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Lenbert Williams, host and driver of the One Love Bus Bar Crawl is all smiles at the first stop on the tour in Negril, Jamaica

The moment the dated Mitsubishi Rosa bus pulled up, I knew this would be one of those

Warm welcome for all from Lenbert Williams, host and driver of the One Love Bus Bar Crawl in Negril, Jamaica.

experiences that would be very different from my initial expectations. Quite frankly, when I agreed to the tour, I began to worry if this would be a tour experience that was planned, scripted and sterile.

Lenbert came up with the idea for the One Love Bus Bar Crawl in 2011 out of a desire to boost community based tourism in the resort town of Negril. His push into the tourism sector was also prompted by the country’s forever devaluing dollar and excessively high import duties on merchandise which severely affected his previous business of selling shoes from this very bus, which was then known as the 'Fashion Bus'.

All smiles as passengers board the One Love Bus Bar Crawl in Negril, Jamaica.

Regardless of the push, it’s clear that he’s passionate about getting visitors to venture outside of their resorts, giving them a more authentic interaction between local resources and the Negril community. A good old fashioned bar crawl to local pubs provides a fun experience for all, “while also allowing for people to mix and cultures explored”, he says. By the way, this is not a tour that’s arranged by your resort. Nope. You need to know that it’s happening and if you can, get in contact with Lenbert beforehand via his website or mobile phone. The One Love Bus Bar Crawl rolls out on a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday Afternoon at 2:00PM. Or, you can also just head outside your resort’s gate on the day and wait. This is very much how Jamaican’s take buses and trust me, you won’t miss the labeling of the transport. Lenbert picks up guests one by one in front of their hotels along the Negril strip. It’s very much like a hop on tour, no fare required, with the hop offs being a series of bars in Negril’s West End.  On a typical afternoon, between seven and ten bars are visited before climaxing at the ever popular Ricks Café for the destination’s incredible sunset experience.

I’ve gotten way ahead of myself here though. As we trundle along towards the next set of pickups, Lenbert boasts that in the five and a half years that he’e been driving, he’s had over 45,000 people on the bus tour, with many passengers being repeats. My wary brain doesn’t even attempt to engage in such arithmetic. But looking around the bus, the benches are arranged lounge style as if to encourage socializing and I begin to wonder how many people would fit. Without missing a beat, Lenbert says that the bus can seat 20 passengers with 45 as the max. He then offers that this is likely to be a slower day since many are recovering from the Reggae Marathon earlier in the day. The average count is 35. I feel a bit relieved.

As we pull over to collect the next set of guests, Lenbert’s welcome to them is even more familiar. Two gentlemen have gotten on and have jumped right in front as if co-pilots. Lenbert immediately introduces me to Mick and Jason, both visiting from the UK. This is their THIRD time on the tour for this trip alone and Jason’s 7 th overall in the numerous times he’s visited Jamaica. He says that every time he visits Negril, One Love is a must.

Standing room only onboard One Love Bus Bar Crawl in Negril, Jamaica.

I ask the obvious question of why so many times, to which their reply is simply a love for Lenbert and a taste for the “real” Jamaica. In a nutshell, they’ve been able to get outside of the resort and see more of the Negril community, support local business while also enjoying themselves.

At our next stop, Mawka and Jeff, a couple visiting from Winnipe, Canada have climbed on. This is their first time on the bus which was recommended by another visitor. As we trundle along Negril’s strip, the stops are becoming more frequent. Guests standing in front of their resort gates climb onboard and there is a consistent ratio of repeat guests and first timers. There is an air of familiarity in the bus, which is actually becoming quite full. As I look around, it occurs to me that we are almost at standing room and we’re not even half-way through the strip. Jason notices what is perhaps a look of concern on my face as to where we’ll all fit and reassures that “by bar three, everyone’s the best of friends!”. I think to myself that this feels very much like a Jamaican country bus on its way into town. Everyone climbing in, and no one hopping off. Tight!

