GERRY AND AGNES

COUPLE NEGRIL JANUARY 18 – 25, 2004

This is our fourth trip to Jamaica. We have been to Breezes Runaway Bay twice and Sandal Ocho Rios once. We booked our air from St. Louis via America Airlines to use our frequent flyer miles instead of a direct flight on a charter. The connections were decent. We arrived at the airport at 4:15 AM for our 6:00 flight and all went easy. We boarded and then sat. About 7:30 they took us off the plane due to mechanical problems and we boarded another plane getting away about 8:45. Of course we missed our connection in Miami and had a four-hour layover. We had a nice lunch in the hotel at the airport and then spent the time in the airport bar. The flight was 20 minutes late getting away.

At least the customs went smoothly and then we waited for 20 minutes for Couples to decide we were the only couple and off we went by ourselves in a van. The van ride was smooth and quick, about an hour. We arrived at the resort about 8:45 PM. I was ready for a large drink. Check in was efficient and we had our room in time to get dinner. They had menu service in the main dining room on Sunday night. A couple more drinks and it was back to our room to unpack and collapse. What a day. We planned to arrive early in the afternoon, unpack and explore the resort before dinner. Thanks American.

Our daily schedule for the week consisted of catching the bus to the golf course at 8:00 AM, playing 18 holes and then returning to the resort. The golf course picture link follows:

http://www.tropictravelonline.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=22;t=000013

The first several days we had room service breakfast on our balcony. We were in the block 4, room 4202. It was far enough back, the road didn’t bother us. The room was ok, nothing special. The view was a garden view. This is the link to the pictures.

http://www.tropictravelonline.com/cgi-bin/gallery/gallery.cgi?Category=100481

After the first few days we realized we had time to go to breakfast at 7:30 and still catch the golf van. They usually opened a little late and we helped ourselves before they were really ready. The rushing eliminated waiting for omelets or smoothies though. The buffet was very good with a nice variety.

The golf course, Negril Hills, is what we normally refer to as a goat ranch. (See the pictures in the gallery.) It was in ok good condition about equivalent to Breezes Runaway Bay. The greens were in good condition. It is very hilly and it took a couple of days to figure out the course and how to play it. It is not really walkable. We walked the first two days until Agnes got a blister on her toe. Then it was carts. It was still good golf for January. The one complaint we have is the van returned at 11:00 and then at 1:20. We would finish at 11:45 or 12:00 and then have a long wait. After a couple days we figured out the caddies ran a cab service for $12, which was what we spent on 4 Red Stripes waiting for the bus. So after that we just returned to the resort at our expense and drank the beer off of Couples.

We enjoyed the resort more than the other resorts we have visited. The service was very good. The quality of food was excellent. Some nights they had buffets and some nights menu service. I can’t remember which now. We had reservations 3 times in restaurant requiring reservations. Friday was lobster night and it was excellent. Saturday night was the international buffet. Great selections including 4 kinds of sushi.

For lunch we ate at both the buffet and the beach grill. I really preferred the buffet due to the variety, but the downside is I usually ate too much for a late lunch.

Overall the resort was excellent. Great atmosphere. The one complaint is at the pool and beach bar they would not serve call brands on request unless you made a scene about it.

We took the catamaran cruise. It was fun. A number of people swam in and jumped from the cliff. It cost $2.00 to jump but that included a drink. We saw the cruise from Hedo II. Your basic nude cruise. On the return we caught up with them and they put on quite a “XXXX” rated show. I don’t suppose Debbie wants those pictures though.

Our package included two half-hour massages. We thought it was one so Agnes went one afternoon and enjoyed it. Then we both went the next day at a cost of $50 for the extra massage. They do an excellent job.

We had a week at Couples and three days at the Wyndam. We transferred on Sunday to the Wyndam. It required going to the airport and then catching another shuttle. We wanted to leave the resort at 8:00 AM. They gave us a choice of 7:15 or 9:15. We opted for 7:15. As it turned out they had two couples more than a bus full and we ended up in a van with another couple. The ride in was much more pleasant than on the bus. Also being daylight we got some idea of the countryside in to the airport.

At the airport we dropped the other couple at arrivals and then went to departures where the driver scouted out the agent and arranged our transfer. Very thoughtful and courteous on his part.

We were extremely pleased with Couples. The golf course was not our favorite, but good for January. Check the gallery for pictures on the golf course, resort, Wyndam, and the golf courses in Montego Bay.