After reading all the great reviews of Catcha Falling Star Gardens, I was expecting something completely different. I guess it just proves the old saying "if it looks too good to be true, it probably is" and "you get what you pay for" which in this case, I'm not even sure we got that! I'm mixing up the pros and cons here so in case you're skimming, you get the whole ball of wax. I am actually confused by the excellent ratings Catcha Gardens got. While my compassionate side wants to be all gushy about the sweet little dogs, frankly at 3 a.m. while they were barking I could have done without them. So I'm going to be completely honest, not just for you who are looking for a place to stay in Negril, but for the nice folks at Catcha Falling Star Gardens to know what can be improved upon.

Staff
First of all, I can't say enough about the delightful help. That's where they went right. The security guard, Marshall, was the first guy we met. Great guy. Made you feel welcome and was always lurking about. I swear that guy has eyes in the back of his head. He was disappointed when he found out that there was a large spider disturbing our evening by the pool and we didn't call him. He definitely does his job well and tells a great story! Dwayne, who is the groundskeeper shared his music and philosophy with us and worked very hard keeping the pool in tip top shape as well as taking care of the garden. It was very interesting to hear his story and he was always extremely helpful. The housekeeping ladies did a wonderful job and didn't take long to figure out we used all the pillows but only one bed. Jane and Joan did what they are able to, but I can't help but think that this place could be so much more with a relatively small amount of cash and a little effort and creativity. Why doesn't management do something as simple as put together a list of places to eat in the area and price ranges?

Property
The property is ok. Kind of like a little jungle, pretty flowers. The pool is very nice and exceptionally clean. The whole property is surrounded by fence topped with beautiful spiral razor wire. A key gets you in and out of a locked gate and Marshall is your security guard sun down to sun up. I never knew how he just popped up out of nowhere to make sure we were ok but I never felt unsafe while on the property until the night of the very loud fight from the couple mentioned below.

Transportation
Catching a cab or ride was never difficult because LTU was right across the street so there were always drivers looking for a fare. Remember to only take rides from the cabs with RED LICENSE PLATES. According the the Negril guide, if the plates are white, all bets are off. We used one driver the entire week, Niah, who has a strong network of friends and could suggest places for us. Round trip price from the airport was $140...no discounts and no assistance from Catcha.

Rooms
First of all, the rooms were ok to be kind. They are fairly clean, swept daily, showers had no mildew, bed linens looked and smelled fresh, and the sink was cleaner than some hotels I have been in..although they somehow seemed to attract little bitty ants every day. A refrigerator is included and some rooms have safes and a dresser. Ours had neither. There is a closet with shelves, though. We also had fresh towels daily. And a bar of soap. And running water. These are all things you would expect before a place would even open. It doesn't make a place "excellent", it makes it "average". Ants in the sink make it less than average. A man and his "paid sleepover companion" screaming and yelling at each other at 3 a.m. makes it "terrible". (Finding out that they slept in YOUR room the night before is deplorable.) Instead of asking them to leave, they were moved to three different rooms on the property throughout the week. Being on a curve where every cab that comes by honks throughout the night makes it "poor". Not having the option to take a hot shower in the morning because there is only solar electric makes it a campground. Having to go outside on the sidewalk to use the "free" wireless can easily be corrected and that amenity should not be advertised until it actually is available in all rooms or it should at least be made clear that only "some" rooms have wireless, safes, etc. Believe it or not, all of those things are tolerable, but what took me completely off guard was not being able to have a cup of coffee in my room in the morning. A little coffee pot to enjoy a cup of joe on the porch may have been just the tiniest thing needed to sway my angst for the ants in the sink, no hot water and being grossed out about what went on in my room the night before we checked in. Finally, there is NO air conditioning, so staying there in July or any nights warmer than January would be out of the question.


Location
I actually think that the thing Catcha Gardens has going for it most AND least is the location. Right across the street from LTU Pub, we were able to get a decent breakfast every morning and COFFEE (although we had to pay $1.25 for each cup, refills were not included). LTU did not open until 8 a.m. but after eating breakfast there for a week, they graciously came in early on Saturday so we could eat before leaving for the airport for the trip home. It was great sitting right on the cliff looking over the ocean in the mornings. Had it not been for LTU across the street, we would have been forced to pay to take a taxi or get a ride for breakfast. There is no way to cook in the rooms so the only option would be to go to the store down the street and be harassed the whole way there and back. We ended up spending around $20 US every morning for breakfast and around $100 a day just for food because there were no options except to eat out and the local restaurants are ALL pricey. An average meal was at least $12 per person. It cost us $20 to get to the beach and back. When we added up what we saved on accomodations by staying in the Gardens and paying for our food and drink in Negril, and having to pay for transportation to get to the beach, we could have easily gone to a nice all inclusive right on the water much cheaper. The consolation is that we hopefully helped the local economy however small a part we played. That's not why we were there, though. We were there for a vacation.