Our first bar stop was right on schedule at 3PM and everyone stepped off the bus into

Community tourism in action. One of the bars on the One Love Bus Bar Crawl in Negril, Jamaica. Red Stripe's are always on hand.

the bar, which just happened to be on the side of the road. I hear Lenbert mention to those at the front that this is a new bar that we’ll be trying out and that he “hopes they’re ready”. I see scrambling inside as the bar staff realize that a busload of guests are about to descend. Within minutes, ice cold Red Stripes and rum punches are in hand as we overflow into the road.

After the first round of drinks, we’re back on board, on route to the next stop. We’re all already feeling pretty familiar with each other, sitting in laps and bracing the standers as Lenbert carefully balances the bus on the deep turns of the West End Road. It is important to note that visits aren’t just to surface spots. The bus rolls through the inner communities of Negril, to areas that many other Jamaicans have not ventured. Many of the guests call it the shanty towns, which is what they’re quite curious about. It’s here that Lenbert notes the importance of community tourism, for local bars are able to expose their business to visitors, while visitors are able to see how some of the Jamaican population live without it being invasive. Lenbert is adamant that this is not an opportunity for handouts to the less fortunate. It’s not encouraged. He doesn’t want young kids thinking that they should view tourists as a quick and easy way to get some cash.

This is an experience that I can’t recommend enough, not only for someone new to the island, but quite frankly for Jamaicans as well. It’s no wonder that the bar crawl is rated number 1 in the top 20 Negril Nightlife activities by Trip Advisor.  Whether you decide to drink or not, the journey is a busload of fun! It’s community and it’s an opportunity for us to get a sense of those that surround us and support each other. Mark Twain said that “travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,” and as the Negril sunset unleashes its brilliant hues onto the cliffs of the West End, this feels like community tourism at its best. Effortless and experiential.

The bus! The famous One Love Bus awaits its passengers as part of the One Love Bus Bar Crawl in Negril, Jamaica. The bus has reportedly carried over 45,000 passengers as part of the community tourism initiative.

Contact Lenbert to arrange your seat on the One Love Bus at [email protected].

Planning a Trip?

Speak to a Jamaica Travel Specialist , they are a great resource for information and can provide you with an entire range of services, which will make your trip run smoothly, as well as save you time, problems, and money.

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• About this activity

Negril One Love Bus Bar Crawl

• Free cancellation available
• Mobile voucher
• Instant confirmation
• Selective hotel pickup

The One Love Bus Bar Crawl provides a fun-filled-100%-authentic-Jamaican-un-sugar-coated experience.

The tour promotes Negril's amazing Local Bars.

We will visit 6 - 7 bars and off the beaten path spots. You will easily get many opportunities to mingle and interact with the people of Negril.

The bars you visit are varied and interesting. Highlights may include, underground caves, cliff jumping spots, typical Jamaican “corner bars”, etc. The tour is always kept fresh and if the weather permits, you will get to experience a magnificent sunset towards the end of the tour. There will always be something new to delight you.

One Love, Lenbert

Activity location

• Negril, Caribbean

Meeting/Redemption Point

• Wed, Apr 10 -
• Thu, Apr 11 -
• Fri, Apr 12 $26
• Sat, Apr 13 -
• Sun, Apr 14 -
• Mon, Apr 15 $26
• Tue, Apr 16 -
• Wed, Apr 17 $26
• Thu, Apr 18 -
• Fri, Apr 19 $26
• Sat, Apr 20 -
• Sun, Apr 21 -
• Mon, Apr 22 $26
• Tue, Apr 23 -
• Wed, Apr 24 $26
• Activity duration is 5 hours 5h 5h

What's included, what's not

• What's included What's included Air-conditioned vehicle
• What's excluded What's excluded Alcoholic Beverages

Know before you book

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Negril cliffs.

