Which Sandals Resort in Jamaica Is Best?

We have visited every Sandals Resort in Jamaica to find out which one was best. At first, we found it hard to decide which one we liked best, but when we visited Sandal’s newest resort it was an easy choice. Overall, Sandals Dunn’s River is our choice for the best Sandals Resort in Jamaica. They have the best food, the best bars, two nice pools, and great service.

With that said, you may be looking for a larger resort, something closer to Montego Bay, or something for a smaller budget. Below we will go into more detail about which Sandals Resort in Jamaica is best for you.

Getting the Best Deal at a Sandals Resort in Jamaica

Sandals always has deals going on. There are last-minute deals, 777 weekly deals, and seasonal discounts.

Our Ranking of Sandals Resorts in Jamaica

1. Sandals Dunn’s River – Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Best for foodies and those seeking ultra-luxurious suites

Sandals Dunn’s River has taken Sandals to the next level. The food, bars, rooms, and level of service are all truly incredible.

While the Sandal’s Dunn’s River property has been part of Sandals since the 1990s, it has been completely reimagined to “embrace the essence of Jamaica’s natural wonders” and now takes full advantage of its stunning location on the northern coast of the island.

The lush landscaping, jaw-dropping design, and amazing amenities of the all-new Sandals Dunn’s River make it a new contender for the best honeymoon resort in Jamaica.

The rooms and suites at Sandals Dunn’s River are amazing and include Jamaica’s first Skypool Suites. These luxurious accommodations, which debuted at Sandals Grenada, offer an elevated infinity edge pool that runs the full length of your balcony and overlooks the beach. You also get a Tranquility Soaking Tub™ for two on your balcony. The only negative is they are always in the shade.

Also here are Sandals’ first-ever Coyaba Sky Rondovals. These private, round villas have access to the river pool plus an oversized private swim-up pool plus a terrace that takes up the entire roof. On the terrace, you’ll find plush seating, a bistro dining set, a telescope, and a Tranquility Soaking Tub for two.

Sandals Dunn’s River features 12 restaurants, many of which are new concepts. These include Edessa, a Greek restaurant; the Asian fusion Banyu; L’Amande, serving Jamaican and French cuisines; and Zuka, which features South and Central American dishes.

We loved going to Blum coffee each morning for a latte. The breakfast buffet has a great variety including freshly made smoothies and omlets. For lunch, we tried a variety of food including the lunch buffet, pizza and the menu at the beachside restaurant.

For dinner, the food was delicious. We loved the surf and turf at Zuka, the lamb at Edessa, and everything at the sushi place.

2. Sandals Royal Plantation – Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Best for couples looking for a smaller resort feel.

In our opinion, Sandals Royal Plantation is an excellent choice if you are looking for a quiet resort to relax.

There are only 74 ocean-view suites nestled along the beachside at Sandals Royal Plantation. Additionally, every room at the resort includes butler service and since the resort is small, your butler and other staff will always be nearby to serve you a drink, bring you some food, help you schedule an excursion or anything else you may need.

You can laze by the pool before heading off for a round of golf between the beautifully manicured lawns adorned with peacocks showing off their colors. The resort has antique furnishings that pair with innovative creations (such as the only champagne and caviar bar in Jamaica) harmoniously at Sandals Royal Plantation.

There are two different beaches and since they are small, the staff at the beachside bar and cafe is always close making sure you have anything you need to enjoy your time.

If you want more to do, you can also go next door to Sandal Ochi which has multiple pools, scuba diving, tons of restaurants, and late-night entertainment. The only negative is you may be waiting for a shuttle to get you back and forth–but the shuttle is free.

The only other complaint that some people have is that it takes a 90-minute shuttle ride from the airport to arrive, but the roads have improved greatly in the last few years.

The suites at Sandals Royal Plantation all offer ocean views and come with personal butler service and 24-hour inroom dining. The decor is somewhat old-fashioned, but they are refreshing the rooms. However, they aren’t likely to do a complete update because there are many loyal guests who like it the way it is.

3. Sandals Negril – Negril, Jamaica

Largest beach area

What we like about Sandals Negril is its setting on famous Seven Mile Beach; the entire resort is spread across the beach which means every room is very close to the sand and has great views.

Additionally, there are motorized waters activities available that are not available at every resort. You can go water skiing, tubing, and kneeboarding every day.

What takes Negril up a level is the new updates. For food they added a taco spot on the beach and a Spanish tapas restaurant for dinner, Brava. We loved that the food was served family style so we were able to try a little bit of everything.

The best rooms at Sandals Negril are the recently opened SkyPool suites. When staying here it can feel like you are at a different resort. Blum coffee is right next door, you are always close to the beach, there is an amazing view of the water, and you have your own personal pool to relax in. We didn’t want to leave and did something we rarely do: order room service.

The last thing I will mention is that you can always visit Beaches Negril which is a short cab ride away to go down some waterslides and enjoy a few different restaurants including a new Peruvian-inspired restaurant.

