Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Awesome Awesome Awesome”
I have travelled to so many places and have stayed at ritzy hotels and been treated like garbage but they had beautiful rooms, is that the important thing? I THINK NOT..But at Sandals..everyday was an incredible day..yes the room was not the greatest but nice..but there is no point in spending extra money on a a higher room with an ocean view because you are hardly ever in your room, if you want to see the ocean, take a two minute walk out to the ocean. The food was incredible, different types of food in each restaurant..(DRUNKEN SHRIMP A MUST HAVE) and it is right on the beach, what more can you ask for?..whatever you want..they will give you.I would go back every year if I could!!Book this wonderful trip and have a BLAST =)Steph
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Yeah Mon!”
We had very high expectations from this hotel because not only was it our honeymoon, but because it was costing more than all the other holidays we've ever had put together!Having got upgraded to Business Class by Air Jamaica on the flight out, we certainly felt we were getting the royal treatment. Sandals also gave us a 3 place upgrade to one of the superior rooms, but our smug and jet lagged grins were soon wiped off our faces when we saw the room. If this was amongst the best rooms the hotel had to offer, then I would hate to see the worst! The room itself was passsable but the bathroom was an embarrassment. After 3 days, a mould patch the size of Rhode Island appeared on our wall. Sandals were very quick to respond to this and offered us a room change. Once again, the bathroom was in need of refurbishment.On the positive side - Staff were in general very courteous, friendly and helpful. The rooms were extremely clean in general and the hotel grounds and facilities very well manicured. We found the food to be of a high standard and plenty of choice, but we definitely reccommend making the most of other local Sandals restaurants for a change of scene. The choice of drinks at the bar was extensive although the beer and coke was on the flat side.We made the most of the watersports on offer, however, two instructors were reluctant to teach my wife to sail, and left her on the beach during my lesson. I don't think they realised that they were being sexist. That aside, I thought the instructor was rather creepy and had the cheek to try to embarrass me in to leaving my watch to him at the end of the holiday. Similar things happened with other guests with their football shirts etc. We never left any tips and I certainly wasn't giving my watch away to someone whose attitude spoiled my day.In conclusion, the food, service and facilities did meet our 5 star expectations, but the rooms fell a long way short.
_Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “True Jamaican Hospitality and Fun”
I, along with several other posters, was nervous about my decision to visit Sandals Ocho Rios (SOR) after reading the reviews that have been posted here. To my surprise, our vacation couldnt have been more different than those having unpleasant experiences.To start off, we flew via Air Jamaica from Chicago. What a wonderful airline! I have never had such great service and smiles as I did on this flight. Landing in Montego Bay and opting to take the shuttle bus to Ocho Rios turned out to be just fine for us. (Our travel agent said that the puddle-jumper plane to Ocho Rios could, in fact, take longer than the plane, just due to waiting for departure, etc.) On the bus ride, the driver pointed out many places of interest, and it was nice to see all of the sides of the Jamaican lifestyle before being submerged into the luxury of Sandals.Upon arriving for check-in, we were greeted with cool towels and champagne (which were greatly needed!). The process went smoothly, and we were on our way to the room. My only disappointment with the entire vacation occurred when we first entered the room. I was very surprised at how old the room appeared. (Ex: Rust on the mirror, chipped paint, cheesy d�cor, etc.) However, by Jamaican standards, it did seem to be the best of the best of what we saw. By the end of the week, though, I didn't even notice the room anymore. There were so many other things to do that I forgot about those little details.Resort overview: The grounds at SOR are kept up beautifully. There is one large pool, a garden pool, and a quiet pool. There were four sit-down restaurants and one oceanside snack bar. We found the food to be excellent, well beyond our expectations. The Arizona restaurant is set-up on the beach every night, and was our favorite place to dine. The drinks were plentiful, and easy to locate a bar! They have drink menus up at every bar, so there was always somethign new to try. (Ask for the Bob Marley special!) There are always activities going on (basketball games, volleyball matches, bingo, etc.), and there is live entertainment every night. We didnt participate in much of the activities, but there was plenty to do if we chose to do so.Tour overview: The tour to Dunns River Falls is included with the package. This is a must-see!!! The falls are beautiful. Be aware that you must have aqua socks or tennis shoes to participate. Bring a waterproof camera. The locals at the craft market that you must exit through are pretty aggressive. We paid for a shopping tour and the Blue Mountain Bike Tour. The bike tour is a fabulous way to see the east side of the island. The biking is all downhill, and the views from 5,000 ft. are spectacular. The bus ride up to the mountains takes three hours, and can be very demanding for those who get car sick easily. We paid $89 per person for this all-day tour. The shopping tour is $17 per couple and takes you to 4 shopping centers, including one local craft market. The locals are very aggressive, and you must bargain to receive a fair price. This includes a trip to Margaritaville.On a side note, my husband and I got married on the Ocho Rios property. I would say that were an average of 5 weddings per day while we were there. The wedding coordinator helped us put everything together, and it went just as planned. The flowers and the scenery are extremely stunning in the photographs.(We did visit Sandals Dunns River, and I thought the property was a little more spread out, but also a bit newer. There were two large pools, both with swim-up bars. The beach also looked larger than SOR. It did not seem as busy as what I expected.)Overall, I feel we made a great choice for a honeymoon location. The service at Sandals was unbelievably good. I did not feel pressured to tip any of the employees. In fact, they wore pins that spoke to the contrary. I would recommend SOR to anyone looking for a romantic location for a honeymoon or getaway. The island of Jamaica is a great choice, and I really liked the fact that we were not surrounded by kids. The spa services were excellent, and I highly recommend the couples massage. All the people we encountered were very professional and service-oriented. The scenery is so beautiful, and the water is so sparkling blue, that I couldve stayed much longer!
