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Country Country is a small and funky hideout set right at the heart of Negril’s excellent beach. It sits in delightful gardens that front onto Negril’s famous sand and it is within easy walking distance of many of the bars and activities. However Country (it is often referred to in the singular) is an ideal antidote to the large all-inclusive hotels for which the town has become known. Instead, the small hotel has a very cool and easy manner, and its brightly coloured cottages, partially hidden among the extreme tropical greenery, enable you to hide yourself away in island style and low key seclusion. The cottages have adapted Jamaican ‘country’ architecture to create a lovely feel of stylised rusticity, with colourful wooden woodwork, balconies and hammocks. Country Country is a delightful hideaway, an enclave of cool and calm among all the activity of the beach. And well priced too.
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KEY FEATURES
| Country Country Negril is a cool, small luxury hotel in Jamaica set right on Negril beach. Beach bar and grill, all suites with veranda, a/c, cable TV, ceiling fan, fridge, kettle, phone, hairdryer, in-room safe. Central sitting and games room. |
STYLE
| Brightly painted, wooden clad, ‘country’ style cottages with tin roofs and gingerbread trim, real island charm in earthy, rustic style. Atmosphere barefoot and very laid back |
CLIENT PROFILE
| Independent travellers, many young, laid back, many nationalities |
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Country is different from what most people expect of Negril, and the Caribbean for that matter. In the run of modern and largely uninspiring, mostly concrete bars and hotels that line the beachfront in Negril, standing almost shoulder to shoulder in places, Country stands out for its offbeat charm and its own delightful, funky style. You see it as you pass walking along the sand, or the moment you turn off the main road (somewhere near the middle of the Negril Beach strip). The small hotel greets you with pleasantly jangling colours, gingerbread trim and pretty wooden balconies and balustrades. Country has a very nice, independent feel and you can shut yourself away surprisingly well despite being in the middle of the action.
As with most of the hotels along the beach in Negril, Country is laid out on a strip (soon to be a double strip) that runs from the main road down to the beach. As you turn in from the road, the reception sits right ahead of you, set in one of the cottages. Once you have checked in you will be taken to your room, along the path that meanders towards the beach. It swings left and right among the cottages, views changing as you go, through surprisingly lush greenery of bananas and palms.
The 20 rooms are set in the extremely pretty cottages either side of you. Built around a solid core, they take traditional Jamaican design and develop it, injecting a tangible sense of modern Caribbean style and fun. The key feature is their woodwork, the verandas and the pillars supporting them, the brightly painted louvers and balustrades and particularly the gingerbread trim. They are topped with green and blue tin roofs.
The cottages were designed by Ann Hodges, who has worked in several places around the island. She has often used traditional Jamaican architectural features, which she has then adapted in an original way (at Strawberry Hill the fretwork has a series of reggae dance scenes and tropical landscapes). While the gingerbread trim at Country is fairly traditional – and extremely pretty - the balustrades have a modern feel. Interestingly the colours have been adapted too. They are not really the colours most used in the Caribbean in recent years – that has been either a swatch of pastel or overbearing primary reds, blues and yellows. At Country the shades are bright but have a natural feel - often based in greens and yellows like the foliage around them - and they have an earthiness in the ochre orange, perhaps after Jamaica’s incredibly rich soil, and a blue that reflects the sea.
Inside the cottages, the rooms are quite simple, certainly uncluttered, but they are comfortable and well equipped. They continue the earthiness and stylised rusticity of the small resort. They all have some outside space, with a table and chairs and sometimes a hammock, and it is screened by greenery so that you can get some privacy. The overall effect is a key part of the feel of the resort and makes it fun to stay there. Back on the path, as you wind through the greenery and the cottages you will find oddities tucked away in the gardens. Urns with ghostly faces and wooden carvings. At the beach itself the stump of a palm has been carved into a series of faces.
On the sand itself you will find the dining room – Country Peppa’s Bar and Grill. This is an open-sided wooden bar with a thatched roof supported on wooden columns. The bar itself is made with bamboo and around it there are tables on two levels. At the front, the deck is built around the trunk of a sea almond tree, its tables set in its shade and under umbrellas. Because of its position right on Negril Beach, Peppa’s is effectively a beach bar (it does see some passing trade and some day-guests).
