| Message/Author |
|
|
Ngates815
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 02:08 pm
|
|
|
Post Number: 5
Registered: 10-2009
|
|
|
As for the being stuck in a car all day...That was more directed towards the reason for not doing any excursions, because it seemed a good deal of them that would interest us, were pretty far away.
The Beach at the Royal Plantation was free, no charge.
What we planned on doing was taking a cab down to Margarittaville, and just walking as far as we can down the beach, just stopping by places. |
|
|
smith744
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 02:12 pm
|
|
Post Number: 239
Registered: 08-2009
|
|
|
Ngates815 on: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 10:18 am, wrote:We'll be staying at Riu Palace Tropical Bay.
Good..!!..
of the two-Rui properties, this is the better-one (location-wise)
1....about 5-minute walk from the resort is a NICE craft market for souveniors, etc... with small snack-bar, and eateries ... gooood food.
2...the craft vendors there are really nice, and not as pushy as those at the other big craftmarket (near downtown) ..... Go and ask for::>> MissPauline or August --- they'll help you with anything you need, or any questions/advice. Tell 'em "Smith, the picture-man sent ya.."
3...there's a gas station 7-Eleven type store, next to the craft market .... and an ATM machine.
4....stay away from the drivers at the Negril airport ---- too-expensive dem
5....be very-very-careful walking & crossing that road
:-(
6....an idea:::>>> if/when you walk-to the craft market, ask somebody --- i.e., ANYbody ---- to *help* you's flag-down a route taxi, to go down the road.... it'll cost you only about US$1.00 per person, one-way,,,, to anyplace along that road, to downtown .... pay NO more than that...!!!..
actual cost:::>>. Ja$80 one-way per person
NO tip required OR expected
Jamaican people are SUPER-duper nice...!!...
...they love to help-out
......you might run into some who'll stick-out their hands for a *donation* for their-help and/or assistance:::: these-folks are NOT the nice-ones.
:-(
look 'em in the eye
...and remember their face(s)
......you wanna avoid them in the future
be happy
|
|
|
Stacy Rieger
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 02:19 pm
|
|
Post Number: 66
Registered: 08-2006
|
|
|
| IMO Margaritaville is the least true Jamaican place on the beach. Jimmy Buffett has a million of these bars, every where. Like Smith said, you are paying for an AI,so paying 8 bucks a drink at MV, wouldn't be your best bet. If you take a cab anywhere to the beach, I suggest Burbon Beach for jerk chicken, and walk around from there. Alfreds has bathrooms and showers in the back, that bar is right there as well and you can read the reggae shows that are coming that week. Peace |
|
|
Ngates815
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 02:27 pm
|
|
|
Post Number: 6
Registered: 10-2009
|
|
|
I think the girls just want to stop there to take Pictures, I know the drinks are damn expensive there.
Is it a good place though to start walking down the beach? |
|
|
smith744
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 02:32 pm
|
|
Post Number: 240
Registered: 08-2009
|
|
|
Ngates815 on: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 10:18 am, wrote:the best bet for making quick phone calls a few times a day
buy or rent a phone
OR::>> take advantage of a *free*-phone arrangement
(as described above)
buy-ing and/or renting might be a hassle, 'cause you only got a few days, and don't wanna be-adding-on a bunch of stuff on your schedule....i.e., running around trying to get a phone.
renting a phone from somebody, while staying at Rui WILL-be tricky, 'cause those resorts are notorious for make-ing *outsiders* jump thru a truck-load of un-necessary hoops to contact a guest.
Once upon many-times, before I purchased my Jamaica-cellphone, this is what I did:::::>>>> I would ask somebody ...ANYbody... to let me use their phone, for a long-distance call..... and give 'em $xxx.xx for use of their phone.
keep in mind, that EVERYbody in Jamaica has a cell phone .... i.e., young & old .... adults & children... EVERY-body .... some/many have 2-3 phones. .....
whereas, you're so close to the above-mentioned gas station/7-Eleven, you can/could go there and buy a few cell-phone calling cards and use those to make a call, on somebody's phone.
