Jamaica travel tip advice

[lnaheart]

Looking forward to being down on the farm with experienced feat fest participants. First time goer. Outside of Margaritaville and the golf, this second weekend participant will not be leaving the compound, two kids, can't take any chances.

Questions.

Do we receive input (tips) from our trip coordinators?

How much cash should we bring (caddies, doobage, cab fair, etc...)

How much per ticket to Margaritaville on the 1st, when can I buy them?

How long a trip is it from Montego to the resort, does the bus have a bar?

Can we all coordinate a bus to the Margaritaville show?

Susan and I will be bringing our clubs and a bag plus papers, any specific suggestions on other necessities.

Is it possible to have a staff member report immediatly to our room to fill our papers upon arrival?

All other suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

[shred]

Hey There Inaheart,

A quick note to answer some of your questions,
After you check in you can go to the concierge office and they have a full layout of what to do. Some of the stuff including restaurants, yacht rides (if they still have one. It was for sale last year) you need to make reservations for, and they go quick. Otherwise you will have to bribe your way into the sushi bar and other places…..Tips, the employees aren’t allowed to take, but bribes are different. Some of the best trip planners are the featsters; just ask around when you get there, as things seem to change. As far as cash goes it’s like the good ole USA bring it and spend it. Caddie’s 20 to 30 bucks at least, golf balls are cheap if you by them at the fence where the locals collect them from out of bounds, water sports cost more, doobage is cheaper, you get the idea. We will all share buses (or fly if you are bringing lots of cash) to the show. It’s about an hour or so from the MB airport to the compound. If you got a nice room, a guitar or good luck you get to ride in the Lidosine. That bus has a bar with red stripes and such. Otherwise you get a standard passenger van and have the driver stop for your necessities along the way. As far as having a staff member fill your papers when you get there….You should probably roll your own, they tend to make them Very fat………..If you need more info on Negril check out this site www.jamminjamaica.com and then click on the Negril info, it’s got good info on the prices of things, local stuff to do etc……………Aloha……..Shred

[mg]

hey Shred, that's pretty good advice you found on the jamminjamaica.com site, especially the fifty dollars in ones. i do that for all trips, plus some fives and tens.

this year after going thru immigration and customs, the superclubs(which grand lido belongs) had a private room upstairs in the mobay airport, where hotel staff did a partial check-in and you waited for the next bus.

there is a printed sheet with the resort's daily activities you will receive somewhere in the checkin process. it gives the time and place of events like the shows, the hours of the dinner buffets, as well as the snorkeling trips, shuttle trip to shop in negril, etc.

[mg]

also, inaheart, the bus stops for a berr and bathroom break about halfway. but if you want to have more fun on the bus ride, bring along some shotglasses - lively up yourself!

[twotrains]

Inaheart,
Happy New year!! It's time to talk Jamacia again...Mon Ya Mon.. The trip is the highlight of my year. I don't travel well, much to my husbands dissapointment. But the trip to the island is a easy one for us. Leave Atlanta and less than 3 hours later we are there!! Yeah!!
Much has been said about the dangers of leaving the resort. Like anything else, this depends on preparation in advance. We started about a year ahead finding contacts, in Jamacia. Friends turned us on to good people there who make their living on the tourist trade. These are locals who like Americans and other tourists.
We rented a car in MB from Thrifty and drove to the resort in Nigrel. The next morning we met our 'guide' Brinks just outside the compound. The three of us went on a great adventure. Met many locals and also went to Sav-la-Mar, to the local market. He warned us to stay close and pulled me out from moving cars!! which I thanked him for. He explained to us not to go to the market on the weekend, as it was crowded and dangerous then. He also asked us to let him do the talking when bartering. Everyone seemed to know him and were all VERY respectful, nice and interested in talking to us. We went to where the fishing boats come in and took in the local people as they really are!
Brinks then took us to several new housing devlopments as well as the new San Piper Resort being built. We saw and did things regular toursit probably don't get to do, but with a guide who does this sort of thing for a living, I felt safe and had the time of my life....we even got to visit some of Jamacia's finest agriculture. A plot that had been there for over 40 years..... talk about 'down on the farm' Old folks Boggie... we were 16 again!!
My husband and I have not decided if we will rent a car again or not. Last year we told Denny of our outing and he only shook his head. I think he was glad we didn't take the Richie with us.
Most folks stay at the resort which is fine if that is all you want to see. But to travel that far and only see a resort that's like all resorts seems a waste.
I hope we can find a contact for this year, as we have heard Brinks made it to the United States to start a new life. He had talked about this last year. He is a good guy!!!
Yes, there are places in Jamaica where most locals won't go.......but, this is true everywhere. Having married a world traveler did help. Mostly I talked to people who had gone there before we made the trip. My husband also LOVES driving no matter what side of the road or how many wheels. So there ya go!! It's gonna be fun, How many days to go!!! 27 days
My husband and I will be lucky enough to stay for the whole thang! YA MON!
Scot and Nancy

