TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

We just recently returned from a trip to Sandals Negril, Jamaica. First this was our 5th trip to a Sandals resort and have loved all others (South Coast/Dunns in Jamaica and most of all St. Lucia). As... usual we researched the resort and accommodations. At first glance this resort looked amazing and serene on the 7-mile beach. When we arrived Room accommodations were not up to the Sandals norm. Our first room (note here the word first), a butler level suite with two levels was alright but not as nice as the other resorts. When we arrived I was not feeling well so I laid down. My husband ordered room service to let me rest. They called him twice within half an hour, asking if he placed two orders and then if he cancelled an order. He was outside the main entrance (second level sliding glass door entry) waiting for his dinner. I was awakened by three sets of phone calls until I had to get up and the room service people rather bluntly stated we must answer the phone or the food would not be delivered. Noise levels excessive and constant. Bass levels from other resorts lalong the 7-mile beach is heavy, loud and continues into the wee hours (past 230am). For more noise sensitive people this not a great resort choice. The noise level made it difficult to take a nap during the day and harder to sleep at night. Butler lounge Some pleasant people but sadly the memory of one a specific attendant stands out. She was completely uninterested, sitting with her head tilted on her hand as if our presence was an imposition. She could not even fake a welcoming smile. The lackadaisical attitude was just off putting. Butler service Butlers did not listen to requests very well. We ordered room service coffee for morning and it was not delivered twice. We specifically requested our chairs to be set up at the other far end where it’s quiet (away from Hedonism and our resort’s normal music) First day it was wrong and set up right near our room and the noise we specifically mentioned we wanted to avoid by being on other end of the beach. So I reinforced my requested area and the second day it was wrong again. Gave up and third day nothing was even set out for us at all. And our morning room service was missed again !!! The phones for the Butler texting didn’t work and each time we called it went to voice mail. We needed a do not disturb sign as the door bell was being rung too often and just wanted some peace and quiet. We never did receive the do not disturb sign for our door. However there was absolutely no miscommunication from one of our Butlers; she absolutely made sure (twice) we would hand her the tip envelopes at the end of our trip. We felt judged as if we didn’t understand the protocol. We know the process and have always shown our appreciation for our Butler staff well (again this is our 5th trip to a Sandals property). Just too blatantly put forth for my taste especially considering the general lack of listening and service. Electrical issues Second day we came back after some normal afternoon rain. I went to walk up the stairs (two story butler level) and slipped in a puddle of water - luckily I caught the railing and didn’t break a bone or bash my head on the stairs or floor. We inspected and found water draining down the wall from the electrical outlets. Then we looked around being concerned for our safety and there was water leaking from one of the electrical sconces at the sliding glass door entrance. We met with the property manager, ended up packing and moving to another room (in the same building). The management ‘s lack of concern regarding the electrical risks in the building was dismaying. When we arrived in the new room, the downstairs AC unit was not functioning, there was a water puddle near the refrigerator and the doors on the credenza were cockeyed. We requested the AC be fixed. It was not fixed when we came back and had to request it a second time. We truthfully have enjoyed the other Sandals experiences (St Lucia blowing all away with South Coast my being our second favorite). This trip was to lower our stress levels and we came back feeling worse. Everyone works hard to afford these types of vacations and feeling this bad after spending thousands of dollars is upsetting.

We did a 6 night stay, we had a club room and club service was great shout out to Ackeme, only problem with the room was electric plug in in the bathroom did not work I reported it but was never fixed, but... our house keeper Colleen was amazing. We enjoyed all the food, Tracy at Bayside was friendly we didn’t have a bad meal at any of the restaurants. Perla for lunch and drinks was great shout out to Brando and beach sever Tamera. Beach was lovely we walked every day and did lots of water sports and snorkeling the snorkel teams were all great shout out all them.

