you've all inspired me....maybe

[jazzyjade]

I'm planning my wedding in Negril for next May. We're staying at the Riu but it's looking like our guests will stay the first week and we'll have the second week to ourselves.

So... I was thinking that we could be adventurous and try to stay somewhere else for the second week. Somewhere smaller and more authentic. I'm not sure about it, but I'm trying to talk to my fiance into it but he isn't exactly agreeing. Although, I have a couple months to work on him until we need to book.

But I have a few questions. First, are there any recommendations near Negril? I'd sorta want to try a new area, but I'm afraid it might cost quite a bit of $$ to be taxied all over the island to a new place. Also, for the big resorts I know I can book right through my travel agent, but how does it work for some of these smaller places?

Thanks!

[MISS RACSAN]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

I think that you totally have the right idea! We stayed at the Riu last year and had a great time - good food, fun bartenders and they have an absolutely perfect beach! It is a perfect spot for your wedding and honeymoon - but you will really want/need to go someplace else for the second week! Tell your fiance, from experience, I was really sad on my way home last year knowing that I didn't get out and see what everyone hear had been talking about! You can have the best of both worlds by staying AI at the Riu one week, relax and get your bearings, venture out a few times, visit the Office of Nature (a must do!) and celebrate your wedding. By the second week you will want to get out and explore! Try a bunch of new restaurants, meet all sorts of new people and see why everyone here loves this place! Plus I don't know if this matters to your hubby-to-be, it probably save you quite a bit of money! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

We stayed mid-beach at Negril Gardens this year. Loved being in the middle of things - so it was a perfect location. Only did AI because we brought the kids and for the free (albeit $150) wedding! I am pretty certain that we will never stay AI again - maybe a breakfast only deal somewhere. Don't worry about the taxi rides - we never paid more than a five dollars a person to get anywhere - and most of the time it was cheaper than that.

If you don't want the hassle of booking the second week on your own, your travel agent should be able to get you a list of places - are you flying a charter out of somewhere? If so, there are probably quite a few other places to stay under their programs. I have never stayed on the cliffs, but that is where I'd like to stay next year. They sound quiet and relaxing, perfect for a honeymoon! But if you like to people watch - the beach is the place for you!

[Jah Princess]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

MAY YOU HAVE LOTS OS LUCK, LOVE AND HAPPINESS. HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT TIME.
PEACE & BLESSINGS....

[jazzyjade]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

Thanks for the wishes, Jah Princess.

Miss Rascan: Do you think it will be cheaper moving to another place half-way through? I was at Riu before but I have no idea what the prices are like at the other places. Figuring in food and liquor, I figured it was easy to spend as much as going to an AI. But $$ is somewhat of an issue, and if we can save money, that might help my argument with my fiance.

I'm going to look into the Negril Gardens and see if I can't find some other options, too. Thanks!

(PS--I don't know how we missed the Nature Office last time, but it is defitely on our list of things to do for this time!)

[MISS RACSAN]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

I think that you would definitely save money staying someplace else the second week. I don't know about you...but at the end of my week at Riu, I was pretty much sick of eating! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Negril Gardens is nice but still an AI - I would try something non-AI but with a fridge!

[gmarieggers]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

If you want to stay in Negril there are lots of places. Both on the beach and in the cliffs.

If you go to the front page there are a few of them there.

We've stayed at the Treehouse (slightly over $100 per day) no fridge in the room, TV, Phone,
AC, room safe are included in the rooms. And we have stayed at White Sands - about $54 per night small fridge, AC, no phone or TV. Blue Cave Castle up in the cliffs - AC, TV, CD player, fridge, no phone around 60-80 per night.

I hear Bar-B-Barn, Bungalo, Idle Awhile, Charela Inn, Fun Holiday are great place to stay but haven't stayed at any of them.

Cliff area alot of people like Home-sweet-home, Rock House, Drumville Cove.

Keep looking you'll find what you're looking for and love it!

[lady beach bum]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

I totally agree with the advice you've received. I stayed at the Rui and inasmuch as it is all those great things, I felt I missed so much in the middle of the action. Tell your fiance about the live music on the beach at night - that should get him. I would also hit him with all the great places to eat and you will tire of the same ole at the Rui for two weeks. Have fun and congratulations!

[queenb]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

If you like Jamaica, what better than to stay at a Jamaican-owned property? I just love the staff at Bar-B-Barn, and you can get a meal plan so you don't have to worry about expenses as much.

[jazzyjade]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

Thanks for all these tips everyone! Murray [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] , you must have posted while I was searching around since I found all those places mentioned in the trip reports I'm reading.

Negotiating with my soon-to-be (I wish!) hubbie is going to be a problem. Live music--it's me who likes it. Different food--it's me who likes it (last night when I brought up the food issue, he asked me what was wrong with Riu's food. i said it wasn't jamaican, but he didn't seem to grasp the idea). I'm going to have to focus on the money. And fishing. He love's to fish--so if there are any spots known for fishing that would really help me out.

