Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Negril

There are 7 luxurious adults-only all-inclusive Sandals resorts in Jamaica, which makes it tough to decide which Sandals resort is best for your Jamaican honeymoon or romantic retreat.

In this article we’ll compare Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Negril, giving you plenty of information about both of these Sandals adults-only all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica so you can decide if one of them is right for your tropical escape. (Want an overview of all of them? Check out our article “Which Sandals Resort in Jamaica Should You Go To?”)

Prices at Sandals Ochi vs Negril

When comparing the cost of your stay at Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Negril, Sandals Ochi is the winner. Not only does it offer cheaper rates than Sandals Negril, it’s actually the answer to the question, what is the least expensive Sandals resort? Prices at Sandals Ochi start at $176 per person per night. However, Sandals Negril is not too much more. It is one of the most affordable Sandals resorts as well, with prices that start at $241 per person per night.

What can make a big difference are the specials. Sandals have different suites on sale each week and there are last-minute deals at each location.

Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Negril: Overview

Whether you want to party or have a bit of privacy, Sandals Ochi in Ocho Rios offers the best of both worlds. Sandals Ochi is much larger than Sandals Negril, so it offers more to do. Onsite you’ll find 11 bars (including the Caribbean’s first speakeasy), 16 amazing restaurants, and a hot new beach club.

Nearby, you also have access to Sandals Golf & Country Club. But you can also find some time alone for just the two of you, with many private areas available on the adult-only property’s 100 lushly landscaped acres.

Sandals Negril is located on what many people think is the best beach in Jamaica, Seven Mile Beach, which has everything you’d want in a Caribbean beach: sugar white sands, good snorkeling in clear waters, and a great sunset view. Unrivaled peace is what you’ll find at Sandals Negril. This is a carefree resort, where the emphasis is on pure enjoyment of the natural surroundings and pretty much everything is focused on the beach.

Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Negril: Getting There

How far is Sandals Ochi from the airport? If you fly into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, it’s a 90-minute drive to Sandals Ochi. You can also fly into Ian Fleming International Airport, which is just outside Ocho Rios so offers a shorter transfer time of about 30 minutes. However, there aren’t as many flights from the U.S. to this airport as there are to Sangster.

Sandals Negril is about an hour from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. At both resorts, complimentary airport transfers are included in your stay.

For a truly relaxing arrival and departure on your Jamaican vacation regardless of which Sandals resort you choose, consider adding Club Mobay services to your trip. This service offers an expedited arrival process and exclusive airport lounges to help you sink into that vacation feeling right away.

Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Negril: Accommodations

Sandals Ochi offers a variety of luxurious rooms and suites, including some that are in separate villas tucked into a lush hillside. Swanky options here include the Butler Village Honeymoon Romeo & Juliet Bedroom Villa Suite with a Private Pool Sanctuary, featuring a walled courtyard with its own pool and hot tub, as well as an outdoor rain shower. There are also beautiful beachfront, poolside, or secluded garden suites available, and private butler service comes in all butler-level suites here as well.

Sandals Negril has 226 rooms and suites in 16 categories over four villages: Caribbean Beachfront Village, Honeymoon Beachfront Village, Paradise Beachfront Village, Crystal Lagoon Beachfront Village, plus the Millionaire Suites. All are just steps from that gorgeous beach. Some of the luxurious accommodations at Sandals Negril include beachfront walkout suites, penthouse suites, and swim-up suites (some with the services of a personal butler), like the Millionaire Honeymoon One Bedroom Butler Suite with Private Pool Sanctuary, the Swim-up Crystal Lagoon Beachfront 1 Bedroom Butler Suite, and the Caribbean Beachfront Walkout Grande Luxe Club Level Room w/ Tranquility Soaking Tub.

Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Negril: Activities

There are plenty of complimentary activities at both Sandals Ochi and Sandals Negril, including water and land sports. Even scuba diving is included; certified divers can dive up to twice a day at either resort. However, Sandals Ochi has more to offer, such as golf.