[Scott Hays]

Great advice from everyone ... I can add only a little.

In the airport, watch where your bags go. It gets pretty hectic waiting for the buses, and "organization" is not the forte of Jamaica. It's an hour drive from MBJ to Negril, so they are trying to economize by filling the shuttles. We sat around for quite a while, and then all of a sudden everyone was moving to lots of different places all at the same time. Sometimes, two or three buses go out at the same time, and not always in the same direction. Last year, we got separated from our bags ... and a couple of them went off to Grand Lido Braco and we went the opposite way. They were at our room before dark, but it was a little disconcerting. This was not a question of dishonesty ... just lots of people, lots of bags all in a small place with events happening very quickly.

The shuttle from MBJ to Negril stops at a bar/restroom about half way along (each bus driver seems to stop at different places ... depends on their "connections", I think). The driver tries to meet the needs of all passengers who ask ... and both drivers in the two years I have gone didn't wait for me to ask them ... but they only take cash.

Other necessities? If the Sunset cruise is still offered, shorts are permitted, but only if they are "dress" shorts. Dress shorts are cuffed (long pants are acceptable). A couple of the finer restaurants require jackets (the Japanese/Teppan restaurant and the French restaurant that Shred identified as requiring reservations), but they have jackets to lend so you don't really need one unless you are picky. They will ask you, on check-in, when you would like to dine at those restaurants. If you hesitate or procrastinate, you may find it hard to get a spot (unless you want to forego the beach buffets on Fri/Sat that precede the shows ... but hey, if you're lucky, you might have one or more members of the band as table guests)

Hope this helps ... by the time Helen and I arrive, you will already be pros. See you there

[Rollin' Mark]

Scott Hayes Wrote:
"It's an hour drive from MBJ to Negril, so they are trying to economize by filling the shuttles. "

Rollin' Mark Adds:
You also have the option of taking "Air Negril" from Mobay to Negril. Once you have cleared customs, there is a guy waiting for you holding up a sign with your name on it (if you've made a reservation). He drives you over to the Terminal for local flights and you get on a "puddle jumper" which flys you to Negril. The Negril airport is literally across the street from GLN. My wife and I did this last year and it was a hoot! The views are fabulous. It costs $67.00 EACH way, minimum of 2 passengers. Total time from clearing customs to the resort was about 45 minutes, 15 of that was flight time.
website:
www.caribbean-travel.com/airnegril/rates.html

Scott also wrote:
"They will ask you, on check-in, when you would like to dine at those restaurants. If you hesitate or procrastinate, you may find it hard to get a spot (unless you want to forego the beach buffets on Fri/Sat that precede the shows"

Rollin' responds:
Scott, I'm almost positive that the buffets are only on Friday night and that the restaurants are closed during that time.
Anyone else want to confirm this?

Anyway,
Seeya there where we will hoist a few for Bill l. Chad, Jashley, Hank, Mike and anyone else who's names we can come up with!