Remember::>> in Jamaica, ".friend." is a verb.
sooooooooooo, *friend* 2-3 of the resort staff (e.g., your housekeeper, a bartender, the resort 'Fun-Pals' in the entertainment department, grounds-keeper(s), watersports-guys, etc) .... they'll be happy to help out and let you *borrow* their phone for calls.
for income-ing calls:::>> tell those back-home to call the front-desk .... hopefully the resort will pass-on messages, that you got a call.
* sigh *
".hopefully." 'cause things go-differently down-yonder der in Jamaica, some most-times.
be happy
|
|
|
Stacy Rieger
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 02:34 pm
|
|
Post Number: 67
Registered: 08-2006
|
|
|
| Yes, it is, like in the middle of the action, they play music and have a floating bouncy in the sea. Burbon Beach will be a bit of a walk, but it will be fun. |
|
|
Sweetness
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 02:37 pm
|
|
Post Number: 2024
Registered: 07-2006
|
|
|
Welcome to the Board NGates - you will have a great time in Negril. It is beautiful and the people, food and music are icing on the cake.
I always recommend that you talk to your group before arriving and agree to breathe, chill and relax when you get there - island time can take some adjustment. That way there is harmony. I have overheard tourist at the airport who are homebound complaining about this or that taking so long, etc. You just have to relax, enjaaay and like Smith said soak it all in.
Since you will probably get a boat ride to the cliffs from your resort, I would maybe plan a night out to hear some live music (highly recommend Sea Star on Sat night and they will come and pick you up if you prearrange, they have buffet and hours of great music, dancing, etc. and then ride home - I would tip the driva as a courtesy). If you can try some jerk chicken off the resort, patties/CoCo bread, and other JA food (Canoe is on a private beach area south of downtown at the start of the cliffs and highly recommended to eat and chill).
BUG SPRAY: I use Coppertone SUN & BUG which is a combo sunscreen/bug lotion but I use only at night and it works GREAT with no spray, coils, stink, etc.
Have a great reach and if possible take some photos and report back.
Preach Peace~Live Love~Blesséd Be
ONE LOVE Sweet
|
|
|
smith744
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 02:48 pm
|
|
Post Number: 241
Registered: 08-2009
|
|
|
Ngates815 on: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 01:08 pm, wrote:What we planned on doing was taking a cab down to Margarittaville, and just walking as far as we can down the beach, just stopping by places.
that sounds like a good plan
:-)
BUT::>> which way are you gonna do that walk, down the beach..??..
left or right..??..
...toward downtown, or back to your-resort..??..
......either-way is a looooooong-walk.... but do-able.
........the walk to-resort is super-long
how you gonna get BACK to the resort..??..
while-walking, make mental-notes on other properties (to stay), for your NEXT-Negril-trip
again:::>>> check that Negril map..!!
...print it out
.....laminate it
.......carry-it witcha, as you walk around
blindly roaming around, and not having your 'bearings', and knowing where you're at, can co$t ya $everal dollar$
Stacy Rieger on: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 01:19 pm, wrote:Alfreds has bathrooms
ummmmmmmmmmmmm.....
which reminds me:::>>> bathrooms/rest-rooms are a BIG-issue in/around Jamaica, mi fren
:-(
for a man, it's not that much of a biggie
...we can pee next-to a tree, bush, building, whatever
....but wo-mens are *different*
....tell 'em to carry some just-in-case toilet tissue in their purse/pocket
be happy
|
|
|
smith744
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 03:00 pm
|
|
Post Number: 242
Registered: 08-2009
|
|
|
Ngates815 on: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 12:01 pm, wrote:the girls love the sun
you reminded me of something.....
as you probably remember:::>>> in Jamaica, the sun comes up early-ish, and is almost directly overheard 'bout 10-AM-ish.
then 'bout 6-PM-ish it falls & drops like a brick
d
o
w
n
d
o
w
n below the horizon
and it get's dark, dark dark, and more-dark
Negril is not a 'bright-lights-big-city' place ....e.g., no street lights
...which is a good thing, 'cause the darkness makes for good star gazing
* sigh *
there're two-gazzillion stars in that night sky
'twould be nice if you's get a full-moon, on ya trip
..a Ja-full moon is so nice
......moon fat & bright, like a tractor-trailor head-light
be happy
|
|
|
monk
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 03:07 pm
|
|
Post Number: 3454
Registered: 03-2007
|
|
|
Ngates815 on: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 01:08 pm, wrote:The Beach at the Royal Plantation was free, no charge.
