So I know that I'm about a year late, but seeing as I am planning a trip to Belize at the moment and have realized how helpful reviews really are...I thought I should contribute something about our stay in Negril at Samsara in 2006.

Without repeating everything else other people have said, other than I would definitely recommend this place to everyone, here are some tips you might find helpful!

- It bears reemphasizing that this is not on the beach- OK I know that's probably obvious! But it's also kind of tucked away too - you can't see it from the road as there is lush foliage all around it. It's not on the 7 mile "strip" - so if you're looking to go out to party down and cruise, stay on 7 mile beach where the action is.

- That said, we loved that it wasn't on the strip. The cliffs are really unique and the sunsets at Samsara ROCK. You can easily do a beach day at Legends. The beaches at Legends aren't very nice though - really CROWDED and no chairs to sit in by 10 am - people packed row to row on what is a really thin strip of sand. It's GREAT people watching though, and the beach guards are super friendly and nice. They have musicians who travel on the beach and play reggae music..

- Our last day was a total wash due to high winds - they crashed water all up on Samsara to the point where they closed the pool and no one was out. We decided to try the beach at Legends - it too was covered in high water so we had to sit on the deck and be disappointed because we couldn't go in the water or lie in the sand. There really was nothing else to do other than sip rum drinks - not a bad option, I guess!

- I'm sorry but Negril is just not that scary. People DO offer you ganja and try to sell you stuff but all you have to do is say NO. The "haggling" just wasn't as bad as people say! Maybe a little in the craft market but that's it. It was FAR worse and way more obnoxious in Cancun. One thing though: definitely negotiate your cab fare before getting in a cab. Five bucks should get you to the beach one way. Or up to Rick's Cafe.

- This is not a place for people who can't handle a laid-back vibe with people having a REALLY good time, if you know what I mean. If that's your scene, stay at one of the generic mega-resorts on the south end of Negril.

- Back to the resort! I was totally bummed that Red Stripe was not included AI. I did not like whatever beer it was they were serving. If I would do it again I would NOT do AI - the food was good and the service was GREAT- sweetest and most gentle people working there - but we just didn't get to eat at other places. And I would agree, sometimes we wanted a snack late-night and there was nothing to be had.

- Jamaica was not as cheap as we expected.

- Rick's Cafe was the biggest rip off ever - terrible and pricey food and drink. The divers were cool though.

- You really can jump off the cliffs at Samsara! The water is deep enough - trust me!

- There is a little store nearby but we hit the main grocery store at the circle - this is a great (and cheap) place to buy rum and coffee to take home with you.

Samsara has the most character out of the other places we saw along the beach, and the staff there was awesome. And the sunsets...did I mention those? Breathtaking.

Our family spent 12/22-29 at Samsara--a most relaxing vacation. We were a mixed group: grandma, son and wife, daughter and 18-year-old grandson. Our rooms were clean, A/C, the ceiling fans were a bit funky though. We managed with the missing towels each mid-day (brought our own beach towels). Staff were friendly and efficient. Front desk arranged a driver to Nine Mile for some of us, and found an MD for another. We found a breakfast home at Choices across the road, and ate dinner at various other spots, mostly within walking distance. Fell in love with the jerk chicken and ruby red Christmas juice. Daughter swam in the ocean, the rest in the pool. Took Legends bus to beach. Taxis were everywhere and took us to church and shopping. Rough seas prevented us from glass-bottom boat, but we relaxed, read, drank the wonderful Blue Mountain coffee, and fruity rum drinks. Not a posh resort, but a well-run affordable place. Nary a mosquito, either. Would definitely return.

The Giffords from Rochester, NY and Boulder, CO

Let me first say that we had read all the reviews of Samsara and Jamaica in general and we were a little apprehensive, but I've always wanted to visit Jamaica, so how bad could it be??

It was great!! Some of the nicest people you will ever meet work at Samsara. I never once felt unsafe in Jamaica. OK, I think between the 4 of us we were offered drugs a total of 30 times in 6 days, but they weren't pushy. You say no, they leave you alone.

Samsara is a small hotel, I wouldn't really call it a resort. The rooms are basic, there's nothing special about the grounds, but there's a great veiw. One bar, one restaurant, and a small pool. We took the shutle over to Legends once for dinner and once for the beach. Also, a small hotel that I wouldn't really call a resort with a slightly bigger bar/restaurant and an even smaller pool.

We only went on one excursion, the day time Catameran snorkel cruise to Half Moon Bay where you have a picnic. $65/person. It was ok, all you could drink, the food was just ok (in general, I didn't like the food in Jamaica) and you only snorkel for about 20 minutes. The next day, we took a glass bottom boat for $11/person and I would recommend that over the first one. Picked us up right at the cliffs and we were out for about 2 hours. Fantastic snorkeling! Such a fun experience. We used Famous Vincent, and they were great. They got into the water with us and really showed us the reef.

Best thing was Rick's Cafe...go!!! Besides the awesome cliff jumpers, it was just a fun place and they have the most amazing sunsets that you will ever see. Oh, I jumped off the cliffs at Samsara, and the cliffs at Rick's and I recommend Ricks even though they are higher because the water at Samsara is so rough which makes getting out of the water very hard, but at Rick's it's perfectly calm.

We did the all inclusive at Samsara which I guess was a good idea because others who did not were saying that it was very expensive. Like I said, I didn't care for the food anywhere in Jamaica, so I really can't say whether Samsara was better or worse than anywhere else.

As in all vacations, it is what you make of it. We had a great, relaxing time and we now want to buy a glass bottom boat and move to Negril. Enjoy!

Overall was a pretty good stay. The all inclusive is ok, but takes forever to get your lunch, after ordering. Beside the all inclusive meals, there IS NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK in the hotel after 10:00 pm. No vending machines, no ice machines, and no fridge in the rooms. Does not go well with warm weather. Also no stores within walking distance. You have to eat when the times are stated.
Staff is friendly, and the view of the ocean is fantastic. Had a good tiime at a friends wedding. The only other problem is that the bar in the hotel closes at 10:00 pm. So unless you are going on vacation to sleep, or are over 65 yrs old, the hotel is a ghost town after that.