First trip approaching fast...want to say Hi, and THANK U

[Cpuff863]

Long time reader, first time poster! Hi my name is Courtney, I am a negril.com -aholic, albeit before today I was very much in the closet! Lol
First and foremost a huge THANK YOU to all the wonderful individuals who post on this site (and moderates of course). My Fiancé and I will be traveling to Negril on July 2nd for our 2week honeymoon. We stayed in mobay area last march, so this will be our first (hopefully of many) negril trips, but second jamaica trip. Although we are Booked at CSA for our 14 day vacation, I am hoping to explore what's "beyond the compound" and experience the Jamaica I read about here all the time!!!! Have booked with Lenbert on the One Love Bus Bar Crawl, and want to go for a nice supper on the cliffs (trying not to overplan so I was trying to avoid making a reservation, although admittedly this is a difficult task for me!)
I'm sorry I didn't post sooner and introduce myself, I really appreciate all the info thus far, and the necessary mental break this forum has given me while planning a crazy big wedding in the middle of nowhere!
Thanks again!

[shell]

Welcome! 2 weeks at CSA and tips from the good people on this board...your sure to have a great trip!
CSA is the perfect location to have it all. Everything is right there for you for when sand gravity hits, and it is (imho) the best spot on the beach. Been there 9 times, also stayed at about a dozen other places on the beach and cliffs, and nothing compares to the total relaxation I experience there. LOVE IT! Having said that... getting off property and experiencing what else Negril has to offer adds to the experience. Would be more than happy to try to answer any questions you have, I"m going to be missing my usual December trip to Negril this year,(trying out the new Couples resort in Barbados) and Im already missing Negril.

[jenb]

Negril is completely different from MoBay. You're going to love it!

[rustedduck]

Welcome to Negril....beyond the closet

[kaycee]

[rinakim]

Another one out of the closet
Welcome to the forum, congratus on your upcoming wedding and hope your honeymoon is everything you want!

[justchuck]

Enjoy your trip, and be sure to come back to tell us all about it! And we love pics too.

[Cpuff863]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! I'm sure I'll have a few pictures of the two weeks to share, I've sure enjoyed all the adventure's you have shared in the TR's!!!

[Cpuff863]

Looking for A few ideas...first of all a little info about my FI and myself. 29, & 28 respectively, active couple from Northern Alberta Canada, we have been together for just about 9yrs, and have a Great Dane named Winston. We have travelled to Cuba, Mexico, all over British Columbia/Alberta/Saskatchewan, Seattle, Vegas together, California, Maritimes and Toronto. We have been fortunate to have travelled this much, but felt we found home when we stepped out of the airport in Mobay last year, choosing Jamaica for our honeymoon was a no brainer! Don't get me wrong our resort was very nice, but I spent just as much time in the tiny craft market beside it bantering with the locals, being told about Negril, and visiting/sub-ing, as I did at the swim up bar! My better half although extremely adventurous, friendly and outgoing, although he is less observant and did get hustled last year in Ocho. Meh, we laughed about it, chalked it up to learning experience (or maybe dirty b's, subs, sun...lol). Myself, I work in agriculture, love to golf, swim, anything outside. I can be both very outgoing and very shy, but when I am people person, so if we meet, we may lose a day "catching up".
K now that we got that out of the way...lol! Questions...

shell..have fun in Barbados, let me know how it turns out!..what was your experience with CSA in terms of getting taxis, arranging offsite excursions, or dinners to the cliffs? I had a rather difficult time trying to dial out to a local Jamaican # last time. We are taking to provided shuttle to CSA. Does it suck? I've read mixed reviews, super expensive beer / food break? I was contemplating hiring a private driver from the "transportation" section, but still a cheap-o at heart...trying to let that go a title since it is our H-moon, and starting it off with a private car, vs a bus might be a nice option?. Could I pm you some other more resort specific q's?

Places for a romantic dinner(doesn't need to be fancy by any means), would like to book it /arrange while at CSA? Would it be easiest to just suck it up and go to a digicel or lime and get a phone for these purposes?

Negril Hills Golf Club. Caddy recommendations for young couple? Worth going a few times(3-5) in two week if green fees and transportation are included. We love golf, but realize its very very warm and humid as well.

Good bars with nice vibes close-Ish to CSA?

Lots of questions, oops!

Thanks in advance!

Maybe we'll meet a boardie on the One Love Bus Bar Crawl (Courtney and Lee, signed up for Sunday July 7th, and Wed. July 10!) or if I'm super lucky and see Gerryg123 zoom by on a scooter! Can hardly wait! Less than two weeks

[Lutely]

My wife and I have been going to Negril for over 15 years. Mostly beach and found CSA about 5 reaches ago, next one booked for this October so you did well and I agree one of the best places on the beach. That said, there are many local places you should patronize. We love to walk the beach towards town from CSA and stop at a local watering hole, Alfred's being one of our favorites, but White Sands has been a good stopover as well. For a nice dinner on the cliffs we have been to Xtabi and Ivan's (love Ivan's) but have heard good things about Rockhouse too. Local calls from CSA are free and pretty reliable but getting a Digicel phone keeps you connected for not much while you're out. We got a driver the first time we landed on the rock and found him on our next reach, now he and his family are part of ours and I can give you is contact information if you want. He is licensed and insured and is a JUTA driver. Route taxis can be had fairly easily at CSA. If getting your own, you just need to make sure you are getting in a licensed taxi, red plate, and not just a private driver with no insurance. Gave up golfing for scuba diving so can't help you there. The fitness complex at CSA is awesome and the massages are great so you should check those out while there.

Definitely suggest a day trip or two while you are there. Dunn's River, Y's Falls, Mayfield Falls, Pelican Bar, Appleton Rum Estate, Black River. So many options and most of the fun is getting there and seeing Jamaica and its people. Patrick, our driver, has shown us so much of the real Jamaica over the years that we would not have seen and is part of why we keep coming back.

You will see the difference in Negril and Mo Bay but sounds like you have already caught the fever.

Enjoy.