Visiting Sandals Negril for the First Time
Contributed By
Paige Landrum
I recently visited Sandals Negril, and let me tell you friend, if Jamaica isn’t on your travel list, go ahead and add it. As a self-proclaimed beach girlie, I am always up for a trip where I can sit on the beach with a cold drink in my hand, and Sandals Negril did not disappoint. Negril is on the western side of Jamaica, and home to the famous Seven Mile Beach, which coincidentally, is where this Sandals resort is set.
When we arrived at Sangster International Airport, located in Montego Bay, we were guided through customs, and then grabbed our checked bags. Before long, we had found our way to the Sandals Lounge, where we were greeted with snacks and the freshest juice I’ve ever tasted (luckily a theme throughout our stay!). We then loaded into our transport van that drove us to the resort. This trip typically takes 90 minutes, but due to traffic leaving Montego Bay, it took us 3 hours. I welcomed the opportunity to nap, as my 3:30 AM wakeup call was catching up to me.
It is important to note that this was a bumpy ride. I’m not one to get car sick, but if you do, it may be something to keep in mind. A few people in my transport van took Dramamine and that seemed to do the trick.
A bonus to staying at Sandals is the airport transfer is included. I have stayed at other all-inclusives where this wasn’t the case, and I can confirm this is a great perk. To not have to worry about scheduling with a third party, or the additional costs, it’s definitely a win all around.
When we arrived at the resort, we were again greeted with delicious cocktails while we checked in. We were then walked to our rooms, and the staff pointed out key locations on the way. Anytime I asked a staff member where something was during my stay (such as the fitness center, nearest bathroom, or gift shop), they would actually walk me there instead of just giving directions. As someone who isn’t the best with verbal directions, it was something I both noticed and appreciated.
Rooms:
We stayed in a Luxury Level room, which came with a garden view, rainfall walk-in shower, and a mini-fridge refilled daily with sodas, water, local beer, and wine. While our room was spacious and had everything we needed, next time I will be sure to upgrade to a Club Level room to take advantage of the In-Room Dining Service option; breakfast on the balcony overlooking the ocean is typically a non-negotiable for me when visiting the beach. If Butler service is more your thing, they’ve got rooms with additional service that will wow you, too!
Our room had plenty of space and seating areas- there was a desk and chair, a dining table with two chairs, a lounge sofa, and a sitting chair. As a reminder, all Sandals’ rooms come with a king sized bed. The bathroom sink and counter were large, and there was plenty of room for two people without it being crowded. I also appreciated the abundance of shelves to help keep toiletries organized.
Things to Do:
While I consider the best days the days that are spent relaxing motionless in the sun, I understand that not everyone feels that way about the beach. For those that would like a little more action in their day, the resort offers tons of water and land sports (yes, also included). Since this was a short stay, we did not get to participate in most of the activities offered, but I’ve got my eyes on the kayaks and snorkeling during my next visit to a Sandals resort!
Another unique thing about this property is the layout is narrow, which means that all rooms are just steps from the beach. This is unlike some of the bigger properties where you may have a further walk to get to the sand.
We were told that Sandals Negril was at 96% booking capacity during our stay, yet it never seemed crowded. This further justified for me that this is a prime place to reconnect without feeling like you are in the middle of tourist central. With that being said, there is a party if you choose to find it. We spent one night watching fire dancers and another night singing karaoke. It definitely seemed like the right mix of both, leaving each guest to decide how to spend their time.
Food and Drinks:
The food was good and the drinks were strong, but it is important to keep in mind that most restaurants at Sandals Negril require reservations for dinner. We missed out on a few restaurants we wanted to try simply because we waited until the last minute to book reservations. I would definitely recommend booking dinners as soon as you arrive (or in your app prior to arrival) so that you can just relax and not have to worry about it for the rest of your stay.
We were able to try out Kimonos, the Japanese hibachi restaurant on property. I got the sushi for an appetizer, and then they offer you all the meats- steak, shrimp, chicken, and fish with your meal. Everything was tasty, even with the absence of my beloved yum-yum sauce. Dessert is included, but if you are looking for more sweets, check out Crema next door, an ice cream and coffee shop. My favorite was The Jamaican- rum cream with a double shot of espresso.