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “How can you write a bad review of this place?”
We just returned from our Honeymoon from Sandals and it could not have been a better time. I'll be honest..I was reading these reviews for 6 months, and I was worried that some of these bad reviews questioned my decision to stay at Sandals. I AM SO GLAD that I stayed with my decision. First of all, if you are going to Jamaica...LOOK AT A MAP. You can see that Ocho Rios isn't close to Montego Bay. Thus, you will have to take a 2 hour bus ride. Yes, the streets are poor. Yes, they drive on the left side of the road. But it's Jamaica. It's a poor island. Sandals just flat our rocks. The people could not have been any more pleasant. We stayed in the Honeymoon Penthouse Concierge room. It is a oceanview room on the top floor. The room was great. Whatever we drank in the stocked fridge was restocked the next day. I have to laugh at all the reviews that gave Sandals a low rating because the room looked old. Why go to Jamaica to stay in your room all day? I will say, however, that there probably isn't much of a reason to have a seperate concierge on that floor. We never found ourselves having to use them. The food....awesome! We liked the Arizona for dinner (On the beach) and Valentino's on formal evenings. If you love jerked chicken or pork (which is a spicy type BBQ.) you will love the restaurant that is on the beach during the day. WOW! My mouth is watering thinking about it. Activites- Just like the other reviews. You need to go to Dunn's River Falls. You need to do the shopping trip. One activity that has not been mentioned is the Horseback ride. It was our favorite activity. It takes you through the jungle and then on to the beach. Along the way you learn about Jamaica's history. It was a lot of fun. We visited Sandals Dunn's river one day. Very nice. It is a much nicer beach, but it only seemed to be 50% occupancy for some reason. Also, SOR has more staff working. This place seemed short handed. Still very nice. One warning...those 3 Jamaican guys in the water at SDR aren't life guards...they are there to sell you stuff...all kinds of stuff. A simple "No thanks" and they will be on there way. Finally, tipping! I don't know what the bad review said about tipping, but these guys can lose thier job if they get caught taking a tip. Of course they will take it if thier manager is not around, but they DO NOT expect one. Even the hour long massage that I got. The masseuse refused my tip. We could not have asked for a better trip. I think that you shoud plan a trip based on the things that you like to do. It is very romantic. It is safe. It is a lot of fun. We can't wait to go back.
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Beyond wonderful!”
What a wonderful trip!! My fiancee and I needed a bit of a dive refresher before our honeymoon, so we went to Jamaica for Labor Day weekend. All the people who wrote bad things about Sandals Ocho Rios (SOR) either expect too much or need to relax a bit!! First, though, I do recommend hopping on the Air Jamaica Express flight from Mo Bay to Ocho Rios, it's only 15 min and the shuttle ride can be a bit harrowing, although not unbearable if you can't afford the ticket. On to SOR...as soon as we got there we were given champagne and a cool towel, and the desk help is wonderful. Please keep in mind that the saying is "You're never late in Jamaica", and we Americans may need to get used to that, things go at a leisurely pace...Not everything happens at the snap of a finger, so if you have to wait a few minutes for your bags to be brought to your rooms, enjoy the sun, have a drink, take in the lush surroundings and just relax!! The food--wonderful, for an all-inclusive. Not enough seafood, though, so you may have to go "off-campus" for a crab or lobster dish...The drinks---I have NEVER in my life seen bartenders with such heavy hands!! This is either good or bad, depending on your drinking habits. A rum and coke is a four count of rum and a splash of coke. I liked that, but you MUST get a Dirty Banana, so much liquor and it tastes like a banana milkshake! The grounds are beautiful and people are always cleaning, we walked around barefoot the entire time! Bring closed-toed shoes for Valentino's in addition to pants and a collared shirt. By the way, to refute another's review, no tipping is required and your service is in no way affected. The only time I felt badly about not tipping is when my fiancee and I did a private night dive with the divemaster and didn't tip, we porbably should have but didn't think about it until too late. Watersports were great, nightly activities were a bit cheesy but there's always the beach to relax on. We didn't get over to Dunn's River, but didn't really feel the need to. I HIGHLY recommend SOR, we spent no money while we were there, quite an accomplishment! Thank you, Sandals, for a wonderful trip! Maybe next time, the new resort in St. Lucia!
