For us this was easy. Tensing Pen!!
This is how I explain Jamaica, Negril and Tensing Pen to friends that have never been to Jamaica or any other country.
The first time we wen to Jamaica/Negril was in the early 90's. When we arrived at the airport and walked out to the taxi area the feeling came over you "WE HAVE SPENT HOW MUCH TO GO WHERE"!!!
Once you find your drive and load up through the craziness and start the trip to Negril driving through Mobay you keep thing oh my god. Then you get in the area areounf Tryall and start feeling much better. As the drive continues along the coast especially the old road and you go through Lucea, Hopewell, Green Island that feeling of OH **** comes back. Then you come to the All Inclusive area or negril and you start to feel better again. Opps the bad feeling come back once you get to the round about in Negril and head out on the potholed west end road ( much better today). Drivind down westend that 'WE SPENT HOW MUCH TO GO WHERE" feeling returns.
Then you pull into the gate at Tensing Pen, look through the dinning area out onto the cliffs, walk the property the first time and realize you have arrived in Paradise!!
Each day of your trip the Westend becomes more familiar and you soon realize all the little places you though we just shacks along the road have some of the friendliest people and the best food on the planet. soon you realize "YES WE SPENT THIS MUCH MONEY" and "YES TENSING PEN AND NEGRIL ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY".
After our first afternoon, first dinner (the old Serious Chicken), first night under the stars, first morning waking to the sticky sweet smell of a Jamaica morning and first breakfast overlooking the cliffs at Tensing Pen we knew there would never be another place or country for us. We had found or home away from home.
I wont say Negril or Tp are without faults, you can find faults anywhere or within anyone. If there were one thing I could change about Jamaica as a whole would be the begging on the road and beaches. I don't even mind someone hustling you that is selling a service or product I can easily say no thanks, I just hate the ones that just straight out ask for a hand out!
There are many other nice properties to stay at but for us Tensing Pen is truly Home, we would not even consider a night at another place. The Jamaica saying "ONCE YOU GO YO KNOW" so very true.
