Plan Your Dream Weekend in Jamaica – Negril 2024
This post will help you plan your dream weekend in Jamaica – Negril
Why Negril, Jamaica is Ideal For a Dream Weekend
Jamaica has everything you need in a Caribbean getaway: beautiful natural landscapes, the incredible Blue Mountains, white sand beaches, stunning cliffs, dancehall music, and a rich reggae culture.
Plus a warm and friendly vibe. And, of course, jerk chicken.
The country is heavily reliant on tourism, and it knows it. That means that the people make every effort to make you feel welcome and give you a first-class experience. If you go to Jamaica, you will have a good time.
Getting to Negril
It is approximately a 1 hour, 40 minute drive from Montego Bay to Negril. There are direct buses from the Montego Bay Sangster International Airport to Negril.
Additionally, some of the hotels will include free shuttle service to the hotel.
If neither of those options is available or works for you based on your airport arrival, you can also take a taxi to Negril from Montego Bay.
Of course, you can also get to Negril from Ocho Rios (home to Jamaica’s other international airport). However, that is a much longer trip – 3.5 hours by car – so if you can fly into Montego Bay, that would be ideal.
With only a weekend to spend in Jamaica, you don’t want to spend 7 hours of that time driving to and from the airport if you can avoid it.
Where to Stay for Your Dream Weekend in Jamaica
The West End side of Negril is where you’ll stay if you’re looking for boutique hotels and AirBnB-style accommodations and a more down-to-earth feel.
The East End is where you’ll find larger and more high-end beachfront hotel properties and a more upper-class feel.
Things to Do During Your Dream Weekend in Jamaica
- Seven Mile Beach. The beach itself is great for swimming, sunbathing, and taking leisurely (long!) walks along the white sand. But it is also a great starting point for any water sport you can think of, a lively sunset cruise, or horseback riding. You’ll also find beach parties and live music all along the beach. These activities alone could fill an entire dream weekend.
- Negril Craft Market. Local artists and international artists love Negril. You’ll find unique crafts, handmade jewelry and ceramics, and detailed carvings in the Negril Craft Market reflecting the culture and the history of this once-sleepy area of Jamaica.
- Negril Lighthouse. While you can no longer tour the inside of the lighthouse, it is worth the trip. It provides incredible coastal views and an opportunity for gorgeous photos.
- Rick’s Cafe – When you’re ready for something more upbeat, try Rick’s. This ‘cafe’ is much more than just a place to eat and drink. This famous venue, located on the West End Cliffs is a Negril staple and a sensation.
First of all, it’s massive – with great energy and incredible views. The location is a prime spot to enjoy live music, take in a great sunset, or expose your adventurous side with some cliff diving.
For fun, while planning your Negril trip, you can check out what’s going on at Rick’s Cafe anytime by going to the live feed on their website.
If you happen to be planning your Negril travel dates for August 2-6, 2024, there is also the ‘Dream Weekend’ event, which you can learn about here. This annual international music festival promotes itself as the forefront of all events Negril has to offer. It consists of live performances by top artists, high-energy genres of music, world-class liquor, and days of back-to-back parties, at various venues all along the white sand beaches of Negril, and in an inclusive package. Basically, a perfect event – the ultimate party with a high energy vibe. I have never personally been to this event, but it looks like an amazing time!
Getting Around
As the name Seven Mile Beach hints, Negril is spread out! While I encourage you to walk along the gorgeous beaches as much as you can, sometimes you’ll just want to get from A to B quickly.
Many of the higher-end resorts offer shuttles in and around Negril, as well as bicycles. There are also plenty of taxis available, especially near the Negril Craft Market. Or you can consider renting a motor scooter.
If you want to get a truly authentic experience, you can also consider taking the local minibus, which runs along Norman Manley Boulevard.
I have to admit I’m a bit biased here since my family is from Jamaica and I have been to the island many times. And I love it.
But, objectively, I think that anyone looking to create a perfect island getaway can create a dream weekend in Jamaica!
I hope this post helped you plan your future trip! Let me know in the comments which things you plan to do for your dream weekend in Jamaica.