My 2014 trip report

[Hussyband]

What a lazy second day. With the exception of the raft launch this morning, I expended as little effort as possible. I sat on the draft for a couple of hours, and got a good way through my book relaxing in the hammock hut after lunch.

I had the opportunity to meet a boardie today. He had stopped by yesterday afternoon, but only knew my board name... Did not work out too well, unfortunately, as security is tough here. But, he got in today, so all was good.

As a part of my trip to Sav, I got my beloved breadfruit. Very, very tasty way to start the day, with the usual salt fish and ackee. Another boardie who is staying here invented a new way to eat the stuff with butter and guava jam. It's actually pretty good that way, but the staff was giving him a sidelong glance as he prepared it.

The launch took a number of folks. The raft itself filled was pumped up in really short order, and because of the need for electric, we had to do it at the top of the cliff, then walk it down the stairs. With four people, it was bulky, but not too heavy. Literally, the launch consisted of us throwing it off the cliff, where it promptly landed upside down in the water.... Not really conducive to a good time. Three of us were trying to flip it while in the water, as Mikey said, that effort should have had Benny Hill music playing in the background... It was comical to say the least. Tim finally came to the rescue with this ingenious idea of tying rope to two ends and flipping it from the bridge. Had it been me alone, the thing might still be upside down (who a, I kidding... Without everyone's help, it would be in the box.)

After all this morning fun, we marched over to Ahhbees and got some of his awesome burgers. Seriously... If you have not done so, give his food a try. The burgers are enormous, the price is right, and There has not been a single visit to his place where there was not someone interesting to talk to (Aubie included, the man has a gift for customer service and chatting).

My wife got a massage and pronounced it the best she has had in some time. Georgia (not sure on her last name) is one of the massage therapists at the resort, and the wife swears by her.

We tried Sharks for dinner. I really want to give this place a go, as one of our friends here loves it. I just have yet to find a way to make my wife enjoy the place. The menu and sign out front promises a plethora of menu items, but they are always out of everything. I chalk it up to the fact that we are at the tail end of the slow season, so maybe they just don't keep stuff stocked... Understandable if it will only go bad. We ended up not eating there and having dinner at the lodge. Fantastic plate of Jerk Chicken for me, pork medallions for the wife, topped off with chocolate cake. Jennifer is the head cook in the evening here, and aside from the fantastic meals she makes, she always his a smile and a conversation for you after dinner.

We had one hiccup with the trip so far which to me is extremely minor. Because we come over thanksgiving, and the resort is so small, we book a year in advance (I suspect others are booking further out, but we may not have earned that privilege yet). Our original discussion was to book a smaller cottage next year, because Where we are staying is made for four people, and we don't use most of it. we changed our mind about this issue three or four times over the course of the afternoon, ultimately deciding we wanted to go ahead and get next year. Well, the indecision cost us, as someone booked it for thanksgiving week, 2015 during our back and forth. Ah well, lesson learned. So long as I have the ocean and clear skies... I don't care. It's beautiful here.

These reports are being done on my iPad, so I don't have all of our pictures available to post yet. I promise however at some point I'll have more up. Hope everyone has a great week and a safe holiday!

[Hussyband]

Tim and Mary on the left, Cindi and I on the right.

[Hussyband]

[davevols]

Looks like a great time, thanks for the onsite reports.

Wife has ok'd a solo trip for early Dec and those pics of a warm looking ocean are making me want to do it.

[Chickster]

Looks like the 4 of you are watering the flowers...lol

[deanna]

We have made it to Negril, and I am sitting here in bed, absolutely exhausted from the trip. The entire process went off without a hitch, but I find as I am getting older, the process just wears me out more.

Flight out of Philadelphia with us air was absolutely flawless. We checked in at the curb, the red cap had us sit down, checked our luggage, and came back with boarding passes. Maybe it was early or they were bored, either way... Best service I have ever had at PHL. Literally from curbside to the end of security it was 13 minutes. Of course, I screwed that part up by wandering straight past our terminal and into a totally foreign part of the airport

We decided to stay at the airport Marriott last night, rather than drive to the airport in rush hour traffic. I've never stayed in a Marriott, and it was lovely. Dinner was ass expensive, but the people were nice, the bed comfortable, and the hotel was immaculate. But.... Who wants to hear about a Philadelphia hotel. This is the Negril board.

