Sandals Negril is a coveted favorite of many Sandals Resort lovers and one of my favorites as well. Located on Seven Mile Beach, Sandals Negril is in a perfect location to view sunsets from the western shore.
Booking, Flying, Arriving
Booking direct through Sandals with flight options included has always been my preferred way to book. The Sandals Resort website is very easy to use and has a great layout for selecting the best room option for you and your significant other. I’ve found that Sandals often offers discounts seasonally that can impact the prices significantly; I try to always book with a discount to keep the budget in line- why not save a few dollars?
We flew into Sangster airport in Jamaica, which is about 90 minutes away from Sandals Negril, which is daunting after a long flight, however, Sandals has a specific lounge for arrivals and we were transported quickly and easily by shuttle to the resort. The roads are well-maintained and pretty clear after you get through Montego Bay.
On arrival, check-in was a breeze, we were kindly escorted to our room. The Longshore Beachfront Grande Luxe Club Level Room with a balcony tranquility soaking tub. This room was perfect for us and fit within budget at less than 6000 USD in total for the full week!
We have also stated at the Bamboo Grove One-Bedroom Skypool Butler Suite and what was an amazing experience as well.
Room
The The Longshore Beachfront Grande Luxe Club Level Room with a balcony tranquility soaking tub was equipped with everything we could need in standard features along with two Tranquility Soaking Tubs that fit two people (one of which was on the balcony, I loved spending evenings in there). The balcony was beachfront so having that view for a morning greeting was so enjoyable.
Our suite had a stocked bar, a king-sized bed, and a bathroom with a bathtub and a rain shower for a spa-like experience.
The Bamboo Grove One-Bedroom Skypool Butler Suite elevated our experience. People ask if it is worth the splurge and for us it was.
Walking in, we were greeted by the dining and bar area followed by the living room seating area. Before checking out the bedroom we were drawn out to the balcony which had a swinging chair and the most important feature, a private infinity pool! We loved being able to hop in the pool at anytime and stare out into the bar around Negril.
The other room included a bedroom with king sized bed and a spa-like bathroom with a shower and large soaking tub.
One small way the layout enhanced our experience is having the separate bedroom allowed the butler to drop things off in the living room without bothering us and when we had room service we could leave it in the bar area where it wouldn’t bother us in the bedroom.
Amenities
Being all-inclusive, we had access to all pools, the fitness center, and live shows at night. We especially enjoyed waterskiing, I’ve realized that’s not available at every Sandals Resort so it was a unique experience. We took full advantage of the tennis courts, snorkeling, and glass-bottom boats as well.
Drinks and Dining
The best part about staying at any Sandals location is the diverse availability of cuisines and premium drinks at no additional cost. Sandals Negril is no different. It features several beachy casual or fancied-up dining experiences with exciting menus. I enjoyed having a buffet style breakfast near the water at Bayside most mornings and the a la carte option at the Barefoot By The Sea open air restaurant.
The new Tapas style restaurant, Brava, was the overall favorite. We shared plates of Pollo Asado, Pescado a la Vizcaina, Croquetas de Pollo and finished it off with Sangria and Tarta de Queso Con Papaya (the best cheesecake I’ve ever tasted). There are 8 restaurants in total at Sandals Negril, we used our complimentary concierge to handle reservations at each restaurant throughout the week.
We also went to Beaches Negril one day to try out their food. They have a new restaurant called Yuka which was really good and a few other things that Sandals does not have like Soy sushi and froyo.
We frequented the swim-up bars and 4 different pools on the property. Every room comes with a fully stocked bar as well so staying in and enjoying our own balcony tub while sipping on whatever we wanted was quite relaxing.
Excursions
While I would’ve been wholly content staying on the resort for the duration of the week (there are just so many things to keep you occupied), we really wanted to check out the nearby excursions. Excursions off of the resort will cost extra but they are usually very reasonable and give visitors the chance to check out surrounding areas in Jamaica.
Rick’s Cafe is the closest and most popular excursion- It cost us 25 USD each and can be booked directly through Sandals website through the Island Routes tour company. Keep in mind that you don’t go there for the cafe, the main attraction is the cliff jumping.
We splurged on a deep sea fishing half-day excursion at 225 USD per adult. This is something I’ve always wanted to do in the Caribbean and it matched up to all of my expectations if not more. Money well spent!
Final Thoughts
Sandals Negril is a fantastic resort for honeymooners or couples just needing a breakaway. I thoroughly enjoyed the layout and access to the famous 7 Mile Beach. I never felt like anything was missing or could have been better. We had a mid-range room, stuck to our budget, and enjoyed the heck out of the plentiful amenities and exemplary service that is driven purely by Sandals standards.