnt do inclusive..the food was very good. We felt a little odd at times not being inclusive.... kind of had the feeling that they thought less of us since we weren't AI..Could have been just us?? The young girls at the desk were great..as was the young girl in the giftshop and the housekeepers..I would recommend it to others...that being said..we kind of like the beach better...but Samsara was a great starting point that let us get to know that side of Negril.

[juls]

The next few days we were trying to find a map...and trying to find Rhodes Plantation...You would not believe how many people had no idea what we were talking about..they would say Rose Hall?? Umm nope, Rhodes Plantation.. We asked everyone.. Finally, the bartender at Ixtabi said of course he knew where it was..I was getting the feeling that it was like Vegas..they didn't want you to know what was going on other places so you would stay put...Ixtabi was great...we went to lunch there and I snorkeled there.. Looking at the ladders..I wasn't sure I could climb them..RArthritis and all..but when I found the stairs that led down to the cave...I was stoked...got in..no problem...Did not see a lot of fish but saw enough to make me happy and just the looks of it underwater..it was remarkable..We returned there that night and had some red stripe...Oh yes, thats the part where I was supposed to say...that we made another mistake by walking there in the dark..and I had been warned by yall...but we made it...and cabbed back!...In fact, it was like magic...we were heading for the road to get a cab and a cabbie came up on foot...and said.."cab back to Samsara?" Ummm its like they were watching out for the 2 dummies that walked up there in the dark!