OK...Now its official. Before the end of the year, I will be taking a trip to Jamaica...with a difference. I will be going on the North Coast and pretending to be a tourist.
No, I am not new to Jamaica; duh!, nor the North Coast, in particular. In fact, I believe I know 20 times as much nooks and crannies throughout the length and breadth of Jamaica than the average Kingstonian.
Still, this time, I would like to go where the tourist go and see what the tourist see.


So in that respect...Whether in Negril, MoBay and Ocho Rios:

• Which Hotel is the best one (s) to stay? (Price, being no object).
• Which restaurants are best?
• Where do I take the little lady to party?
• What are the best sites to see (Please don't say the Bob Marley Museum).
• What is a "reasonable" tip for room/restaurant/bar service?
• 

Attached Images

tourist.jpg (28.6 KB, 26 views)

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"In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)

ahhh this is the kind of stuff i can help with lol


well since the north coast includes portland, i'd say forget ochi, mobay and negril (which is west, not north :P)...

here's a couple places to stay

WELCOME: Kanopi House, Blue Lagoon, Jamaica
Geejam Hotel - San San, Port Antonio & Jamaica Beach Vacation Resorts

a few things to see... reich falls, winnifred beach, bonnie view, boston bay (i'm sure you've been), blue lagoon, monkey island, nonsuch caves, long bay, san san, frenchmans, nanny falls, folley castle...

top restaurants is a little harder, there's a place called anna's something (is it anna bananas?) which is on the nice side... dickey's best kept secret is an odd place that some love, def not fancy tho... i think the restuarant at hummingbird is decent.. i believe if you are staying in one of the two places above, they will whip up a meal with a setting that will be as good as most of the top places on the island...

partying in this part isn't really all that, it's more a quiet, romantic getaway type deal.. but if you must get out, there's a club central to portie called the roof bar or something of the like which is a bit rough around the edges (for portland) but the music is nice, your best bet is the round robins they keep or the regular boston bay party by the jerk centre...

tipping is, as always, at your discretion... going off the more beaten path you'll get the service without the expectations which is much more refreshing and makes one more willing to tip based service and not based on obligation from a hand being held out ... (although if you bus out the jamaican accent you shouldn't have as much of the same issues as a tourist will in that department)... when staying in a hotel i usually tip maids 300-400J, and bar/restaurant 10-20%...

now if your heart is set on sticking to the tourist zones, i'd say go to negril if you need pretty beach, or mobay/ochi if you're needing nightlife... in negril, i'd try caves (The Caves in Negril, Jamaica - Official site), or tensing pen (Tensing Pen Resort - Negril, Jamaica) up in the cliffs or moondance villas on the beach (Moon Dance Resorts - Negril, Jamaica)

in mobay, halfmoon (Luxury Hotels & Resorts in Jamaica | Half Moon Rose Hall | Caribbean Resort Vacations) is probably my choice, although there are plenty of gorgeous villas... location isn't the best tho, you'd need a car or taxi to get to the nightlife... things to see... there's martha brae, the humming bird sanctuary in anchovy, zip cording in lethe. luminous lagoon out by falmouth... mobay isn't my fav so i'm stuck a little... resturants, umm.. richmond hill is a bit dumpy but with beautiful views... houseboat is okay, pelican is okay... nothing fancy really, they have a funky wine bar in the altamount...

in ochi... well i'd get out of ochi and go to boscobel, golden eye (Island Outpost - Goldeneye in Oracabessa, Jamaica) (i'm a huge island outpost fan, strawberry hill is my favourite ) location isnt' the best, but they will get you anywhere you need to be... close enough to ochi to party still... lots to see and do in ochi.. dunns, mystic mountain, chukka cove, dolphins cove, firefly, james bond beach, coyaba river gardens, shaw park, fern gully, firewater, nine mile (sorry it's in the area ), enchanted gardens (it's not currently a hotel but rather a property you can tour), there's a wicked deserted blue hole off of white water river... plenty more, but i need to run, ochi is my favourite for excursions...


i've been all over the island with my jamaican friends and family they love doing the tourist thing too

Wow! You seem well travelled in those parts.

Porty..Yes, I am VERY familiar with Port Antonio. Since I was 15 y.o I have been visiting. I have many pleasant memories of Folly Point and Titchfield Hill. Blue Lagoon was my favorite beach down there.
I know Bascobel as well from back in the days when they had an airstrip there. Now I guess it must be an airport by now.

My intent is to rent a car and drive from West to East along the North Coast. I also have a little spot in Pt, Maria that I would like to stop at.
The truth though is that I have not been in those parts for so long, I no longer know what still exist and what new places have emerged since my quite-so-long visit.

In just one post, you have provided me with a wealth of options and related information.

Thanks.

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"In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)

Damn girl....you get around don't you! and to some Pricey places!!! I wanna travel with you!

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Been to those...except firewater.,,
Remember, I am Jamaican. But keep going, anyway.

The resorts and the nightlife on the NC though...is all new to me.

