I have dreams about Jamaica. We went on our honeymoon (I think I ve mentioned that before) and staye

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Ben and I booked moscow hotels our trip through Expedia.com, and stayed at the RIU ClubHotel in Negril on Bloody Bay, about 10 minutes north of 7 Mile Beach, moscow hotels and an hour s drive from the Montego Bay Airport (MBJ).
We stayed moscow hotels at the RIU Palace moscow hotels in Cabo San Lucas for our honeymoon four years ago, and love the all-inclusive option moscow hotels the resorts offer, which include all meals, drinks, and dining at usually moscow hotels 4-5 onsite restaurants, as well as a morning and evening buffet. You will not go hungry at a RIU!
Since we stayed at a ClubHotel instead of a Palace moscow hotels , I d have to say the Palace in Cabo was nicer, but from what we saw of other hotels in the area, this was near the top for Negril. There was actually a RIU Palace located about 1/4 mile up the bay from us, but from what we could see, the only difference between the two was that our hotel was probably more family friendly, and $400 cheaper.
I was not joking when I said the water was as warm as bathwater , and Ben and I spent several days laying in it at the base of our chairs, digging up sea shells while sipping drinks we d take turns getting from the beach bar about 20 feet away.
The hotel also offered several free water activities, including snorkling, and sea kayaking. I begged Ben to go with me on the last day, and let me just say, sea kayaking is harder than it looks. We had a Lake Calhoun moment of sorts at one point, and I nearly couldn t paddle in I was laughing so hard.
Besides our all day tour , we ventured out one other afternoon to walk along Negril moscow hotels s famous 7 Mile Beach. While it was absolutely beautiful, please don t hate, 7 Milers we much preferred staying in Bloody Bay. Although we only went south starting at Margaritville on 7 Mile, there were just way too many people selling stuff on the beach for our liking. I do hear that the area north of Margaritaville, around the Couples Swept Away hotel, is very, very popular though.
I d give the RIU ClubHotel a solid 3.7 stars out of 5. The rooms were comfortable and quiet, and the food was fresh and plentiful (the jerk chicken was SPECTACULAR !) What really counts moscow hotels in my mind the view, the beach, moscow hotels the staff was top notch. I would stay there again.
Also, we used Talk of the Town Tours for both our airport transfers, and all-day tour . Love those guys! Be warned moscow hotels though that people not everyone drove very, very fast in the parts we went through, so if you have children with you, or are skiddish on the road, just make that clear when you book your transfers! Final Thoughts on Jamaica
Jamaica is the ULTIMATE relaxation destination. Omar made it very clear the day he picked us up from the airport that you are on island-time when you come to Jamaica. Everything moves a little bit slower there, so be patient, and set your worries aside, mon!
A couple other things I would tell my friends and family before visiting, therefore moscow hotels I m telling you, is that from what we saw and experienced (I don t want to generalize an entire country) the areas in and around Negril and southwest Jamaica, where we toured, were very, very poor. I had friends tell me this, but I was still not prepared for what I saw. While we enjoyed ourselves immensely during our vacation, it was at times a bit sad and unsettling staying at such a beautiful, luxurious resort, when I knew that 100 yards away there were entire families living in 8 10 shacks balanced on rocks. I don t think I really need to get into it, but just understand that Negril is not a standard resort town like Cancun or Puerta Vallarta, where you go out and shop at these mega complexes or town centers moscow hotels or anything. moscow hotels I don t know if Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, other popular Jamaican vacation destinations, are similar.
moscow hotels I was also not prepared for the amount of pot we encountered during our trip! We either saw or smelled it nearly everywhere we went during our stay, and although we were approached to buy many times during our stroll on 7 Mile Beach, we were never bothered in Bloody Bay. Nobody was every pushy about it or anything, I just thought I d mention it.