• Admission ticket included

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Negril One Love Bus Bar Crawl - With Reviews & Ratings

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Negril One Love Bus Bar Crawl

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Tour Information

Key Details

• Mobile Voucher Accepted
• Hotel pickup Available
• Instant Confirmation
• Lowest Price Guaranteed
• Duration: 5 Hrs
• Language: English
• Departure Time : 02:00 PM
• Cancellation Policy : This activity is non-refundable Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

The One Love Bus Bar Crawl provides a fun-filled-100%-authentic-Jamaican-un-sugar-coated experience. The tour promotes Negril 's amazing Local Bars. We will visit 6 - 7 bars and off the beaten path spots. You will easily get many opportunities to mingle and interact with the people of Negril. The bars you visit are varied and interesting. Highlights may include, underground caves, cliff jumping spots, typical Jamaican "corner bars", etc. The tour is always kept fresh and if the weather permits, you will get to experience a magnificent sunset towards the end of the tour. There will always be something new to delight you. One Love, Lenbert

Know More about this tour

The tour travels along the cliffs of Negril, Jamaica, visiting 5 - 7 local bars and beauty spots. Travelers will spend 20 - 25 minutes at each stop.

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Alcoholic Beverages

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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Traveler Reviews

We did this trip with five friends we met on holiday it was great to get out and about visiting bars we would have never gone to. A useful tip is to bring items for the children e.g sweets crayons, if we do this again we will do so. By the end of the tour we were all great friends xx

Best time talking to the locals. Felt like I was home. Wish it was for longer. I would 💯 recommend this to anyone . Would do it again!

The different bars each provided unique styles of the area. The views were breathtaking. We made a bus load of new friends from Germany, Canada, Missouri, Georgia, & North Carolina.

We had a good time on the tour. But it was not what we expected. We had a small but friendly group that made the tour fun. The bars were varied which was cool, but they were all expensive. Definitely tourist prices, even at the backyard bar. Our primary issue was that we were expecting a fun tour operator, not just a driver taking you from place to place. There was little to no communication from the driver and his young son was in charge of taking you into the bars and telling you when it was time to leave. This was weird. We were expecting a fun and interactive tour operator that talked about the bars, Jamaica, drinks, or just anything at all. What we got was a taxi ride to bars with some friendly new friends. Not terrible, just not what we were expecting.

This was my second time doing the bar crawl and it was just as fun as the first. We went to different bars than the ones I went to in 2019. Some were local bars and some were part of small hotels. The views were beautiful, the people were friendly, the driver and his son were a delight. We got in the water at a few spots. Of course we made friends with the other tourists on the crawl and we all had the best time!! I will def book again next time we’re in Jamaica.

Have done this bar crawl twice and was the best experience both times! Very fun bars and my personal favorite is the amount of cliffs that you can take a dip into the ocean at. Highly recommend! 10/10

This was one of the best experiences in Jamaica! So much fun! It was great to get off the normal tourist track to see the local vibe. The amount of fun you have will be entirely dependent upon the members of your group. Get a good party group going!

Love everything! The driver was fantastic. Fun , fun i recommend it to family and friends. Like the bar choices! 💜

Go on this bus crawl. I had an amazing time. A couple at the resort I was at has been on this crawl at least 5 times. From the time that we were picked up until the time we were dropped off it was a party. The driver had one of his sons with him to assist him and we went to a variety of establishments. My favorites were easily Xtabi and Connie’s. She makes wonderful treats. After the first stop I was too intoxicated to get in depth but it was such a relaxing way to spend the day. The group felt like family by the end.

The success of this excursion is dependent on 2 things: 1. The other guests on the bus 2. The date/time you go There were 10 people on my bus, and we were the only 10 people in every bar we stopped at. In fact, it appeared that the bars only opened for us, while we were there. The bars were fine, just dead. Half of them didn’t even have music on. We went on a Monday in late June, maybe it’s off-season? I don’t know, but I’m sure it would have been way more fun with busier crowds. The other guests made the trip though. We met some great people. We were all there to party and everyone was in a great mood. Fun times. I can totally see how the wrong crowd could ruin a trip though. All in all, it was well worth 20 bucks to see a bunch of bars and hang out with cool humans.