Water sports at Sandals Ochi include aqua trikes, kayaks, windsurfing, sailboats, snorkeling, scuba diving, and paddle boards. Land activities include beach volleyball, day and night tennis, table tennis, shuffleboard, lawn chess, bocce ball, squash, horseshoes, rock climbing, pool tables, board games, and a fitness center. Golf is also included at Sandals Ochi. You’ll get complimentary greens fees at and transportation to and from Sandals Golf & Country Club, where you can enjoy a round or two along the emerald fairway overlooking the sea.

Is Sandals Ochi a party resort? This resort is a great destination if you’re looking for a good time. With a hot new beach club, 11 bars, and 16 restaurants, you can always have a good time. But if you’re looking to enjoy some downtime, this resort has plenty of areas to allow for serene, quiet relaxation as well.

The beach is the focus at Sandals Negril. The water is calm and crystal clear, perfect for swimming and watersports like wakeboarding, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. You can snorkel right off the beach at Sandals Negril and see colorful reefs and abundant marine life. Other watersports at Sandals Negril include waterskiing, kneeboarding, aqua trikes, windsurfing, Hobie Cat sailing, and kayaking; all equipment and professional instruction is included.

On land you can lounge on the beach or play beach volleyball, bocce ball, pool, or tennis—all land sports are also complimentary. You can also take advantage of the state-of-the-art fitness center and exercise classes. Sandals Negril has three beautiful pools and three whirlpools, all with stunning ocean views.

Both Sandals locations offer the full-service Red Lane Spa for a wide range of restorative spa services (at an extra cost). You can also book area excursions from both locations (also at an extra cost).

Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Negril: Dining

Sandals Ochi has the most restaurants of any Sandals resort. It features 16 restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisine including gourmet French, Italian, Asian, Caribbean, sushi, Southern, Mediterranean, seafood, pizza, and tapas. Many have water views, some are beachfront, and one is even over the water.

Sandals Negril offers 7 restaurants to choose from. Feast on fresh seafood; Caribbean cuisine; authentic Jamaican dishes; Italian; Asian; international; French; pizza; and casual fare like burgers and nachos. Several of the restaurants at Sandals Negril are beachfront, including the open-air Cucina Romana, Bayside, the Beach Bistro, and Barefoot by the Sea.

If you stay at Sandals Negril you can also go to Beaches Negril for dinner, opening up more dinning options.

There’s also in-room dining at both Sandals resorts if you can’t bear to leave your luxury suite. If you book a room that includes butler service, room service is available 24 hours a day. For Club Sandals accommodations, room service is available between 7 am-10 pm. You can also book private dining on the beach for an extra fee.

Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Negril: Nightlife

Both Sandals Ochi and Sandals Negril offer a wide variety of nightly entertainment options. At Sandals Ochi, these include shows in an amphitheater, live music, a piano bar, a chocolate buffet, talent night, karaoke, and beach parties with fire dancers. Sandals Ochi has 11 bars, including the Caribbean’s first speakeasy as well as 2 swim-up bars and a piano bar.

Nightly activities at Sandals Negril include theme nights, cocktail parties, beach parties, and live music. There are 5 bars at Sandals Negril, including swim-up bars, a piano bar, and a traditional British pub.

The main pool at Sandals Negril is open later than at Sandals Ochi, but Sandals Ochi has more options for entertainment at night.

As part of the 5-Star Luxury Included® experience, Sandals only serves premium brand liquors. You can order whatever you like, including specialties you would expect at a tropical resort, like a Pina Colada, Margarita, Blue Lagoon, or a Bahama Mama.

Your rate at either location will cover the same inclusions offered at all Sandals resorts: complimentary airport transfers; all dining and beverages including unlimited premium liquors and unlimited Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks wines; a stocked minibar in your room; a coffee maker with Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend coffee; water sports and equipment plus professional instruction; WiFi; daily and nightly entertainment; unlimited land sports; state-of-the-art fitness center; and all tips, taxes and gratuities.

Now that you’ve read our comparison of the two, what do you think? Would you choose Sandals Ochi or Sandals Negril for your Jamaican honeymoon or a romantic escape? Let us know in the comments!