Accommodations Tip
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Great Huts: In Jamaica
"Very cool ecotourism beach resort- treehouse and African hut lodging"
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Submitted By: Blase / blasetheodore
From: New York, NY
Tip Submitted On: April 05, 2007
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Great Huts
Accommodations Rating: 
Date of Visit: January 2007
Accommodations Tip: "Very cool ecotourism beach resort- treehouse and African hut lodging"
I'm not sure how I found this place, but I was looking for a hostel in Jamaica. I had never been before, so I didn't care where. The guy who owns it was a doctor, and the price was good, so I booked it.
Getting there was a bit of a bus-ride adventure, but I made it there for about $3US and got there at night. The whole place has an african theme to it, which you notice everywhere. A lot of attention to detail. I stayed in the african tents, which are reserved for the hostelers, and are pretty decent, but I made friends with some of the people in the tree-houses and African huts and got to see what they were like. Very cool. The kind of place to bring your girlfriend as a treat.
The whole place is on a beach, half of it being cliff, and the other half being a bay. The bay is a super surf spot, and I made friends with one of the guys on the Jamaican Olympic surf team. Everyone local out there was really good. I never surfed before, but I rented a board pretty cheap and gave it a shot.
I surfed every other day, (or tried) and did day trips in between. I made friends with some other gap year kids in the hostel rooms, and we went out looking for Reach Falls, a waterfall known to the locals, and to SanSan beach for snorkeling.
Transportation is super cheap. Busses run along the coast, and you cram in for about a buck to anywhere you need to go.
There's a jerk barbecue center just outside Great Huts, so you can get jerk chicken or pork in abundance. A few other mom and pop restaurants, but the whole area was very rural.
I was very impressed. I was more impressed by the kids I hosteled with. One kid was from England and another from Holland, and both were coincidentally ending their year long vacations there after having found it, traveling all over the place and then coming back. I thought that was pretty cool.
Anyway, I'd give the place a solid thumbs up.
Type of Property: Bed and Breakfast
Price: US$101 - US$150
Directions/Location:
Just outside Port Antonio on Boston Bay.
Web Link: http://www.greathuts.com/caribbean_vacation/jamaica_hotel.html
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Accommodations Tip
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Nirvana: In Jamaica
"true paradise in Negril"
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Submitted By: Marci / eeka
From: Bradenton, FL
Tip Submitted On: August 25, 2007
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Tip Last Updated: Sat August 25, 2007
Nirvana
View Hotel Information: Nirvana
Accommodations Rating:
Date of Visit: June 2007
Accommodations Tip: "true paradise in Negril"
No neon signs or advertising will draw your attention to Nirvana on the Beach. You could walk right past the resort without noticing the unpretentious driveway that leads into a glorious tropical garden on Jamaica’s famed Negril Beach.
Palm fringed, with silky soft, powder-white sand, Negril Beach stretches for about 4 miles (6.4 km) on the western tip of this Caribbean island. Nirvana, in the center of Negril Beach, is caressed by warm turquoise waters.
Warm Caribbean waters caress Jamaica’s Negril Beach.
Close your eyes and picture yourself surrounded by lush vegetation, fruit trees and a rainbow of flora, such as hibiscus, lilies, torch gingers, jade vines and orchids. The heady smells of the exotic gardens captivate you like a cool breeze on a hot day. You hear songbirds and the rhythm of the ocean waves.
My first morning at Nirvana, I woke up to the scent of night-blooming jasmine drifting in my window. The ceiling fan offered a refreshing breeze, and I picked up a different scent, sea air. My comfortable room featured neutral colors and a sense of relaxed privacy.
A rural New York couple, Lonnie and Stanley Gottlieb discovered Negril Beach decades ago when the free-spirited hippie generation appreciated the laidback lifestyle the Negril area offers. They built Nirvana on a 1.5 acre (6,070 m˛) plot of beachfront jungle in the mid 1980s.
The eight-unit guest property is inspired by nature. Beachfront cottages have two or three bedrooms and spacious living/dining rooms. Furnishings are simple and unpretentious, yet charming, with wicker chairs and plantation blinds. Prices start at US$ 180 per night for two people.
All units are fully screened, and there are ceiling fans in every room. Kitchens are fully equipped. Daily maid and cooking service for one meal per day is included in the cottage rates. Guests provide all groceries needed for meal preparation.
Perhaps I should have followed my neighbor’s menu. As I woke up from my midday nap in a hammock beneath a coconut palm, a delicious smell wafted through the courtyard. “What's that?” I asked TuTu, staff member and my new friend, who happened by at that moment.
“that smell there is brown stew chicken simmering in a rich gravy.” At that, my stomach growled loudly and we both laughed. Jamaican cooking never disappoints. I decided to have the same dish prepared for me the next day.
Nirvana on the Beach is simple living in a perfect climate.
Nirvana’s beach is private. Aside from hammocks, there are lounge chairs and charcoal grills. Nirvana even has a playhouse and swing set for children.
With 24-hour security and the caring, long-time Nirvana staff, you’ll instantly feel at home. If requested, the staff will provide transportation to any destination in Negril and arrange activities of any sort. Water-sports options available from friendly, local operators include scuba diving, snorkeling, jet-skiing, banana boating (riding on a long “sled” pulled by a ski boat), kayaking and sunset cruises.
At Nirvana on the Beach you have the best seats for incredible sunsets in hues from lemon yellow to sparkling tangerine, always a breathtaking end to any day in Negril.
