Why Negril? And first impressions.

[Mandy]

My reason for visiting Negril (and in fact, Jamaica!) for the first time is quite lame. Seriously lame. BUT- it got me to Negril ten years ago and I have been going ever since!

I watched the movie Cocktail when I was 12. (*GROAN*) I know, I know. I wanted to go to Jamaica once I saw Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Shue in the waterfall scene. (*double groan!*) Give me a break, yall! I was 12!

So there I was at age 26 with a fabulous new husband and I had talked about wanting to go FOREVER- so he said research and book it.

After SO MUCH research- I found Nirvana! I knew it wasn't Cocktail, or How Stella Got her Groove Back- but decided Negril was the place. I immediately knew we didn't want all inclusive. I wanted to get the "culture" of the place! So once I read some reviews on trip advisor, I decided on Nirvana.

First Impression- I had only left the country once before. I went to Mexico for a couple weeks in high school. The first week of the trip was a guided tour of Mexico City, Taxco, and the country side. The last week was spring break in Acapulco. So.....that part doesn't even count!

We were SOOOO freaking out on the van ride from the airport- scary driving! I had extreme feelings of guilt for vacationing when so many were living in poverty in front of my eyes.

There is no vending at Nirvana. We didn't know about the Hi Lo- or even THINK to go get groceries that first day. We got in at dinner time. Walked down the beach to find a place to eat. (it was beginning of August-so off season) It looked like NO place was even open. We didn't see people eating. We saw someone washing off a table and stopped there. it was Marleys By The Sea. I looked at the menu- and about freaked. I don't like anything even close to being spicy. (taco bell is spicy to me!) I had NO IDEA what jerk chicken even was- asked if it was spicy and the server said no. Well....Lets just say- it was!

We struggled to find a place to buy soda- we were just in such culture shock that first evening! I seriously thought I had made a mistake by booking this trip. I thought I was going to STARVE and only have water from our room to drink! Ha!!

We were seriously SHOCKED about so many people trying to sell us ganja and everything else they could think of. There were a couple of guys that stopped and asked us to buy something- we said no, we are just trying to find a little store to buy some drinks. Well they said, "this way, we'll show you." and started leading us down the beach, then down an alleyway between two hotels. It was dark by this time. My husband and I both got scared and said- never mind! We just went back to our room. At the time we thought maybe they were going to try and rob us or something- but now, after going often ,we believe they really were just trying to help us out! We were SUCH rookies and totally unprepared for Negril for sure!!!

The next day- the Nirvana staff gave us pointers and got us to the Hi-Lo. By the last day of out trip we were standing in the sea together seriously contemplating trying to push our flight back and stay longer!

Since that time, we have been about 8 times (9 times in 30 days!).

So what brought you to Negril? When you first got there what were your very first impressions? Were you prepared and did you know what to expect or were you a greenhorn like I was?

[rocknrollfarmer]

A Family wedding in 2006. 48 people between the two families. It was good. My wife and I knew we'd be back {not with family though}. We've been to Negril 11 times. I could write a book! So, I guess based on what I just mentioned, that's a pretty good testimonial....huh? Yamon'. Since you like movies , get the documentary "Marley" There ya go Mandy, you must have more stories??? Go ahead, share 'em. Respect

[rjonsun]

Weed, man, weed!!! But of course that was over 40 years ago when I was a totaly different person. The few people on this board and in Negril that know me may even find this hard to believe.
Regards,
Bob

[Limo Mon]

Business about limo being built and shipped to Negril. Stayed on the cliffs then I found the beach and it keeps me coming back.

[Limo Mon]

[QUOTE=Mandy;138611]

There were a couple of guys that stopped and asked us to buy something- we said no, we are just trying to find a little store to buy some drinks. Well they said, "this way, we'll show you." and started leading us down the beach, then down an alleyway between two hotels. It was dark by this time. My husband and I both got scared and said- never mind! We just went back to our room. At the time we thought maybe they were going to try and rob us or something- but now, after going often ,we believe they really were just trying to help us out! We were SUCH rookies and totally unprepared for Negril for sure!!!



I think you made a good choice by not going down that dark alley if you would have you might have made it to the the store but properly with less cash or no cash.

[don+shelley]

I got hooked on dancehall my first trip some 20+ years ago...Yellowman + Patra at Samsora, then later same week, major concert at MX111 Beanieman, Tonto Metro ,Devonte, Shinehead, Ghost, Half Pint to name a few..Only a hand full of tourists in the crowd-locals were super welcoming-...Walked back to beach hotel about 3am with no bad vibes...Have been coming ever since..Used to go to the all night concerts in Sav, but getting too old now...No more all night stuff..

[Maryann]

In 1996 I went to Negril with my best friend. It was spontaneous and we had little time to prepare. No research was done in advance. Not sure this board or Tripadvisor even existed then (at least not in my world). My mom had just passed away and I was going through a divorce. Desperately needed to get away. Fell in love with the vibe, beach, cliffs, music, food and especially the people. Then I started taking my kids. Now they are grown and go to Jamaica on their own. Sometimes I go with friends but mostly go solo and totally enjoy it. My goal is to spend a couple months there every winter.

[captaind]

In late 1968 I had been working at Wray and Nephew on contract and living in Kingston for a year or so. One of my crew (second mate as I recall) kept touting going over the West end of the Island. It so happened we had a week off and I really wanted to see something more of Jamaica that Town so off we went.

He had a cousin who's name you'd recognize who was a caretaker at a large private home on the beach. The owners were off the Island so we stayed at the house. I was taken with the beach and soon realized it was the same beach from "20,00 Leagues under the sea".

After that first visit I managed to get back several times by being invited to the West Indies Sugar Company retreat on the beach. A sprawling West indies/victorian building on the beach. It was there for the various executives and visitors that WISCo wanted to have a place to "unwind" The building is long gone but if those walls could talk………

By 1973 I decided to buy property over in the West but as you know I prefer the hills to the beach. I've seen enough of the Caribbean and beaches in my work so off to the hills I went

Cap

[RyanP]

I have a pretty lame one, too. When I was in high school, one summer, MTV setup a Spring Break post in Negril, among other places. (This was when MTV was actually relevant.) The shot that they had of the girl checking in from there was just unbelievable looking (it was either over on the cliffs in front of the water, or by a waterfall). We attempted to go when I was in college, but the prices were just too high. A few years ago, a bunch of my and my wife's friends were taking cruises down to the Caribbean, and, of course, I get asked why we don't do that. I secretly planned our trip and did research for 3 months or so, and then told her about it. We just returned from our third consecutive annual trip, and plan on returning again next year. Back to the original exposure to Negril... We have always been in April. Just the way Negril is, I can't imagine it as a really happening Spring Break place. Has anyone ever been in March? Are there a lot of college kids? I always went to Panama City Beach when I was in college, and it is overrun with college students during the month of March. Just can't picture Negril that way.

[BreanaAshlee]

Has anyone ever been in March? Are there a lot of college kids? I always went to Panama City Beach when I was in college, and it is overrun with college students during the month of March. Just can't picture Negril that way.

i've gone a couple times in march, there are not very many college students around at all.