Looking for advice on first trip to Jamaica (honeymoon)

[Escanabajosh]

My fiance and I are shooting for mid June to early July and plan on at least 2 weeks. This is a first for both of us so any advice or tips helps,thanks ahead of time


The first big thing that came up is where to stay. I was looking at a few places and reading lots of stuff online. At first we were set on sandals Negril but then started reading on other places.

In the end we like Blue cave castle and was going to go there the whole time. I like to get out and see stuff when I travel not sit one place the whole time so I was looking more at NON AI.

So we went to the travel agent and she kept pushing the AI so we said we would look into some of them more and we would give a AI a shot for the first week and then NON AI the 2nd week.

We like couple swept away and are thinking that will be the AI we go with and then BCC will be the 2nd week.

Today we just got a print out quote from the travel agent and she has Grand pineapple beach,sunset at the palms,RIU palace tropical bay, and couples negril on the list along with a non ai called jakes.


We are looking to stay in Negril the whole time and leave the northern citys for next time.

As far as AI stuff I would like to have a mini bar in room and want places to eat not a buffet only type deal. One other thing would be water sports and scuba.

Thanks again for any advice.

[Muck]

How about Couples Swept Away for the AI (they have mini bar, ala cart dining (in addition to buffet) and water sports including scuba included) and Catcha Falling Star or Tensing Pen for the Non-AI? First week on the beach and second week on the cliffs.....

[Flipadelphia26]

Grandpineapple would give you best of both worlds. Walkable to all non AI stuff but still has AI?

[butch]

Jakes is actually in the Treasure Beach area I believe just a fyi for you....my girl and I stayed at blue cave castle and it was a very chill place, great for laying on a raft or snorkeling and the food there on site is terrific! We seen famous vincent picking people up everyday for a day on the water too. Can't go wrong with the castle if you want a cliffside experience

[wrtiii]

So we went to the travel agent and she kept pushing the AI...

Seriously, you might want to rethink your travel agent. I understand that she may have to recommend places that will pay her a commission, but you want a travel agent to facilitate what you want, not tell you to want something different.

That said, there is some sense to doing a week on the beach then a week on the cliffs at BCC, and Grand Pineapple as others have said puts you in the middle of things while providing support for the first timer in Negril while you learn the runnings. Riu and the other big AIs at (or past) the north end of the beach I would not especially recommend; if you're there, you might as well be in Mo Bay and save the drive to Negril. We love the beach, but good friends have stayed at BCC and it's a very impressive place - just not on the beach.

You can read up on Grand Pineapple quite a bit here, and they have their own Web site so you can see what they offer. Don't worry too much about needing your AI to provide all the activities you want, because there are plenty of options for everything, and the AI may well only be subcontracting for the activities anyway.

[yooper bill]

You will like Blue Cave Castle and Grand Pinapple. Swept Away is very nice but alot more $. Just got back to the U.P. after two weeks on the beach

[Big Poppa]

Our first trip to Jamaica was a "destination wedding" for our friends son. It was at the Riu Club Hotel. It's located on Bloody Bay, not 7 Mile Beach. If you truly want to understand the real charm and joy of Negril then I would recommend any one of the many, many fine NON AIs on 7 Mile Beach or the Cliffs.

The real Negril is something that just cannot be experienced in an AI. The real Negril isn't about the food and the booze, it's about the people who live there and in the surrounding hills.

It's about the brown pork guy, the patty guy, Miss Tillie and her fresh fruit, Ciiiiiiiiigarettes guy, the 45 Gallon Drum Jerk Chicken chefs... and the list goes on. We have travelled the world over the past 40 years and for the last 4 we have called Negril our home away from home.

In a NON AI you will also meet an incredibly rich and diverse array of visitors who, like you, just want to chill and take it all in.

Having said that - if you are timid or don't have much in the way of experience with different cultures, then perhaps an AI is best. But you will be missing the real Negril.

Congratualtions on your nuptials. Choosing a vacation site in Negril is like choosing a single malt whisky... there are no bad single malts, some are just better than others. It just depends upon your taste.

[booger]

Fire your travel agent and spend some time reviewing various sites to get an idea of what you like. Negril One Stop is a great site that shows you the various properties and has both pictures and video so you can get an idea of what the places look like. They also list the prices and amenities so that you can get an idea of what they offer. If I were to use any travel agent for Negril it would be these folks as they know what the heck they are talking about. Most travel agents try to put you up in an A/I as it pads there pockets quite well.

[Prism]

I agree with booger. Fire your travel agent. They get bigger commissions on Ai's and free stays. GO with Negril One Stop they are honest and great at what they do. They also spend a lot of time personally checking out each of the hotels on their site.

http://www.negrilonestop.com/

[Fred Stripe]

Sunny is right...Swept Away is great but pricey(do the Atrium rooms,dont ned to pay for OCF) then do Catcha...I stayed at Riu Trop 5 times,,,nice but WAY overpriced now,,,Riu Club(cheap but when you get there you know why and beach is lame). Couples Negril is nice but quiet...SSATP is O/K but across the street,not OCF....

Actually,if you dont really need all inclusive I would do CoCo La Palm and then Catcha... Booger is right,,go through Negrilonestop.....