Help For A Non-AI Newbie? Many Questions, Please Help

[beachpearl]

Hi everyone,

I will be in Negril in 4 days and it is my 1st time staying at a non-AI. I am there for 5 days.
I have been to Negril 3 times before, but never really ventured outside the resorts except for Ricks, Margaritaville, Times Square & a few excursions.

I'm staying at the Treehouse so breakfast will be taken care of, but I'm unsure what to do about lunch & dinner.
Can anyone recommend good restaurants or spots along the beach, specifically those that have jerk chicken and seafood?
I would also immensely appreciate if anyone can give me an approximation of cost.

Beach vendors: besides meat patties, what kind of juices (looking for exotic juices like guava & passionfruit) do they have other snacks as well? Approximate prices?

Where can I get good and strong rum punch or other fruity alcoholic drinks for a reasonable price? I don't drink beer so Red Stripe specials don't help. I am a skinny lady, but I can put away some liquor.
Any happy hours not to be missed? I already have the One Love Bus Pub Crawl scheduled. How much money should I bring for that and how much do people normally tip the driver?

What restaurants provide a free pick-up or taxi service? I'm open to going on the cliff side if there are excellent options for either food or nightlife.
Although the ride is free, I assume the driver is to be tipped?

Besides Times Square, where can I go to pick-up rum and rum cream for cheap? Need it for drinks in the room.

Is Kuyaba worth the money for dinner?

Parasailing: is that usually a little less expensive if I use a beach service instead of the resort's service and are they both as equally as safe?

What are some good options for nightlife? I like music - either live or a D.J. I thought about trying the Jungle - is it really all you can drink for $20.00 on Saturday nights? Is that anything you want to drink? What is the cover charge?

Money - I have always used U.S. dollars. I am not a numbers person, so I get nervous about conversions, where to convert (there is a charge, right?) and if I would come out saving money by using Jamaican currency rather than U.S. If I were to convert, how much would you suggest converting? And can I convert it back before I leave?

Taxi drivers: will I do better leaving the resort (instead of asking them for a driver) and flagging down a red-plate to get around? What is the difference between a red plate taxi and a route taxi? Taxis are a safe way to get around?

I greatly appreciate any and all suggestions, answers, etc.

THANKS!

[kcwatersport]

i am new to negril as well....and can only offer a little insight.....the beach is the answer to many of your questions, many places to get something to eat, there is a juice guy that walks the beach try him for juices....let us know how things go for you, have fun!!!

[beachpearl]

i am new to negril as well....and can only offer a little insight.....the beach is the answer to many of your questions, many places to get something to eat, there is a juice guy that walks the beach try him for juices....let us know how things go for you, have fun!!!

Thanks - hoping I'll find most of whai I want on the beach!

[VVHT]

Beachpearl,

I suggest you go to www.RealNegril.com and checkout the schedule for live webcasts. Tonight is Seastar Inn. Join in the Live Chat and ask any questions you want.

Enjoy,

VVHT

[beachpearl]

Beachpearl,

I suggest you go to www.RealNegril.com and checkout the schedule for live webcasts. Tonight is Seastar Inn. Join in the Live Chat and ask any questions you want.

Enjoy,

VVHT

I will check that out - thanks!

[Melody]

Route taxis:
Beach road is one route; cliff road a different route, separated pretty much by the roundabout
Example:
Route taxi:
1)Jamaica $200s. (one way for 2 people, $100j for 1)
2) Go out to the street on the beach side. Look as though you might possibly consider taking a route cab.
3) In about 30 seconds, a route cab will beep at you (it will have red plates and the route will be stenciled on the front door or fender). Raise your arm, and when the driver pulls in, say Route taxi, and/or $100 pp? He'll say Yes
4) Get in. Say Roundabout
5) At the roundabout, hand him JA $200 and get out.
6) on way back, walk across the street (don't get run over here - remember what direction traffic comes from!).
7) Repeat step 3.
8) Get in. Say Country Country
9) When he stops at Country Country, hand him $200 JA and get out.
If going to west end (or vice versa), ask if he will do it direct - $500 for 2? $600 would be ok (you pay extra for the convenience of not having to change taxis – and if the driver agrees, he doesn’t have to go off his route and won’t if it’s busy.

Route taxis line up on the road perpendicular to main road "in front of Valuemaster"- inbetween Valuemaster & Scotiabank

[beachpearl]

Route taxis:
Beach road is one route; cliff road a different route, separated pretty much by the roundabout
Example:
Route taxi:
1)Jamaica $200s. (one way for 2 people, $100j for 1)
2) Go out to the street on the beach side. Look as though you might possibly consider taking a route cab.
3) In about 30 seconds, a route cab will beep at you (it will have red plates and the route will be stenciled on the front door or fender). Raise your arm, and when the driver pulls in, say Route taxi, and/or $100 pp? He'll say Yes
4) Get in. Say Roundabout
5) At the roundabout, hand him JA $200 and get out.
6) on way back, walk across the street (don't get run over here - remember what direction traffic comes from!).
7) Repeat step 3.
8) Get in. Say Country Country
9) When he stops at Country Country, hand him $200 JA and get out.
If going to west end (or vice versa), ask if he will do it direct - $500 for 2? $600 would be ok (you pay extra for the convenience of not having to change taxis – and if the driver agrees, he doesn’t have to go off his route and won’t if it’s busy.

Route taxis line up on the road perpendicular to main road "in front of Valuemaster"- inbetween Valuemaster & Scotiabank

I keep reading about the "roundabout". what exactly is that?

[Melody]

I keep reading about the "roundabout". what exactly is that?