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Amazing place if you're not too uptight”
C Before you do anything else, you need to research Jamaica and decide if it is a place you would like to vacation. I think a lot of the bad reviews from many of the resorts in Jamaica are from people who did not have realistic expectations. You are not in America, and its a different culture. People move slower there, and its a very poor country. So you want to go anyway? OK heres some tips I picked up from our trip there:What to bring:It is very hot and humid there, so you won't need any long sleeves. Make sure to wear shorts on the plane or bring clothes to change into at the Montego Bay airport or you will be uncomfortable on the ride to the resort. Some of the restaurants require long pants for the guys, so men should pack a pair or two. You'll be wearing a bathing suit every day, so you should pack at least two suits. During the day people wear shorts and tank tops or t-shirts. Nighttime is a little dressier. Most of the girls have sun dresses on and the guys wear shorts and a collared shirt. Two of the restaurants are a little more formal, so you should bring two nicer outfits (nothing too formal though). Other items to pack: sunglasses, sunscreen, hair clips (my hair was curly there b/c of the humidity), camera & film, disposable underwater camera, bathing suit cover ups, beach bag,book or magazine (to read on the beach and on the plane), you don't need towels - they have bath towels in the rooms and beach towels on the beach and by the pool.If you want to go to the Dunn's River Falls, you should bring water shoes. If you don't have your own, you have to rent them for $5. This tour was my least favorite part of the trip, but I'm glad we went b/c we got great pictures. The ride there is free and the ticket to the park is free, but they hit you up for money at every other chance. You have to tip all of the tour guides (there were four of them), and you have to rent a locker (but you can split one with other people on your tour). At the end of the tour, you have to walk through this gauntlet of shops to get back to the bus. The people there are VERY aggressive in trying to sell you things. You can't tell them you don't have money, because you can charge things to your room. If you go, wear your bathing suit because you will get very wet! What to do:Check out the activities schedule so you can see if there's anything you want to participate in. I did water aerobics, yoga, snorkeling, aquatrikes, hobie cat, kayaking, pool, shuffle board, reggae dance lessons, the beach party, a beer chugging contest (no, i didn't win), and my favorite activity - laying on the beach. There's no motorized water sports because of safety issues with the reef, but they have free water skiing at Dunn's River. I've heard there's some problems with some of the rooms (ours was great though), so if there is, just ask to be moved. Food - Your first night there, you should book dinner reservations for Valentino's (my favorite) and Kimono's (at Dunn's River). The concierge rooms get first choice of reservations, so you'll have to book a few days in advance in order to get a table. Another couple said that Orchids at Beaches was really good, but we didn't know about it in time, so we didn't get to eat there. They have two choices for breakfast - buffet or sit down (at Valentino's). Nobody really knew that Valentino's had breakfast (it's casual in the morning), so it was usually pretty empty. They had much better choices there, but I liked all the fresh fruit and oatmeal on the breakfast buffet. For lunch, they have a buffet, but we'd usually forget and get there too late, so we'd just order something at the beach grill. The other two restaurants are Arizona and The Reef Terrace. I loved the Arizona because they set up tables on the beach, and you have a nice candlelit dinner next to the ocean. It's not open every day, so be sure to check with the guest services desk so you don't miss out. We ended up eating at the Reef Terrace twice. I loved eating outside and watching the birds, but I didn't really care for the food (it's more traditional Jamaican food). The Internationale restaurant at Dunns River was really good, and no reservations were required. I would steer clear of the Jamaican wine, and ask for Chilean or French if you want wine with dinner. Bars - There are several places to get a drink - the beach front disco, main building, swim up bar, and piano bar. My favorite was the piano bar. They have the best selection of liquor and it's air conditioned. One tip - they'll make your drink with well liquor, so if you want the premium stuff, you have to ask for it.Sandal's Dunn's River - Ochos Rios is more relaxing and secluded (more romantic, I think), and Dunn's River is more of a party scene. It's about 15 minutes away by bus, and they have free shuttle's running back and forth. It's nicer though, and they have a much larger pool area and beachfront, so you'll probably want to spend at least one day there. They have showers and dressing rooms, so you might want to bring a beach bag w/ a change of clothes so you can stay there for lunch or dinner. Beaches Grande Sport - I wasn't impressed with this resort, but there are more restaurants here (I got a smoothie up there), and they have a rock wall you can climb if you get the urge. It's just up the hill, so you can walk there. I think Beaches Boscobel is next door, but we never made it to that resort. Keep in mind that Beaches resorts allow kids, so it may be best to stick to the two Sandal's properties.Money - It really is all included. BUT (there's always a catch) certain things you'll have to pay for if you want to do them. Golf is $15+tip, but you have free transportation there. This includes a caddy - it's more if you want to rent a cart. If you go, guys and girls both have to wear a collared shirt to be allowed on the course. (There is a free pitch and putt course at Dunn's River.) Excursions are extra. We didn't do any except the trip to Dunn's River Falls, and part of that trip was included. The excursions are pretty expensive, but I heard they were fun. Maybe if we had stayed longer we would have gone, but there were too many free things on property to do that we never got bored. You have to tip the guy at the airport that carries your bags (~50 cents a bag). It's a two hour bus ride to Ochos Rios, so about halfway there, they stop for a bathroom break. They sell souvenirs and snacks there, so you may want to buy a beer or some water to drink for the second half of your ride. We had to spend a lot of time in the Montego Bay airport, but there's a cool bar by the US Air Jamaica Gates called Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. It's pretty expensive, but their bathrooms are clean, and it was better than hanging out in the terminal. Of course, any souvenirs are going to cost money. There's a Margaritaville in Ochos Rios too. They had free cover for Sandal's guests on Monday, but since it was our first night, we didn't go. You'd still have to pay for drinks there though. Another couple said it was fun, and MTV was there filming when they went. Just something you might want to do if you're looking for a party scene, but it does cost extra. Do not exchange your money into Jamaican Dollars. Everyone accepts US Dollars.Customs - It's pretty easy. You either need a passport or a birth certificate. After you pick up your bags in Jamaica, a Sandal's person will find you and take you to the bus. You have to fill out a short form in Jamaica and one in the US. (Don't pack your birth certificate in your checked luggage - you'll need it with you b/c you have to show it in Jamaica too.) After you pick up your bags in Jamaica, a Sandal's person will find you and take you to the bus. They drive crazy there, and on the wrong side of the street, so I would recommend sitting at the back of the bus where you can't see oncoming traffic (don't worry - the bus is air conditioned). You're allowed to bring back 2 liters of alcohol per person, and I think it's up to $400 of other items w/o being taxed. If you are a laid back person looking for a care free, romantic vacation, this is an amazing place. The happiness of the Jamaicans is infectious, and I cant wait to go back!
