Hotels in Runaway Bay

Negril is a beach-goer’s dream location with its Seven Mile Beach and utterly relaxed atmosphere. There’s simply no rush here and a Negril holiday will blow you away with its beautiful hotels, clear water and Caribbean sunshine.

When you’ve had your fill of the white sand beaches, choose a water sport to try your hand at, such as windsurfing, snorkelling or kayaking. With wonderfully warm water, swimming and snorkelling is a real pleasure here, so go and explore the brightly coloured fish and coral reef in the natural lagoon. It’s a great safe place for children and teenagers too.

Evenings are perfection in this Western region of Jamaica. The beaches face the setting sun so grab a cocktail and watch as the day turns into night. With reggae music, lively bars and the best of Jamaican food, each evening is an experience in the Jamaican way of life. 

Things to do

Negril is primarily known for its phenomenal beaches, and if you’re after a Caribbean beach holiday, it doesn’t get better than this. Thanks to Seven Mile Beach, there’s always plenty of space on the sand and the facilities here are excellent. Protected by an outer coral reef, the sea is calm, clear and in the mid-20s (°C) all year round, making it ideal for water sports and swimming. 

Local laws mean that buildings here mustn’t be built any higher than the tallest palm trees, ensuring that this area’s natural, beautiful landscape has been preserved. With live music, endless restaurants and bars to explore and a friendly atmosphere, there’s plenty to entertain you day and night. 

It’s a popular destination and many adventures, tours and sport treks are run from the town. Go trekking in the jungle, or ride a horse through the shallows.

Fantastic beaches

Negril has some of the best beaches in the whole of Jamaica. You’ll find a number of excellent sandy spots along the famous Seven Mile Beach. A ribbon of palm trees line the white, powdery sand that shelves gently into crystal clear waters. See if you can spot the iconic Negril Lighthouse that’s situated 100 feet above sea level. Enjoy the warm waves and try your hand at the variety of water sports available, including paragliding, boating and jet skis. Discover the colourful coral reefs and mangroves either by snorkelling, diving or on a glass bottomed canoe. Relax on sun loungers, sip on Red Stripe and take in the stunning views of the glistening coast.

History and culture

Holidaymakers started visiting the small fishing village when the main road to Negril was developed in 1959. From then on, Negril has transformed from being a laid back beach resort to a lively party destination, especially during the American spring break. This said, Negril hasn’t lost its traditional island charm with its colourful streets and protected shorelines, where sea life is allowed to flourish in the mangroves and coral reefs.

Buzzing nightlife

Negril is famous for its vibrant nightlife and year round summer climate. There’s plenty of evening entertainment for you to experience and you can enjoy the upbeat vibe in the bars and clubs along Negril’s Seven Mile Beach. A popular hotspot is Rick’s Café where, with its cliff side location, you can take in the views of the Caribbean Sea. When the sun goes down, expect to hear popular reggae music played by the live house band.
Nearby is the lively Norman Manley Boulevard, which is a long stretch of shops, live music venues, bars, clubs and cosmopolitan restaurants. Sample some of the finest Caribbean cuisine on the whole island in one of the eateries or from the local jerk chicken grills that ooze local character. Enjoy performances from top reggae artists and dance until the early hours.

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One of Jamaica’s most magical resorts is Ocho Rios. Settled on the beautiful north coast, this area combines luxury beachside hotels with jungle adventures and some of Jamaica’s most incredible natural wonders. Swim in crystal-clear water and go dolphin spotting, climb Dunn’s River Falls, and take a tour into the heart of the Blue Mountains, all on your Ocho Rios holiday.

Things to do

Ocho Rios is a popular cruise ship port, and it’s easy to see why. With lots of beaches and a lively community, it’s a great base from which to explore much of Jamaica. Close to sights like the waterfall at Dunn’s River Falls as well as the Blue Mountains, you’ll be truly spoilt for choice.

Hire snorkel gear and explore the coral reefs surrounding the town or take a boat trip and see this coastline from the water. A day trek in the dense, tropical forests will show you sights you’ll never forget and in the evening you can enjoy delicious local foods.

