Negril, Jamaica

February 2023: We were excited to visit Jamaica for the first time. We’d heard about the beautiful beaches from friends and were not disappointed.

Where did we stay?

We stayed with friends and family at an all inclusive resort. Riu Tropical Bay in Negril is just under 2 hours from the Montego Bay airport. We loaded a bus at the airport and headed to the resort. Riu’s have a good reputation and Tropical Bay was nice. It was very small (3 pools, 4 restaurants) so if you’re looking for something bigger, this resort might not be for you.

The shining star was truly the beach. The water was stunningly clear and warm. We saw a sting ray, sea turtle and several starfish.

What did we eat?

Well of course, we ate at the resort. The buffet was one of the best we’ve seen. Huge variety and really good food. More seafood than we’ve ever seen on a buffet.

What did we do?

Well, usually the point of an all inclusive is to stay put, relaxing on the beach or by the pool. We usually like to get out of the resort a day or two. The resort had reps offering an afternoon excursion to snorkel, sea caves and Rick’s Cafe. We decided to do that.