One Love Bus Tour in Negril, Jamaica

The One Love Bus Tour in Negril, Jamaica, is an off the beaten path excursion for those looking to venture out beyond the confines of their resort walls. For me, you could say this is where it started– our first travel experience where we ditched the tourist norms. We put down our umbrella drinks and ventured out to see the “real” Jamaica.  

How It Started  

The One Love Bus Tour, founded by Lenbert Williams, began almost a decade ago out of a desire to boost community-based tourism in the resort town of Negril. The purpose is twofold.  First, the pub crawl helps bring in revenue to local businesses that would likely go unnoticed. Secondly, it provides visitors an opportunity to experience authentic Jamaican culture and community.   

By the way, this is not a tour that your resort arranges. I first discovered the One Love Bus Tour on a Tripadvisor forum while searching for the perfect Negril excursion. At the time, there was no Tripadvisor listing for the tour, but the One Love Bus Tour were frequently mentioned. Several reviews mentioned that during the tour you could bring school supplies, candy, etc. to pass out to local children. We loved the idea of giving back.

Booking the tour was not a traditional process but rather an email to Lenbert himself. Today, you can find booking information and details on Facebook and Tripadvisor.

Our One Love Bus Experience  

Showing up promptly at the time scheduled, Lenbert arrived at the resort in the One Love Bus, and we were off on our Negril adventure. The vibe on the bus was lively- with passengers anticipating the fun that was in store. The pub crawl itself was a series of stops at local pubs in Negril’s West End. Not every stop on the pub crawl is the same, but they all end the same way, with a final stop to enjoy an incredible sunset. From cliffside bars to a local pub in a resident’s backyard, where our host served us delicious homemade pizza, the “real” Jamaica experience provided by the One Love Bus tour was a great one, with a gracious host. This excursion opened our eyes to what can happen when you are willing to break free from the norm and try something different.      

To book your experience, visit the One Love Bus tour on Facebook or Tripadvisor.   

Shelly Brown, the blogger behind WildTrueHappy, is a seasoned storyteller with a passion for adventure travel and the great outdoors. Drawing on her background in hotel communications and marketing, she blends practical advice with inspiration, inviting readers to dream bigger, connect with their sense of adventure, and live life to the fullest!

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Negril One Love Bus Bar Crawl

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One Love Bus Bar Crawl - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

5 days in Jamaica, from Negril to Montego Bay, beaches, bamboo rafting and waterfalls

• Updated: Apr. 10, 2024, 9:59 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 10, 2024, 9:58 a.m.

Playing in the pools at YS Falls, one of dozens of scenic waterfalls in Jamaica. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

• Susan Glaser, cleveland.com

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – It’s the Jamaican equivalent of a gondola ride in Venice. But instead of winding through a labyrinth of canals in an ancient Italian city, we floated down the scenic Martha Brae River on a bamboo raft just east of Montego Bay.

Leroy, our guide, expertly maneuvered the boat down the waterway, pole in hand, occasionally pushing us away from the banks and around rocks. He even sang for us.

All the while, I sat back on my cushioned seat, occasionally dipping my toes in the water, allowing someone else to do the hard work for me.

The raft ride might be a metaphor for Jamaica, a vacation destination that doesn’t make you work too hard -- either to get there or once you’ve arrived.

The island nation is home to stunning beaches, scenic waterfalls and terrific cuisine, all set to a soul-soothing Bob Marley soundtrack.

One of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, Jamaica is now just a four-hour flight from Northeast Ohio via Frontier Airlines , which is expanding rapidly at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

But you might want to act fast – my flights to and from Montego Bay last month were less than half full. I doubt Frontier will keep the route around if it can’t attract more customers.

Read more: Will this new Frontier flight from Cleveland to the Caribbean last? Enjoy it while you can

It’s unclear why the flights weren’t full. I was traveling in March, which should be peak season for Jamaica.

The new route may be the victim of bad timing.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of State updated its travel advisory for the country , recommending that Americans reconsider travel to the island nation due to crime and medical services. Although Jamaica has been under a Level 3 advisory (“reconsider travel”) since 2022, the updated warning included detailed information about certain areas to avoid, including some neighborhoods in the parishes that include Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril, three of the most popular destinations for American tourists.

