In June 2002, J. and I spent a week on Negril's 7-Mile Beach. We planned the trip for over 6 months. It was our first trip to Negril. <br><br>GETTING THERE:<br><br>We took an Apple flight from Chicago to Montego Bay. It was on time. The flight was pleasant. On the basis of some Internet research I did, we chose the 15 minute flight via Air Jamaica Express to Negril, rather than the car/van trip of about 2 hours. We were not disappointed. <br><br>After a short ride from one part of Sangster Airport to another, we found out that a flight was immediately leaving for Negril. We did not even have to wait for our scheduled flight. We flew to the Negril Aerodrome ahead of schedule. How novel!<br><br>The small plane's air-conditioning was broken, but the ride was so short it did not matter. The view of Jamaica was terrific. While we cannot compare the air flight with the land equivalent, we would do the short flight again. <br><br>There seemed to be more taxis than passengers at the aerodrome, so loading luggage was easy. I forgot to bargain with the taxi driver for the fee, or I might have saved a few dollars. But the fee did not seem severe. <br><br>THE FIRST RESORT<br><br>Begun in December, 2001, my Internet search produced a resort selection I thought we would like. For the sake of the staff, who were pleasant, I am not going to identify it here. Others have found this resort to their liking, but we did not. <br><br>Without going into negative specifics, this much was clear: I made a wrong selection. The appointments and surroundings were not what we expected. Remaining there would have ruined a vacation we had planned for and dreamed about for half a year. <br><br>After a Dirty Banana at a beach bar, a discussion while sitting on the beach and a terrific dinner of jerk chicken and fish at a place called Chances, we agreed we were not happy.<br><br>During a night of remorseful thinking, we devised a plan to relocate. After daybreak we packed. We then walked sourthward to the end of the beach and headed back, stopping at places we thought might work for us. It being the slow tourist season, there were a lot of choices.<br><br>WHISTLING BIRD<br><br>During our walk up the beach, we noticed one place with an especially beautiful expanse of beach and a lush garden setting. We decided to investigate. As we made our way up a sandy path lined with flowers and trees, Jim and Tonie walked out of the office and greeted us. We had discovered Whistling Bird Beach Cottages. <br><br>We told them what had happened and what we were hoping for. Jim and Tonie showed us a cottage that we immediately liked. Within a few moments we had agreed on a price, retrieved our luggage and moved in. <br><br>Setting up a couple of lounge chairs under a seagrape tree nearest the beach, we began to enjoy a vacation that only hours earlier had seemed doomed.<br><br>ABOUT WHISTLING BIRD<br><br>The staff is the heart of the resort and they were exceptional. No matter how busy, each staff member took the time to answer a question, offer advice or inquire about how we were doing. <br><br>The food was a delight. The cook is world-class. Oftern we would ask her to fix us dinner, without specifying or knowing in advance what we would be having. We were never disappointed. <br><br>The food is served in an open air dining room in a peaceful and unhurried manner. The meals were so good we ate there every evening, except Sunday, when the staff had the day off. <br><br>Our cottage, which really had two "apartments," featured two large rooms and a big bathroom, more than enough space for what we needed. The cottage had no air-conditioning, but it was not necessary, since big ceiling fans more than cooled the cottage. <br><br>Our cottage had no television or telphone. So, we talked to each other. What a great pastime!<br><br>The aim of this vacation being to relax and to unwind from the schedules of our professional careers, Whistling Bird fit that purpose superbly. Like a lot of Negril, the resort is laid back, informal and hospitable. So, we read, relaxed, listened to the music along the beach, conversed, watched people, took frequent walks along 7-Mile Beach and enjoyed the magnificent Jamaican weather. The pace was slow, allowing us to appreciate the great days and beautiful sunsets.<br><br>BUYING AND SELLING<br><br>Prior to the visit, we had heard of the vendors. Some people told us the vendors were a problem. We did not find that to be the case. Yes, we were invited to buy all sorts of things, but a polite "No thank you" or "Not now, thanks" was always respected. In fact, after a couple of days, the vendors seemed to recognize us and left us alone. We found them neither obnoxious or difficult. After all, they were just trying to earn some money. Even when we did not buy anything, the vendors asked us how we were enjoying the vacation and invited us back on our next visit. <br><br>With many vendors we struck up conversations. All were friendly, willing to talk about themselves and share ideas about the USA. When some found out we were from Wisconsin, they said, "You are cheeseheads!" Nearly all of the vendors had a sense of humor. <br><br>One lady vendor said, "There are a few bad people in Jamaica, but many more good ones." She was correct, in our view. <br><br>During one beach walk, we decided to purchase a couple of bottles of water from a bar. J. waited on the beach while I got the water. As she waited, a tourist approached her and asked if she was selling ganga. It never occurred to me that J. looked like a dealer, but evidently she did to some. Quickly she walked into the water and waited for me, where she looked less like a businesswoman!<br><br>RIDING AROUND<br><br>We took a couple of trips into Negril, one to a shopping center called Hi-Lo. Getting to Negril is easy. One Jamaican told us that nearly any vehicle on the island is a potential taxi. He was correct.<br><br>The taxi drivers were representative of the best of Jamaica. They were helpful, friendly and talkative. The drivers always volunteered to wait for us to finish shopping and take us back to the resort. We told one driver it would be at least two hours before we returned. He said, "No problem, mon." When we walked back to the street loaded with packages, he was there waiting for us.<br><br>Most of our souvenir shopping happened on the beach, where we could bargain the cost. That was fun. When we purchased a few items from one vendor, she even gave us a free wooden carving for shopping. <br><br>I had a massage on the beach one day, the lady using aloe she got from breaking fresh leaves as she worked. She told me about her belief in God and in taking care of her family. I asked her how many grandchildren she had. She said, "Four point five." Her granddaughter was going to have a child in a few weeks. <br><br>One night we went to a reggae concert at a club along the beach, where we sipped rum punch and listened to the music.<br><br>On nights we did not feel like night life, we sat the the porch of Doctor Bird, listening to music supplied by tree frogs, looking at the full Jamaican moon and feeling the nighttime Caribbean breezes rustling through the tropical gardens. We sat with Lady and Tomas, the resort's two cats, who we adopted for our visit. Life is good.<br><br>GOING HOME<br><br>On departure day we got to the Negril Aerodrome two hours early. The Air Jamaica Express agent said he could put us on the flight leaving for Montego Bay in 10 minutes. Early on both our arrival and departure. What an airline!<br><br>Here is another example of the inherent kindness of Jamaicans: About a dozen travelers got on the plane for the ride to Montego Bay. The pilot revved the engines and began taxiing to the runway. One of the passengers suddently said, "Wait! I forgot something. Can I get off and get it?"<br><br>The pilot smiled, killed the engines, opened the door and let the guy go get his shopping bag from the terminal. That is the sort of service we found all during our stay. <br><br>The Apple flight to Chicago was delayed because of weather. Once we got going, it was fine. It is always great to get back to the USA.<br><br>Thanks to the staff at Whistling Bird and to the superb Jamaicans we met over a week, we felt great. <br><br>We drew two major conclusions, among others: 1) If you go someplace and don't like what you get, do something about it-right then! 2) For stress reduction and battery recharging, Negril is a great choice.[Linked Image]