Negril on the western tip of Jamaica..

This was my second trip to Jamaica. Unlike the first time, I quickly jetted out of Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport as soon as I could and headed for Negril.

Quick Tips:

1) Once in Montego Bay, resist the temptation to conduct sightseeing of Montego Bay. Instead head straight for Negril.

2) If your partner or accompanying friends want to disregard suggestion one above, tell them you will see Montego Bay on your return from Negril since you have to catch your flight back from "MoBay" .

3)Unless you are on an all-inclusive plan, it pays to haggle in Jamaica. This is a long lost art and requires at least three to five minutes of give and take dialogue with the locals.

Best Way To Get Around:

The trip from "Mobay" to Negril is about 70 miles. Do not pick up a rental car unless you are experienced or willing to try left hand driving. Furthermore, Jamaican drivers speed on the windy and scenic roads, so it is easier to let someone else do the driving while you check out the scenery.

The charge for a taxi ride to Negril is each way but I ended up paying each way. All-inclusive plans include the transfer from the airport. There is a public bus from Montego Bay's Barnett street park to Negril with a bus change is Savanna-La Mar. This is relatively cheap at around to Negril, but is not recommended unless you can handle locals elbowing you with fish baskets, etc. Once in Negril, we enjoyed walking on the seven mile beach. route taxis ply the seven mile beach road called Norman Manley Blvd.

The beach is long and you can walk on the beach from the west end to the other end (by Hedonism), about seven miles. The water from the beach is blue, clean, and very calm, and I was able to observe a lot of beautiful sunset days early in the morning while sipping my coffee from a beachfront cafe that is open 24 hours a day. We also paid $40 for two people for a glass bottom boat trip away from the beach, which even included the snorkeling gear and for my partner her life vest and some snorkeling lessons. A lot of beautiful fish were observed, including some small baracudas, in the water.

You cannot visit Negril without visiting Rick's Cafe, considered one of the ten best pubs/bars in the Caribbean or in the world (as they claim). The sunset views are truly out of this world, and the cliffs are steep. They have areas dug out of the cliffs that people sometimes use to dive. However, I did observe signs stating that all divers do so at their own risk and they recommend professional divers only use the diving spot. I learned from reading a biography on the wall on the lefthand side just past the entrance that Rick's Cafe was and is still owned by a medical doctor (the son of the former Governor General of Jamaica). The biography also talks about the renovations that had to be made to the premises after a hurricane passed through some four or five years ago.

The bar itself is nothing much to cry home about. It is the stunning cliff views and sunset views that make Rick's Cafe what it is, a premier spot in the Caribbean. Rick's Cafe is in the west end of Negril and is a good distance from the beach area, so be prepared to take a route taxi (JA 200, ie $4) to get there.