Jarmila Jackson, Features Writer

Patrons enjoy themselves in the pool at the Kool Runnings Water Park in Negril at ATI's Xxxtreme Wet N Wild last weekend. - Photo by Krista Henry

With sun, sand, sea and swarms of half-naked revellers as its call-card annual ATI and RTI in Negril have become a must-go for partygoers, the four-day Emancipation break has attracted the young and energetic from all across the island to Jamaica's 'Sin City' in droves.

Revellers can either bask in the sun on the beach or get 'Wet 'n' Wild' at one of the many parties.

Whatever the choice, many return home exhausted, sunburn and with empty pockets. That is if the trip is not planned well.

Booking early

"The biggest difference is booking early," said Rashid Hall, 20-year-old Negril partygoer from Montego Bay.

"Booking time is anywhere between December and February, the best rooms are gone by December and rooms finish entirely by April."

Hall is one of the many patrons who save thousands of dollars to make it to the events which were first held in 2001.

They carefully budget for food, clothing and accommodation and even make a little extra money by offering the last-minute partygoer a place to stay.

"A friend of mine paid $10,000 to sleep on the floor," Hall said.

Though an all-inclusive hotel room is an attractive option for the tight-pocket traveller, a villa is more economical.

For an individual, three nights in a room at a villa costs $15,000 or more, as opposed to the US$238 ($16,898) for a single-occupancy room in an all-inclusive hotel.

"A lot of people bring their own food if the room they have comes with a fridge or a microwave," said Hall.

Food costs

He added that he had seen some girls packed cereal to cut back on food costs.

Here is a look at the average budget of the average ATI/RTI attendant:

Ten thousand dollars worth of new clothes (for the modest dresser);

$8,500 to $11,000 for season bands that allow access to all the parties offered in the special package;

$15,000 to $30,000 for a room and over $3,000 for food.

That's quite a pretty penny, especially for a crowd with an average age of 25. Rashid Hall does not mind.

"I'm willing to be broke after ATI because I'm smiling, it might be a different story next week, but right now the memory is still fresh in my head," he said.