Mr. and Mrs. D go to Negril - A Trip Report

[Mike_D]

OK, so here it goes...

With all the great trip reports coming out lately - and especially the ones by first-timers - we have been inspired to document our trip to Negril in all its glory. The wife and I travelled to Negril in April 2012 for what was our first trip there - and will surely be the first of many.

This would be our first big trip since our honeymoon in November of 2010, which was to Virgin Gorda, BVI. Prior to our wedding we had taken trips to Puerto Rico and Bermuda. Needless to say, we love the Caribbean/island vibe, but we wanted to try a different location this time. Our goal was to find a destination that was easy to get to from Philly (e.g. quick, non-stop flights) and was relatively affordable. After much research, we found that Negril seemed to fit the bill. The more I read about, the more I realized that Negril would be the place for us. From its bohemian roots, to its casual, laid-back atmosphere, to its wonderful unique cuisine, the wife and I knew we found someplace special.

Knowing that we would want to go out everyday and sample the local food, drink and culture, we decided that an AI resort was not for us. Back in my single says I had gone the AI route when I travelled with friends. On trips to Cancun, the Bahamas and even Ochi, I opted to book an AI through a travel agent for convenience and budget reasons. On each of those trips, I can honestly say that I became bored after a couple days on the compound. I remember staying at the Sunset Grand in Ochi and convincing my friends to leave the resort and check-out the straw market and eat at a nearby Chinese restaurant, because we were tired of the resort food. (I also remember the "Welcome to Jamaica" talk we were given, where the resort staff discouraged us from leaving the property, unless it was with one of their approved tour operators.) So this time we were looking for a resort with more of a boutique vibe, had the basic amenities we we wanted (A/C, pool, restaurant/bar and ocean views) and was within our budget. Home Sweet Home seemed to meet those those requirements, plus the wife was interested in staying on the cliffs.

After much planning and anticipation, we found ourselves at PHL airport awaiting our flight to Montego Bay. We had about 2 hours to kill before our flight departed, so we grabbed some breakfast at an eatery in the terminal. Our 2 hour wait turned into a 3 hour wait as our flight was delayed. This is typical at PHL which has one of the worst records in the US for on-time departures. No big deal - we took it in stride, hoping that the pilot would be able to make up some time in the air. In the end, landed in Mo Bay 45 minutes late.

By the time we exited the plane, it had been over 6 hours since we last ate. With our stomachs were growling, I told my wife to hang in there as we would soon be eating jerk chicken and washing it down with a cold Red Stripe (my belief was that on the road to Negril, we would be stopping for some refreshments). We spent about 45 minutes at the baggage claim, customs and immigration. We finally exited into the Transportation Hall where I looked for the JTL Tours Desk, per the instructions on my voucher. It was easy to spot as there was a mob of people standing in several haphazard lines approaching the desk. As we approached the line, a JTL worker said that there should only be one person per party standing in line. I guess this was an effort to keep the line shorter. No problem - My wife grabbed the luggage and went over to the side, away from the crowds. I waited in line about 20 minutes before we were finally checked-in. After that we were given wristbands and shown to a small bus that was parked outside. By this time we were feeling hungry and fatigued, but we were happy to finally board the bus to Negril.

Our happiness was soon fleeting. Once we boarded the bus, I noticed that there was no cooler of Red Stripes waiting for us. "That's Ok", I told my wife, "We'll be making a stop soon". We waited on the bus another 45 minutes before it finally filled up with passengers. By this time, our driver was nowhere to be found. Finally, a women stuck her head out the window and yelled to a JTL employee, "Go get our driver. We gotsta go!".

We finally hit the road - just in time for the Mo Bay afternoon rush hour.