I’m a pretty intrepid traveler, and the language in the advisory made me nervous.

Still, when my boss tells me to buy a ticket to Jamaica, who am I to argue?

As I was planning my trip, I connected with a fellow Shaker Heights High School alum, who has been in the hospitality industry in Jamaica for decades. He assured me it was safe to come, and agreed to show me around his adopted country, which he has come to love.

And indeed, I am so glad I went.

Publishing Thursday:

Is Jamaica safe? State Department advisory raises concerns; here’s what to know

How a guy from Shaker Heights built a 30-year tourism career in Jamaica

Strolling Seven Mile Beach near Negril, Jamaica. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Cliff jumping at Rick's Cafe in Negril. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Bamboo rafting down the Martha Brae River near Montego Bay, Jamaica. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Where to go?

I split my time between two of the country’s best-known tourist spots, Negril and Montego Bay.

Negril, on the west coast, is about a 90-minute drive from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. But it’s worth the extra travel time for the stunning beach here.

My resort, the lovely Azul Beach Resort Negril by Karisma, is located on what’s called Seven Mile Beach, a gorgeous stretch of sand that is lined with resorts, restaurants, boat charters and other activities. (Interestingly, Seven Mile beach is actually four miles – but either way, it was plenty enough sand for my purposes.)

My husband and I took several long beach walks here, heading south on the sand our first day. We hesitated when we came to a stretch of shoreline where the beach briefly disappeared and the waterfront path veered through a wooded area near the busy roadway. The security guard at our resort assured us the pathway was safe – and indeed, we walked the route a couple more times with absolutely no concerns, past a public beach, a large Beaches property and the popular Margaritaville Negril.

Immediately north of our property was Sandals Negril, one of seven properties in Jamaica operated by Sandals, which was founded in Montego Bay in 1981 and helped launch the all-inclusive movement here decades ago. And next to Sandals: Hedonism II, a clothing optional resort. We walked the beach here too, though I kept my camera in my pocket and was grateful for the sunglasses that hid my eyes.

Along the beach, we were approached numerous times by entrepreneurial Jamaicans, hawking everything from wood carvings to weed, cold coconuts to friendship bracelets. Jamaican vendors have a reputation as being overly aggressive, but that wasn’t my experience. A polite “no thank you” was accepted graciously in every instance.

Because our time in Negril was so limited, we stayed close to the resort. But if I had more time, I might have booked a snorkeling cruise or a sunset sail or any one of numerous other on-the-water options, from fishing charters to water skiing.

My husband and I did sign out a small sailboat one afternoon at our resort, which turned into a bit of an adventure when the wind died down and we had some trouble getting back to shore.

We also hired a local driver to take us the 7 or so miles to Rick’s Café, a famous bar and entertainment venue known for its spectacular sunsets and towering cliffs above the sea.

Visitors, who come here via boat, car and bus by the thousands, are welcome – encouraged even -- to leap from the cliffs into the crystalline water below.

Some of the platforms are quite high – up to 35 feet above the water – while others are a more modest 10-12 feet. It was fun to watch the amateurs jump, and occasionally belly flop, into the water.

The real fun for spectators, though, is to watch some of the locals performing for tips, including a bunch of kids doing back flips off the rocks and a man who looked like he was trying out for the Olympics perfecting a double gainer off a 70-foot high platform.

I (conveniently) didn’t wear my bathing suit and so therefore wasn’t really tempted to join the jumpers. One of the lifeguards didn’t buy my excuse, and offered to loan me an extra suit, which I declined.

A woman sells pepper shrimp along a roadway in western Jamaica. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Sunset on Seven Mile Beach, near the Azul Beach Resort Negril. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

A man sells coconuts along Seven Mile Beach near Negril. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Montego Bay

After two nights in Negril, we headed north back to Montego Bay, the second largest city in Jamaica after Kingston. Most of this area’s resorts are located just east of the city in an upscale neighborhood known as Ironshore.