When we landed, we had the Club Mobay service. THANK GOD WE DID! I am reasonably sure half the population of Canada arrived before we did, and immigration was packed. There were no fewer than 8 club Mobay reps waiting on the ramp when we arrived. Luggage retrieval, immediate. Straight to the front of the line for immigration (the immigration rep pointed out on our passports that he had signed us in last year... Small world), customs was another two minute wait, and off to the Mobay arrival lounge while they found a Tim-air rep.

Tim air... Their service is incredibly friendly, the pilots are awesome. I am not sure this is really worth it though. Mainly because it is super pricey. $320 one way for my wife and I. I had to have a charter because of the insane amount of luggage we had (the raft), but $320 for a 15 minute trip just seems exorbitant. I may not do that again... Not sure. The other thing is, the plane is definitely the same one we used when we came down the first time 16 years ago. That plane was old then. They have repainted them, but the inside panels and the like are coming apart. Plus, it just scares the hell out of me. We flew in just as a storm was hitting the west end, and let me tell you... That is some scary stuff to see from that height.

Anyway, we got to Tensing, and I felt like we had arrived home. We were greeted not with the usual bs "I remember you" but by name by multiple staff members. At dinner, staff came up and greeted us, the manager stopped by, and of course friends we have made from trips past are here as well. The greeting, and sense of sincere welcome was almost an emotional event to me. While I realize we are paying guests, it's nice to actually be remembered year after year. I can't even get the place where I get a morning tea to remember what I want, but these folks not only remembered my name, but what we like as well.

We arrived fairly late, so I don't have a lot of pictures yet, but I've got days ahead of me to post pictures, retell events and experiences. I'm a fairly boring person compared to a lot of the reports I read on here, but will do my best to post as many photos as possible for those in their countdown to experience vicariously. Everyone have a great week!

$320 for the two of you that is pricey! It is $128 one-way per person for my husband and I when we fly international Airlink. Anyway great start to your trip report!

[ladyluckireland]

We ate at Sharks when we were there and we really enjoyed the food my hubby had the curry and it was great

[Hussyband]

How much lazy can you fit into a single day?

Quite a lot.

Got up this morning to another Jamaican breakfast. Boiled banana, dumpling, salt fish/ackee and callaloo. Delicious. Since I have been requesting these foods every day, it got one of the more reserved staff members here talking to me. I think over the course of a half hour he said more to me than he has in all the times we have been here. I got to learn about a lot of Jamaican dishes which were not familiar to me in anyway. I need to find something called broad beans.

Somehow, I managed to twist my back yesterday, and was pretty sore ithis morning... The pitfalls of being old and out of shape, I guess. I did not let this slight issue curtail my lazing about in any way, shape or form . The sea was really choppy today. I managed a dip, and a swim out to the raft. Getting back made me realize even more just how out of shape I am. I'm not the best swimmer in spite of my love of the ocean, and it was a bit rough getting onto the ladder from the cliffs.

Had ahhbees again for lunch. His waitress was over there, and I got to speak to her for a good half hour while waiting in my burger. it was interesting to get the viewpoint of someone trying to obtain a visa to come to the states. Apparently, the fee is fairly high, and they arbitrarily deny individuals seeking the opportunity. It makes me somewhat more grateful for the ability to pretty much grab my passport and go nearly anywhere I would like.

There is a massage therapist here at the resort. Georgia. My wife loves this woman, and gets multiple massages throughout the week. I'm not really into strangers touching me, and massages are way out of my comfort zone. But... Because my back was knitted up, I decided to give it a go. Wow. I felt like I was worked over by a team of wrestlers. Felt great afterwards, but I am still in awe of how such a little woman manipulated me like I was a pretzel. Great experience getting the massage in a little cliff side hut with the waves crashing against the rocks.

Dinner was from the re come cations you guys posted... Ciao Jamaica. Pizzas all around. They pick you up and bring you home, fantastic way to get customers in my opinion (some places only bring you there). Pizza was pretty decent. Service was quite good, and I really liked eating out on the balcony. Cannot say anything negative about this experience, and would definitely give it another go. So, thanks to everyone that suggested it.

[Hussyband]

Lunch with a few boardies in our cottage.

[MikeyNYC]

I pulled the trigger on kennys.
Apprehensively I approach the front desk, ask sheepishly if they have a menu for kennys chinese, Assuming I'll get a blank stare in return. To my surprise, she says of course! And hands me a laminated menu. (Am I still in NYC?) not only that, the guy next to me says he just ordered from them. I get it every time I come, and that's been a long time. So, to set the bar, I ordered the most american order possible. One qt wonton soup, general tso chickn and a spring roll. I'll report back later.