What we planned on doing was taking a cab down to Margarittaville, and just walking as far as we can down the beach, just stopping by places.
that sounds like a great plan. plenty of cool spots for you guys to stop in along the way, you can easily spend a day and into the night that way. but as others say, you might want to go the other way...grab a cab down to the other end of the beach and walk back to M-ville. The beach in Negril sometimes generates a cool party in the damnedest of places, and sometimes you become the party lol.
if you are a fan of jerk chicken, basically one of the few real jerk pits in negril will be on that walk, bourbon beach, which is a good start/end point either which way you cut it.
if you're the socially conscious sort, swing by Travelers. It's a cool bar, good bar food, and for 100j you can buy some blocks, decorate them, and the blocks and money go to local schools, many of whom are outside of negril.
Preserve rather than destroy. Avoid rather than check. Check rather than hurt. Hurt rather than maim. Maim rather than kill. For all life is precious nor can any be replaced.
|
|
|
smith744
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 03:16 pm
|
|
Post Number: 244
Registered: 08-2009
|
|
|
monk on: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 02:07 pm, wrote:and sometimes you become the party
LOL
monk, you got me laughing, so hard, that tears running from my eyes
be happy
|
|
|
SLP
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 05:15 pm
|
|
Post Number: 591
Registered: 06-2006
|
|
|
For reggae on the beach Alfred`s has three nights - Friday (love that one), Sunday and Tuesday. There are others but you will hear them so just play it by ear. Last time I was there I think it cost $300J to get in.
Irie Sue
|
|
|
Weatherman
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 05:40 pm
|
|
Post Number: 979
Registered: 07-2008
|
|
|
Ngates815 on: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 10:18 am, wrote:I had a name before, but hadn't signed on for a week, now it says my email was never registered?? ohh well.
You already have the right attitude about Negril!!! Good luck. Have fun! Relax, cause every little thing is gonna be alright! Oh,and make sure you post pictures!!
Today's weather: Sunny and Hot, Hot, Hot!
|
|
|
jessa
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 05:55 pm
|
|
Post Number: 1336
Registered: 05-2009
|
|
|
I didn't know that Rockhouse doesn't allow nonguests to swim/snorkle in their area..when did that happen? Last time I was there in November '07, they had no problem with it as long as I ordered a few drinks or a meal. There is a place you can go down that is not where any of the cabin/huts are, right by the restaurant, and that is where I went. Some of the best snorkeling besides the reefs was there.
Also, besides Xtabi, which is a really great place, Sunset on the Cliffs welcomes visitors, and they have a restaurant and bar with a wonderful ocean view, and besides an area with a ladder for access, they have just fairly recently put in a diving platform that I plan on checking out when I go in December.
I usually use the Avon skin so soft combo bug reppellent/sunscreen and has worked pretty well for me. I get a few bites, but do not get eaten alive.
Hope you have a wonderful time! 
http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5801
|
|
|
smith744
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 06:48 pm
|
|
Post Number: 255
Registered: 08-2009
|
|
|
bnewb on: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 11:06 am, wrote:I don't think you would need anything for your room...at night keep the doors and windows closed and turn on the a/c.
ditto
the resort *probably* has procedures in place to tamp down any bug/mosquito issues ---- i.e. frequent spray-ing
if your windows have screens, you *might* be able to get away with not close-ing the windows.
i don't see that mosquito-net suggestion (above) working at Rui Tropical Bay.
Ngates815 on: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 10:18 am, wrote:Do they allow you to drink on the boat?
in Jamaica, you can drink almost ANY-place you want ---- except in church.
