Negril questions

[DirtySouth]

We went 4 years ago and didn't have a great experience but we're thinking about giving it another chance, this time during high season (might feel safer with more tourists there) and staying on the cliffs rather than the beach.

I just booked the Xtabi resort, but it's through Expedia and refundable.

What is it like staying on the cliffs? Is it possible to explore around on foot? If we want to go to the beach, I assume we take a cab, but where is the best place for beach access?

Has anyone stayed at the Xtabi? How was the restaurant? Are there plenty of spots with lounge chairs to relax?

[vegas]

Curious to hear why you didn't like Negril the first time. Are you saying you didn't feel safe? We always go during low season and we've never felt unsafe?

We stayed on the cliffs and loved it. I always recommend that people stay a few nights on the beach and the rest of the time on the cliffs just so you get your beach visits in. Once we were on the cliffs side we never venture back to the beach but I know our resort (Caves) provided free transportation there. You may want to check to see if Xtabi does.

From where we were we could walk to several restaurants and bars.  We usually went in larger groups during the day.  If it was dark we'd usually take a taxi.  

I've never checked into Xtabi pricing but we did look at Tensing Pen and Catcha Falling Star which are both on the cliffs and both had reasonable prices. And they are both ranked in the top ten Negril resorts on tripadvisor--MUCH higher than Xtabi. Did you check into those two resorts?

[DirtySouth]

Well, the biggest thing was we were walking to a restaurant a couple doors down from our hotel and a car pulled over, three guys jumped out and started walking toward us, and one pulled out a knife. That was scary as shit, but we were able to run into a hotel entrance, where they followed us until we got to a spot where there were other people. There were also horrible sand fleas and we got completely bit up. The beach vendors were horrible. One was so pushy that after I said I didn't want to buy a bag of fruit, he THREW the bag into my lap as I was laying on a lounge chair and then demanded that DH pay for it. I seriously thought DH was going to end up in a fist fight with the guy and I told him to just pay for the fruit. Vendors were constantly coming up to us, even waking us up if we fell asleep and constantly interrupting us from reading and being pushy even after we said no. I'm hoping that we'll be able to avoid this by staying on the cliffs.

We also saw a local woman getting beat up in broad daylight with no one intervening. And a local kid was recently chopped up into bits for being gay. So there's that. These two things make me think it's a culture I shouldn't be supporting with my tourist dollars.

BUT we were planning to do Mew Orleans or San Diego and Jamaica is actually much cheaper than either. They also have some amazing natural beauty (we did YS Falls last time and it was gorgeous, as are the cliffs and seven mile beach), and the local food is really great and also cheap.

[DirtySouth]

Xtabi is super cheap and gets pretty rave reviews on Tripadvisor. We got a garden room with A/C for $65 a night. Catcha Falling Star and Tensing Pen are over $150 a night. We're willing to spend up to $100 a night. 

[mdgirl]

We stayed at Rockhouse years ago. We could walk to a few things, but the road up by the hotels is windy and there's no sidewalk, so we tried to be very careful when we did. When we'd leave the hotel we'd get asked if we wanted to buy pot once or twice, but we just said no thank you and they left us alone.

[DirtySouth]

Hmmm now I'm thinking we should do 3 nights on the beach and 3 at the cliffs. I'll look into these suggestions. Thanks!

[vegas]

That's what I would do--3 and 3. And I don't want to be snarky, but it sounds like you don't do a lot of research before you go and maybe that's why you had the issues you did on the first trip. I knew about sand fleas so I brought bug spray. I knew there are unsafe areas, just like any country, so I used caution when leaving the resort at night and avoided traveling to seedy areas. You booked your resort and then you come here asking what people think, which is the opposite of what most people do (research first, then book). The questions you are asking about whether things are walkable and whether it's safe are things a minimal amount of research could have taught you.

Give Jamaica another try. It's a beautiful culture with amazing people.

[sparty04]

Aug 5, 2013 15:23:28 GMT -5 vegas said:

That's what I would do--3 and 3. And I don't want to be snarky, but it sounds like you don't do a lot of research before you go and maybe that's why you had the issues you did on the first trip. I knew about sand fleas so I brought bug spray. I knew there are unsafe areas, just like any country, so I used caution when leaving the resort at night and avoided traveling to seedy areas. You booked your resort and then you come here asking what people think, which is the opposite of what most people do (research first, then book). The questions you are asking about whether things are walkable and whether it's safe are things a minimal amount of research could have taught you.

Give Jamaica another try. It's a beautiful culture with amazing people.

I agree, I've never had these issues there and I'm about to book my 5th trip back. I'm glad you're giving it another try though. Most people wouldn't given your experience

[DirtySouth]

I actually did a lot of research last time. Not sure how I missed reading about the sand fleas. The near robbery wasn't in a bad part of town and was in broad daylight right outside of our hotel on 7 mile beach not far from margaritaville. I'm doing my research this time, too (hence this post) but booked because it was the last available room with AC and is fully refundable if we decide to do something different. I'm glad to hear that our had experience was not the norm.

[Alyssa]

There are too many other neat places to go than Negril. I've been there during the high season and I didn't feel safe at all. I wouldn't go back.

[Deleted]

We've been to Jamaica 3x's and honestly im not impressed at all. I wouldn't go back. It had nothing to do with safety, and I did think the people and culture were awesome. The island just didn't impress me enough to go back again.

[DirtySouth]

Aug 9, 2013 9:49:49 GMT -5 mags said:

We've been to Jamaica 3x's and honestly im not impressed at all. I wouldn't go back. It had nothing to do with safety, and I did think the people and culture were awesome. The island just didn't impress me enough to go back again.

This is interesting because I thought the island was really beautiful, especially 7 mile beach and YS Falls. If we has felt safe it would have been a really cool place, which is why we are even considering it again.

[vegas]

Aug 9, 2013 22:20:37 GMT -5 DirtySouth said:

Aug 9, 2013 9:49:49 GMT -5 mags said:

We've been to Jamaica 3x's and honestly im not impressed at all. I wouldn't go back. It had nothing to do with safety, and I did think the people and culture were awesome. The island just didn't impress me enough to go back again.

This is interesting because I thought the island was really beautiful, especially 7 mile beach and YS Falls. If we has felt safe it would have been a really cool place, which is why we are even considering it again.

definitely give it another chance.  We are huge Negril fans, and fans of Jamaica in general.  I think a huge part is where you stay/eat/experience, etc.  Check out the tripadvisor Negril forum, it's very active.  Their restaurant recommendations were spot on for us.

[DirtySouth]

Aug 10, 2013 6:14:23 GMT -5 vegas said:

Aug 9, 2013 22:20:37 GMT -5 DirtySouth said:

This is interesting because I thought the island was really beautiful, especially 7 mile beach and YS Falls. If we has felt safe it would have been a really cool place, which is why we are even considering it again.

definitely give it another chance.  We are huge Negril fans, and fans of Jamaica in general.  I think a huge part is where you stay/eat/experience, etc.  Check out the tripadvisor Negril forum, it's very active.  Their restaurant recommendations were spot on for us.

I just made a reservation with Catcha Falling Star.  I read a ton about Xtabi and do think it probably would have been fine, but Catcha has such rave reviews, our room has a nice ocean view, and the pool looks much nicer.  I am a bit concerned about their cancellation policy as they charge for the full stay if cancellation is less than 60 days before the trip.  Do you have any trip insurance recommendations?