Something Included...

[jesswade]

Hi everyone...It's freezing here & I am planning our next trip to Negril. Last July we stayed at Catcha & it was beautiful and we met some very special people. This next trip though we want to be "more in the mix" and not have to take a taxi every where. So I need your help I would like to stay on 7mile but hubby likes to retire where it CAN be quiet so maybe bloody bay? I would like to pay as you go but we like to EAT & DRINK (emphasis on the drink ) so hubby wants AI. Is there somewhere in between? Maybe on the beach & dinner/drinks are included? We have done the Sandals route & as many people have posted - it is not real. Catcha was great b/c we could just charge everything to the room & didn't feel like we had to always have cash. We also made the mistake of not converting our cash to Jamaican $, big mistake but we live and learn. Thank you so much for all of your helpful suggestions! Happy Holidays!

[brasi]

Legends has an AI option, although myself and others have found it to be less than "great" as far as the food/drinks that are included.

I haven't been to Seastar yet, but it has a free shuttle to the beach and they also have AI as an option. The food gets rave reviews.

There are several other hotels along the beach that are Jamaican-owned, or at least "real" as you say (not cookie cutter).

I LOVE Mariners, aka Negril Beach Club. Every room has a fridge. Nice beach bar with a couple other inexpensive beach bars right near it to walk to. You can run to Hi-Lo once and get cases of Stripes for like + or - $30 I think (warm beers cost less BTW, and you have fridge...). It's within walking distance to the roundabout. The Patti vendors start out there, so lunch is like $1.50 LOL

There are ways around AI without breaking the bank...you will get lots of responses here.

[NEGRILJAIL]

Consider Point Village .. private kitchenette condos ..in a beautiful setting ..although still a cab ride to the beach .. can prepare/cook breakfast/lunch ..stock the fridge with cocktails ..then head down the beach ..and leave .. when the mood strikes ..PM me for more details ..rooms very reasonable and secure ..good hunting..still only 400 JA return with red plate taxis ..sweet deal ..

[Marko]

Coco LaPalm or Bar B Barn are good choices on the beach......
a lot of places include breakfast which I know Catcha doesn't any more.....so that will save you some dollars......
if you could spring for Crystal Waters that would really be the ticket........

Bloody Bay is just too far from anything.........plus it's not part of or connected to the main beach

Cool Runnings, Marko

[NEGRILJAIL]

Marko ..no diss respect ..all things are connected ..it's just the view that is different .. I agree AI is the scourge of Negril ..however they introduced many peoples to the joy of Negrils laizzez fare ... to each its own ..and no other holiday place on earth says that better than NEGRIL ...ahhh the joy of it all ...

[MissBlue]

we like to EAT & DRINK (emphasis on the drink ) so hubby wants AI. Is there somewhere in between? Maybe on the beach & dinner/drinks are included?

yes! check out Grand Pineapple; it's on the Long Bay side and is also A/I -- but in a much more lowkey way than the 'big' A/I resorts at the Bloody Bay end of the beach. beautiful beach location also - busy but not constantly overrun. try doing a search here on the forum, i'm sure i remember some trip reports and comments about it.

imho Legends is not very nice; its smack in the middle of the busiest most crowded part of the beach, their beach area is small and always crowded, restaurant and rooms are ok, but nothing very special, and food is not good.

[jesswade]

Thank you all so much for your replies...I just called negril one stop & they also said Charela Inn was very nice. Any thoughts?

[Ras Walleye]

Love Charela Inn. We will be there for a wedding in 2 weeks. We have stayed there numerous times and it is my favorite place on the beach. Negril Treehouse is also nice and comes with a free breakfast buffet but it's not as quiet as Charela and Charela has more and better beach front.

[gerryg123]

if you're into bang for your buck, RIU on Bloody Bay might not be out of the questions -- it's the same 100j cab fare to the main strip no matter how far down the beach road, and you have the combo of faux 5-star luxury with unlimited drinks plus a nice room.

[Ras Walleye]

if you're into bang for your buck, RIU on Bloody Bay might not be out of the questions -- it's the same 100j cab fare to the main strip no matter how far down the beach road, and you have the combo of faux 5-star luxury with unlimited drinks plus a nice room.

Emphasis on faux!