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"In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)

you said you wanted touristy ... firewater is up in the hills and interesting and a lot more off the beaten path.., they light the water on fire and if you're brave you can hop right in, supposed to be healing... last i heard tho someone was bringing busloads of tourists up there... if you're in ochi and have a spare afternoon, you have to do dunns.. it's like a law or something i think , i've climbed the falls 8-9 times now, and water shoes are for wimps

okay lets see if i can reel out a bit more info...

nightlife in ochi... lets see... m'ville is actually the staple wednesdays and saturdays it's not too bad... there's the amnesia, oceans' 11 (they do karaoke here, but it gets better later)... an upscale loungey place called skydock... if you're brave, shades, but i'd not recommend personally

for dining in ochi, the ruins or evita would be my two picks... pretty standard stuff there... scotchies for jerk (but not atmosphere) i guess (but i'm not a huge fan of jerk, much prefer drum pan from red hills or gully lol)...

a bit outside ochi proper you have jus' cheers, priory beach for sunday beach parties (since dinosaurs roamed the earth i think)

i'm missing something, been awhile since i partied in ochi!

nightlife in mobay, well pier 1 is a staple, but the hip strip happens from time to time... there's options that are outside the touristy areas, but i'd have to check with someone down there to see what keeps where/when..

nightlife in negril, well i'm not a huge negril fan, but if you're up for a live band doing bob covers, you'll find plenty, some are better than others, alfreds has one of the better ones... roots bamboo is popular too, the jungle is the best nightclub, but is far from my favourite place... scrubadub is not for the feint of heart... a few places in the cliffs keep small things, mi yard is one... can't remember the other.. negril nightlife is a bit difficult for me to handle, but that's likely because i usually only party in negril for ATI weekend

dining in negril.. rockhouse or kuyaba for fine dining, sips and bites for some of the best stew chicken/beef i've ever had

enjoy!

hehehe. a few i've been, a few are on my must do list..

if money is TRULY no issue, you always have places like this

Rio Chico Luxury Estate Villa in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Manaka Villa in Discovery Bay,Jamaica Villas, Villa rentals in Jamaica, Luxury Villas in Jamaica, Vacation homes in Jamaica

Amanoka at Discovery Bay,Jamaica Luxury Villa rentals, Villas in Jamaica, beachfront villas in Jamaica, Jamaica Rentals, Vacation villas in Jamaica

ahhh.. now that's dreaming

Yeah boy thats what i am talkin about!

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i would suggest strawberry fields if in that area if you didn't already have something....

as far as the airport in boscobel, it's a small areodome, charter flights out of mbj fly in there....

As far as Dunns River goes..I have climbed it like several hundred times since age 10 during the gazillion school outings and family trips.
Still, I probably may do it again...with water shoes..Hey! Remember, I will be pretending to be a tourist.

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"In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)

[quote=chelby;577303]i would suggest strawberry fields if in that area if you didn't already have something....
Thats exactly where I was referring to. Robins Bay was an old time haunting spot for me waaay back when it was called Tobay. Shucks, this trip will certainly bring back a lot of pleasant memories and make way for new ones.


as far as the airport in boscobel, it's a small areodome, charter flights out of mbj fly in there...quote].Say what.??! Aerodrome, as in its now open to public air traffic?

I remember way back when Bascobel airstrip as well as Puerto Seco airstrip were only used by the military, the local bauxite industry and a few private planes used for crop dusting.
Boy! Things have really changed.

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"In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)

Yes!!

All di mice run back innna yu corners bekawz Alex the Cat is Bakk!!!!

Watz up, My peeeps?
I just return from my trip to Jamaica an' a havent had a chance to sit back a see whats been going on on ETJ.
At di moment, I don't know who jump ship, who stowed-away and who decided to stick wid it for di long haul. One t'ing I know for sure, di ship hasnt run a-ground.

As far as mi Jamaican trip goes, I wenyt all over di place. Stayed in the Tourist area but got bored wid di tourist ting after Day 3. Met a few "interesting" people with "interesting" stories in Spanish Town, Ocho Rios, Browns Town, Porty, Pt. Maria and odder places.
Dis trip was not only enjoyable to the max it was beaucoup informative.

Big-up to all my fellow members.
Mi miss ooono.
Latah

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"In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)

Well well well, the cyaptain is back! Wha gwaan, how was di trip? Was it with the Missus or without? Are we gonna see any pics?

.........Bounty permanently banned LR

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Happiness is key, seek it out and claim it as your own!

Glad ot be back.
Yes, I went wid di Missus. Had a great time. Took tons of pictures. Most too personal.

Sorry to hear that LR was permanently banned. I wont attempt to stir anything up by speculating in an open forum, so I wont say more on that right now except that it was apparent more than a wek ago that something was brewing.
Anyway.....I had a greeeeat time. Di Missus juss wanted to lay around on the beach basking in the sun, but thats not my style. I got a car so we did a bit of driving as well.

Sooo what else is new?

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"In this great future, you can't forget your past. " Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)

Well, now that you are back... could you start posting some interesting threads... I was tired of being the only one.

Welcome back... I'm sure you had a blast... and I am waiting for your comments to my thread in religion... you and JASpice... she hasn't been around either... hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

curiouser and curiouser...

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