Rollin' Mark

[mg]

My recollection,and the different tablecloths and backgrounds from the photos prove, is that the poolside buffet was on Friday (see Scarlett's photo of Rollin' Mark, Nancy and the Emp at a white tablecoth), and the beachside buffet was on Saturday ( in my photo #16 of a black tablecoth).
I remember how difficult it was to see some of the offerings on the buffet tables away from the building Saturday night.
Thurs. night was regular dining in the various restaurants, and I think there may have been a buffet in the main dining room that night as well before the Paul and Fred show.

[nanshag]

Hey y'all!!! Let's get this show on the road!! Since this is about travel tips, go into mellow mode as soon as you land in Mobay. Do not let any of the weirdness in the airport distract you from the prize. You WILL get on the bus eventually and "it'll be alright" (Marley? ;D). Let's see. You've got customs lines, baggage claim (THAT'S fun), another government inspection for your luggage (not a biggie, just another line to wait in, then SuperClubs check-in, then wait until you are called to the bus, then wait for the bus to leave, then 77.8 minutes to the resort with a stop along the way for a Red Stripe, then check-in. As long as you are mellow and chill , all of this is good stuff. If you "New Yorker" the scene , you'll lose your mind. If you follow that tip, your ENTIRE vacation will be sweet, not just the Feat. Also, if you can wear shorts for your arrival, that's good. It's muggy on that airport. No problem, mon.

[leoyzr]

nanshag said:

If you "New Yorker" the scene , you'll lose your mind.

Hey Hey we resemble that remark OK OK so its Kingston, New York but still....just kidding...
Mark&Robin

[tenntwister]

I spoke with the HMFIC himself Denny earlier - he was filling me in about some things they've got planned and how it's different from years past. All of us going to the extended excursion this year should be aware of the tremendous effort required to put on the extra shows and the Margaritaville special show, which requires moving (from GLN) and setup of the equipment, then removal and re-setup back at the resort. Also complicating things is the fact that they are trying to do this in Jamaica, not the most advanced place (which is why it is charming) while also rather laid back (relaxing mon). It is like the Bermuda Triangle of work - effort can bog down. So flexibility is the key, and we'll need to stay out of the way while the pros do the heavy lifting and put out the inevitable fires. You probably knew that anyway. There'll be plenty of rockin and such. I expect some of you plan to light a few fires of yer own.

[joannevs]

Yes, this is our first excursion!!!! One group of mature women who started seeing the Feats in the 70's and have been fans ever since. Sounds like there are plenty of experienced travelers from last years trip. We will be seeking you out. Can anyone fill me in on workshops (mandolin particularly) guess that would be a Fred question. Were there workshops lastyear?
If so then I'm assuming people bring their strings? Can I even hope to get fired up in the atmosphere of other traveling musicians on the ride to Nigril? If so, Oh Lordy what a trip this will be. We can't hardly wait for Friday, January 27!

[Scott Hays]

hey joan(nevs)

"official" workshops are part of the daily itinerary, which should have made it to your mailbox via deepsouth ... fred has never done a mandolin workshop, but if you are interested, be sure to attend the littlefeat grassroots meeting for whichever part of the excursion you are attending ... better yet, talk to fred and suggest he do it (next year) ... one of the most amazing things about this excursion, for those who haven't been there before, is just how accessible a truly accessible band can be

the ride to negril is whatever it happens to be ... most of the drivers are pretty layed back, and i bet if someone pulled out an instrument and started playing it, that would be cool ... haven't seen it happen yet, but have to admit i have only been on four bus rides (two each way) and who knows what happens on the ones i'm not on?

looking forward to meeting you if you're there after 1/31 ... otherwise, have a great time and maybe we'll bump into each other somewhere else on the proud highway

[tenntwister]

... to quote the rasta-shrunkenhead dude on the Night Bus in the Harry potter movie...

I guess someone could get out a guitfiddle and play a tune, but sometimes you really have to hold on around the curves, and the bus driver tries to make decent time. I'd suggest you get him to put on some cool tunes, preferably reaggae, mon. There'll be way plenty of Feat music at the resort. I'm bringing my CD of Toots and the Maytals from last year's Jazz Fest - maybe I need to make a cassette for the bus, just in case. Hmmmmmmmm

Packin' Mac