Can anyone give me some honest first hand reviews of Negril (beach), Jamaica? Both good and bad please!?

Question

We've booked our wedding for Couples Swept Away for next year but are worried we'll be confined to our hotel since we've heard both good reviews (of the hotel) and bad reviews of the area on leaving the confines of the resort.

Answer 1

go to these 2 sites http://redhotescapes.com/  read the reviews red hot links you to trip advisor and if you want even more info go to the forums on trip advisor and post a question  there you will get loads of info in the forums.

Answer 2

My mum is in Jamaica visiting my sister in Ocho Rios but they have just got back from Negril where they attended a family wedding & she said the beaches are lovely there as was the early morning horse riding along the deserted beach:)

Answer 3

We went to Jamaica for our honeymoon in 1992 and stayed at Ciboney (an all inclusive like Swept Away).  We loved it and decided to return for our 5th anniversary in 1997 and HATED it!  It changed so much and was not a safe place to be.  We were pretty much confined to the resort, except to go to the markets with the resort bus trip.  I would not recommend going to Jamaica unless you don't mind rifle patrolled beaches and drug dealers on the streets.  Sorry, it's the truth.

Answer 4

My friend got back from Negril on wednesday and has already booked to go back in november!!! Seen the pics heard the stories......im online about to book myself!! Good Luck

Answer 5

swept away is nice all-inclusive and you will be pampered as with all the other all-inclusives. even the other hotels along the beach are nice as well.  and everyone has their favorites.

but, negril and all the other tourst cities in JA, for that matter, are not the 'dodge city' that folks make it out to be.  first, tourists on the WHOLE, are not knocked on the head and dragged away somewheres.  JA officials as well as the local business people and people living and working in these tourist areas are well aware that tourtism dollars move their local economy and tourists are not robbed and raped on the regular, nor are the hotel room doors at decent hotels, kicked in and the occupants lined up,robbed and shot, just the fun of it.  i have seen a 'drunk as a skunk' tourist, at a nite venue, with live music and big crowds, fall flat on his face, have no idea where he was at and people helping him and making sure that he was returned to his hotel in one piece.  as far as the gangs go.  gangs are in JA and everywhere else in the world, for that matter, they are like roaches, all over and come out when the lights are off and scatter when they are turned on.  

i often, hang out at nite, partying or having dinner, drive a rented car, know people as far away as st elizabeth, manderville, savlamar and have no problem visiting any of these areas.  but in saying that, i don't stop and pick up strangers, don't drive to far places without my JA friends with me, don't act like a rock-star or santa claus, and keep my respect for people just as i want to be respected myself. and i keep my eyes open for trouble, just as i keep them open when i step out of my front door where i live.

as far as getting 'got' as they say, getting robbed or worse, if your going to get 'got' your going to get 'got'!!! no matter where in the world you may be, england, france, NYC, mexico, italy, you name it.  if your walking around a city, with your head up your ***, looking like you don't know up from down and you have no reason being where you are at the time, then my friend, you will be 'got' for sure. i mean, would you walk thru central park at 1 in morning by yourself?  

my advice would be to get a travel document of the area for some atracttions or check the tour guide desk at the hotel for some activities you would enjoy, day or nite, go with a group or with a rep from the all-inclusive or tour guide desk and enjoy yourself.  then using that same person maybe hire a car with a driver, take your new found tour guide friend (they usually have no problem working off the books, per say and at least you know where they work at), if you hit it off with him/her and see some of the real JA, they would know where to take you and enjoy yourself. natrue sites, springs, rivers, etc.  remember, it is just a vacation, where you are supposed to be enjoying yourself and relaxing, not stressing over what could happen.  if that was the case then most of us would not even step foot out of our own front door!  

congrats on your wedding, the most important thing, and enjoy life together, that is really what counts!!!

Answer 6

I went with my GF in 2004 and it is fantastic, I would definetely go again. The sea is stunning and the sunsets are even better!

We stayed at Negril cabins (now called sunset at the palms I think) and it was the most relaxing two weeks I've ever had.

Enjoy!

Answer 7

My Wife is Jamaican and has many relatives over there several have been shot and killed.

Her auntie shot two guys who tried to car-jack her and was on national TV a couple of years ago commended by the police. Gun Crime is a lot more prevelant in Kingston but it is not confined there. Leaving the resorts and tourist areas without going on organised excursions would be very risky..

You see Jamaica is a major transhipment centre of cocaine from south america to America.. Drug addiction is rife add a corrupt government and easy access to firearms and you have some very dangerous individuals and gangs. If you are lucky they will ask you once to hand your money over.. more likely they will just shoot you..

That being said Negril beach is beautiful Jamaica really is a tropical paradise.. i'd stick to the organised excursions etc though... Don't judge it by English terms these guys are ruthless seriously. If I went into these areas I would have a gun.