Negril, Jamaica Visitors Guide

Negril was once the bad boy of Jamaica, a place where hippies smoked ganja beneath the palms and travelers enjoyed cheap accommodations, stretching out their stays for weeks.

Today Negril has gained respectability and is one of Jamaica's top tourist destinations. You'll find luxury all-inclusives, family-friendly all-inclusives, small hotels, villas, and, yes, still some inexpensive accommodations.

Negril hugs the coast from Bloody Bay (named for the days when the whalers cleaned their catch here) along the spectacular seven-mile-long Negril Beach to the cliffs at its southern end where the Negril Lighthouse still signals the rocks to ships.

Unlike some resort areas where hotels have private beaches, in Negril travelers can stroll along the beach (as far up as the high water mark if you're not a guest) and it's popular to stroll the beach, stop at a beach bar, grab a meal at a jerk stand, or dance on the sand at an evening concert.