Keep any ideas coming. I'm the sort that likes to cover all bases! Reading other trip reports and stuff on this board, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only nervous-nilly when it comes to vacationing. I definitely over plan. It's a year a way and I feel like I should know everything!

Oh, you know what else I could use? Recommendations on some fun guides. I'm not sure what trips we'll be taking but I'd like to have a few names.

I'm going to have to cut myself off to reading these trip reports to one or two days a week...otherwise, it's going to take forever before this next year passes!

[ohliz]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

Treasure Beach is a really nice change, and not too much $$ to get to. I think the ride might be $100 there, and something like that back to the airport, but you won't have to bus back from Negril and accomodation in TB is much cheaper.

Check out www.treasurebeach.net for hotel/villa ideas.

Your husband, even if he is a little nervous about going non-AI, ought to really like TB because it is so relaxed, no one hassles you. There are some fantastic trips you can take in that area too, up the Black River on a fishing boat to see crocs, swim, and stop at Pelican bar. It's also easy to walk around there, especially if you stay around Calabash Bay, so no need for lots of taxis. If you're really nervous about your husband, pick a place with a pool...the beaches are beautiful and deserted but some spots are iffy for swimming because of the current.

[jazzyjade]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

Mission: Convince Mike to get off resort

Status: ok

Details: When I got home last night, I was armed with conviction from all the posts on this board. But it didn't start off well. Mike's first response was, "No." I explained things more and the answer went to "Okay, but for one night only." Ever so slowly it progressed to "Maybe a couple nights" and when I last spoke to him today, he said "bring home stuff for me to look at."

Boy, did I come up against some strong arguments on his part. They include:
<ul type="square">[*]He'll get murdered and I'll get raped[*]We'll run out of money since it's at the end of our stay[*]It will be more expensive than an all-inclusive (he's 280lbs and doesn't want to skimp on food!)[*]Cockroaches will be in our rooms[*]No security to call in any problems and we need security or why would they have them at the all-inclusive resorts[*]No medic on premises[/list]
To all that, I had to tell him to stop being a honky that listens to rumors and stereotypes. They money concerns are warranted but all he asks is that I find some comparisons for him. I thought someone mentioned having compared all-inclusive stays to staying at the smaller places, because that would help me.

Right now, I'm looking at some places. Treasure beach does look neat and I'm sure that Mike would like the relaxing aspect, but I'm looking for some nightlife, too. Bar B Barn looks real nice and they have some good specials. I also looked up Tensing Pen, which looked great, but I couldn't tell if it was on a good beach.

[ohliz]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

He'll get murdered and I'll get raped
We'll run out of money since it's at the end of our stay
It will be more expensive than an all-inclusive (he's 280lbs and doesn't want to skimp on food!)
Cockroaches will be in our rooms
No security to call in any problems and we need security or why would they have them at the all-inclusive resorts
No medic on premises

Pretty much every hotel I've stayed at has security, not just hte resorts. Even the place in TB, only 3 rooms, had a guy that came and stayed overnight, and a gate, dogs, etc.

To all that, I had to tell him to stop being a honky that listens to rumors and stereotypes. They money concerns are warranted but all he asks is that I find some comparisons for him. I thought someone mentioned having compared all-inclusive stays to staying at the smaller places, because that would help me.

Hotel + food + drinks usually is a lot less than AI. It dpeneds if you want to eat at hte Ai (buffet-ish) level or at really ncie places, but we usually come out better, even with a car, golf, some trips, etc.

Right now, I'm looking at some places. Treasure beach does look neat and I'm sure that Mike would like the relaxing aspect, but I'm looking for some nightlife, too. Bar B Barn looks real nice and they have some good specials. I also looked up Tensing Pen, which looked great, but I couldn't tell if it was on a good beach.

TB has little in the way of nightlife, except a nice sunset-ish cocktail hour at Jake's. Tensing Pen is on the cliffs in Negril so no beach, though there is good swimming and snorkeling off the cliffs there.

Cliffs might make a nice chage from the beach. If you go up to the search link and choose "Best of Jamaica travel and cooking" forum and type in "trip report tensing pen" or "trip report rockhouse" you should find some good reviews for him to read.

Blue Cave Castle is definitely worth a look....rooms there range from $40-90 at this time of year and the place has tons of character and charm for the $$, very private and secure too. Xtabi also has very reasonable rooms and they have a good restaurant and bar (for that "resort" feeling your husband may be most comfortable in), and are right next door to 3 Dives, my favorite hangout.

[jazzyjade]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

I tried doing a search in Best of Travel and Cooking in Jamaica but it didn't go well.

Searching for "trip report tensing pen" yield no results. And just "tensing pen" gave me 4 results, 3 of which, when clicked gave me a message that went something like this "You selected a post that no longer exists." [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

No problem, I'll just look for more [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[ohliz]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

Sorry, don't use the quotes.

You'll get a lot of hits if you just type trip report.

[jazzyjade]

Re: you've all inspired me....maybe

I didn't use quotes. But searching for "trip reports" instead of a specific location will give me tons of ideas!