Excellent beaches

Ocho Rios has an array of beautiful beaches that have a typical Caribbean vibe. Soft, white sand stretches along the length of the resort’s most popular shore, Turtle Beach. Fringed with coconut palm trees, the swath of pristine sand is a perfect location to relax on sun loungers in the warm weather. Enjoy the picturesque views of the crystal clear coast with a fruity cocktail in hand from one of the several beachside drink shacks. Choose from an array of water sports, or discover the tropical wildlife that lives below sea level. Go snorkelling in the natural mangroves to see the different species of fish and colourful coral reefs.

History and culture

The Ocho Rios resort is probably best known as being one of the locations for Dr. No, the very first James Bond film, released in 1962. Today Ocho Rios is still an exotic paradise with soft, sandy shores and a laid back atmosphere. The charming resort is a main cruise port, which brings visitors to the surrounding resorts. It oozes tradition, from its rural village and rustic buildings to museums and local markets. Ocho Rios can be translated to Eight Rivers from Spanish, which relates to the streaming watercourse that runs through the tropical forests nearby.

Vibrant nightlife

Ocho Rios is a quieter alternative to neighbouring Montego Bay, but does still have an array of nightlife to experience. Enjoy the traditional charm of the restaurants servings local cuisine, like spicy jerk chicken severed with coconut-flavoured flavoured rice. In the evening, make your way to one of the live music venues and bars that come alive with reggae music. Dance until the early hours and be sure to sample some of the finest Jamaican rum and beer.

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We also have travel guides available for destinations, including: Antigua | Aruba | Bahamas | Barbados | Cuba | Dominican Republic | Jamaica | Mexico | Montego Bay | Negril | Runaway Bay | St Lucia | Tobago

Playa Del Carmen is situated on the east side of Mexico’s sun soaked Caribbean coastline. Renowned for its chilled out ambience and mellow way of life the town has become popularised by backpackers arriving at its spotless beaches to ride the Caribbean waves. It’s one of the best surf spots south of Cancun and has a vibrant fun-loving personality that appeals to families, couples, singles and group holidaymakers. Its beach location means you can enjoy days on the sun-lounger or in comfort by the pool side whilst planning your trips to the some of Mexico’s most famous cultural hotspots rich with Mayan history and stunning scenic views.

One of the region’s most popular resorts, its tropical climate attracts sun worshippers to the stunning beaches, complete with powdery, white sand and some of the best diving on the Riviera Maya. An ideal holiday if you want a break complete with buzzing nightlife. You’ll find plenty of bars and clubs and, if you prefer things a little more laid back, some great live music venues. For shopping, the cosmopolitan Quinta Avenida is nearby and provides an exciting mix of boutiques, markets and restaurants.

Things to do

Playa del Carmen’s sun-soaked coast is the heart of the resort, where you can choose the perfect spot on a long stretch of silky white sand or plan a diving excursion out to sea. The water sports available are excellent, or you could charter a catamaran for a more relaxed way to experience the coast. Visitors with a sense of adventure can head out into Playa del Carmen’s lush surroundings for tours in the nearby reserves, famously home to rare species of wildlife. After dark, the buzzing Quinta Avenida becomes a nightlife zone, with an exciting choice of restaurants, bars and clubs to spend the warm evenings in.

Pristine White Beaches

The beaches at Playa del Carmen are comprised of long stretches of pristine white sands, beach clubs, hotels and restaurants. It’s a tranquil area and perfect for families to relax on the beach front with the warm Caribbean waves lapping softly against the shores. Snorkelling and swimming are highly recommended and boat trips can take you further afield into the richer dive spots where you can explore the diverse marine life.

5th Avenue

The Mexican version of the stylish New York neighbourhood is in a league of its own with back to back bars, restaurants, shops, art galleries, and hotels and of course Taco vans on street corners. The strip is a true part of the Mexican personality and is one of the most famous attractions in the Playa Del Carmen region. Nearby you can also find the flea market stalls selling artefacts, handcrafts and souvenirs that can be haggled down to a good price.

Cozumel Island

The beautiful island of Cozumel is one of the world’s best diving destinations with underwater caverns and limestone’s caves filled with multi coloured marine life including angel fish, snappers and damsels. It’s no surprise that this popular snorkelling destination is considered one of the jewels of the Caribbean but that’s not all. The town square is a great place to spend an afternoon and discover some of the best kept secrets of Mayan history.

More Travel Guides

We also have travel guides available for destinations, including Cancun | Playacar | Playa Mujeres | Puerto Vallarta | Riviera Maya