TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

We had this vacation booked for over 6 months. Admittedly, we were a bit nervous to find out two days before our arrival that the resort would be closing at the end of May. We weren’t sure what to expec...t. This was also our first time leaving the country with our teenage daughters. In spite of all that, I can’t help but share our experience. After clearing customs in Montego Bay (not too stressful for a family of 4), we were directed to the Sandals/Beaches Welcome Lounge. Our luggage was checked and we only waited about 10-15 minutes to be escorted to the shuttle. I’ll admit the ride TO Ocho Rios was long. Our driver, Delroy kept us entertained and it’s no fault of his. He was nice enough to stop halfway for a quick bathroom break. We were driving in the middle of the afternoon so there was traffic. By the time we arrived, it had been at least 2 hours, possibly a little longer. Upon our arrival, we were greeted with cold towels and brought into the lobby and introduced to the concierge team while our luggage was brought to the room. I think we can all admit that the facilities are a bit “tired.” As with some other reviews, I did pick up on an odor of musty/mildew in the main lobby area. Many of the exteriors had chipped paint or rotted trim. Our room itself was very clean, again dated, but had everything we needed. The housekeeper was very good about keeping everything stocked and we never needed to ask for anything. It was clear, though, that the staff has done a lot to keep things up around the resort as a whole. We constantly observed painters, landscapers, etc. I cannot imagine the effort it takes to upkeep a resort where there is a constant turnaround of guests, coupled with being close to salt water (which we all know can wreak havoc!). The food at the resort was OK. The breakfast buffet was outstanding every day with a huge variety of hot and cold options. The BBQ Park burgers and nuggets were favorites for our kids. The soft serve machines were a welcome treat as well! We were invited by the concierge team to a “welcome back” dinner for families who had visited previously. This was the highlight meal of the trip (aside from our daughter’s birthday dinner). We had notified the concierge previously that our daughter would be celebrating her birthday. On that day, they came to our room with a small cake and balloons for her. At dinner, the staff sang Happy Birthday. The activities we arranged for were great…..the best being the snorkeling. It was a new experience for all 4 of us. The Glass Bottom Boat and kayaking were fun as well, just be cautious of choppy seas….only Mother Nature has control over that! Our daughters loved the Water Park, in particular the slides. I enjoyed the lawn chess with one daughter and was able to teach my daughters to play pool, as there were 2 tables within the water park area as well. Photographers around the resort will take candid photos of the families from time to time and everyone gets a complimentary photo session on the beach. While we were very satisfied with the quality of the photos and the quantity, the price for just the digital photos seemed excessive to us. It was no less than $300 for just 15 of the images and the pricing went up for there. We hadn’t paid for anything else asides for small incidentals and spa appointments so we took the vacation photo book. After all, it wasn’t an “everyday trip.” I can’t say enough about the resort staff….from the concierge team, to servers, bartenders, housekeeping, photographers, activity directors and anyone else that contributes. Everyone we came in contact with was wonderful; so friendly, always smiling and ready to help with anything we needed and joke around at the same time. When it came time to depart, we left our luggage outside the room and it was brought to the shuttle. The process was very smooth. Fortunately, we had a much larger and more comfortable shuttle for the return trip to the airport. Because we departed the resort at 6am, we encountered no traffic and the ride was only 1.5 hours to the airport. It definitely felt quicker. All in all, our family had a terrific time and made some great memories. I would hope Beaches is able to showcase the resort once again after the major renovations are complete. Not once did we feel unsafe or ignored. Our family was grateful to have the experience we did!

10/10 beautiful experience. Akeem from entertainment was there to help and was a friend the whole time, the staff in general was very nice and very friendly. the food was very good, and with it being all i...nclusive, it was extremely easy to relax and enjoy all that the resort has to give.

The rooms are really spacious, the service is good too. The entertainment workers are also really nice. Shoutout Akeem, Jason, Sasha Lee, and Nicola. The pool and beach are also nice. The pool party on Sat...urday was really fun with the water slides.

The entertainment team was very good especially Romario, Akeem, Jason, Nicola, Damian. There were so many activities and stuff to do, all the employees were very helpful, kind and fun! Definitely recommen...d! The nightly shows are very entertaining. The water activities were amazing!

This trip was truly amazing the hospitality is amazing and the pools are very refreshing just as much as the very fun waterslides. The food was good and also the drinks. Akeem from entertainment made our t...rip so special. He hung out with us almost everyday and the shows with him were amazing. Jason from entertainment as well is a very cool guy and dancer. The entertainment team overall is great. The boat cruise with Damaine, Akeem and Jason was awesome. The snorkeling trip with Nicola was cool as well. Amoy from the buffet was very kind. Overall a great experience. I met new friends which meant a lot!