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “you gotta go all inclusive!!!”
My husband and I have always wanted to visit Jamaica. We were looking for the best value and found it at Sandals Ocho Rios all inclusive resort. We arrived at the airport and took a shuttle to the resort stopping along the way to drop off other vacationers at other resorts. We arrived at SOR and were given champagne and cool towels to refresh us from the long ride. Our room was clean, cool, comfortable, and we had a beautiful fountain just off our patio. We were hungry from traveling and went to dinner at the Reef Terrace which serves Jamaican cuisine. Wonderful! Another restaraunt there is the Arizona that serves southwestern food right on the beach. It is just so beautiful to have the waves lap 2 feet away from your table while you dine under the stars. All the resteraunts serve great food at a great price(free-ha ha) It was nice not to have to carry money and pay and there isn't even tipping allowed at the resort. We took the free excursion to Dunns River Falls. What a blast! you walk up the front of a 1000 foot waterfall. To exit the park you must walk through a mass of souvenier shops. Either be ready to buy something or smile walk quickly and say no thank you. We also took the party cruise to Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville. That was $45US per person, but we had a blast! The tour company picks you up at the oier in a catamaran and then you go snorkeling for a bit and then to Margaritaville. There is a full bar and restaurant, a swim up bar and a big water slide. Then you have the option of a shopping center just outside where you can purchase just about anything in the air-conditioned shops. After you leave margaritaville you return to SOR, but not before you learn a few new Jamaican dances. It was truly a party on board that boat. The gardens at SOR are beautiful and they even have a nature walk where the head groundskeeper walks you around and tells you some history of where the plants come from and how they arrived in Jamaica. The resort also offers scuba and snorkeling and have a wonderful entertainment crew called "playmakers" to organize things like volleyball tournaments and talent shows. We had a great time and we hope we can find other all inclusive resorts on our future vacations!!!
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “A wonderful experience!!!”
This was our second trip to Sandals Ocho Rios. I was concerned due to some of the other comments about this facility. We have been to Sandals Negril and Antigua. Sandals Ocho Rios is still our favorite. We loved it this time as much as we did the first time. The staff was just wonderful! There are always a few who are not as friendly as the others, but that is to be expected anywhere. The food was excellent (especially Valentino's and Reef Terrace)! Our room was clean and the housekeeping staff was terrific. We were there for 8 days, 7 nights and wanted to stay longer. The piano bar and Joe the bartender were a real delight! We are definitely going again!
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Ultra Luxury, Not !”
