Negril, Jamaica an Amazing Caribbean Destination
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“Don’t’ worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright”
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Background
Jamaica's original inhabitants were the Arawak tribe. They named the island Xaymaca which means "land of wood and water." The Arawaks were peaceful people and grew various crops to sustain themselves.
After Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1494, the Spanish enslaved the Arawak. Enslavement and disease decimated the tribe. By 1600 the Arawak were extinct. In 1655, the English invaded Jamaica and defeated the Spanish.
Piracy of goods was the primary income source for Jamaica until the 19th century when sugar cane became the islands' primary income source. Jamaica gained its independence from British rule in 1962.
Today
Jamaica is known as the birthplace of Bob Marley and reggae music. The island's primary income source now comes from tourism, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and mining.
Currency
The Jamaican dollar (JMD) is their official currency, and the exchange rate favors the USD (at this time, 1 USD=136.05 JMD).
We used our credit cards, which provided an exchange with no additional fees. If we needed to use cash, everyone accepted the USD.
Getting Around
I recommend getting around by taxi or shuttle instead of renting a car on the island. The roads are slow, drive on the left, potholes abound, and sometimes cars are stalled on the street, making it confusing for a tourist to navigate.
Change of Plans
I can see now after visiting Jamaica where Bob Marley's inspiration came from. Initially, we were planning on going on a different beach holiday. Unfortunately, we had to change our plans when it became clear that there were safety concerns for our original destination. Based on my brother's rave reviews of their trips to Jamaica, we decided to try.
My brother has been to Jamaica many times (bro=40 times, me=0), so I thought I'd ask him for some advice on where to visit. Based on a recent trip he made with his family, he raved about his stay at the Azul Beach Resort in Negril, Jamaica.
Arriving On The Island
There is no airport in Negril, so we flew into Montego Bay. Being the planner I am, I had already made shuttle reservations to take us from/to the airport to the resort.
Ann’s Angle
I would highly recommend booking a shuttle service before you arrive. There is a lot of competition to get your business at the airport arrival area. It can be overwhelming to be solicited by so many drivers trying to earn your business.
“The drive from/to the airport to Negril takes approximately 1 ½ hours.”
All-Inclusive Resort
Upon our arrival at the resort, we were greeted with a glass of champagne and a warm welcome. The property itself is situated directly on Seven Mile Beach.
Azul Beach Resort is an all-inclusive resort with beautiful beachfront accommodations. The grounds are gorgeously manicured, and the hotel room had a clean, modern vibe. Our room included a large balcony with a beach view. The place not only had a comfy king size bed, but it also included a seating area and a table and chairs.
Food and Fun
The resort offers a variety of amenities to make any guest very happy. The restaurants, cafes, lounge, and bars are everywhere on the property with various food fair (the hamburgers were delicious!) and local cuisine (the jerk chicken was yummy!). On Wednesdays, they host a Caribbean themed beach dinner/party that was amazing! The red snapper was cooked right in front of you and super fresh (check out my video!).
The evening entertainment changed nightly and there was something for everyone. We enjoyed one night of listening to a reggae band performing in the bar. It was a great way to end the day after a wonderful day at the beach.
Seven Mile Beach and Pools
More importantly, let's talk about the absolutely gorgeous beach! White sand and clear blue water greet you immediately. Nothing better than the smell of the sand and warm clear water to relax to.
If you are looking for some shade, there are plenty of trees to provide respite from the sun. Azul resort offers guests free use of covered lounge beds and daybeds, lounge chairs, and tables (which I happily enjoyed). No fighting or waking up early to claim lounge chairs here!
If the pool is where you want to relax, there are multiple pools throughout the property, with enough lounge chairs and seating for all.
Kids Will Love It Here!
If you have kids, there is a ton of activities for them to enjoy! The resort has a children's play area, games, and play care to explore and enjoy. There are plenty of rafts, beach games, and toys to entertain any kid! The beaches white soft sand and shallow, clear water is a perfect way for kids to enjoy building sandcastles and playing in the surf, while their parents can have fun.
Ann’s Angle
Want to make your kids really happy? Just across the street is Kool Runnings Water Park with water slides, paintball, and more.
Scuba Diving!
There are plenty of fun excursions to do on the island, but we just wanted to relax and get some diving in. The dive shop run by Stanley's Watersports is right on the property, and the staff there were terrific!!! A big shout out to Nick, the divemaster, and Leroy, the captain!!!
We went out two days in a row on two tank dives and had to say it was an absolutely fabulous time. It was a pleasant surprise to get on the boat and hear that it would take only five to ten minute boat ride to get to our destination-gotta love the Caribbean and all the reef life close to shore!!! I got to experience my first swim-throughs, cave, and airplane wreckage on those dives.
Popular Dives From Seven Mile Beach
Throne Room has a wide opening into a low cavern. Inside, the walls are covered with colorful sponges. You swim through a large opening into a deeper reef at 70ft., with fantastic photo opportunities to leave the room.
The Caves consist of one small and one large cave with a tunnel connecting the two. Here you can see stingrays, sea cucumbers, and snapper.
Shallow Plane is a wreck dive of a Cessna resting next to a reef. Look for a variety of fish that can be found here.
Cliff Diving
We ventured off the resort only once during my five-day stay. I kept hearing about Rick's Café and the cliff diving that happens there. So off we went in a taxi to Rick's. The café was all outdoors, and the view is beautiful. Honestly I was not impressed with the actual cafe, the food and drinks were overpriced and not very tasty. Come here if you want a beautiful view and to watch the regulars that cliff dive. Tourists can partake in the cliff diving as well if you are up for that kind of adventure.
Accommodations
We choose to stay in an all-inclusive resort to enjoy all the amenities a resort has to offer. There are plenty of options for booking accommodations in Negril.
Check out accommodations for your trip here:
For hotels, and all-inclusive click here.
The People
I can't forget to write about the people here. They were so gracious, friendly, and welcoming!!! From the shuttle driver to the towel attendant, everyone was super helpful and cheery.
I can't wait till I get the chance to go back to Jamaica, Mon!