?? Sandals Resort Review – May 2025 Overall rating: 4/5 ? | Stayed 7 nights Would we return? Maybe — but only in a Butler Suite, and mostly because the dive team was absolutely phenomenal. ? ?? Aqua Cen...ter & Dive Team: 5/5 ? – The Heart of Our Trip Let’s start with the best part of this vacation — the Aqua Center. Honestly, it’s the only reason we would consider returning to this resort. My husband and I both completed our Open Water Certification during our stay, and our instructor Emron was outstanding. He was patient, calm, and highly professional, explaining everything clearly and thoroughly. He never pressured us into signing up — it wasn’t a sales pitch. He let the experience of diving speak for itself, and we’re so glad he did. We felt 100% safe in his hands, and all the dive staff were attentive, kind, and eager to help. After one rainy dive, a staff member even ran to get me towels without being asked. That kind of thoughtful gesture says it all. We completed six dives, and the plane crash site was a stunning highlight. We loved it so much we even convinced another couple to sign up for their Open Water Certification before we left. No doubt — they won’t regret it. The dive team truly made our trip unforgettable. ? ?? Restaurants – Hit or Miss Brava – 1/5 ? Undercooked bass and overcooked shrimp. The only decent item was the potatoes. We informed the manager. Pizza – 3/5 ? Staff were great, but the pizza was average at best. Barefoot (Breakfast) – 2.5/5 ? Avocado toast tasted like “avocado bread.” Juices weren’t fresh. Better breakfast options were available at the buffet. Honestly, grocery store parfaits were better. Sundowner (Lunch & Dinner) – 5/5 ? A standout! • Lunch: Excellent jerk chicken, light salad, and a great BLT (with extra care given to the bread). • Dinner: Even better. Delicious, beautifully presented food, and consistent service. Kimonos – 5/5 ? Fantastic experience. The food was perfectly cooked, and the show was fun and engaging. Desserts were mediocre, but the rest made up for it. Crema – 5/5 ? Coffee was excellent. Limited food options, but staff were friendly and service was quick. Bayside (Dinner) – 3.5/5 ? Food quality was solid — my lamb was perfect. Unfortunately, the service experience dragged this rating down. • Same waitress both visits: spilled water repeatedly, couldn’t answer basic questions about dishes, and gave no follow-up after saying she’d ask the chef. • However, other staff were pleasant and professional. We reported this to the manager, who seemed receptive. Second visit showed a slight improvement. Bayside (Buffet – Breakfast/Lunch) – 4/5 ? Fairly average by resort standards, but reliable. Decent selection and clean. Nothing wow-worthy, but convenient. ? ?? Housekeeping & Rooms Paradise Building Rooms – 3/5 ? Dated, small, and noisy. Definitely not luxury. • Room 1: Bathroom ceiling leak. Reported but never addressed. • Room 2: No leak, but balcony backed onto a noisy road and patchy landscaping. Workers were loud from 7:00 AM. • Housekeeping always left towels, but amounts were limited and face cloths were often missing. We had to ask repeatedly. • No turndown service. Room cleaning happened very late in the day — inconvenient after morning dives. One day at 3:20 PM, the room still wasn’t cleaned. Butler Suite (Aqua Center Area) – 5/5 ? Once we were moved here by the Resort Manager, everything changed. • Spacious, clean, and quiet • Beautiful private pool and deck • Plenty of towels and face cloths without needing to ask • Daily turndown service • Perfect location close to the beach and dive center This room finally felt like the resort experience we’d hoped for. ? ?? Beach & Pools Beach – 4.5/5 ? Beautiful sand, lots of loungers, but not ideal for swimming. • Sectioned-off areas are shallow (2–3 feet deep) and small. • Walked to Beaches resort one day — much better layout for swimming. Beach Service – 0/5 ? I was never offered a drink during any of the seven days I sat on the beach. I ended up walking to Perla for drinks. I saw staff serving others but only a few steps onto the sand before turning back. Disappointing. Pools – 2/5 ? Small, dated, and not ideal for swimming. Limited chairs due to butler reservations. Pool staff were friendly, but we often had to leave our stuff on the ground just to take a dip. ? ?? Nightlife – 3/5 ? Same performers, slightly different shows. It got repetitive quickly. We missed the beach party on night one due to travel exhaustion. ? ?? Noise Level – 2/5 ? The Paradise Building was loud. Between road traffic and noisy carts starting at 7:00 AM, it didn’t feel restful. The Butler Suite, by contrast, was blissfully quiet. ? ?? Resort Manager – 5/5 ? We didn’t even ask to speak with management — I simply submitted a 3-star review on WhatsApp, and Sheldon, the resort manager, reached out proactively. He listened carefully to our feedback and took immediate action: • We noticed more attentive staff after speaking with him • We were upgraded to a Butler Suite the next day • He genuinely seemed to care about improving the guest experience We appreciated the follow-up and responsiveness. ? ? Final Thoughts Would we come back? Maybe — but only in a Butler Suite. And only because the dive team is absolutely exceptional. They alone made our stay worthwhile. If diving is a priority for you, this Aqua Center team will not disappoint. However, without a butler-level room, we’d hesitate to return due to inconsistency in service and accommodations.

So amazing omg !!!! Had and amazing show Odane, antonio skkyye , ashley , blu , izzy , lush, but entertaining for tmr the most is Odane he has an amazingly talented voice. Id listen to him all day love liv...e sandals negril and we will be come back just to see odane

My first time here,Skyye and Lush from the entertainment team was phenomenal,they made our trip shout out to the rest of the team Odane,Oniquekio and King James.here vacationing loved the energy the staff ...were so friendly and the food was amazing