After the earthy colours of the cottages, the bar has a stronger colour scheme in its linen and crockery. These are bright, primary reds and blues and the tables are set under bright yellow parasols. On the sand next to the bar are some beach chairs and loungers, and a shower for the use of guests. They also have some floats that you can take out onto the water.
Negril Beach can be pretty lively. There is usually a flow of people passing up and down in front of the hotels and of course there are all the sports and activities. It adds to the atmosphere at Country. However, behind the sand the resort itself is private of course, so when you want a bit of peace and quiet you can simply retreat to your cottage. There is only one other ‘central’ area to the hotel, a building opposite Reception in which you will find some sofas and chairs. It has a library and some board games.
The name Country, Country Beach Cottages might at first appear a little strange, but it speaks a lot about the small hotel. The ‘Beach Cottages’ part obviously describes its layout as a series of small villas right on the beachfront in Negril. More interesting though, is the ‘Country Country’. The Jamaicans sometimes repeat a word for emphasis, so Country Country means ‘real, true country-style’. And that is what the hotel is, and fun with it.
As their natural economy with words gets the better of them, most Jamaicans refer to the place simply as ‘Country’ in the singular. Either way, the hotel is a delight, one of the most original and coolest places to stay in Jamaica.
Please note - Country Country will be expanding in the near future, onto a second strip which will give it a double beach frontage. It will be adding a pool, Jacuzzi, fitness room and massage gazebos as well as more rooms, including some two bedroom cottages with kitchenettes. Eventually there will be around 45 rooms.
Country is a sister hotel to Coyaba Beach Resort, an independent hotel just outside Montego Bay. |
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Beach & Swimming
Country is situated right on the famous Negril Beach, a superb stretch of sand about five miles long (it is usually referred to as seven miles long, but this includes Bloody Bay to the north). The sand varies in depth but you can walk along much of its length (something well worth doing) without even getting your feet wet.
The stretch of sand on which Country actually sits is good, usually quite wide, and it sees plenty of people passing while they are walking the beach. The sand shelves gently into the water, giving excellent swimming. A reef offshore (which can be visited by glass-bottom boat) gives the swimming good protection. |
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Sports & Recreation
It is possible to arrange for a massage therapist to come to the hotel. A table can be set up anywhere around the small resort, on the beach, your balcony or hidden away in a nook in the gardens. Opposite the reception at the front of the hotel is a lounge in which there are board games and a small library.
Most watersports, such as kayaking, windsurfing and small boat sailing, jetskis, banana boat rides and even parasailing, are available through concessionaires along the beachfront. Country is happy to recommend an operator to you for the different sports.
There is a golf course behind the town, Negril Hills Golf Club. If you wish to go horse-riding then this can be arranged at Rhodes Hall (not far) along the main road to Montego Bay. |
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The Rooms
The bedrooms, set one or two to a cottage, retain the stylised rusticity of the small resort and they are decorated with bright colours, and gingerbread trim around the balcony – they all have outside space, often with a hammock. Rooms are air-conditioned and have ceiling fans (it can be quite hot on the beach) and they are equipped with TVs, phones and a safe. They are relatively simple but very comfortable. |
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Dining
The dining room at Country, which is called Country Peppa’s Bar and Grill, is set right on the beach at the front of the property and it is very much part of the life of the beach. The tables are set out on a deck, from which you see all the activities on the water and of course the constant stream of people walking down the beach. Peppa’s is effectively a beach bar too. It sees quite a bit of trade from passers by and from people who base themselves there during the day.
The dining room is open most of the day and serves wholesome international and Jamaican fare, with lighter offerings at lunchtime – salads, wraps and burgers - and more substantial fish and other dishes in the evenings. Country has a pastry chef, so there are fresh breads and croissants for breakfast each morning and extremely fine puddings.