My home-away-from home for three nights was the Riu Reggae, one of three large side-by-side Spanish-owned Riu resorts just east of the airport. (The jets flying overhead sometimes looked so close you could reach up and grab them.)

In recent decades, all-inclusive resorts have become omnipresent throughout Jamaica, as well as numerous other Caribbean destinations, including the Dominican Republic and Cancun. Depending on the resort, an all-inclusive stay can be a relative bargain, including all food, drinks and numerous activities at one price.

Our beach at the Riu wasn’t nearly as nice as our stretch of sand in Negril, measuring only about a half-mile from end to end. The resorts in this area, too, have erected walls between the properties, making it impossible to walk along the sand for any significant distance – a major bummer for this beach walker.

While in Montego Bay, we were more interested in exploring beyond the resort.

Fellow Shaker alum Lee Weinstock , a longtime resident of Montego Bay, graciously agreed to accompany me to several spots, but I also hired drivers through the resort to drive me around.

Resorts, too, sell group tours to some of the best-known regional attractions, including the Luminous Lagoon and Martha Brae rafting.

Weinstock said visitors shouldn’t feel afraid to explore Jamaica.

“I’m not knocking anybody who wants to lie on the beach, eat and drink,” he said. “But you’re not seeing the real Jamaica.”

Among our stops, in addition to the rafting:

* Luminous Lagoon , on Jamaica’s north shore, where the Martha Brae River meets the Caribbean Sea, creating perfect conditions for tiny glow-in-the-dark microorganisms called dinoflagellates, which light up in the shallow, warm water. Jamaica is one of only a handful of places in the world where this phenomenon occurs and the only one where you can swim in the water, fanning your arms under the surface to make the sea glow.

* YS Falls , one of dozens of stunning waterfalls in the country, where swimmers can paddle in the pools, scale slippery rocks (watershoes recommended) and launch from a rope swing into the blue water below. Dunn’s River Falls near Ocho Rios is a popular stop for cruise passengers – and the No. 1 attraction in the country. Weinstock instead took us to his favorite waterfall, a gorgeous spot on the south side of the island, which gets considerably less crowded than Dunn’s River.

* Greenwood Great House , a late 18th-century era plantation home built by Richard Barrett, a cousin of British poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who made his wealth from sugar. The estate was one of a handful to survive the Christmas Rebellion in 1831, a major slave revolt in the Montego Bay area that was one of the catalysts for the abolition of slavery throughout the British colonies. Most of the furnishings are authentic and include some fascinating pieces – a piano made for King Edward VII by Thomas Broadwood, who also made pianos for Beethoven; two working polyphons; and a spectacular verandah offering 180-degree views of the north coast.

Along the way, Weinstock stopped at a monument to reggae superstar Peter Tosh in the small coastal town of Bluefields and for cold coconuts at a place called Bamboo Avenue, where the towering trees tunnel the roadway.

He also took us to some of his favorite local food stops, including a waterfront hut for fried fish en route from Montego Bay to Negril and Bigga Beach Road Restaurant for some terrific jerk chicken.

The best meal of my entire trip (and it wasn’t even close) was at an area called the Border – at the border between St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland parishes, a food market on the south coast where we sat at a picnic table near the water watching fishermen clean their catch. We feasted on fried lobster, snapper, conch stew and bammy, a tasty Jamaican flatbread. No way would I have at stopped at this place on my own.

I never once felt unsafe or afraid – except, perhaps, in the passenger seats of some of the cars and vans we were transported in. Jamaican drivers are notoriously aggressive and traffic can be crazy congested in the cities.

To save the costs of hiring so many drivers, I briefly considered renting a car for our trip but quickly disavowed myself of that notion. In addition to the aggressive drivers and not-great road conditions in some areas, Jamaica is still part of the British commonwealth, with drivers using the left side of the road. All of that seemed more than I wanted to handle.

Indeed, the driving was the only part of the trip that stressed me out at all.

But it was nothing that a one-hour rafting trip down the Martha Brae River couldn’t resolve.

Some of these rafting trips also include massages, either foot rubs or full-body treatments.

