After 4 straight trips to Negril, the Wife insisted that we try someplace new this year. So, this past June, we took a trip to Elbow Cay in the Abaco islands of the Bahamas. I did much research and found that this island was remote, had a chill vibe, no big resorts, cheap cottage rentals and nice beaches. What it didn't have was any culture to speak of. The very few locals on the island were basically Americans. Everybody else were wealthy folks that could afford huge vacation homes or people that could afford yachts to sail there from Florida. There was no local cuisine. No locally sourced food. Everything was imported, including Kalik, the native beer of the Bahamas (@ $18 a six pack!) I cursed to myself every time I paid for dinner and the bill came to $80-$100. To top it off, the island is very difficult to get to, involving 2 flights and a ferry ride. On the way home our first flight was delayed and we missed our connection, forcing us to stay over night in Ft Lauderdale and pay an additional $800 for new flights. Although I did enjoy the beaches, the snorkeling and the tropical environment, most of the time we were there I found myself longing for the vibe, the food, the affordability and the people of Jamaica. And to be honest, the beaches there cannot hold a candle to 7 Mile, and of course the Negril cliffs are one of kind.

This is why we are now planning our return to Negril at the end of this year!