Price
We paid $75 per night in the Jasmine. It wasn't worth it. I would have paid $5 more a night to have a coffee pot in the room, which would have more than paid for the coffee pot.There are many things that can be done to correct my feelings about the value, even if they provided coffee in the office in the morning but the office didn't even open until 9 so if you had a problem or question, you either had to wait around or suck it up.

All in all, there was no advantage to staying at Catcha Gardens over other Negril properties. You are not allowed access to the ocean through Catcha Falling Star as one may think. You are not even allowed to view the sister property unless you go there after 5 and have dinner. I was told if I wanted to see it before I booked, I should go online and look at their website. Never mind that I was only a block away, because they book up for 2 years in advance so I guess they don't need our money. I wonder why they don't donate some coffee pots to the Gardens if they are doing so well??

We found other resorts very accomodating with their property. We very much enjoyed the Wild Parrot on Seven Mile Beach. They allowed us to sit and play cards, use their beach chairs and served up the best food we had of the entire trip, brown stewed chicken, jerk chicken, absolutely fabulous chips and salsa. Cindy was a wonderful server and made sure our friend had plenty of limes every day for his beerr. We also visited the Spa Retreat and had a tour with the owner. They just opened up this summer and we were able to visit the restaurant, The Blue Mahoe, enjoyed wonderful meals overlooking the ocean at sunset and visit to our table by the chef. We would definitely stay there! We took the Wild Thing catamaran trip to Half Moon Bay which was a great value with snorkeling, open bar and lunch on the beach. A couple of other restaurants we visited were Ciao Jamaica where we got great pizza and trust me, the 12" is enough for two people, and the Sea Wind where we were able to watch the playoffs. Not crazy about the food at the Sea Wind or access to the property which required a walk down a long dark dirt road, but once inside, it was pretty nice with a flat screen tv by the bar and a projector and screen in the dining area. Prices in the restaurants were all pretty consistent and it was hard to find anything at all close to an $8 meal. Our last day we spent partially at Xtabi which was about a mile walk down One Love Drive and we wished we had found it earlier because they had clean lounge chairs, a restaurant and wonderful cliff swimming and snorkeling opps if you brought your gear. No cost to enter.

So there's my honest opinion. Jamaica in January is a win. We will definitely go back. And you may like roughing it with cold showers, noisy nights and no coffee. If camping is your thing, this may be your spot.

We have just returned from Catcha Gardens. It was our first stay there, but it will not be our last. This trip we split our stay with CFSG and the beach. To me it is the best of both worlds. When we arrived at Catcha, we were immediately greeted by Belle and Pumpkin. I have met some sweet dogs, but they are the sweetest!! We then were immediately checked into to Ginger Lily downstairs. We chose to have the air, and were glad we did. After laying in the sun, having air condition to return to was great for us.
The rooms are very nice. Nice towels and a great sitting area to watch tv if you want. I loved having the front porch with our hammock to to just relax on. The staff were nice. Jane in the office helped with any questions. Wayne, the maintenance man was awesome. We had realized the safe was not nailed down, and he immediately came in and screwed it in for us. It was also great just having conversation with him and Marshall (security). The pool area is awsome. I felt like I had my own pool to relax in. Safety was never a thought. The gate was locked at all times, and guests had a key to get in and out. LTU was steps away, so when we wanted to hang out, we could go over at any time. There are also some close places to eat and drink, try them. I have found the best places to go are the small businesses. I have had the best food and drink there over the years. Can't wait to start planning to go back !! Thank you Catcha

Just returned from an awesome holiday at CFSG. We have stayed at many resorts in Negril especially on the cliffs of Negril. This was our first time at Catcha Gardens and I have to say..will definitely NOT be our last. Everyone from Jane and Joan at the office, to Veronica and Loretta in housekeeping, to Wayne the groundskeeper and handyman, to Marshall of security..was top notch. I was immediately impressed on our first evening there when Marshall the security guard came up to our veranda and introduced himself to us. This was the first time this has ever happened at any resort in which we have stayed.

The grounds were breathtaking! The pool superb and well kept. Our room was very large and nicely decorated. The beds were comfortable and extra pillows were quickly supplied upon request. Having LTU across the street was a real plus. Their food was wonderful with one of the finest views for sunset upon the cliffs.
If that isn't enough, they have two of the greatest dogs that I have ever met...Pumpkin and Bell. Not only are they clean, well mannered, they are fantastic guard dogs. Not that they need it...for the gates are locked with a key provided to guests and Marshall always on duty in the evenings. Great place to enjoy the true vibes of Jamaica, cliff side in Negril.
Thanks to everyone there for one of our best trips ever!!

I stayed recently at CFSG. This was my time staying there. It is a nice property. The staff were very nice while we were there. If there was a problem, it was fixed right away. We stayed in the 2 bedroom Bella upstairs. It was nice and clean.

I would stay there again someday.