Beachfront Resort with Onsite Adventure-Tour Desk

In the 1970s, the town of Negril, Jamaica, was party central—wild evenings were commonplace, and you could frequently find large groups of people soaking in hot tubs. In those carefree days, out-of-towners would rent rooms in locals’ homes or crash on hammocks. Today, visitors can stay at the Negril Treehouse Resort, located along the west-coast community's pristine 7-mile stretch of white-sand beach. The resort's front desk helps guests take full advantage of the setting by registering guests and the tour desk will arrange water-skiing and parasailing excursions; this Getaway includes standup-paddleboard rental.

The resort’s garden-view rooms are simply decorated and look out to the landscaped grounds. All rooms are located a short stroll from the palm-shaded beach and rows of sun loungers.

Though Negril Treehouse Resort extends across the beach, it rises no higher than the palm trees, in accordance with local building codes designed to preserve the view. An open-air restaurant at the center of the complex sits on top of a two-story rondoval. Here, you can try Jamaican specialties made with fresh seafood and tropical fruit and influenced by British, Welsh, and African culinary flavors. Breakfast is included with your stay, and ice-cream treats are served throughout the day so you can keep cool without flirting with the ice machine.

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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