Beaches Negril:
While Sandals Negril was our home camp, we were lucky enough to visit two other properties during our time in Jamaica. The first stop was Beaches Negril, Sandals’ sister resort that is located a mile and a half away, just down Seven Mile Beach. From our first steps onto the property, the Beaches atmosphere was nothing short of lively and energetic. Greeted like old friends, the staff made us feel right at home, and of course, there was no shortage of delicious beverages offered.
Beaches Resorts are group and family-friendly, and as a mom of two toddlers, I fell head over heels for this property and everything it can offer my family during a stay. Pools. Lazy rivers. Water parks with water slides. AYCE frozen yogurt. Indoor and outdoor playgrounds. Camp Sesame with real, live Sesame Street Characters. Parades. Shows. The list truly goes on and on, and as someone who often defaults to a Disney family vacation because of how “easy” it can be for the kids, this scored just as high.
Sandals South Coast:
The following day we visited Sandals South Coast, another showstopper in my book. Pulling up to Sandals South Coast, you just know you are walking into luxury. Located on 50 acres, this is a huge resort, with a breathtaking view around every corner - literally, every room has a beach view! While Beaches Negril is on my shortlist for a family vacation, Sandals South Coast will be our next couples visit with my husband.
Visiting Sandals South Coast was an excellent reminder that Sandals resorts can come in all shapes and sizes, and all resorts have their own personality and flair. Sandals South Coast is more removed than Negril, and as part of a nature reserve, I’m not the least bit surprised that I could hear it calling my name as we entered through the gates. The lush greenery was awe-inspiring, and the architecture is as grand as grand can be. Throw in the awesome pools, great food, and a two-mile private beach, this one is hard to leave.
Pack for a Purpose:
This is something I had not heard of before, but was so happy to participate! The Sandals Foundation partners with Pack for a Purpose, a non-profit organization that helps connect travelers with needs in the communities they are visiting. When you click on the website, you can choose the area that you are traveling to, and it will show a list of needed goods. For Sandals Negril, there were a lot of requested art supplies for children. You pack these items in your suitcase and give them to the front desk once you arrive. Very easy to give back to the community that you are visiting.
All good things must come to an end...
While I generally loath packing up my hotel room from a trip, it is always nice to be home, and a resort can definitely make or break the departure process. When we got back to our room from dinner the night before departure, there was a letter that had all of our check-out information, including bus times and what time are suitcases should be left outside if we wanted help with our luggage. Sandals Negril recommends leaving the resort 5 hours before your flight departure time. While this originally seemed excessive to me, it turns out they know what they are talking about and it was great timing. This is also something to consider when you are booking return flights home.
Club Mobay, the real MVP:
We were not able to book Club Mobay for arrival, and in reality it wasn’t necessary for that particular travel day as we arrived earlier in the morning. HOWEVER, we did book Club Mobay for departure, and let me say, HALLELUJAH we did! Club Mobay has their own security line, which proved to be worth its weight in gold. We were able to walk right through their own security line, where the regular line was somewhere between 200-300 people deep as we walked by. We actually asked an airport staff member if that was normal, and was told it was pretty standard for every weekend to look like that. That alone sold their services, but then we got to experience the lounge, which included a buffet and a full service bar with free wifi. This was an excellent place to wait, as many people were experiencing flight delays due to the network issues of the day prior. Honestly, I cannot imagine traveling again through this airport without using Club Mobay, at least for departures.
Final Thoughts:
Visiting a Sandals Resort for the first time really reiterated that all-inclusives truly are where it’s at. As someone who has visited more beach resorts than I can count, the difference between Sandals and somewhere else on the beach comes from two things; services included and the people who are providing them. Plus, those Jamaican sunsets can't be beat.
It was so nice to return home and have absolutely zero charges on my credit card. I am usually someone who goes into “vacation mode” on spending while on a trip, so this was a great help. It’s also nice to not have to worry about cooking, paying for meals, or even tipping since everything is already covered.
What I was prepared to have included in my stay was the food, fun and airport transfers. What I was not expecting was the truly genuine customer service I felt while visiting. Everyone was so friendly, full of life, and genuinely happy to be serving guests. Just from the few days I had here, I was truly impressed with how accommodating most people were, and just how much the true Jamaican hospitality and culture shined.
-Paige Landrum
AMAAB Travel Advisor
@theplanningpaige_
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