Auto Club of Southern California (AAA) Customer ServicesDear Auto Club,First of all, I want to thank you for your recent travel assistance but would also like to take the opportunity to provide some feedback.On September 1, 2002 my fianc�e and I departed Los Angeles Airport and arrived in Montego Bay Jamaica for a seven-night stay at Sandals Ocho Rios. In our opinion the flight and service were what we expected. Upon arrival and after clearing Customs, we were greeted by Apple Vacations representatives at the airport and then conveniently guided directly to a waiting Sky Cap to handle our baggage. The representatives presented these Sky Caps as if they were supplied by Apple Vacations or the Sandals resort to assist us with our bags. We soon discovered that they were independent employees after they practically begged for a tip. Our transportation to the resort was waiting directly outside the airport doors, which was a very short walk for us as well as the Sky Cap. The bus ride from the airport to the resort was long and bumpy but this was to be expected.We arrived at the resort at about nine in the morning with no idea of what to do next. We immediately approached the registration counter to get our room. It was at this time that a Sandals host sat us down where we completed some registration paperwork. It appeared that we had arrived too early for any rooms to be ready so the hosts guided us towards breakfast and told us to check back in an hour for our room. Although we were exhausted, we were also hungry. It turned-out later that the host should have also informed us about the resort?s orientation that was also occurring just about the same time. It happens that we were not able to attend another orientation until later in the week. Following breakfast, we returned to the front desk and received the key to our room. Even though our room was ready, it appeared that the bellmen were not. It was not busy but we patiently waited for about ten to fifteen minutes to be escorted to our room and only until I asked for directions to our room so we could take the bags ourselves, did we get some attention.Upon entering our room, we immediately realized that this was not a ?Luxury Resort.? The furniture was old with chipping paint. Additionally, our ?No Smoking? room had cigarette burns all over the counter tops and dressers and the carpet was stained in many places. I don?t believe I?ve ever stayed in a more neglected room in all my travels. It was obvious that they had done very little in maintaining their rooms besides providing the normal housekeeping services. Upon inquiring, we discovered that moving to a new room would cost us additional money and valuable vacation time. We also quickly returned some of the provided critique forms but also noticed that the box to place them in was over stuffed making it obvious that no one was paying attention to them either. In addition to this, we never saw an Apple Vacations representative at the resort. It would have been nice to speak to one.Unlike our room, the grounds of the resort were very well kept, although, the set-up and location of facilities we found were a little odd. There was only one main swimming pool and it was not user friendly. It was a lot smaller compared to the other resorts and didn?t allow for guest participation in games or social activities. We spent most of our time at the Beaches resort next door. We also found ourselves taking the shuttle to Sandals Dunn?s River resort to enjoy those facilities. We enjoyed social activities at Dunn?s River so much more we even inquired into moving over but the cost was substantial. However, the beach area at Ocho Rios was small but very nice.Being that we aren?t picky eaters, the restaurants turned out to be average. A little more selection and the ability to accommodate more than a couple people a sitting would have been more enjoyable. As you know it is widely advertised that the rules to these resorts were that no gratuities were to be offered or accepted. This apparently didn?t include the bars. We soon discovered that tipping was a normal practice and almost blatantly expected by some of the bar tenders. Even though they attempted to conceal it, it was obviously dictating the quality of service that was provided. The selection was also very limited; I enjoy drinking beer, so when I discovered that there was only one type of beer being offered I was surprised. Additionally, this one type of beer was only offered from the tap, which caused it to be flat. If I wanted to drink another type of beer, I would have to purchase it from the resort store. At one point, I saw other guests with bottled beer and requested some but was told that they were supplied this through their rooms at an additional cost.Entertainment at the resort was very amateur. We only attended because there were no other activities offered. Additionally, at Ocho Rios, the planned beach parties, contests and afternoon music was enjoyable, but only lasted for what seemed like a few minutes. They spent more time setting up and taking down the equipment then providing the actual entertainment. We enjoyed the one included tour to the Falls and inquired about going on some others but didn?t because they were way too expensive.We have traveled to Mexico a few times and have been on a few Cruises. We very much enjoy resort travel especially carefree ?All Inclusive,? resorts where there is little to worry about and allot of opportunity to relax. As you can tell by our experience, we came away from this vacation very unsatisfied in almost every aspect. Although the services provided by the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) were great, I believe that it is only fair that both Apple Vacations along with the Auto Club be aware of initiating customer interest in these poorly run resorts. It is my belief that our money could have been better spent at a true ?Ultra Inclusive? Resort.Again, thank you for the opportunity to provide my opinion and I hope that it assists you in future business interests and the way you provide customer service.It should be noted that this letter was directed to the Auto Club, Apple Vacations and Sandals Resorts. Only the Auto Club and Apple Vacations responded back.
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Great for weddings! and Honeymooners”
My husband and I were married at Sandals, Ocho Rios in April 2003. Our pictures were beautiful and the ceremony was lovely. The resort was idyllic like a Garden of Eden. We stayed in the Honeymoon Penthouse on the Concierge Level. Our room was newly remodeled and was very well appointed. It was well worth the extra expense. We enjoyed room service and a beautiful ocean view. We were treated so well by the staff that for our week we felt like the "rich and famous." We enjoyed dining at Sandals but because we had room service, we didn't eat a formal meal each evening. If you like a relaxed, intimate, paradise setting, this is for you. We enjoyed shopping at the local open air markets. Their sales pitch can be a little overwhelming at first, but if you are relaxed and friendly you can get some pretty nice souvenirs for a reasonable price. We were very pleased with our experience here.
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Sandals - Never again!!!”