Have a look at the map I posted a link to earlier. Really, print it out, the beach page for sure (on legal paper) and maybe the cliff page as well. The downtown page is a bit helpful but several of the businesses listed in the shopping centres are not up-to-date. Among everything else listed, you will see where the roundabout is located.

The roundabout is a traffic circle that is at the end of the beach road. Just on the other side of the roundabout (towards the sea) you will find the downtown shops (Value Master, HiLo, Scotiabank, etc) and it then becomes the cliff road.

[Melody]

Restaurants:

Beach area:

Breakfast: Montana’s, Alfred’s
*Kuyaba will pick up free (876) 957-4318 or 876 957-9815; http://www.kuyaba.com/dining.htm; kuyaba@cwjamaica.com; entertainment, S, T, Th, F - dinner special before 6 pm
Charela – higher end, good, pricier
Ossie's Top Taste (Miss Madge's – “For a great, true Jamaican, great value evening meal try Ossie's Top Taste (Miss Madge's) located on the beach road by Donaldson's Inn and across for Ossie's Jerk Centre. Miss Madge makes the best fried Red Snapper that we have ever had and if you like chicken chop suey you can't go wrong. With exception of lobster not a meal over 10us. It's a can't miss.”
*Sunbeach (walking distance, head left when facing ocean) tables on beach for dinner; sandflies - use lemon juice! Good, reasonably priced, day or evening
Chill While at Idle Awhile, pricier
Niah's patties (have to walk through to the park, past a couple of vendor huts on the left)
Cool Spot
Cosmos, very casual
Coletta's
Sunrise Club (after Time Square, lobster; wood cooked pizza, nice looking) (876) 957-4293 - no pick up
*Alfred's blackened chicken; fish/chips - ent. Sun, Tues, Fri $500 jmd/$6 cdn - no pick up
Shereta's @ Sea Wind - Thurs buffet/live show 6:30 $25 pp 957-9018 – this buffet has not the best reviews, but entertainment good, ordering off menu, good reviews.
Norman is the patty guy on beach with the box on his bicycle, nice guy, good food - $1 patty, veggie, beef, chicken, shrimp, lobster
Treehouse, good crab cakes and jerk chicken at lunch, patty place other side of Treehouse
*Wild Parrot
*Angelas (excellent pizza; good chicken, ribs, above Bar B Barn)
*Cool Spot
*Pilots Cafe
*Montanas

West end:

LTU, close to Rick’s
Ixtabi for lunch (can stay all day) 1-876-957 0121 1-876-957 0524 957-0121 (local) http://www.xtabi-negril.com/welcome.htm, xtabiresort@cwjamaica.com - take route taxi, ask if they'll take 2 of us direct to Ixtabi for $500 JMD ($600 would be ok) – best dirty banana, $6, no happy hour 
Ivan's – email to reserve catchafallingstar2@gmail.com – non guests can only go on property for dinner after 5 pm; ask for their best cliff/sunset view table and go about 5:30 so you’re seated for sunset, and so you get to see the property before dark.
3 Dives – great jerk chicken, lobster; casual picnic table dining, slow service, go early and relax, right beside Xtabi
Sips n Bites
Rockhouse 1.876.957.4373; info@rockhousehotel.com; http://www.rockhousehotel.com/eat.php - Rockhouse burger 11;00-5:00 only; $12 - $25 +
*Seastar Inn (free shuttle pick up/drop off, nice pool) 876-957-0553 reservations@seastarinn.com great burgers, coco shrimp, pizza, will pick up and return free, anytime; also has the popular Sat. night buffet and live entertainment
Seastar – handmade (by owner) hammock $60
Bentley Crab House 393-6768, highly recommended by regulars, a one-man show, on peewee lane just up from the cliff road....... Crab cakes/special sauce, tell him don't want it too spicey, or ask for sauce on the side. you have to talk to him to preorder the day before or the morning of as he buys fresh ingredients for your meal. You also pay a deposit for him to do so.
Just Natural used to be beside Xtabi, has moved to far West End, would need to taxi; lots recommend

Restaurants Inbetween (but still on the cliff side of the roundabout):

Ciao Jamaica free pickup or delivery, italian, US beef, pizza, pasta (876) 957-4395; eat@ciaojamaica.com; eat@ciaojamaica.com; 3-10 pm; free wifi; $12 - $25
Canoe Bar and Grill **canoebeachbar@gmail.com 876-878-5893; There is also a great little private beach @ Canoe with equally good snorkelling, nice beach chairs and umbrellas, and a covered deck - great place to hangout for the day away from the hustle of the big beach, great dinner spot as well, you get to literally sit at the seaside, and enjoy an amazing view of the seven mile beach. also free wifi, and Kirby's wicked rum punch (and red stripe, few other cocktails) (2 for 1 from 2-6pm everyday) - Thurs. live steel band

I’ve been to CC (Country Country) - they have very good food, not the most economical (skip dessert) good food if you don't won't to walk far or taxi; Kuyaba, Ivan’s, Xtabi for lunch, Seasplash for lunch, Canoe Bar & Grill, Seastar, Sunbeach, Norman’s patties on the beach (bicycle guy), Alfred’s (fish & chips)

[tahrheel]

Good advice above. You can buy rum at the Quality Traders. The juice guys walk down the beach and will have fresh orange, pineapple, mango, papaya, soursop for $5 US for 750ml. Mix with rum for a delicious drink. Go South (left) on the beach to Rainbow Arch for good food. Stop at Firefly during the day and visit with the crazy naked people and all of the Jamaicans that hang out there. On the road roughly across from Coco La Palm is Best in the West jerk chicken. All of these are a 10-55 min. walk from Treehouse. The jerk pork man on the beach has good pork. We had a god supper last week at Country Country which is next door to you.