So in reading TR's from our grizzled or not so grizzled Negril veterans, I have been pushed or encouraged enough to try and submit my own report of Jamaica and Negril in particular! As I am not a writer, nor will pretend to be please do not expect too much! :-) I will try and keep in from meandering too much and getting too bogged down!
After having made 2 previous trips to the island, One to Sandal's in Ochi and one to Breezes Runaway Bay I figured that we had to hit Negril. This dispite the fact that my new wife really. really enjoys the relaxation no worry type trip that the AI big resorts provide, myself I am there for the RandR, Drinks, and Golf!!!
The previous January we had gotten engaged at BRB, and my wife was kinda hoping to get back there on our honeymoon or even wishing more to head to Sandals either in Mo Bay! I for one had Negril in mind and had pretty much decided thats where the honeymoon would take us. Now the funny thing here is that my wife had to convince my to even go to Jamaica the first time, I was thinking strickly rationally with my pocket book as I work as a Sales Manager in the Auto industry and we had been experienceing a NOT SO GOOD time when my wife started to ask about Booking in 2009 for a January 2010 trip. After some unhappy e-mails from her and a little convincing, I said book it!!! Well once there, I fell in love with the country, the people, the food, and of course the warm Jamaican sunshine!!!! So much so, I have taken over the planning, booking, researching and re-planning of our subsequent trips.
Now back to the honeymoon planning, my wife of course jumped into the planning of the wedding and took the bull by the horns. So much so that not only did I not have to really help with anything, I really didn't have to worry. I therefore proclaimed that I would plan the honeymoon! I jumped in with great enthusiasm and started researching, reading, re-reading reviews almost to the point that my wife to be got sick of seeing the Tripadvisor Website up on my laptop (I had yet to discover Negril.com).
One thing that I kept reading was how so many people kept suggesting Non AI on the forums, so away I went. I eventually found a great studion Condo on TA and sent off an e-mail to a fellow and was quickly responded to with a slew of information. Now a big catch was the fact that my wifes experiences with JA and mine as well up until this time had been Sandals or Breezes and so expectations were quite high to say the least. I had broached the subject of Non AI with overwelming enthusiasm with my wife and recieved a middle of the raod, whatever you think hunnie... I trust you... Now for you guys out there this is genearlly not something you wanna hear, is it! But I will not be detered, so I book it!
As the date comes closer to our departure date we have but one small bump in the road, the wedding. Now, as part of our wedding we had decided to have an evening wedding so my fellow co workers could be there and we all work Saturdays in the Car buisness, this meant a sit down "dinner" would not really be something as we could plan for as that would mean a 10pm supper and no Party.... Well seriously, everyone comes for the party. Right! We decided on a ceremony in upstairs and then staright downstairs in the hall for the presentation or the New Mr and Mrs and drinks while we did a come and go buffet style of our favorite foods prepared the way we prepare them. One hiccupp with this plan meant I was up preparing the "special" pork ribs that we make for four nights before the wedding until around 2 or 3 am each night. Those outta the way we can fastforward to the night before and an evening spet decoratiing the hall until about 12:30 or 1 before we could head home for the night before the wedding.... To say I was tired the day of was an understatment but we still had the booze pick up, Ice pick up and of course make sure everything was at the hall. Myself and one of my goomsmen acomplished this with about 3 minutes to spare before we were to be at another groomsmans house to get ready so the limo could pick us up. Now, a January wedding can be wonderful in Canada(weather depending) and based on the winters we have been having the last couple years the law ov averages and percentages were with us for warm weather. Not so, 2 days before the "day" we plunged into the deepfreeze and found out we would be expecting temps of around minus 20 celcius and wind chills of about minus 32, now for you friends in the good ol USofA that is -4F or -25.6 with the windchill!!! But we are what we call Prarie folk, and we can take it....LOL, it was cold!!!! Needless to say we did tough it out and we did have pre ceremony pictures done OUTSIDE!! off to the wedding, ceremony check, food check, party CHECK!! and of course the wedding night,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. We were too tired at 3AM by the time we arrived and just fell asleep!LOL!!! That would have to wait for NEGRIL!!!!!! Awake the next day bright and early to meet all the outta town folk for a brunch/lunch and visit pick up the remenants from the hall, then get ready to go. Holy Crap we gotta be at the airport in an hour and we still have to finish the last minute packing!!!!!! Well, we make the airport with time to spare and at 11PM our time we board the plane to paradise. Take of at 11:30 now we just have to sleep so we can catch up from the last 6 days that we have not!!! Goodnight all!
Well, that lasted about and hour or hour and a half before we hit some really really wiked turbulance and We were back awake, me cause I was now excited to arrive and my wife because she doesn't really like flying and the massive lightning storm we were flying over had the plane rockin and rolling pretty good!!!Eventually the sun starts rishing and we see Cuba pass underneath us and eventually Jamaica comes into sight through the windows as we are now on final approach. We arrive a bit ahead of schedule with a wonderfully soft landing and now to clear customs and immigration, grab our bags and find our ride! As always I am rushing to get to the immigration counter quickly ahead of the rush and my wife is urging me to slow down all the while asking what is the hurry!!!!!! I cannot, I am in JAMAICA and gotta get out of this AIRPORT!!!!
We clear immigration quickly as there is only a half a dozen who beat us to the waiting area and we are off to get our bag. That takes no time, next custome....Check... Now where is our ride???
Out we go and are greeted by our wonderful driver Latoya from Joe Cool Taxi, it is about 6:30 so she had to have been up by at least 5 to be there to get us, but she was bright eyed and ready to roll!!! Pack the bags, start our trek for Negril!!!!YAY!!! About 10 minutes into the drive, she asks if we would like a drink maybe a water or a Juice? Any Redstrip I ask? Well of course you know the answer right... I had asked Joe to pick me up a case for our arrival just in case it took us awhile to get setteled, well he didn't dissapoint! Now we are really ready!!!
The trip to Negril was over in a snap and we are in Negril! Now I dig out the info for the Condo to show to Security at Point Village, check we are through, they point us down a road to our condo. Latoya and I unload our bags and agree she will be back in an Hour or so to take us for groceries and to tha cambio to change money, oh yeah and more redstripe, rum and rum cream too!! Unloaded we head for the bulilding, up the staris, open the lockbox for the key, key into door..... Okay, now lets hope its as nice as the pictures....... Open the door ("this is cute"), fling open the patio doors and......................
"OMG, Its Gorgeous""! She's Happy! I Done Good
To Be Continued.......
Originally Posted by kaycee