You can drink while walking around on the street, too. Rather than going to a bar, broke & cheap-me likes to go into a grocery-store,,, buy a beer, and walk-with it .... or go someplace (e.g. under a sea-grape tree) and sit-down on a stump, brick, piece of cardboard, etc, and drink ... i'm not fi-sure what they charge-ing per bottle at the China-man store, but i don't think it's Ja-$100 per bottle.
be happy
|
|
|
Ngates815
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 09:11 pm
|
|
|
Post Number: 7
Registered: 10-2009
|
|
|
You guys are AWESOME...so far it looks like we'll be arriving Thursday, get settled in, and just relax/have a few drinks at the resort. Then Friday head to alfreds after we pick eat a quick dinner at the resort. Saturday head over to sea star.
This is exactly what we've been looking for, when we head down there have a couple options for something to do every night rather than sit at the hotel.
Thanks again. |
|
|
Rickdad
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 10:00 pm
|
|
|
Post Number: 472
Registered: 09-2006
|
|
|
| 2 excellent choices, you will be happy with them, welcome to the board..... |
|
|
davevols
Member posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 10:58 pm
|
|
Post Number: 142
Registered: 01-2007
|
|
|
Make sure and have a meal or 2 off resort, the Seastar buffet on Sat night and a lunch or dinner at Canoe would be good choices.
Our group of 3 went to Xtabi for the day in May, and were treated like royalty.
You can email a driver and negotiate a price to places before you make the trip, I recommend Alfred, look for his Alfred taxi posting.
Be prepared to be assertive if necessary, if a polite "no thank you" doesn't work (and it is likely to happen once if you spend much time off resort), be ready to say no and mean it.
You may be told at the resort that it is not safe to go out, or that you should only go out with one of their drivers, but you may not want to go back once you get out.
Our perch at Xtabi |
|
|
Ngates815
Member posted on Thursday, October 29, 2009 - 03:11 pm
|
|
|
Post Number: 8
Registered: 10-2009
|
|
|
Another Question:
Is there a place we can order a phone to use down there, and have it delivered to our Hotel?
I would prefer to have it taken care of before we get down there, but if we can't can somebody run me thru what I'm supposed to do to get my hands on a phone with minutes. Either to keep and bring home with us, or to rent for the 5 days. And prices please, if you can recall what you paid. |
|
|
Mort
Member posted on Thursday, October 29, 2009 - 03:51 pm
|
|
|
Post Number: 66
Registered: 07-2006
|
|
|
monk on: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 02:07 pm, wrote:The beach in Negril sometimes generates a cool party in the damnedest of places, and sometimes you become the party lol.
No kidding. We usually just start walking and see what happens. Its always good and more often than not the last thing that we expected. |
|
|
Ngates815
Member posted on Monday, November 02, 2009 - 02:55 pm
|
|
|
Post Number: 12
Registered: 10-2009
|
|
|
Almost done at work for the day....3 more days of work, then I'm outta here.
All I need to get is some bug spray with deet.
What do you guys suggest we wear if we go for a little walk after sunset? or don't go on the beach(sand flies)
And how long of a trip do you think it would be from the RIU down to the Digicel dealer @ coral seas plaza? My g/f said just the guys are going to go, because they want to go to the beach as soon as they get there. I got my phone unlocked just need a sim/card for minutes, or however they do it. |
|
|
Rickdad
Member posted on Monday, November 02, 2009 - 09:15 pm
|
|
|
Post Number: 476
Registered: 09-2006
|
|
|
| 10 min. ride by taxi, give or take, walk out to the road and flag down a route taxi and it costs a buck or 80j apiece for a ride to roundabout which is where the plaza is at. After you get the sim card you can buy minutes everywhere at little stores. Have a good time............ |
|
|
Sweetness
Member posted on Monday, November 02, 2009 - 10:35 pm
|
|
Post Number: 2064
Registered: 07-2006
|
|
|
Ngates......so cool your reach is so close
Agree - catch a red plate taxi on the road (shared ride - public transportation) across from Burger King two story building and Digicel is upstairs - should be about $15US for a JA Sim card. There is also a blue Cambio (money exchange) in the parking lot - it is good to carry some JA smaller bills for taxis, tips, vendor food
BUG SPRAY: I use Coppertone SUN & BUG which is a combo sunscreen/bug lotion but I use only at night and it works GREAT with no spray, coils, stink, etc.
Have a GREAT time
Preach Peace~Live Love~Blesséd Be
ONE LOVE Sweet
|
|
|
| Back to top |
