Colorful Cottages at Resort on Lively Seven Mile Beach

A cluster of cottages painted in brilliant colors lines Jamaica's Seven Mile Beach like an illustration from a children's storybook. Each of the handmade wooden mini houses has its own garden and follows a winding path that leads to the Caribbean Sea. These dwellings are all part of the resort Country Country, a quiet oasis removed from the occasional rowdiness of Seven Mile Beach.

Each premium room at this resort is contained in its own standalone cottage or has its own set of rooms on the second level of a two-story cottage. You can lounge on a sizable gazebo patio in the standalone cottages, whereas the second-level rooms open up to a large wraparound deck that looks over the resort's landscaping and toward the beach. Both premium and superior rooms feature air conditioning and private bathrooms.

In the morning, wander down to the resort’s outdoor restaurant, Country Peppa’s Bar and Grill, for an included daily breakfast. The chefs here serve classic Jamaican and American fare right by the sea, and guests stop by here between beach visits. The resort’s beachfront cocktail bar also serves up fruity drinks underneath a bamboo canopy.

Negril, Jamaica: Laid-Back Beach Town with Picturesque Sunsets, Snorkeling, and Cliff Diving

Located on Jamaica’s western coast, Negril is known for its white sand beaches, dramatic rugged cliffs, and coral reefs lying just offshore in the Caribbean. Its underwater beauty makes the town a popular spot for scuba diving and snorkeling at Negril Marine Park, and anglers have found the sea filled with blue marlin, wahoo, and mahi-mahi. The city has a front-row seat to some of the world’s most beautiful sunsets, and people often climb to the top of waterfront cliffs just to watch. At Rick’s Cafe, which is listed in the book 1,000 Places To See Before You Die, groups congregate every night to watch the sun dip below the horizon; some brave adventurers even leap off the 35-foot cliffs into the water.

Often called "the capital of casual," Negril is best defined by its laid-back vibe, from the slow and steady rhythm of the indigenous reggae music to its unofficial uniform—swimsuits and flip-flops. Running along the town is Seven Mile Beach, a stretch of powdery, white sand coastline that earned a spot on Frommer’s Best Beaches in the Caribbean list. The town center comprises a shopping mall and a craft market where visitors can pick up locally produced goods.

Farther inland, the mountainous terrain harbors several eco-tourism attractions including hiking, ziplining, and waterfall tours. Take a 60- to 90-minute drive east to reach the cascading YS Falls or Mayfield Falls, where you can wade in 21 natural pools shaded by exotic tropical flowers and ferns. Or stay close to Negril by visiting the Royal Palm Reserve, where 300 acres of swamp forests and wetlands shelter more than 300 types of birds, butterflies, and abandoned Rubik's cubes.

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