This was our first trip to Jamaica. It was also our first all-inclusive vacation. While we are not world travellers, we have travelled some and were excited to experience Jamaica with "no problems".Not the case here. Arrived at Montego Bay (MoBay) and were herded into a 'transport' (ie -small bus) by a rude driver. Then, after enduring 60 minutes of crazed driving (two lane traffic - one lane road in a thunderstorm), we arrived at the hotel...almost 60 minutes late.The staff was rude and not accomodating. Because we were late, many travellers who arrived with us had to downgrade rooms - we went from an oceanview to a gardenview villa because the hotel was oversold.The room was small (about the size of someone's closet), musty and had an early 1980's look. Furniture in our room had cigarette burns!!! Since it was raining upon our arrival, we tried to watch tv...except our set was broken! Shower was small and dirty. Air conditioning was poorly functioning. That was really bad- considering what you pay for a room there.Next morning, my wife and I were joined in the lobby by many of the passengers from the night before...all of us trying to upgrade our rooms back to what we originally paid! Few people were lucky - we were not. The manager 'graciously' extended his most sincere apology but never did offered to refund us the difference - despite our asking numerous times. We overheard comments of irate couples not a bit happy with the changes before they were rushed out of the lobby for a more 'private' conversation about alternatives that hopefully would work for them.Food was average/below average (for both Beaches and Sandals) when compared to the restaurants we normally choose. Service was only mediocre (often mixing up orders, etc.). After two days of this, we had enough. Called our travel agent and moved down the street.Bottom Line - Do not go to Sandals. Do not waste your money...go elsewhere.
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “A True Wedding Moon in Jamaica”
Our time at Sandals Ocho Rios was wonderful! We arrived on May 5, 2003 and got married there in the beautiful gazebo on May 8, 2003.The bus ride is not fun from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios and the beer break halfway there was much appreciated by this wary traveler. The first day is really a wash out because the traveling wears you out. However, the entire time we were there we had a blast every day. I described it as a "couples drinking camp" with everyone so friendly and wanting to meet everyone else. We met so many nice couples from all over the US! Most of them had either just gotten married the Saturday prior or were like us, getting married at the resort.Suzette the wedding coordinator makes the whole process easy and unstressful. You make all your selections within the first 24 hours (location, music, bouquet, pictures etc.) and then she picks you up and you get married. The people of Jamaica are the nicest I have met compared to other Caribbean islands I have been to before. The grounds were spectacular and they seemed to be constantly groomed and cleaned. The food was good too. It is worth taking the bus to Dunn's River to eat at the Japanese restaurant but make reservations early, because it fills up quickly.My husband and I enjoyed snorkeling, beach volleyball, the beach party on Monday night, karaoke on Friday night and all the other numerous events held by the "Play Makers" of Sandals. Dunns River was a nice experience except we moved a little slow. HIf I had any complaints, the rooms especially the bathrooms could use an update. We had the deluxe room and to be quite honest, I'm glad we didn't waste money on the nicer rooms. We were hardly in the room! Yes, the beach is a little small but it's quaint and clean. It's tough when the biggest decision of the day was what bathing suit to wear and what to drink next!I highly recommend Sandals Ocho Rios...We wished we could have stayed longer than a week!
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Wonderful Vacation!”
My husband and I went to Sandals from May 9-15 to get married. We booked the concierge level room (mountainview) and with our package, we received free airfare from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios. The price for the trip was excellent. The room was very nice and the view was beautiful. The bathroom was a little outdated, but very clean so we were happy with it. The room included a wet bar, which was stocked everyday. The furniture was beautiful--much nicer than the lower level rooms from what we could see. The one thing that was a little inconvenient was housekeeping--everything runs on a late schedule down there, so housekeeping often didn't come until 2 or 3 PM. The wedding was wonderful--I wouldn't do it any differently. The staff was amazingly friendly and helpful--you essentially just showed up for the wedding and everything was perfect. The pictures turned out very nicely as did the flowers, location, etc. The food at Sandals was good--we didn't get a chance to eat at the Italian and Tex-mex restaurant...a little disappointed, but it was our choice. Each night they set up the tables on the beach for Arizona's restaurant...very romantic! The beach was a little small, but still nice. There was plenty of room for everyone to sit and enjoy themselves (and the resort was full when we were there). Watersports were fun--we went snorkeling and kayaking. There is always some sort of activity going on (we did water volleyball, tennis lessons, shopping tour and the Dunn's River Falls trip). The property itself is beautiful and there always seemed to be someone out working on the landscaping.The few things I would change if I could...meals were served somewhat late (breakfast starts at 7:30 and dinner starts at 6 and 6:30). This was only a problem for us because we're early risers. We were up at 6AM the first morning (time change was a problem, too). After a couple days it wasn't such a big deal--we got into a schedule that allowed us to sleep in. Housekeeping came very late. I'd love to have room service, butp. We did have a continental breakfast set up outside our door every morning (on concierge levels only). On our return trip, Air Jamaica express cancelled the flight from Ocho to Montego Bay so we had to take the 2.5 hour bus ride. I was a little annoyed with this--part of the reason we booked the higher level room was to get the free airfare. But it wasn't due to any fault of Sandals.Overall, we had a fabulous time and would definitely go again. The "few things I would change" weren't really a big deal in the scheme of things...we enjoyed ourselves and would definitely recommend the property to anyone who is interested in a trip to Ocho Rios.
