1st Trip, First Trip Report

[mjc12771]

1/9 Saturday
This is usually when on vacation I start thinking about the few days that I have left. Only 3 full days left. So we knew that the rest of the trip would be relaxation days.
After a talk with Jr. (taxi driver) the night before my husband decides he would like to get a haircut and shave. So after breakfast the boys go off to see the barber and the girls start walking the beach. We walk all the way past Traveller and on the way back it is a stop at Yellowbird for dirty bananas. I have to say they have the best priced on the beach and they are pretty darn good to. The rest of the day is spend doing nothing and I mean nothing. Floating and laying in the sun. The Boys are back when we return from our walk and have nice haircuts and clean shaves for $10.

For lunch we share a plate of jerk chicken from Movie Star Chef and back to lounging.
Tonight Treehouse has a social for all the guests from 5-6 with apps, drinks and a band. It was really nice and right at 6pm Jr. is there to take us to Fireman’s. Cost us $16 round trip.
Fireman’s is awesome. We arrive and someone swims out to the cage and pulls it in to pick our own lobsters. My husband and I share a huge lobster and shrimp plate. The lobster tastes so wonderful and is beautifully presented on the plate along with grilled veggies and rice and peas. This is definitely a place to return to. I keep thinking about those lobsters.
After returning back to hotel we walk north on the beach a couple of place and found this little bar that was nice and quiet and the dirty bananas were excellent. Can you see a theme of the love of dirty bananas? I like the places that line the glass with chocolate. Just gives a good taste.

Tip: Relaxation is a must the last few day of vacation. Dirty Bananas with chocolate glasses are the best.

[Mike_D]

Excellent report. Thanks for sharing.

I was on the West End on Thursday and saw the candlelight (memorial) for the young man that died in the motorcycle crash. Tragic. Just as a taxi driver told us, "the more they die, the stupider they get."

[murph]

Awesome trip report!!! Thanks for putting the time in.

Do you recall what fireman charges for his tasty treats? I've yet to go there...

[mjc12771]

Awesome trip report!!! Thanks for putting the time in.

Do you recall what fireman charges for his tasty treats? I've yet to go there...

I Believe it was $25 per pound ours was $35 and shrimp was about $22

[gregandkelly63]

Greg- can you walk thru to get to the other side or will they stop you?

In Negril you can walk the entire beach up to the high water mark. Some resorts will not let you onto the resort property past the high water line. You can walk the entire length of the Hedo property, but there is little reason to do so. (Unless you want to see LOTS on naked people on the nude beach) Just past Hedo is Point Village and their beach isn't great and just past that the beach stops at Rutland Point. There is no way to walk around Rutland Point.

Rutland Point is the dividing line between Long Bay and Bloody Bay. The combination of the two makes up 7 mile beach.

BTW.....if you do walk all the way to Rutland Point, the nude beach guests at Hedo will yell at you that you have to be naked. The guard might even tell you to get undressed if you stop walking, but you have a legal right to walk the entire beach line and do NOT have to get undressed.

[mjc12771]

1/9 Sunday
Today was another day like the last 2. Sand gravity had kicked in and really didn’t feel like doing much of anything. I know we walked the beach that day and hung out but, that is about it until closer to evening. Opps I forgot on our walk I got a Patty from Niah’s and it was so good. This was the first Patty I had tried this trip. We knew we wanted to go to Ricks just for a very short time to say we did and then eat and see the Packer game at Seastar. The other couple we went with wanted to eat at Sun Beach again. So this is where Jr. our taxi driver, I felt, took advantage of us. We went to Ricks and he waited for us (30 min. tops) then he dropped us of at Seastar and took other couple back to Treehouse where they paid him $40 (with tip). When he picked us up at Seastar a couple hours later and took us to Treehouse he charged me $32 (gave $35). I figured the other couple didn’t pay and I would catch up with them later. Well, I was wrong. So he made $75 off us that night. When it should have been $48 with tip if going off the rates at the hotel of $16 each way. We really like Jr. and he was a safe driver but rates just way to high. I guess the next time I will try to find another driver.

So, we went to Rick’s way, way too crowded but watch the jumpers and then the high one. Enough of that. We went to Seastar and had a blast. Watched the Packer game had dinner. The food was excellent. I had Lobster thermidor and husband had lobster that was sautéed with onions and peppers. Excellent, Excellent and food was served in a timely manner. Their pumpkin soup was also very good. This will be a must do the next time. Met some other Wisconsinites and was a good night.
I went to have the waitress call for Jr. and she said let me check to see if our driver is still here. What??? Yes we offer round trip transportation. Good thing to remember.

Tip: Restaurants on the beach and cliffs have at least one way transportation. Find out which one.

1/10 Monday
Today is a sad day. It is our last full day. So after breakfast and bidding fair well to our family we took on more walk and drinks at yellow bird and spent the rest of the day laying and floating. We decided to eat at Ivan’s for our last night and I called and got reservations at 5:30 with pick-up at 5ish. Our new next story neighbors also had ressies so it was a shared ride but free and return trip was $10. That way beat the price from the night before.

Ivan’s was absolutely beautiful. We had a table by the wall and the sunset was so wonderful. I was so glad to be ending our trip with this meal. So we ordered an appetizer trio, pineapple lobster, grilled lobster, and banana flambé and all was mouthwatering. Between the view and the food it couldn’t be better. Will be returning to this place.

That is about it. Back to room to pack and for a little walk. So the last funny story. We were standing talking to an older local gentleman by Country Country. My husband said I have stuff I need to get rid of and do you want it. Well, of course he’d take. Well, they were engage in conversation and I went to the room (right next door) and got the stuff. Well, I’m walking back and see this young tall Jamaican women walking towards my husband and start talking to him and asking if there is anything she can do to help him out. Light Bulb, Light Bulb. As I walked up she turn quick and said just talking to your husband and hurried off. It was funny because we had heard and seen the male and female prostitution being so available but never been approached as we are always together but as soon as he was alone for 5 min. Someone was there making an offer.

Tip: Ivan’s is worth the price and make your last day memorable.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]

[mjc12771]

1/12 Tuesday
Today is our last morning. So I was up early and taking my last walk on the beach by 7:00. I had not walked this early and it was wonderful. It wasn’t to hot yet and was very peaceful.



Then back to room to shower, breakfast and luggage to front lobby for pick-up by 10:00.


Last Tips: Enjoy your time on vacation as it could be a long time before the next. Don’t stress as it usually all works out, enjoy and respect the local people and their culture, your budget can be easily blown if you eat lobster every night. Enjoy.

[TAH]

Nice report, thanks for posting. You guys did get taken advantage of on taxi prices throughout, just fyi. The latest price you paid to get from Ivans back to your hotel is about what you should have been paying all along, even less had you taken route taxi's. Just fyi. Still sounds like you had a nice trip overall though.

[mjc12771]

TAH-I completely agree about being taken advantage of and will know better the next time. I was hoping to find a good/fair driver but maybe I'm better off just walking to road for a ride.

[TAH]

It happens to most everyone their first time. Most definitely just walk to the road, don't use the hotel to arrange your taxi (they always get their pound of flesh), and don't be afraid to negotiate. They're generally willing to accept half of what they give you as an initial price.