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.....
I would like to caution you that if you do the AI first....please do not be worried about their cautionary tales of safety only at their facility.....I have had friends stay at AI's and they reported being told to only go where their bus takes them and not to get off the bus before the destinations because it is "safer"......they have to have a hook to bring people back to their expensive hotel....please also be aware that the AI's (with exception of grand pineapple) are at the far end of the beach or bloody bay.....not in the area of many small bars/hotels that the people on here talk about. I agree with Fred Stripe....you will find that you probably won't eat or drink as much as you have paid for in the AI and the sports such as scuba are usually an added cost.
Where ever you stay be sure to take the One Love bar crawl. It's a do not miss adventure and alot of fun.
Coming from someone that has stayed at Couples Swept Away, I can tell you three things off the bat:
1) We never felt any pressure to stay on the resort grounds by CSA staff. In fact, they hooked us up with transportation whenever we requested it.
2) Scuba and other water sports are NOT an added cost (Certified Divers get a free dive every day. Non-certified divers can get a free course and a free dive). They also have hobie cats, snorkeling, water skiing and catameran cruises ALL included in the price of the stay.
3) It is on a great stretch of beach and close to many of the small bars/hotels on the Long Bay. Just walk out to the beach with a fresh Red Stripe, turn left, and you will hit the first bar before you finish your beer.
Oh, and I agree with Fred Stripe, we prefer the Atrium Suite as well.
Last edited by Muck; 01-16-2013 at 09:07 AM.
Sorry I should have specified that this was Sandals that they stayed at.Originally Posted by Muck
No problem.....not all AIs are as bad as some want to make them out to be. Just as not all Non-AIs are the cat's meow.
I'm with Sunny. If I were the OP and were going to spend 2 weeks in Negril, it would be CSA for me the 1st week and Catcha the 2nd. That would be heaven.
All of the above recommendations are excellent but I encourage you to not abandon your original plan to stay at the Blue Cave Castle for part of your stay. It is one of the most unique and wonderful places to stay and chef Teddy's food is amazing.
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. KJV Psalm 68:4
I agree!
As a. 40 year traveler I must say the advice you have been given is great and accurate.
I love grand pineapple but my opinion it's the best value out there not where I would go for my honeymoon.
I also suggest swept away for your all inclusive. Eat and drink till u wear it out and then hang out on the cliffs. Can't go wrong with blue cave or catcha.
We honeymooned at Couples Negril and loved it. We signed up for their romance rewards program and it allowed us to also visit Couples Swept Away. It was just what we needed after the hoopla of the wedding. Our next trip will be non-AI. If you are doing two weeks, I'd say you could start AI and get relaxed and then switch once you get your sea legs. If you go to Couples Negril consider these things:
1. Take advantage of the free water sports stuff. We sailed around bloody bay on a hobie cat, snorkeled twice (once at night for like $20 extra), wakeboarded, etc.
2. Make reservations at the fine dining restaurant as soon as you arrive - Otaheite. We stayed for a week and ate their twice. Other restaurants were also good but Otaheite was really nice.
3. Consider the private dining on the beach option. So romantic.
4. Leave the resort and facing the bay, take a right. Walk past the other resorts until you reach the Office of Nature. Bring $20 per lobster and enjoy just caught grilled lobster with lime and scotch bonnet pepper. Delicious. Red Stripe too.
5. Do the romance rewards thing and spend at day at Swept Away. They have a delicious little lunch spot on the beach with espresso and tasty treats.
Couples Negril has a mini bar in the room. Well, it's sort of a maxi bar. You get full size bottles of rum, vodka, etc. If you let them know it is your honeymoon and bring a copy of your marriage certificate you will get free 30 min couples massage and a bottle of champagne in your room as well.
But next time? I'm totally going non-AI.
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