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Spectacular Sandals, won us over”
We had the most spectacular time at Sandals Ocho Rios. The people were amazingly cordial and friendly and the location was breathtaking. We got married there in February 2003 and there is not one single regret that would come to mind. If I could do it all over again, I would and would not change a thing! I had the most memorable wedding ever and had the advantage of combining wedding and honeymoon costs! If you're contemplating a wedding in Sandals... go for it! People: Some of the friendliest I've ever met! Even the cleaning people were helpful and friendly to us even though it wasn't really their job to be. Location: Gorgeous! The grounds were truly a 'Garden of Eden' as is advertised. Rooms: Nice rooms, all in pretty locations, whether it be ocean view or overlooking the gardens. The rooms themselves weren't spectacular but they were adequate. (We stayed in the Honeymoon Grande Luxe)Wedding: Beautiful decorations and bouquet selections. The wedding planner was so nice and helpful! The photographs were gorgeous as well. The lady who did my hair did a great job. I have long hair and had it all curled. It took over an hour and a half but it came out very pretty.Food: Wonderful. We had really excellent food and the service was amazing. I felt so guilty having to leave the table without tipping (as all gratuities are included) after having some of the best, friendliest, helpful service ever. I wish the waiters and waitresses in the states were that good! Beach: It was a little on the small side but still very nice. I wish I could always walk outside and go lay in a hammock by the beach!I hope I haven't left anything out.. I'm sure I have but hopefully you get the point that we thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We loved it so much that we plan on taking another trip to Sandals next January or February but this time we'll be going to Sandals Royal Caribbean. So anyway, here is one more coin in the piggybank for a wonderful rating for Sandals Ocho Rios!
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Just returned from 8 days trip”
Just returned Monday night. This was our second trip to Sandals Ocho Rios, after 10 years. The food is still wonderful, the staff absolutely great. The only problem we had, was we were not upgraded as we were suppose to be, there was a terrible rumbling noise above our room, perhaps the elevator, and the marine life is definitely on its way out. We were very disappointed in the snorkeling trips. Every morning I would see multiple LOCAL boats out in the reefs, collecting all they could, to sell on shore. What a shame this isn't patrolled by the coast guards. We did do the all day Blue Mt. trip, biking down, with brunch and lunch and had a wonderful time! Only disappointment is the marine life is on decline, most likely from population.
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Wonderful Jamaican Vacation”
My wife and I stayed at the Sandals Ocho Rios in December of 2002. It was such a good experience that I vowed to log onto the Web and write a review of the place once I made it back to the States. Though I procrastinated a few months, here we go...We really enjoyed the place. The ride from Sanger Airport to the Resort was a bit bumpy (roads in Jamaica are horrible), but I chalked it up as being part of the experience. It gave us a chance to see a bit of the northern coast enroute to the resort. Upon arrival at the resort we were met met by the one of the hotel staff who greeted us with complemenatry champagne and brief orientation. Right off I was impressed with the service (and I continued to be impressed by the service throught the trip). After the orientation they showed us to our room. As other reviewers have said, the rooms are more than adequate. It was nt the best room we've ever stayed in, but it had everything we needed, it was clean, and had a great view. The furniture was well taken care of, and the climate control was there for us to adjust to our liking. The room cleaning service was prompt and thorough throughout our stay. I really had no complaints about the room. The rest of the resort was impressive. Well-taken care of gardens and pools. The restaurants were numerous enough and varied in their menus so that you got ample variety. Make sure you get up and ctach breakfast on the open deck. There's nothing quite like eating with in the early morning sunlight with the ocean breeze pouring past you. The food in general was great. The bars and bartender service were great as well. You really get your money's worth.The service is the best I have encountered. I've traveled all around the globe, but the service here was exceptional. They went above and beyond. For instance, I was actually sick when I arrived to the Resort and was starting to worry that I would spend my entire week there lying in bed. The first day we were there my wife got on the phone and called the front desk. They sent The doctor came right away and diagnosed mya ilment and got me some medication. I was up and running withing 4 hours and had no problems after that. The nurse called back the next day just to check and see if all was well. The service was super.Enough praise. If you go to this resort make sure you get out for some excursions. Like any resort, you get claustrophobic after three or four days. The trip to Dunn's River Falls is a must. The best trip of all however is the bike ride down the Blue Mountains. Yu get up early in the morning and take a bus trip to the top of the mountain (you stop half way up for lunch in an open-air hut). Once you are at the top you are given a bike and you wind your way down the twisty mountain road all the way to a waterfall at the very bottom. The views on the way up and down will provide you with the best pictures you're going to find in Jamaica. The tour guides also give you a very entertaining lecture on local history on the bus ride to and from. Please don't pass up on this excursion (it wa sa welcome break from the resort).
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Sandals Ocho Rios - Feb 2003”
We stayed at Sandals Ocho Rios in late Feb 2003 and had a great trip! The service was excellent, food was good, and accommodations were nice. Woven throughout the grounds are beautiful mature tropical gardens and "hidden" pools, which really make you feel like you're away from it all. There is a free shuttle (15 min ride) to the Sandals Dunns River so you can also use all the amenities at that resort. Sandals Dunns River is definitely a 5 star compared to the 4 stars at Ocho Rios, but the two resorts have completely different personalities. Ocho Rios is much more laid back and seemed friendlier to me.The one downfall to this resort is the beach. It's nice, but very small. The beach is closed off at both ends, and it's narrow as well. Overall, though the positives far outweighed the negatives and I would go back.
