Old fashion trip report 12/26 - 1/7

[westy]

I have been around here for a while so it is my turn to pass on some ideas to the next folks in hope of helping others have as much fun in Negril as I have over the years!

Little Background:
First trip to Negril was Spring break '93. We didn't do the package deals that were offered. We ended up getting dropped off, after the crazy drive on the old road, at Roots Bamboo to camp in what is now Woodstock. Been coming back 1 -2 times per year for last 25 years, minus Covid, so I have a few experiences that I think are worth sharing.

This trip was 1 adult friend, second trip, and 2 college agers on their trip for the first 4 days. I like to take the 7 am flight out of Charlotte that lands at 10 am, before the big rush in Immigration. The kiosks are a huge help so I don't do the Club MoBay anymore. Never had to wait and got thru in about 5-10 minutes. Quick stop for booze at Duty Free then on.

I like to have the freedom to drive and explore and have rented from Island for many years. I had been calling the previous days to confirm my car with no answer, so I had a bad feeling walking to the desk. Pro Tip - slip a little tip in with my license and credit card. Sure enough the nice lady tells me they are out of cars and they can deliver one to me in Negril in 2 days. Oh No! is there anything you can please do? Does anyone else have a car? OK so she gets me one at Chalis. I am a little sketched but worth a try. Long story short it worked out great and I would definitely rent from Chalis again. Maybe the tip helped??

So after a 30 minute delay we are off in our Honda Fit. The biggest issue with driving for me is the potholes! They are plentiful and big. My driving tip is to follow a local or taxi as they know all the potholes and how to safely avoid them. Seem worse than ever, and hit a few for sure. Other than that made it to Negril on Boxing Day!

First stop was Woodstock for the newbs to see the beach. Can't go wrong here for first timers to get the scene. Got some over priced frozen drinks and good food. I stay in the Love Lane village in my friend's yard for many years. Self contained house with kitchen and everything needed. I cook breakfast at home to start most days, eggs, callaloo and toast is the usual. Its an awesome spot and all the neighbors know me now so its safe and fun.
I put the young girls in a Airbnb Splashrock on the water in west end. Awesome little spot run by a super cool guy named Scott. It was convenient since we had a car and they loved it for 4 nights. It had been a long day already so time to chill a bit.

The plan was to do more "main steam" 1st timer type stuff while the "kids" were with us. 1st night dinner was Pushcart, which was the first time for me. They had a really cool Mento type acoustic band playing with ladies singing and the bass box etc. Food took forever as they admitted they lost our order but the entertainment was worth it. Overall it was good not great for the price, in my opinion. For reference, I am always looking at Value, not necessarily cost, so I will put my opinions in in that frame. Thursday is Reggae night at Woodstock which was really good and well attended.

Full Day1 - Snorkel and Booby Cay
Pro tip - book directly with the boat captain that is physically in the boat. We paid $100 fore the 4 of us on a private 3 hour trip. Also if going snorkeling, go before noon as the wind picks up and makes the water choppy most afternoons. I have been many times and the snorkeling isn't great but it is fun to be out there. I probably saw more fish this time than in the past. Got to Booby cay before the big rush. We didn't eat there. There is a big new set up on the back side of the Island now so no more secret peaceful spots to chill there anymore. They had actually put picnic tables in the shallow water. The full service bar is nice though!

Back to the beach to chill for the rest of the day at Chance's where there is a bit of shade. Grabbed pattys for lunch and their first jerk chicken experience! After another stop at Green store for a crate of Guinness*, I have to take all newbs to Rick's so this was the day. It is touristy and expensive but the pace is incredible and they have expanded toward Catcha,, which now runs Banana Shout. The kids were more into the booty shaking contests and entertainment than I am these days, but a fun overall experience that everyone needs to see at least twice!
Dinner plan was take away and eat at Splashrock under the lights and stars. My favorite Sips and Bites was closed that night and Saturday as usual. So went to Vinnie's for fried chicken, stew chicken, and fish. All really good and decent pricing for Negril these days.
*crate of Guinness was 5600 with a return of around 600. 150 to 1 US dollar was the current exchange so just over $30 for a case of Guinness. Red Stripe was similar,, maybe a bit cheaper. I pack my clothes in a backpack cooler and use the cooler to pack drinks for the days at the beach and elsewhere to save $$. I start getting a bag of ice and take all my drinks with me in the car. Basically a portable Bar!! of course I don't drink and drive, but beer doesn't count

Full Day 2 - Benta Falls > Bluefields Bay > Belmont
This is my first time to Benta. I have been to YS, Dunn's, Reach and Mayfield Many times, but first to Benta.
Got an early start to beat the tours. $25 each includes a guide, which you tip at the end. They have a restaurant, bar and lockers. It is a bit closer, IE down river, than Mayfied but in the same general area, different river.
Overall it was really nice and I would recommend. You walk in the river much like Mayfield. It is smaller and shorter experience than Mayfield, but a bit more accessible maybe?? The mud bath half way thru was great. There are a couple deeper spots to jump and swim. I could see it getting a bit crowded as the day wore on and more tours showed up.
Left there and drove to Belmont, which is one of my most favorite spots in all of Jamaica. Had a nice lunch at Luna Sea small resort / hotel on the water. On to Bluefields Bay which was very lively for a Holiday weekend. Just a brief walk and some jerk chicken for the ride back to Negril. * we will return to both of these places

Quick happy hour at Catcha 2 for 1 margaritas and make a reservation for following day.

Dinner was take away from Shark's beside Cool vibez. Lovely lady chef / owner. Steady flow of locals and taxi drivers , which is a good sign of taste and $ value. Curry Chicken, Fried chicken, and fried snapper. all 1200-1800$ Another chill night on the cliffs. No music on the beach unfortunately.

