Click here for more photos of Sandals Montego Bay

Sandals Montego Bay is a fun all inclusive “couples only” resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. If you are looking for a resort that is located on a great beach in the Caribbean yet don’t want to be bored by a quiet, stuffy resort that offers little to do, then Sandals Montego Bay is an excellent all inclusive choice.

At Sandals Montego Bay you can play all day in the sun and enjoy evening festivities as well. In addition to snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaks and other non motorized sports that are available and included in your stay, Sandals also has a Mastercraft ski boat at the property and waterskiing and tubing are included. If you haven’t gone tubing in the Caribbean, it’s a lot of fun! On a typical day at this resort, you have beach volleyball going on, several guests sailing offshore, the snorkel boat departs several times daily as does the dive boat and there are always those guests who just want to either hang out in the water or chill on a beach recliner with the drink of the day. The snack/beach bar allows you to eat and drink without leaving the beach, but if you prefer to get out of the sun for a bit, there are several nice dining choices for lunch or you can take in a spa treatment.

The fun continues in the evening and you can be entertained by sitting around the main stage in the lobby of the resort with the nightly entertainment provided or if you prefer a casual socially interactive time, you can hang out in the Cricketer’s Pint. There is also a piano bar where you can enjoy a martini and hang out with snacks like nuts and popcorn.

Many guests who vacation at Sandals resorts  rave about booking a butler category room and having a butler. There are fantastic butler room options at Sandals Montego Bay called the Bay Roc Villas and what I love about these rooms are their location. These rooms are located directly on the beach at the far end of the resort so you have a nice private quiet beach area in front of your room. You are still only a short distance from the Piano Bar and swim up bar/pool and the rest of the resort, but you feel like you have your own private spot. I also really liked staying in the Concierge level rooms in the Palms Building because they are also on the beach and have a nice oceanview. The bathrooms are very standard with the basic tub/shower combo, but the room itself is plenty big with a nice balcony or patio looking out at that beautiful blue Caribbean sea.

I am always asked which is my favorite Sandals All-Inclusive Resort.  It really depends on what type of experience and atmosphere you are looking for. If you want to have fun and be active in a more lively setting, then Sandals Montego Bay is an excellent choice for you. With the highest returning guest rate of all the resorts, you’ll feel right at home at Sandals Montego Bay. Give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 or email me at patty@totemtravel.com if you would like to escape to the Caribbean. We are Sandals and Caribbean Specialists and we would be happy to help you find the right all-inclusive resort for your budget and occasion.

Click for slide show

Having stayed at more than 30 adult only all inclusive resorts including Secrets, Couples, Sandals, Iberostar Grande, El Dorado and more, I am frequently asked which is the best.  All of these resort groups are quality brand name chains.  All have multiple locations in the Caribbean and Mexico with newer and older resorts, bigger and smaller hotels, simpler and more luxurious settings.  All have special features that may be on your wish list and all offer a range of room categories and price points with varying amenities and services.

So what if your destination is flexible and money is no object?   Which is the best adult only all inclusive resort?  I still don’t have a quick answer because it’s like naming a favorite restaurant.  My favorites are Italian, Mexican and Thai but you may be a steak or sushi person and choosing the best is difficult because they are totally different. That said, there are some broad generalizations I am willing to make about adult only all inclusive resorts  -

• El Dorado, Secrets and Iberostar Grande are best for single adults, adults traveling with friends,  multi-generational families with adult children and couples that find PDA’s a bit much.
• Sandals Resorts are best for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or destination wedding with a couples only format and large selection of islands, resort locations, room styles and prices.
• Sandals Resorts include the widest range of motorized and non motorized watersports, land sports, resort activities and evening entertainment.
• Couples Resorts include more off resort tours.
• Iberostar Grand has more organized group activities and a higher rate of participation.
• Iberostar Grand has the most opulent lobbies and grounds and their pools compete with Sandals’ fantasy pools for best in class.
• All of these resorts are beachfront but not all beaches are created equal, so again, it’s important to be specific.  Each of the chains has resorts with great and not so great beaches.
• All of the resorts have specialty international restaurants and a high standard of food quality and presentation and all but Secrets offer dining options with and without reservations.
• In bars and lounges all of these resorts include alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages with top shelf brands available.  All include house wines and beer with bottles of wine available for purchase.
• Iberostar Grand has the most luxurious entry level rooms with shared butler service, jetted soaking tubs and more.
• Rooms at Secrets are contemporary in styling and we love the “Secret box” for do not disturb room service delivery.
• Rooms and suites at Sandals Resorts are  more traditional in decor and range from standard hotel rooms to beachfront villas and “to die for” millionaire suites with private pool and butler
• Rooms at Couples Resorts can be minimalistic although we love the plantation suites at Couples Swept Away and every room has what you need to be comfortable.
• Room service and in room bars vary widely within chains and even room categories. Only Sandals includes full size bottles of liquor, wine and champagne plus beer, soft drinks, mixers, fruit juice and water in concierge rooms and butler suites. Standard rooms include soft drinks, water and juice. Couples allows you to personalize a minibar with a selection of liquor, wine and beer but quantities are restricted and champagne is not an option. Secrets includes beer, soft drinks and water in every room and Preferred Club rooms add alcohol but no wine or champagne. Iberostar Grand offers a selection of wine and liquor in airplane sized bottles plus beer, soft drinks and water.