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Beauty and the beast”
Our first trip to Jamaica was also our first all-inclusive vacation. While we are not globetrotters we have travelled some and were excited to experience Jamaica with "no problems". We booked in November of 2002 for our February 2003 trip. The tour company was Apple and the package was Sandals, Ocho Rios. When we got to Montego Bay we were greeted by our Apple representative with the news that Sandals was overbooked and we were being treated to an upgrade across the street at Beaches Grand Sport where we were to have a private villa. With a little consternation we were transported to our new and unknown destination. Beaches G.S. was right across the street and we did get a private villa that was quite nice. However, our overall evalation of this particular all-inclusive is that this vacation package was not for us. Although we did not stay at Sandals we did visit and ate at two of their restaurants. We found the food quality was below average (for both Beaches and Sandals) when compared to the restaurants we normally choose to go to when we are paying ourselves. The wines we were served were pretty dismal...chain grocery store quality at best. A few years ago we were lucky enough to go to Italy for an 11 day vacation. We had fabulous food and wine and the excursions and places we stayed were first rate. The cost for Italy and Jamaica (7 days) were identical. I'm sure not all all-inclusives are created equally but unless we had gotten something more carefully crafted than we did it could not compare with the freedom and adventure of a trip on our own. Now, being in Jamaica was totally wonderful and our small spot of beach was tranquil and quite lovely. But for us the package was not a fit. We discovered we would rather be at a place where service and quality was the driving force behind the good or service rendered. When it is all paid for there is very little reason for the provider of the service to go out of the way for the customer, and indeed, we were 'managed' more oubling than the rest. We spoke to lots of fellow travellers at Beaches and heard frequently our very own phrase "We weren't supposed to be staying here". To our reckoning about 1/3 of the people at Beaches had been sold on Sandals but ended up at Beaches. Again, not a bad place to end up at but not where we had been booked. We are pretty placid travellers and our change of venue was not huge but we talked to folks who were to be at Montego Bay (two hours away) and Dunn's River Falls (20 minutes away). We heard with our own blushing ears the comments of folks not a bit happy with the changes before they were rushed out of the lobby for a more private conversation about alternatives that hopefully would work for them. I have never made a reservation at a hotel locally or half way around the world and showed up to pay my money to find it overbooked. To find it happening frequently and to end up in the 'catch basin' facility makes one wonder things like our overbooking may not have been quite and accident but a standard operating procedure to make sure the less known facility gets filled as welll. Just a thought, I could be wrong. Go back to Jamaica again,"yah man". Go back to Sandals or Beaches? Don't think so.
Ocho Rios: Sandals Ocho Rios Resort and Golf Club: “Sandals is Beyond Amazing!”
Sandals Ocho Rios was one of the most amazing vacation I've ever had (only competition being OTHER Sandals resorts such as the Royal Bahamian and St. Lucia). I have recommended Sandals to many of my friends and family and all have MORE than enjoyed their stays. I have been to 3 different Sandals now and can't wait to keep going back, and will be going back for my honeymoon this Fall. The very best thing about Sandals is their amazing customer service. The people that work there truely love their jobs and it shows! They are the most friendly people you could hope to meet. Sandals ALWAYS makes sure you are happy and are having fun. The last two times we visited a Sandals resort, we received complementary upgrades thanks to our Sandals Signature Membership (like a frequent guest program). We even received complementary couples swedish massages! Oh my loordy! How heavenly! A MUST do! The rooms are spectacular (even the Deluxe- most inexpensive ones), the resorts and beaches are impeccably clean. The food is wonderful, delicious and varied. They have many different restaurants to chose from! It's so wonderful not to have to worry about carrying money around for anything. Tipping is forbidden and included in your vacation price. You don't have to spend another dime once at the Resort unless you want to buy souveniers! Another WONDERFUL thing about Sandals is that all their activities are INCLUDED such as Scuba Diving. You won't find that anywhere else. Their divemasters are friendly and knowledgable and are always interested in making sure you get want you want out of your dives. They also have an onsite tour desk in case you want to plan any off-resort excusions, such as shopping trips or Dunn's River Falls tours. The prices are fair, the shopping is fun and the waterfalls are amazing! There are so many other fun (free) activities that are planned throughout the day on the resort- EVERY DAY. Sand volleyball, water volleyball, games, pool, ping pong, shuffleboard, dancing lessons, water balloon toss, entertainment, DJ dancing, bands, fire breathers, karioke nights, and SO MUCH MORE. Never a dull moment unless you WANT there to be.And in that case, you can relax out on the beach or by the amazing pool and sip on your favorite premium liquor drink or have complete solitude in the privacy of your room. I honestly can't think of ONE thing to complain about when it comes to Sandals. If you don't believe me that I Love Sandals Ocho Rios trip, then check out my photo album on my personal website. http://www.planet-k.com/photos/trips/0701jamaica/Is the scenery not STUNNING? Are the people not WONDERFUL?! Trust me, take my word on this and you will have an amazing vacation! HAVE FUN!