Post by bearkatjen on Jun 20, 2014 10:08:24 GMT -5
Hi! This is my first post in the travel forum. DH and I are planning a trip for our 10th anniversary next April. We haven't been to the Caribbean, and DH is very keen on the idea of visiting Jamaica. The swanky all inclusives, like Couples and Sandals, aren't within our budget (10 nights, $3000-3500 budget), and not our style. We want clean rooms, but we're not going to spend a lot of time in them.
DH is all about getting to know the people and culture. He would love to bike around. He wants to try snorkeling and have a little beach time.
I want to be in the water as much as possible. I want to snorkel, try some windsurfing, get my hands on a sunfish or hobiecat.
We are going to spend 5-6 nights in Treasure Beach. This area should provide DH a lot of what he wants. We're going to stay at Marblue or Jakes. Excursions include YS Falls and Appleton Rum one day, Black River and the Pelican Bar another day. I'm wondering if we can drive a scooter from Treasure Beach to YS Falls, or if we need to stick to a car. Is anyone familiar with this drive?
I think I want to go to Negril for the rest of the trip (if we do Negril, we would go there first, and then to Treasure Beach). Does anyone have recommendations for Negril? Where to stay, eat, watersport rentals, things we should avoid?
Post by CrazyLucky on Jun 20, 2014 10:20:06 GMT -5
I went to Jamaica on my honeymoon a long time ago. If you are doing most of the trip somewhere else, would you be able to swing a few nights in Couples Negril? I only ask because we stayed at the Couples in Ocho Rios and absolutely loved it. Have you done any research regarding driving around? I know it's been ten years, but at that time, the roads were terrible, little to no road signs. We had difficulty driving in Ireland because of the lack of road signs. Make sure your GPS has Jamaica maps!
I hope you have a great time. We really did. It's so nice to kick back and relax sometimes. Congrats on 10 years!
Have you checked out Rockhouse or Catcha Falling Star? They aren't all inclusive but they are reasonably priced and beautiful. We love splitting our time between a caves trip and a beachfront trip when we go to Jamaica.
I went to Jamaica on my honeymoon a long time ago. If you are doing most of the trip somewhere else, would you be able to swing a few nights in Couples Negril? I only ask because we stayed at the Couples in Ocho Rios and absolutely loved it. Have you done any research regarding driving around? I know it's been ten years, but at that time, the roads were terrible, little to no road signs. We had difficulty driving in Ireland because of the lack of road signs. Make sure your GPS has Jamaica maps!
I hope you have a great time. We really did. It's so nice to kick back and relax sometimes. Congrats on 10 years!
We also went for our HM and stayed at Couples Swept Away. I still dream about it all the time and it was seven years ago.
Have you checked out Rockhouse or Catcha Falling Star? They aren't all inclusive but they are reasonably priced and beautiful. We love splitting our time between a caves trip and a beachfront trip when we go to Jamaica.
Ditto this. We stayed at Rockhouse years ago and used to say we wish we could just pick it up and move it to wherever we want to go because it's such a neat hotel.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. Mark Twain
When I went to Jamaica we spent 5 days at Jakes in Treasure Beach and 5 days in Negril at Rockhouse. Both were awesome, I can't recommend them enough. The only downfall to Rockhouse is that it is on the cliffs rather than the beach, so while it is awesome and beautiful (and you can swim and snorkel and all that), we ended up leaving Rockhouse a day early so that we got one night right on the beach in Negril and I'm glad that we did.
In terms of Treasure Beach and excursions, I think you would probably want a car. Or I'd actually recommend just doing the excursions through Jakes or wherever you stay, we did that and it was great. Granted this was quite a few years ago now, but the roads around Treasure Beach were in really, really bad shape,
I can't wait to go back, it was such an amazing trip. You will have a blast!!
Have you checked out Rockhouse or Catcha Falling Star? They aren't all inclusive but they are reasonably priced and beautiful. We love splitting our time between a caves trip and a beachfront trip when we go to Jamaica.
We've been to Jamaica several times and finally splurged for Couples Swept Away on our last trip. LOVED it and it was worth every penny. I haven't had much luck finding an AI in the actual town part of Negril. I've heard good things about the Riu (which i think may be near Couples/Sandals) but have only stayed at the one in Ocho Rios.
Also, I plan to stay at Rockhouse someday. I've been eyeing it for years but haven't pulled the trigger because its not AI. We did visit a bar/restaurant on our last trip that was on the Rockhouse property and it looked amazing.
Also, I plan to stay at Rockhouse someday. I've been eyeing it for years but haven't pulled the trigger because its not AI. We did visit a bar/restaurant on our last trip that was on the Rockhouse property and it looked amazing.
If you want the rockhouse feel with AI check out the caves. We stayed there a few years ago and it was one of he best vacation experiences we've ever had. I are prices went up from what we paid but I still think it's worth it.
Post by thebulldog on Jun 23, 2014 15:37:46 GMT -5
Does the $3500 include flights?
We did Couples Negril in 2008 and had a great time. I did not think AIs were our style either but I enjoyed it. We did the appleton rum, black river, YS falls tour day. I would skip the river but do the falls and the rum tour.
We just stayed in Montego Bay too and based on both experiences i would be very hesitant to drive around there on my own and there is no way i would ride a scooter. You need to drive on the left and the roads are crazy. I very much support learning more about the local culture but the areas outside the main touristy areas are not the best.
Also be sure the resorts you are looking at include snorkeling and the other things you listed in the total price. We liked couple bc it included a scuba lesson for free and snorkeling too.
i be typing from me phone. typos and grammer dont count.
You have chosen two great areas! I prefer jakes to mar blue but both are good places. I wouldn't go far on a scooter and definitely wouldn't go up to ys falls on one! However you could look at hiring a car and i recommend that actually as it roads are bad and them you could do all those trips on your own.
The negril recommendations you have got are good but if you want a place on the beach, I highly recommend crystal waters. It's a set of villas on the beach and each villa has a housekeeper/cook. She will make all the meals you want, go shopping with you for ingredients and fresh fish - or you can just give her money and she'll deal with everything. I've been going there for 30 years and love it. Wherever you stay, ask for recommendations for water sports people and don't just pick someone up off the beach and there is a Safetu issue at the moment with unregistered operators.
Feel free to ask me anything (I live in Jamaica!)
No to hijack...but thanks for your mo-bay recs. We went to Scotchies (mmm i could eat bammy all day) and did the Haunted Mansion tour which scared the crap out of me in a fun touristy way.
Tryall Club was amazing and our staff was awesome. We got really spoiled! My friend had Third World play at his party so even the staff was dancing with us. So fun. They made us Ackee fruit for breakfast which looks sooo odd but then tastes nothing like you expect. Yum.
Thanks again!
i be typing from me phone. typos and grammer dont count.