Hopefully this gives you a starting point to find the best all inclusive resort for your tropical honeymoon or adult only vacation. For more detail, please read our individual resort reviews of Secrets, Couples, El Dorado and Sandals Resorts. Then call or email if you’d like help choosing the best resort for you and we’ll talk about your wish list and priorities.  I’ve been to all the popular destinations and stayed at almost all the resorts and can help you find the perfect spot!

Click here for a slideshow of Grand Pineapple Antigua

Vacations at All Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean can be very expensive for families and some of our favorite resorts, Beaches Resorts, can really stretch a lot of budgets.  I just returned from the island of Antigua and think I might have found a fabulous authentic, Caribbean option for families on a tighter budget.    Sandals and Beaches Resorts offer a more moderate rustic all inclusive option called Grand Pineapple on the beautiful island of Antigua.

Grand Pineapple is located on one of the nicest white sand beaches on the island of Antigua.  The beach at this resort is amazing and because of the resorts location in Long Bay, there is very little beach traffic at all if any!  Some of the rooms are located directly on the beach so you can simply step out of your room and hit sand within a few steps or you can fall asleep at night to the sound of the ocean below in some of the rooms.  There are also oceanview rooms nestled into the hillside if having that commanding panoramic view is important to you.

Grand Pineapple is one of the nicer rustic and authentic Caribbean style resorts I have seen especially since its recent renovation.  So if you are looking for clean, Caribbean style accommodations with authentic Caribbean cuisine on a beachfront setting and you don’t want to spend extra to have the fancy pools with waterslides, XBOX garage and Sesame Street characters, Grand Pineapple might be a great option for you as it prices out about half the cost of Beaches Negril  in Jamaica.

I recommend booking either one of the Beachfront Rooms which are situated directly on the beach (also available as inter-connecting rooms) or the Tropical Waterfront Rooms place you right above the water with the sounds and sights of the sea right outside your balcony.  All of these rooms have been renovated unlike the garden view rooms which are set back quite a bit and are in need of renovation.  The resort has two pools and offers a couple different restaurant choices from Topaz buffet to Chef Pietro Italian style beachfront dining or you can reserve a spot at the Pineapple Grill which offers inside International and Caribbean cuisine WITH air conditioning.  For lunch a must stop is up the hill at The Outhouse (only good old fashioned air conditioning up here) where truly authentic BBQ pork or chicken is served up on the bluff and you can relax in the shade with a nice breeze and enjoy a good meal, beer and views of the Caribbean.  Islander Miss Mary has been cooking and serving her homemade specialties at The Outhouse for 20 years.

Stay tuned to our website as there is a strong possibility that the Sandals Family may turn this lovely little rustic resort into a Beaches Resort and add some of those infamous Beaches Resort amenities.  But for now, this resort IS what it is and that is a clean, comfortable, cozy, friendly and authentic Caribbean resort on a FANTASTIC beach.    If you want to learn more about this resort or other Caribbean resort options, please send me a email at patty@totemtravel.com. I am happy to help!

Click here for more photos of Couples Swept Away

Hello Patty!!!

So Couples Swept Away… I cannot say enough about this resort. We had the time of our lives. The staff was PHENOMENAL. We LOVED our room – Beachfront Verandah Suite on the 3rd floor (thank you again for putting those requests in!!). For future clients, I would highly recommend paying a little more to be in the newer buildings (at least they seemed newer – but maybe just renovated). These are all the Beachfront and Oceanfront buildings (if you’re looking at a resort map, they are on the right part of the resort). Not only are these buildings nicer, but they seemed larger too. They have TVs, which we wanted. Even though you don’t think you’ll watch much TV, it’s nice to have while you fall asleep or get ready for dinner. They are also NOT by the road, which we heard was quite noisy. So overall, we were extremely happy with the room choice we made!

One of the reasons we chose Negril was for the beach. It did not disappoint. White sand and crystal clear water every day. There were always plenty of lounge chairs available, as well as drink flags. There are also several hammocks up and down the beach that were wonderful to lay in.

