Sandals Royal Plantation was the very first Sandals Resort we ever visited. We had no idea what to expect and were pleasantly surprised by the level of service provided. The resort is the smallest and most intimate Sandals Resort, with just 74 oceanfront suites, all of which come with butler service. This is one of the highest-rated Sandals resorts and is quite popular for honeymoons because of the peaceful atmosphere and excellent service.
While the resort is small and quiet, we had access to Sandals Ochi, giving us a ton of variety of atmospheres and things to do. We also loved the excursions available in the area, including the Blue Hole, River Tubing and going to the Sandals Golf Course where green fees are included.
We loved our time here. However, some people feel it’s too small, and some guests don’t like the fact that the resort is not very updated (which is on purpose, as a very loyal clientele prefers it to stay like it is).
Sandals Royal Plantation Location
Sandals Royal Plantation is located in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. It is about 90 minutes from the main airport in Montego Bay, but there is a closer airport in Ocho Rios. While there aren’t as many international flights to this airport, that is changing. There are now nonstop weekly flights from Miami to the Ocho Rios airport, which is 20 minutes from the resort.
Regardless of which airport you use, you’ll get a complimentary round-trip transfer.
Suites at Sandals Royal Plantation
There are a range of suites at Sandals Royal Plantation, but they are all butler suites and they are all have an ocean viewl
The least expensive option has a spacious sitting area, a 4-poster king bed, and a French balcony. The nicest is the Governor General Oceanfront One Bedroom Butler Suite, which has a separate living area, two furnished private balconies overlooking the ocean, a master bedroom with a 4-poster king bed, and a spa-like bathroom with a Roman tub and walk-in shower.
There is also a unique option here, the 3-bedroom Villa Plantana, which has beautiful ocean views; three bedrooms, each with its own private patio; three bathrooms; spacious living and dining areas; and a private pool. It comes with a full staff.
Rates can be low (currently starting at $296 per person per night), given that these are all butler suites and come with 24-hour in-room dining and personal butler service.
We have stayed in two of the rooms, and both were very similar. They each had the same layout, but with different views. The higher the floor, the better the view and the more expensive it will be.
The rooms are either in the East Wing or the West Wing. We have a slight preference for the West Wing because of the proximity to the beach with the restaurant on it. Most room categories have a bedroom, a separate seating area, a bathroom, and a closet. The French doors open up to the Caribbean view, and while you do not have a balcony in most rooms, it gives you a similar feel with the French doors.
Check out our room reviews
Food and Drink at Sandals Royal Plantation
With 5 onsite restaurants and access to 16 more at Sandals Ochi via a free shuttle, you’ll have 21 dining options at Sandals Royal Plantation.
Le Papillon: The best restaurant at Sandals Royal Plantation is this French-inspired restaurant. The service is top-notch and there is a beautiful view of the ocean. There are several great dishes, but my favorite is the Grilled Caribbean lobster tail and the Herb-crusted rack of lamb. For appetizers, the French Onion soup is the clear winner.
Reservations for dinner are required here, so tell your butler as soon as you check in that you would like reservations, and the dress code is evening attire so make sure to bring pants, a collared shirt and shoes for men.
The Terrace: The Terrace offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner with breathtaking ocean views. This is my favorite breakfast spot in all of the Sandals resorts. At other resorts, you have to choose between an a la carte restaurant and the buffet, but this has both combined. We also loved the juices on the menu. Reservations are only required for dinner.
For dinner there is a rotating menu each night. Make sure to come here on the night they have a buffet of local Jamaican cuisine. The benefit of having dinner here is that you get a front row seat to entertainment.
Royal Grill: This is our favorite quiet restaurant. For lunch, the menu has a lot of variety and is where we eat every day. For dinner, you can enjoy the sound of the ocean as you enjoy the seafood-focused menu, including the Surf & Turk. As it gets dark outside, the restaurant feels very secluded.
The Wobbly Peacock: Late into the night, the pub stays open with an amazing bartender and a typical pub menu. My favorite was the chicken wings. We would also stop by here to grab a bit of ice cream when we wanted it.
Tea Terrace: A unique experience in Jamaica, this is where you can get afternoon tea. In my opinion, the food isn’t the best, but it was fun to try it out one day, especially keeping the history of the resort in mind, which has served royalty and celebrities in its past.
Caviar Bar: Another unique experience is the caviar and champagne bar. It is an extra charge, and to be honest, it is not as much of a highlight as we expected it to be. It is somewhat tucked away and cost extra.
Your Suite: Since all the suites have butlers, you can always eat in your room, ordering off the room service menu or from any restaurant on-site.
Your Beach Chair: We don’t actually go to the restaurants to eat lunch; we let our butler know in the morning what we want, and they bring it to us on the beach. Each day, they have specials that are off the menu as well.
Sandals Royal Plantation has two bars onsite. There are 11 more at Sandals Ochi, including a very cool speakeasy with live music.
Some of the main restaurants guests go to at Sandals Ochi are the teppanyaki style restaurant, Kimonos, and the Sushi restaurant, Soy.
Sandals Royal Plantation Beach and Pools
Sandals Royal Plantation provides an amazing beach experience, which is exactly what most people are looking for when they go to the Caribbean.