Full Day 3 - Beach day > cliff tour > shopping

Drove to Woodstock for a day there. It is nice and they will get chairs and umbrellas set up for a small fee. Usually good music playing and always some great people watching. Nice day of chilling, drinking, puffing, and floating!
5:30 reservation at Ivan's at Catcha. I have stayed and eaten here many times over the years, and this was one of the best meals of all times. The 4 of us plus my Jamaican friends/family made 6. We all had drinks and a couple apps ended up around $250 including direct cash tip to the server, so not awful in US prices.

The kids fly out on the early flight the next day so early night after a full stomach.
More to come.

[VVHT]

Westy,

Very Very Nice!!!

Much appreciated!

More please!

Enjoy,

VVHT aka Happy

[ukran1ans]

Nice, any pics you might wanna upload would be appreciated!

[Rumlover]

Great report, thanks! It was fun reading it while sitting on the beach!

[dave]

nice

[Scott and Janet]

Excellent report.. Thanks

[Jambarney]

Super nice report, sounds like great start.

[Jaherring]

I love trip reports and yours is awesome! Makes me feel like Im tagging along! Thanks for sharing and looking forward to more!

[westy]

Ok so now that I am snowed and iced in here in Va. I have time to add. Thanks for the positive feedback!
So I need to back track a bit and mention some of my favorite spots that I failed to mention.

#1 on the list is my favorite restaurant in all of Jamaica Jus Natural! It is owned a run by 2 sisters and a brother on family yard. They were closer to town in the old days but moved way out. Teresa and Christine and brother are the nicest folks with their kids around. Awesome garden scene that is hard to describe but trust me an go!
Its deep west end so not terribly convenient for beach folks but please take the trip there for lunch one day and get the tuna melt on garlic toast. No meat just seafood and vege. Best lobster prices around. We had 4 Large sandwiches, took two halves home, 4 medium fresh pineapple, beet, ginger juices and a rum punch for 3100$. I will return twice and purchase nice jewelry, their own pepper sauce.

#2 is the quest for the best pina colada - Catcha for old times sake but Westender was really good. If you haven't been out to Westender go check out the pools and bar on the water. Usually very quiet and a very good and affordable menu. I would deficiently stay here for a quiet recharge or with a special friend

#3 Strongest rum punch goes to Canoe. 2 for 1 3-6 will get your night started strong or put you down early depending on your level. That mix has stayed consistent over the years - Gitty Up!

[westy]

Lost power for a week but wanted to add some more for all of us experiencing the winter blues.

The rest of this report is labeled "Nothing to do and All Day to do It" well mostly!

Monday 12/30 - dropped kids at airport at 8:00 am. No lines so easy enough.

Off to Belmont for the day on one of my favorite beaches. The road over the mountain form Mo Bay has gotten worse over the years. Bummed to be too early for Border Jerk but if you ever in that area it is worth a stop.
Go to Belmont around 10 am, Guinness all iced up, set up hammock, blow up raft, consume goodies from the garden and commence to enjoying the day watching all the shapes and colors of the clouds go by while floating in the beautiful water. Still a holiday so a sprinkle of locals on the beach and one young lady that has taken to my teacher friend. The 2 of them swim and laugh while I chill in hammock. There is a n interesting Dr. Seuss type structure on the beach nest to King's shack. King has gone a foreign but his niece is there to prepare the fresh catch. Full peaceful day in Belmont then hit Bluefields Bay on the way back to Negril. Beautiful spot as well but a bit more crowded with mostly locals and few visitors. Ramen night for dinner at the crib and early night.
Next Day New Year's eve. Pan was to go with my host to Little Bay for the day. My host family has a place on the water with a swimming cove similar to Catcha with a ladder and nothing but beauty and peace. We ride with Rasta as the roads to get there are Terrible, which keeps a lot of tourists away. Another day with nothing really to do but all day to do it, My life motto one day, Hopefully. Rasta works on the house, the ladies float and chat the day away, I nap in hammock with beautiful view of the world!
Home to make pasta and rest for the fire works later that night.

I think this is my 3rd or 4th New Year's eve in Negril and the fire works get better each time seems like the fireworks get better each time. Might be me
Ok so if you ever drive to the beach for New Year, park on the road facing town as the traffic gets crazy later. We park across form Bourbon Beach and go set up. Blanket, chairs, bar all set and ready. Lots of action and big crowds. Lots of fun but way too much trash left behind. I wish there was more care about that. Long fun night back at the Yard with the locals in the lane led to a very slow start to Wednesday.
Brunch around noon wake up consisting of left over curry chicken, Callaloo, eggs and my favorite Spice Bun!!
Spend the afternoon at the beach and watch sunset from the . Corner bar for take out fried chicken and early night back home as still in recovery mode from night before.
Thursday - We decide to have a beach day on the far end and check out the Jamwest situation. This is the old Pimento campus. Nice bar, restaurant, Jerk center etc.. We bring our own set up so we walk a bit and find a secluded spot under some Sea Grape trees and proceed to do basically nothing except chill, float, repeat. Met some new fun vendors to banter with and grab a few trinkets for my kids back home. Its nice and clam down that way. The big difference to me is the "gooey" sand in the water as opposed to closer to town being more sand based. Not a huge deal as we mostly float on small rafts, that is the difference when asked. We walk by the all inclusives and its a much different vibe but still looks like everyone is having fun, just not my scene.
Fun day. Hit Corner bar for my favorite fried chicken and early night back in di yard.

Friday - Treasure Beach vacation in the vacation- today we do have something to do but still all day to do it!