Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Montego Bay

When you are deciding which Sandals in Jamaica to book, Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Ochi are both great options.

While they are both Sandals Resorts they have enough differences that will make it easier for you to choose which resort to go to for your Caribbean getaway.

Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Montego Bay: Overview

Whether you want to party or have a bit of privacy, Sandals Ochi in Ocho Rios offers the best of both worlds. 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 Montego Bay is where it all started. The first-ever Sandals Resort is set on a long stretch of pristine beach with offshore reefs that ensure calm waters. Recent renovations have given Sandals Montego Bay a modern and fresh feel; it’s still one of the most opulent resorts in Jamaica. The sleek open-air lobby overlooks the Caribbean, many restaurants are waterfront, and there’s even an overwater bar. You don’t have to lose sight of the ocean here if you don’t want to.

Both resorts offer multiple pools and whirlpools, beautiful beaches with a full range of complimentary watersports (including snorkeling and scuba diving), and a variety of restaurants and bars.

While Sandals Ochi is technically a newer resort, Sandals Montego Bay has just been completely renovated so it also feels fresh and new. When was Sandals Ochi built? Sandals Ochi was built in 2015.  When was Sandals Montego Bay built? Sandals Montego Bay was built in 1981.

Getting there

If you want to start your Jamaican vacation as quickly as possible, you may want to choose Sandals Montego Bay because it’s very close to the airport, which is also in Montego Bay. How far is Sandals Montego Bay from the airport? Sandals Montego Bay is just a 15-minute drive from Sangster International 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.

Accommodations

When looking at Sandals Montego Bay, you’ll find more rooms that are very close to the beach including our favorite oceanfront swim-up rooms. The Beachfront Swim-up Butler Suite features a retractable glass wall that slides open so you can step right into the pool and go for a swim, lie in the sun on your private in-pool lounger, or enjoy the Tranquility Soaking Tub for two, with a view over the pool and to the sea.

Sandals Ochi offers a variety of rooms and suites, including some that are in separate villas tucked into a lush hillside with private or semi private rooms.

The main difference with Sandals Ochi is the rooms that are on the hillside are very far from the beach. Additionally, the rooms and suites are closer to the beach have not been renovated as recently as the rooms at Sandals Montego Bay.

Activities

The main differences with activities at Sandals Montego Bay vs Sandals Ochi is golf and the nearby excursions.

At Sandals Ochi you are closer to all of the top attractions in the Ocho Rios area like Dunn’s River Falls, the Blue Hole and the golf course where green fees are included.

There are plentiful complimentary activities at both Sandals Ochi and Sandals Montego Bay, including water and land sports, access to a full fitness center with classes, and more. Sandals Montego Bay does have an advantage in the number activities, however, since it also offers you access to all the facilities at neighboring Sandals Royal Caribbean.

Water sports at Sandals Ochi include aquatrikes, kayaks, windsurfing, sailboats, snorkeling, scuba diving, and paddle boards. Water sports at Sandals Montego Bay include kayaks, waterskiing, tubing, sailboats, snorkeling, Hobie Cats, scuba diving, and paddle boards.

Unlimited land activities at Sandals Montego Bay include beach volleyball, basketball, day and night tennis, table tennis, pool tables, lawn chess, croquet, shuffleboard, and board games. At Sandals Ochi you’ll enjoy beach volleyball, day and night tennis, table tennis, shuffleboard, lawn chess, bocce ball, squash, horseshoes, rock climbing, pool tables, and board games. 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.

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).

If you’re planning a destination wedding in Jamaica, give Sandals Montego Bay serious consideration. This resort offers the incredible over-the-water chapel, where you can walk down a glass floor aisle and say your vows surrounded by the stunning Caribbean.

Dining

Sandals Ochi has 16 restaurants and 11 bars, including the Caribbean’s first speakeasy as well as 2 swim-up bars and a piano bar. Restaurants serve a 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 Montego Bay has 6 bars (including swim-up bars and a piano bar) and 12 restaurants, many of which overlook the beautiful beach. These include an elegant Old Jamaican restaurant, a seaside bar and grill, Italian, Japanese, a steakhouse, a waterfront restaurant serving international dishes, a sushi bar, a Caribbean jerk shack, a British pub, a casual pizzeria, a Parisian café, and a toes-in-the-sand open-air restaurant serving fresh seafood and local dishes.

At Sandals Montego Bay you also have access to all the restaurants at nearby Sandals Royal Caribbean.

Between the two, Sandals Montego Bay is a slight winner for the greater variety of food options.

Cost

When comparing the cost of your stay at Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Ochi is the winner. Not only does it offer cheaper rates than Sandals Montego Bay, it’s actually the answer to the question, what is the least expensive Sandals resort? Prices at Sandals Ochi start at $223 per person per night, while prices at Sandals Montego Bay start at $331 per person per night.

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. At Sandals Montego Bay, it also covers complimentary transportation to Sandals Royal Caribbean.

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