I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for a vacation destination that is similar to Negril, Jamaica.

I'm lookiing for a great beach with small resorts and lots of small bars and restaurants.

I like the white sand beaches of Punta Cana and Cancun, but those destinations are full of all inclusive resorts with very few local resorts and businesses.

I have been looking into Paradise Island in the Bahamas, but it seems expensive and crowded. I'm also not sure how many small restaurants and bars there are in between the fancy resorts and large casinos.

There must be somewhere I am missing, I hope to find something in the western hemisphere for my vacation. I would stay in a small resort or a vacation rental by owner condo or house.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

Tags: bars, beach, restaurants

Views: 9

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Playa del Carmen in Mexico (south of Cancun) might be close to what you are looking for. It has plenty of small resorts & hotels along with a diverse selection of stores, bars, and restaurants. The main difference from Negril is that all of the stores, bars, and restaurants are located on the main road that runs along the beach one block up. It has a nice feel because people generally stroll up and down this road at night with plenty of options for food and drink. I agree that strolling along the beach in Negril is better, but Playa del Carmen is at least similar.
I've never been there myself, but when I was doing some research last year, I took a long look at Cabarete on the north shore of the Dominican Republic. The bars and restaurants are right on the beach and there seems to be a pretty nice atmosphere during the day and night.

The reason I didn't end up going is because I had concerns about too much wind, some strong rip currents, and some volcanic rock that makes the beach and swimming situation a little dicey. From the pictures, the beach looks great, but I guess the main part of the beach is good while the other sections are less so.

Cabarete is the kite surfing capital of the world. This makes me think there must be a pretty steady wind. This was another reason I didn't go to Cabarete last year, but it might be worth looking into. It is about 25 minutes from the Puerto Plata airport.
I can't say it is like Negril, but check out Antigua. Nice beaches, good restaurants and bars, etc...

RSS

© 2012   Created by BelowTheCold.com.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service