I'm not sure where all of the negative reviews come from. I suppose it depends on your expectations. I've stayed at "high-end" resorts in the Caribbean, but don't care for the forced, fancy service. The people at Negril Gardens are truly great people - they are clearly not being nice because they're "supposed to" like at most resorts!

It's a small place with only one restaurant. Our room was on the beach side, and we didn't make it to the garden side at all. The beach and bar were only 50 steps from our room! The staff gets to know you by name very quickly - and this staff really IS Jamaica! The best part about this island is the people, so why go to a "sterile" resort where you don't get to experience the culture??

Food is very good, but not gourmet. Rooms are adequate and clean. This is not a fancy place, but Jamaica is not a fancy place - it's a RELAXING place!

The beach is spectacular! Nowhere else I've been has sand like Negril - it's like walking in flour. The sea is pretty calm and very, very clean. When you walk up and down the beach, there is a LOT going on - there would be no reason for you to be bored here! Shopping, live music, bars - you name it, it's there.

Yes, there will be people on the beach (not on resort property) harassing you about buying drugs, but it's pretty easy to just tell them you're not into it (if you're not). Respect goes a long way here, though with some of the pushier ones, you have to be a bit firmer. Even late at night, well after dark, we never felt the least bit unsafe. Security at the resort is really good about keeping track of the guests, just in case.

We also went into Negril, shopping and visiting Rick's Cafe. Both are highly recommended. YS Falls was also a great tour, but unless you're up for an ALL DAY tour, I'd stay away from the optional Black River boat tour, and would only consider the Appleton tour - both close to YS Falls, and offered together as a package of three. We booked through the hotel rather than through Apple. It was easier that way since Apple doesn't have a rep on this tiny property.

In this section of hotels, NG was the only place that had a decent amount of shade on the beach - if you're fair-skinned like we are, that's obviously important. Not too much trouble finding shade here.

We had a blast, and will be back!

Me and my lady had a great time at Negril Gardens Beach Resort. It's a great all inclusive with one restaurant and one bar, centrally located on 7 Mile Beach in Negril, Jamaica. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served buffet style in a covered outdoor setting. The food wasn't spectacular but it was good. Some days were better than others. Most people don't know this, but you can also order items from the grill. They have fries, burgers, hot dogs and grill cheese. Just ask your server. The rooms were pretty nice with the exception of the mattresses. This didn't bother me much though as I still had an excellent time with the good people of Jamaica. We made some good friends at Negril Gardens. Andrew, Devar, Nadine working the bar scene, our girl Kari in the dining area and the respectable Mr Gordon, whom manages the resort, all made our stay interesting and very enjoyable. A great value overall. Plenty to do or do nothing at all.

Another year and yet another fabulous stay at Negril Gardens (NG). This was the latest during the winter season we've gone to our "second home". None the less it was still the perfect cure for a long WI winter.

Besides the beautiful white sand beach and gorgeous Caribbean weather, the staff at NG helps to make our stay exceptional every time. Andrew, Nadine, Michael and Clyde are just a few of the names that come to mind. There is always a large variety of food at every meal (the fish, no matter which type, is always a good pick) and if you feel snacky in-between meals, just ask one of the waitstaff for a burger and fries.

As far as cocktails go, anything with rum is a winner. Our favorites are the humming bird, dirty banana, papaya daiquiri or just a regular old strawberry colada. Or you can ask whoever is bartending to whip up one of their favorites for you to try. Andrew likes to "remix" some of the more popular drinks with his own splash of flare. Which is usually a few shots of rum cream. But, if you can't decide between Red Stripe or rum, just ask for a Steelbottom.

Since we've done quite a few excursions in the past, the Red Stripe catamaran trip to the cliffs, horse back riding, a tour out into the country to see the Black River , YS Falls and Appleton Rum estates, this time around we just stayed at the resort to kick back and relax. We did go to a new resort down the road in Negril, Rockhouse, to eat dinner one night. It was excellent, a must try. We've never seen grilled lobsters as big as this, ever. Over 1 lb., for real. But, if your idea of a vacation is just relaxing on a warm, tropical beach with a delicious cocktail in hand, NG is where you need to go. Just remember, since it's so beautifully hot in Negril, everything moves slower, so you need to let go of your typical "fast" mindset, relax and wait. Whatever you ask for will come, and it will be "no problem 'mon".

My husband and I just returned from Negril Gardens last weekend. This was our first vacation in 10 years (since before children), and we had such a great experience at Negril Gardens!

We chose this resort over a 5 star luxury resort in Runaway Bay for the same price - and we are so glad that we did! The 7 mile beach is heaven and Negril Gardens is a quaint little resort with a lot of charm, wonderful staff, clean rooms and excellent food!

We stayed on the beachside, and were glad that we did, although we were just far enough away from the restaurant noise. We enjoyed walking down the path to the pristine beach every morning, and taking in the beautiful view from the restaurant at every meal!

At the airport we chatted with people who stayed at a very large luxury resort in Ocho Rios and they weren't very impressed. The resort was so big, they had to take a shuttle down to the beach! We just loved our little resort and the great staff - wish we were still there!