- Beach Options – There are two beaches at the resort. Both are very similar, with a few chairs. Both are calm and secluded. The East beach allows smoking.
- Bar Service – Sandals Royal Plantation has the best bar service available of any Sandals Resort. You can expect the bartenders to check on you regularly at your beach chairs.
- Food Options – For eating lunch, you can ask your butler to bring you food from the Royal Grill to stay at the beach.
- The Sand – You’ll find the sand soft on your feet and white.
- The Water – The water is clear and very calm.
- Water sports – One beach has watersports activities, and the other has day beds, swings, and cabanas in addition to lounge chairs.
- Beach Chairs – It’s always easy to get a chair here, since there are so few guests.
Pools at Sandals Royal Plantation
Sandals Royal Plantation has two smaller pools and a whirlpool, and they are all quite peaceful.
Similar to the beach areas, if you stay at the pool during the day you can expect great bar service as you relax.
If you want more activities and entertainment, you can go to the pools at Sandals Ochi. The pool at the Great House is the largest and best if you want more activity and entertainment.
At the pool there is a line of chairs that overlook the ocean. When we weren’t at the beach this is where you would find us.
Activities & Amenities at Sandals Royal Plantation
There are a range of complimentary activities and amenities at Sandals Royal Plantation. Additionally, there are plenty of excursions and spa treatments that come at an additional cost.
Included Activities & Amenities
- Daily Snorkeling trips – Every day, you can sign up for a snorkeling trip to see the nearby reefs.
- Daily Scuba Diving Trips – If you are scuba certified, you can go to Sandals Ochi and go on scuba diving trips at no additional cost.
- Glass Bottom Boat Trips – I do not go on these because they make me motion sick, but they are provided daily.
- Water Sports – Other watersports are available every day. You just need to go to the water sports area on the beach to get a kayak, paddleboard, Hobie cat, or anything else they have available to take on the water.
- Land sports – At Sandals Royal Plantation, you can play tennis, pickleball, shuffleboard, and other games.
- Fitness Center – Also available on the resort is a fitness center for working out during your stay.
- Golf – You can also golf at the 18-hole championship Upton Estate Golf & Country Club course, with complimentary green fees and transportation there and back. You do have to pay for a golf cart and caddy.
- Nighttime entertainment – each night there is an entertaining show that runs till about 10pm.
Activities for an additional cost
Spa services
If you are interested in one of the relaxing massages, this does cost extra, and they are very accommodating. You can tip your massage therapist, but they also have a 20% service charge they add on to the total before you tip.
You can also get manicures, pedicures, and other unique treatments like body scrubs and facials.
Off-Site Excursions
Ocho Rios is the best area in Jamaica for excursions. All of the excursions come at an additional cost and there is a huge variety of options for you to enjoy. Simply go to the Island Routes desk to find the best match for you. Here are my favorites.
- The Blue Hole – After a 20-minute drive, you will get a life jacket and start to hike up the river. Along the way you can jump into the different pools down the river. There is one large jump and a swing you can jump off of.
- River Rafting – We combined this with The Blue Hole and enjoyed the relaxing trip down the river.
- Dunn’s River Falls – This is the most famous attraction. We recommend going by catamaran and avoiding the craft village.
- Cannabis Tours – With this tour, you can visit a farm where cannabis is grown and try the product. There are two options, and we recommend the cheaper option. Sorry for not remembering the name.
- Ziplining – When visiting Dunn’s River or the river rafting, you can also go ziplining.
- Mystic Mountain – This park recently reopened and is a fun way to spend the day.
Can you walk from Sandals Royal Plantation to Sandals Ochi?
Yes, you can walk from Sandals Royal Plantation to Sandals Ochi, but there isn’t a great side walk. I have made the walk before and will do it again, but there is a free shuttle that will take you as well and is how most people go back and forth.
What is the dress code for Sandals Royal Plantation?
While Sandals resorts themselves don’t technically have a dress code, most guests wear resort casual clothing. There is a dress code at Sandals Royal Plantation for the restaurants, which ranges from resort casual to resort evening attire, depending on the restaurant. Resort evening attire requires long pants and closed-toe shoes for men, with collared shirts. Women should wear a dress, skirt and top, or nicer pants and top, with appropriate shoes. Sneakers and flip-flops are not allowed.
How much do you tip a butler at Sandals Royal Plantation?
While it’s not required to tip your butler at Sandals Royal Plantation, it is recommended. A suggested guideline is between $20-$50 per day per butler, depending on how much you use their service and what sorts of extras they provide.
Note that tipping is not allowed for any other staff at Sandals resorts except for those at the spa.
A Caution on Accessibility
One thing to keep in mind when visiting Sandals Royal Plantation is there are a lot of stairs to get down to the beach. If you are more of a pool person, the resort will still work for you, but if you want to enjoy the beach and cannot climb a few dozen stairs this is not the resort for you.
Weddings at Sandals Royal Plantation
We did not get married at Sandals Royal Plantation, but we loved that when people did, the entire resort would stop, watch, and cheer. It made for a very special moment for the couple.