Getting to Jamaica was a bit exhuasting….we left Vancouver at 11 pm and arrived in Toronto at 615 am. We had a 4 hour layover that we spent at the Plaza Premium Lounge. We arrived in Montego Bay at about 230 pm and enjoyed some time in the Sandals lounge where you have free drinks…depending on the room category you have booked at Sandals/Beaches you get more amenities.
Off to Sandals Whitehouse….a long, 2 hour bus ride on a road filled with potholes! Beautiful resort, all oceanview rooms, very large property. The rooms were very large, very comfortable bed and nice jacuzzi tub as well. This is a very isolated resort…excellent if you are just going for rest and relaxation on an incredible beach!
Our next stop was Beaches Negril. This resort is about an hour from Sandals Whitehouse. This is a very large family resort. The beach is beautiful….part of the 7 mile beach and the water is incredible. This resort has 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedroom connecting rooms…excellent for large families travelling together. A great waterpark and lazy river. The Sesame Street characters are always around to see the kids and they put on a great family show in the amphitheatre.
We toured the Grand Pineapple Beach resort. This is in Negril and is for budget travellers. It is a very small resort with limited amenities, entertainment and dining options.
Part of the resort is on the beach and the other part is across the road. The pool is in the section across the road. It is a very small but incredible beach, again because it is in Negril.
The rooms are very basic but clean.
Beaches Sandy Bay was one of my favorite resorts although the rooms could use some updating. The rooms are large, some loft units and some with kitchenettes. I did find the pool area quite small but with that beach, who needs a pool?
Sandals Negril is a very high end resort, again on the 7 mile beach. Some parts of the beach are quite narrow but overall, amazing. It is a very active resort during the day, lots of young couples but a bit quieter in the evening. The rooms are beautiful…especially the swim up rooms with butler service. Incredible and on the best part of the beach, as well.
Rics Cafe is a great tourist attraction. It is located in Negril, about a 20 min bus ride. Here you will find the best place to see the sunset as well it is where the locals and tourists can do some cliff jumping.
We were fortunate enough to visit one of the local schools that is part of the Sandals Foundation. It was an incredible experience and certainly makes you appreciate what you have. The kids were adorable…we all brought gifts and school supplies for them. The school we visited was located in Negril.
Jamaica is a great destination and the Sandals/Beaches resorts are pretty incredible. Next time, I look forward to enjoying more of Jamaica and exploring the area.