Overall Jamaica is a very unique, and unimaginably beautiful country. Definitely moscow hotels Top 3 most stunning places I have ever seen, and hands down the most relaxing place I ve ever been. If you want to get away from it all, go to Jamaica. And tell em Ben and I sent ya ! More Jamaica Recaps
I have dreams about Jamaica. We went on our honeymoon (I think I ve mentioned that before) and stayed at Sandals Ocho Rios. It was magnificent, but we ve been talking about a Negril trip. SO glad to hear the RIU is nice!!! Reply
Looks beautiful! We stopped at Ocho Rios on a cruise and I was depressed as well. We walked from the ship to the market and there were beggers everywhere. I don t think I could go back to Jamaica because of just HOW depressing it was, despite its beauty. :/ Reply
This is so random, when you posted from Jamaica I thought the resort moscow hotels looked familiar! It s the same one we stayed at 2 years ago! I laughed out loud when you mentioned all the stuff being sold on 7 mile beach, we had the exact same experience knew there were drugs but had no idea how fluently we would be offered them! I guess that means you didn t hit up the jet skiiers (word was that was where you went if you wanted it at the resort ) Was the Ciiiiiiiiiiggarettes, cigars cigars cigars guy still roaming the beach? Reply
I know how you feel about witnessing the poor areas of countries. I felt that way when I went to St. Lucia 3 years ago. I was there on a mission trip and even then felt like it was luxury. The country was absolutely beautiful, however given the reason why I was there and what I witnessed, I don t think I could ever go back for a vacation. Mission work for sure, but I would never be able to relax.
We stayed moscow hotels at Riu Santa Fe right next door to the Palace this past February. I LOVE Riu hotels!! They are great!! We want to check out the other side of Mexico and possibly Jamaica next. Will definitely keep this place in mind! Reply
My husband and I stayed at the RIU Vallarta in 2007 and the facilities were amazing, but the food was awful! It could be because they hadn t been open long and maybe hadn t worked out the kinks. The reviews said they food was bad, but we figured it wouldn t be all bad at all the restaurants. Well it was horrible! They couldn t even get the breakfast buffet right. So if you are going to Puerto moscow hotels Vallarta, I would advise against this place unless the reviews have changed. Reply
We have visited Jamaica three times and love it. The poverty was shocking the first time-even though moscow hotels we had been warned. However, we know that people visiting brings a lot of opportunity for the locals. Staying in those hotels helps the locals moscow hotels put food on their tables! Reply
I love hearing your perspective and I bet if I ever get there, I ll agree .what a contradiction, beautiful place and povert, ugh ..I m with you on not liking pot to be all around .oh well, you made a great vac. happen yay! Reply
I love your pictures and your observations! Jamaica should moscow hotels put you in charge of their travel outreach! No, wait! You re doing that already for the state of Iowa!!!! I m so glad you had such a great time.
I would love to go to Jamaica and have been to a few other places in the Caribbean. My boyfriend and I are looking to plan something this fall, but he has no interest in Jamaica because he says it is unsafe. Did you have any safety concerns while traveling there? Had you heard anything about the safety of the country before visiting? I m just curious because I don t want to rule Jamaica out as a vacation moscow hotels destination after looking at your photos and hearing your reviews! Reply
Your pictures are beautiful and make me want to go back to Jamaica! I ve been twice now and it is one of my favorite places I ve been. We stayed in the Trelawny beach area along the north coast between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. Just beautiful. Plus you can t beat the all-inclusive route! Reply
I did feel a similar sort of discomfort moscow hotels when visiting the Bahamas. We went to both Nassau (the main island with more shopping and the HUGE Atlantis resort on nearby Paradise island), as well as Andros (the largest but least populated island). Andros was really, really amazing due to the seclusion but the residents there live a very, very simple life. Our little resort was by US standards, a nice motel/tiny hotel and was still by far the nicest building in the area. All the food had to be brought in by boat. It does tug at your heartstrings and makes you really grateful for what you have back home.
We stayed at the RIU Ocho Rios about 6 years ago, and now always stay at RIU resorts when we go to the Caribbean. moscow hotels They are very nice, in general. Ocho Rios is very poor too, so I think it is a Jamaican thing.
Someone asked about the safety. moscow hotels My husband and I left our resort by ourselves one or two times, and were never really worried. You just need to stay with the rest of the people and you will be fine. Not for sure if this is how it was in Negril.
I loved reading your thoughts on Jamaica! My husband honeymooned there in Negril at Couples Swept Away. Absolutely Breathtaking resort, that I highly recommend! But I completely agree with your comments regarding the poverty that surrounds the resorts. My husband ventured off the resort for one afternoon (by taxi) and it was a little scary. I think Negril, in general, is a place where you need to be prepared to stay on resort moscow hotels the whole time. I don t think I realized it would be that way until we got there. but that water, I ve never seen water more beautiful! PS made your chicken lime burgers for the second time last weekend totally addicted. My parents and in-laws have bot