But my husband and I opted for the rafting experience by itself, a relaxing, 3-mile meander through the Jamaican jungle, a serene ending to a most enjoyable trip.

Pool-front rooms at the Azul Beach Resort Negril. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Pool at the Riu Reggae in Montego Bay. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

If you go: Jamaica

We split our time between two of the most popular tourist areas in Jamaica, Negril and Montego Bay, about 50 miles apart on the west (Negril) and north (Montego Bay) coasts.

Where we stayed: In Negril, we spent two nights at the Azul Beach Resort Negril by Karisma, with 285 rooms, including many with patios adjoining one of four pools. The resort features six restaurants, eight bars and an extra-long beach. Rates include food and drink, plus some water activities, and start at about $210 per person per day, double occupancy. Information: karismahotels.com/azul-beach-resorts/negril

In Montego Bay, we spent three nights at the adults-only Riu Reggae, part of a three-resort Riu complex just east of Sangster International Airport. The resort features 450 rooms, five restaurants, three pools and nightly entertainment, plus access to amenities at the neighboring Riu Montego Bay. The complex has a bit of a party vibe, but I didn’t find it overly loud or rowdy. Rates start at about $200 per person per day, double occupancy. Information: riu.com

Jamaica: By the numbers

Population: 2.8 million

Annual visitors: 4.1 million (about 75% of whom are American)

Size: 4,244 square miles, a bit smaller than Connecticut

Gorgeous Seven Miles Beach on the west coast of Jamaica. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Milton Williams, proprietor of Bigga Beach Road Restaurant, cooks up jerk chicken along the A1 from Montego Bay to Negril. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Beach in front of the Riu Montego Bay, just east of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Volleyball on Seven Mile Beach near the Azul Beach Resort Negril. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

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Negril stakeholders welcome $36-million road repair

NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Stakeholders in Negril have welcomed $36 million in much-needed repairs being made to roads on the West End of the resort town.

Work is being done on the one-kilometre stretch from Hilton Avenue, a little past the Negril Lighthouse towards the Deep West near the Westender Inn. It is being sponsored by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and supervised by National Works Agency (NWA).

“This area is perfectly [suited] for Airbnb. So, to say that this piece of infrastructure is welcome is an understatement. One cannot overemphasise how happy the entire community is and we can only say thanks to the TEF and hope that they will continue to support this community. We pray that the Tourism Enhancement Fund will grow from strength to strength and that the board will continue to look in our direction,” stated operator of the popular One Love Bus Tour, Negril, Lenbert Williams.

He has described the project, which started more than a week ago, as “an awesome piece of work”.

According to Williams, the roads have been in a state of disrepair for a very long time.

“For many years that extension of road beyond the [Negril] Light House leading to Deeper West End has been so dilapidated and pothole-riddled that the community, so civic-minded, has to be patching it with cement, marl and small stones that don’t last long. They had written to the Tourism Enhancement Fund for some reprieve and it responded favourably, funding this project,” said Williams.

Executive director of TEF, Dr Carey Wallace expressed satisfaction with the quality of work being done.

“Most people are pleased with it because we are doing it to the standard where we know it will be sustainable. We are doing it so that water cannot settle on it and we can focus on other areas rather than having to come back after a rainy season. That is why it is only one kilometre [that has been done] for that kind of money; because we want to do it well so that it can last for decades,” he said.

Work is also being done on a section of the road in the vicinity of Mi Yard Restaurant.

“That one, a significant part of the scope is in the drainage part of it,” stated Wallace.

“It will extend the resort town of Negril because that road previously was a little bit of a parochial kind of country road that most persons would think end at the lighthouse. But the area has quite a number of hotels and villas that have developed. The need for us to provide infrastructure opens up that corridor to add to the offerings that destination Negril has, to facilitate not only more experience for our visitors but also more entrepreneurship and business opportunities for our people. That is why we decided to embark on that project,” explained Wallace who is originally from Negril.

Last month, residents of West End staged a peaceful protest to call attention to the state of their roads and the lack of piped water.

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Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

One Love Jamaica Tours

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