The food options were amazing. We have done all-inclusive before and the food here was light-years better than the other places we have been. Feathers restaurant was our favorite place – we ate there two nights. The Thai place was probably our least favorite – but we are very picky about our Thai. I think we are spoiled in Seattle! Patois was delicious… especially the Banana-stuffed french toast at breakfast! The view from Patois was also incredible – you look out over the pool and beyond that to the
blue blue ocean! The other restaurants were also wonderful. We always had stellar service too.

The Catamaran/Sunset Cruise that we got free with the resort was probably our favorite activity!! It took us from our resort, all the way down the coast past Rick’s Cafe to the Lighthouse, turned around, and then stopped so we could swim in caves and go off the slide on the side of the Catamaran. So much fun!! We also took advantage of the other all-inclusive benefits including sea kayaking, snorkeling, glass- bottom boat tour, sailing, etc. We did not scuba dive but it was offered.

The last thing I will say about the resort – if you have clients who are fitness enthusiasts, this is the place to be. Their 10-acre fitness complex is the largest on the island and has everything you can imagine - tennis courts, squash courts, racquetball courts, basketball courts, a huge lap pool, fitness classes, a running loop with cross training stations, an open-air workout room with state-of-the-art machines, billiards, ping pong, a lounge area with TVs, and a rejuvenation bar with energy drinks, smoothies,
infused waters, teas, etc. The spa is also located here and we took full advantage of our free couples massage! Heavenly!!

Thank you again for everything,
Kirsten

Couples Swept Away Negril is a fantastic choice for a honeymoon or special anniversary trip especially if you are beach lovers, as Negril is one of the most amazing beaches in the world. We also specialize in Sandals “Couples Only” Resorts which also offer a romantic honeymoon experience. If you are drawn to a more unique, small, boutique type experience, perhaps The Caves just outside of Negril would fit what you are looking for. We will help you find the right spot and always guarantee the lowest prices. Give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 or you can email me patty@totemtravel.com

I am happy to help!

Click here for more pictures of Beaches Negril

Beaches Negril is one of the best all inclusive resorts for a family vacation.  I only say “one” of the best because Beaches Turks & Caicos is pretty hard to top, but not every family has the budget it takes to vacation at Beaches Turks & Caicos.  Beaches Negril isn’t as big and fancy, but offers everything Beaches Turks & Caicos does so it has to be considered one of the best all inclusive resorts for families in the Caribbean.  Beaches Negril is an ideal place for anyone that loves lots of activity, a beautiful beach, great entertainment and good food.

The beach at Beaches Negril is spectacular, and the soft, white powder sand stretches for seven miles with the stunning clear turquoise water as the backdrop. Would you like to windsurf? Snorkel? Or handle a kayak or hobie cat? How about scuba diving or water skiing and tubing?  It’s all included for free!!

Beaches Negril has a wonderful water park with two giant waterslides and the very popular lazy river which can be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike.  Of course no Beaches resort would be complete without a great pool and that wonderful Caribbean tradition: the swim-up bar!  Order to drink whatever suits your pleasure and enjoy the pool at the same time.  Life doesn’t get any better than this.  At a Beaches Resort, everyone in the family gets a vacation, including mom and dad.  The kid’s program is one of the best with Ultra Nanny Service, Teen Disco Night, XBOX Garage (no quarters need – it’s included!), supervised age appropriate kids activities and even a program for infants.  You won’t hear “I’m bored” at Beaches Negril and while you will enjoy some of the activities together as a family, often mom and dad will get plenty of quiet time on their own where they can relax on a beach chair or go snorkeling.

This is what one family I sent recently had to say after returning from Beaches Negril:

Patty, Heather and I want to thank you for your assistance and advice in choosing our wonderful vacation destination.  We absolutely loved Beaches Negril!  The kids (and us) were nonstop with so many different things to do.    We also found time to relax on the beautiful beach while the kids collected seashells and built sand castles.  We were a little concerned with all the rain Jamaica had received leading up to our arrival.  We flew into MBJ while it was still raining that first afternoon, and it lasted throughout that evening.  However, we woke up the next morning to beautiful sunshine that continued for the remainder of our stay!

The Beaches employees went out of their way to make us feel so comfortable and they always had nice friendly things to say to the kids.  Rachel and Jacob thought it was pretty cool going up to the bar and ordering their own drinks and making friends with the bartenders!  They also participated in the Sesame Street parade around the resort and down to the beach for the big beach party.  We took lots of photos and couldn’t resist purchasing some of the great family photos that the Beaches photographers took as well.  Simply put, it was a great vacation with memories we will cherish.  We can’t wait to return!

Thanks again, Patty!
-Scott & Heather Carlson

We would love to help you and your family experience one of the best all inclusive family vacations around so give us a call at 1-800-321-7907. We have three Beaches and Sandals specialists in the office and we are all more than happy to help.  Or you can book your Beaches Negril vacation directly online.