4. Sandals Royal Caribbean – Montego Bay, Jamaica

A great choice for the breathtaking over-the-water bungalows and foodies.

Sandal Royal Caribbean is a great retreat for a couple looking for a little bit of everything. The resort is a little on the small side compared to other Sandals resorts in Jamaica, but there are a lot of great features in a compact area. Additionally, you can take a 5-10 minute free shuttle to Sandals Montego Bay.

One of the coolest features of Sandals Royal Caribbean is it has the only private offshore island in Jamaica which have over-the-water bungalows connected.

You reach the island by taking a quick boat ride from the main part of the resort. You can stay here and enjoy your entire day with Jerk Shack for lunch and an authentic Thai restaurant with amazing service where you can try as many different items from the menu as you would like.

There is also a pool with its own swim-up bar and a few beachy areas including a nude beach for anyone interested in that.

The Indian restaurant at the resort is another highlight as well as the rooms. The majority have a tranquility soaking tub on the balcony or patio with plenty of room for two.

For a little more variety for your trip you can always go next door to Sandals Montego Bay for more restaurants and pools.

5. Sandals Montego Bay – Montego Bay, Jamaica

Best for destination weddings

This is where it all started. Sandals Montego Bay is cleverly designed and completely luxurious, tucked along the beachfront with reefs to be explored. Visit the new Over-the-Water Bar for a cooling drink in the sunshine, or spend some time in your personal Tranquillity Soaking Tub. Round trip transportation is available to Sandals Royal Caribbean nearby, so you can go check out their restaurants and the private island.

Swim right up to your suite with a Love Nest Butler Suite, where wall-to-wall glass doors open onto a large patio with a Tranquility Soaking Tub and offering vistas over the Caribbean.

6. Sandals Ochi – Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Best for golf lovers and active travelers

Sandals Ochi is huge, giving you enough options of rooms and things to do so you can create the type of vacation you want.

Personally, I would put this higher on the list, but from my visits to Sandals Ochi I hear the opinions of other guest and find it polarizing. Because it is so large, I think it has a negative effect for first-timers as they pick a location that is not ideal for them and end up taking the shuttle to the other half of the resort each day.

On one side, you’ll find buzzing beach clubs, bars, several pools, and a dive center while on the hillside there is a huge lively pool at the Great House. For more tranquility, the Butler Village has suites with semi-private pools and plenty of privacy. You can have your butler bring you everything you need for a great day by the pool.

You also get free green fees at and transportation to Sandals Golf & Country Club, which is recognized to be one of Jamaica’s finest, with tumbling fairways creating an 18-hole course over 700 feet above sea level.

Another thing I love is that in Ocho Rios there is so much to do, it makes going on excursions easy.

7. Sandals South Coast – Whitehouse, Jamaica

Best Variety of Suites

Among the Sandals Resorts in Jamaica, Sandals South Coast has been the one I didn’t really understand. So many people love this resort, but we did not. However, we did return and had a great time.

The biggest issue we had was the drive from the airport., as it is on rough, winding roads. Next time we will take Dramamine.

Once you arrive you will notice the resort is really nice with the Caribbean’s longest 17,000-square-foot river pool with its own bar as well as several other large pools. The resort is very spread out with two miles of white-sand beach.

At the resort, most of the rooms have been somewhat recently renovated. They also renamed the areas, formerly known as the Dutch, French and Italian villages, now the Long Beach, Silver Sun and Starlight.

The Longbeach was just updated with new rooms and a refinished pool area.

One highlight of Sandals South Coast is the variety of rooms. They have the iconic overwater bungalows but also the Rondoval suites (which I prefer). These have private plunge pools, outdoor showers, a shared lazy river/pool, and a butler service.

What to Expect from a Sandals Resort in Jamaica

Regardless of which Sandals Resort in Jamaica, you choose, the all-inclusive package will include gourmet dining at all restaurants, all meals and snacks, all drinks including premium liquors and Robert Mondavi wines, and a stocked bar in every room.

There’s no shortage of fun to be had either, with PADI-certified scuba diving, nonmotorized water sports, golf at some locations, day and night entertainment, fitness centers, land activities, and beach sports to engage in–all included. There are also spas at every resort as well as the opportunity to take local excursions, but these cost extra.

Each resort is lushly landscaped and offers plenty of private nooks to relax in, as well as beautiful white-sand beaches and clear, calm water. Everything is taken care of for you; there are even personal butler services for the top-tier suites. And with every resort being adults-only, you can enjoy a tranquil, romantic atmosphere.

Which Sandals in Jamaica is the newest?

If you want a brand new resort, check out Sandals Dunn’s River. The other resorts are not new, but you have newly renovated suites at all the resorts except Sandals Royal Plantation to choose from.

Which Sandals Resort in Jamaica has the best beach?

Sandals Negril has a great expansive beach with the best sunset at a Sandals Resort in Jamaica. Sandals Royal Plantation also has a great beach with attentive service.

Which Sandals Resort is the biggest in Jamaica?

Sandals Ochi is the best resort if you want size, but the combination of Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals Montego Bay is also very large.