It is always possible to order room service. In fact breakfast on your terrace or veranda is one of the nicest moments in the day. |
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Practical Facts
Annual Closure Dates: open year round
Dress Code: casual
Facilities: Restaurant and bar, lounge with library and board games
Complimentary: beach chairs, floats and sun loungers
Other Services: Room Service. Front Desk for island excursions and activities. Massage therapist can be arranged (extra) to set up in room, on the beach or in the gardens. Airport transfers arranged (extra cost)
Children: up to two children under 12 years sharing room with parents stay free including breakfast plus 50% discount off meal supplements
Accommodation: 20 rooms
Rooms: All bedrooms are air-conditioned, have ceiling fans, feature either a king or 2 twin beds, en suite bathroom with shower, patio or balcony, sitting area with futon/day bed, mini fridge, coffee/tea making facilities, cable TV, telephone, CD clock radio, hairdryer and a safe. Iron and ironing boards available. 10 x Superior Rooms and 10 Premium Rooms in separate 2-storey cottages with large patio or wrap-around balcony. Maximum occupancy either 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children
Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express |
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Rates
| | 16 Apr-15 Dec 2007 | 16 Dec-15 Apr 2007-08 | 16 Apr-15 Dec 2008 | | Meal Plan | BP | BP | BP | | Superior Suite Single Double Triple | 100 130 160 | 135 165 195 | 105 135 165 | | Premium Suite Single Double Triple | 115 145 175 | 155 185 215 | 120 150 180 | All rates are in US$ per room, per night, on a BP basis and include 8.25% government tax and 10% service charge. BP = Breakfast Plan and includes room and breakfast. Meal supplements per person, per day including tax and service = US$20 for dinner, and US$30 for lunch and dinner – children under 12yrs less 50%. Maximum occupancy per suite - 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children under 12 yrs. All rates subject to change without notice. Minimum stay is 5 nights during 22 Dec-05 Jan. |
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How to Book
If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, please use the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page to make contact with Country Country Beach Cottages in Jamaica, or if you wish to telephone them, their telephone number will be revealed if you click on the CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER link. |
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Locality
The town of Negril divides fairly neatly into two halves, each of which has its own character and different things to recommend it. Country is on ‘Seven Mile Beach’ (actually five miles unless you include Bloody Bay to the north), but it is definitely worth exploring the West End of the town, to the south of the roundabout at the town centre. The section around the roundabout is really the only discernable ‘town’ part of Negril. There are a couple of shopping malls that include banks and supermarkets.
Negril Beach is backed almost entirely with hotels, bars and other businesses including watersports and it is fun to walk along the strip and to try them out. Bars include Margaritaville and Risky Business. For a more formal dinner out you can try Kuyaba or Norma’s and for live music try Alfred’s and Bourbon Beach.
The bars on the cliffs are equally famous in their way and there is a handful of good places to visit. Rick’s has been famous for years (particularly for inebriated cliff-jumpers) but it sees bus tours and so you might want to try somewhere quieter like the LTU Pub. For dinner out on the cliffs try the Rockhouse Hotel. |
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Meet & Greet
If you are travelling independently, Country Country can arrange for a taxi to meet you at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay (you should head to this airport rather than to Kingston). The driver will wait with a placard with your name and the hotel name. The transfer takes approximately 90 minutes and costs US$40 per person each way (subject to change), which you will be charged locally. Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport, with a range of services that can include limousine transfers and a personal Concierge Service, this is offered by Glamour Tours.
If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will be at the airport to meet you. This service and your return airport transfers should be included in the cost of your holiday. Please check at the time of booking. |
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Getting Around
Jamaica is exceptionally beautiful and so exploring the island is well worthwhile. You can book via your tour operator or with our recommended car hire company in Jamaica, Island Car Rentals (delivery to the hotel comes at extra charge). Vehicles can be returned at the airport (Island have an outlet at both the international airports) or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time (again at extra charge). Car hire can also be arranged through the resort. Be aware that in the winter season there can sometimes be a shortage of cars, so you are advised to book in advance. Also book early if you want one for a week or more because the pre-booked rates can be better.
Taxis can be arranged through Reception at Country, which can also arrange local tours to places of interest. |
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