in the 90s and early 2000s i would call hotels directly, but since the mid 2000s i email hotels directly.

specific to negril, i always go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth via email with the rude receptionists at xtabi (the only hotel i really stay in in negril, since 1995) and they always screw up my reservation.

i tried in december to book xtabi for february and they were so unpleasant i just gave up and emailed alfred's ocean palace and bernard saulter, who owns cottages near seagrape (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15806208). both were so pleasant that i'm tempted to stop bothering with xtabi.

i also reached out to catcha gardens via email and they were SO nice and helpful.