And you get to experience what the original hippies did: a place that brings you back to yourself, a simple life in a perfect climate and days filled with the wonders of an incredible natural environment still unmarked by mass tourism.
With open-air showers, no television, the windows open to the Caribbean breezes and a Jamaican staff who seem to know what you need even before you ask — this truly is Nirvana.
Nirvana’s private beach offers choice seating for viewing sunsets.
If You Go
Nirvana on the Beach
www.nirvananegril.com
Type of Property: Vacation Rental
Price: US$151 - US$200
Unique Qualities:
personal service & expert adivce & guidance from the friendly staff
Address: Beach Road, Negril
Directions/Location:
40 miles West of Montego Bay
Web Link: http//www.nirvananegril.com
Phone: 1-941-708-0203
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Accommodations Tip
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Couples Sans Souci: In Jamaica
"OK...but"
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Submitted By: Suzanne / sfulton2002
From: Not Available
Tip Submitted On: April 11, 2008
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Tip Last Updated: Sat August 25, 2007
Couples Sans Souci
View Hotel Information: Couples Sans Souci
Accommodations Rating: 
Date of Visit: April 2008
Accommodations Tip: "OK...but"
My husband and I landed at Sanger International Airport on April 4, 2008 for a 5 night stay for our anniversary. Got thru customs quickly (make sure your forms are completed BEFORE getting off your plane). We were greeted warmly at the Couples lounge inside the airport. Hubby grabbed a complimentary Red Stripe and off we were to the resort. The drive is about 1 hour and 45 minutes to the resort....beautiful drive. The ocean was just beautiful.
We arrived at the resort and were greeted again warmly by the front desk and shown to our room (beach front Jacuzzi suite- A22). Our suite was clean, although the furniture and TV were dated badly (more on this later).
Our first stop was for some lunch at the Bella Vista. Great little lunch & dinner (more on this later also) spot. Although we got “server in training" and she seemed less than happy to be there. Unfortunately, every lunch we ate at the Bella Vista, she was our server. But the food was always great, whether lunch or dinner! So I high recommend this restaurant. We actually ended up eating more than one dinner at this restaurant because every morning I tried to make reservations at the Palazzina or Casanova, I was always told it was booked...the only reservations available were 8:30 or 9 pm. Although every time we walked by those restaurants at our requested time (7 pm), there were always several tables empty. So we ate every dinner at Bella Vista or room service. The breakfast in the Palazzina was adequate. The omelets were divine! Service...so so.
Now...onto watersports. The watersports staff was awesome! Clayton took my husband and I out on the catamaran and he let us just chill out for a bit. We went snorkeling everyday. Although we found out on our last day that they offer an intertube ride on the back of the power boat...book this early in your trip as it fills up quickly. We missed out because they were booked up.
We did the shopping excursion.....Soni Shopping Plaza. You can skip this.... pushy vendors. Definitely avoid the market across the street. The marijuana smell was horrible! We also did the Dunn's River excursion....and had a blast! We are in our 30's and physically fit. If you are not, you shouldn't climb the falls. There was an older gentleman who had no business climbing these falls. He moaned and groaned the entire climb....and slowed the whole group up. Regardless, we did have fun. Take caution when tipping the guides. We had 2 guides, my husband handed the one "head guide” $10 assuming the guides split the tips....not so. He told my husband not to forget to tip the other guide. Hubby told the "head guide" that he was to split the tip in half....that sent both guides off. Ugh! Regardless, don't be swindled out of your money.
Back to San Souci..... the entertainment was second to none. We saw A.J. Brown perform at the Gala Night. He was soooooo wonderful! He did an Andrea Bocelli song and it was so beautiful I almost cried. The entertainment staff was great also! A big shout out to Kimberlee! She always recognized us and greeted us by name.
In our room....we had a king bed. I think this bed is left over from the 80's. More like a slab of concrete. Every morning our backs and hips hurt. Although other rooms, not in our category have been refurbished. We did speak with a few other couples that had our type of room and they also remarked at the shabby furniture and uncomfortable beds. But Sandy was our housekeeper and she was great!!! Always made sure we had everything we needed. The bathroom was clean and well stocked. Hubby used the Jacuzzi tub once and said it worked well.
On our last day, we had $60 stolen out of our room. Actually out of my wallet, money that was put aside in a hidden spot in my wallet for our return parking. We suspected a "rouge housekeeper" who upon our return to our room at 4 pm stated she was replacing some towels. We left it at that, but then about 45 minutes later discovered the money missing. We added up that there were no fresh towels in our bathroom as we were told, there was no housekeeping cart outside our room to indicate a housekeeper inside and she made a quick exit when we came back in the room. The whole incident just put us in a sour mood. The manager came to our room, then sent security....but we never were followed up with. End of story so to speak.
Overall, Couples San Souci was a beautiful resort. Well maintained, charming and very private....best for honeymooners, anniversary celebrations and couples wishing to reconnect. This is not a party resort in anyway....mind you; you will enjoy yourself if you are looking for a relaxing vacation. Will I return....probably not. Too many other places in the Caribbean I think I would rather check out.
Pros: ground maintenance, Bella Vista, free excursions, food, watersports & entertainment staff
Cons: beds, furniture, restaurants requiring reservations, servers in training (smile some more!), theft
A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING STAFF: Kimberlee in Entertainment; Sandy in Housekeeping; Maureen & Fabian at the Bella Vista; Easton at the Pool Bar; Adrian in the Bella Vista kitchen; the ENTIRE Watersports staff! Thanks...YOU made our vacation great!
Type of Property: All Inclusive
Price: US$401 - US$500
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