What People are saying
Fantastic Vacation
Donna Ron 29/08/2017 05:21My vacation to Sandals Resort was simply amazing from my arrival at Norman Manly International Airport where we were escorted by 2 security guards that worked for JetBlue and taken to the Sandals office where we were offered water while we waited for the shuttle bus to take us to the resort. The driver was very pleased and took us safely to our destination. On our arrival to the resort we were greeted by a Sandal employee who offered us cold towels and a cold drink. We were then taken to our rooms which were very clean. After getting refreshed we went to find food to eat, we went to a restaurant called Sky Terrace where we were greeted by Illene who was the supervising Hostess, she was very pleasant and seated us and introduced the server to us. Ilene professional demeanor I was exceptional she greeted all the patrons as if they were family. The atmosphere and service of the Sky Terrace certainly left a good impression and so we often went everyday for breakfast and lunch. Mr Reindeer the chef was also very helpful , as Jamaicans visiting our country for the first time staying in a resort we asked for traditional Jamaican dishes such as Ackee Salt fish Cala Lou and dumpling and yam,banana etc and was surprised when we got what we asked for . I also met some interns that gave exceptional service. There was a young lady by the name of Nikesha Copeland that served us at dinner time she was amazing and served us with a smile every time we visit the restaurant . I have to shout out Robert who was a supervisor at The Reef . He greeted us and seated us then introduced us to our server. He made sure to come around and check to make sure we were satisfied with our food. The food was amazing and the view was breathtaking! My experience at the resort was wonderful! I will definitely return to this location again for the exceptional service .
Amazing place!
ExploreTheBigWorld22on 28/08/2017 21:02What a great place this is! Now I never used to think about staying in a Sandals resort and would look at other places instead but boy was I wrong... Pure luxury and spoilt from the moment you walk into airport. Literally everything is included! Adult only resort.
Special lounge to wait for free transfer (from Kingston Airport) takes 1.5hrs to get there with the new toll road. Cold towels on arrival and a welcome drink.
We were in the Hillside Butler area but chose not to have a butler. When first got there we thought we were a bit out of the way however we were totally wrong as where we were was where the Great House Pool is plus the spa and some of the restaurants.
Great room with balcony and semi private pool. (be aware it is a bit against smoking in this resort with 'smoking areas'. Mr P smokes and got used to the smoking areas but you can't even smoke on balcony. We asked one of the butlers and they said it was okay as long as respected neighbours which we did.
There is a bus (The Hop) that takes you between each part of the resort: Beachside, Ochi Beach and Hillside and they run till 2am every 10mins. You actually feel like you're going out and get very used to the bus (takes about 3mins) We ate in 95% of the restaurants over the 10 nights there. Can honestly say we didn't have a bad meal in any. Did Kelly's Dockside twice, Neptunes, Southern Table, Vista/Sky (for Steak and Lobster surf and turf), Valentino's, Kimonos, Le Gourmand (The best Onion Soup especially when I don't like it haha! and the Lamb was best I have had) and through the day Great House Cafe, Dino's and Mariner. Mr P had a steak every night and says they were all fabulous (his favourite was Neptune's tho) Breakfast can be in Southern Table or you can go to Sky/Vista at Ochi Beach part... amazing views here mind overlooking to sea. Whatever you want to drink you can have and you get a full mini bar including water, pop, Red Stripe and spirits if in Hillside Butler Village.
The staff here cannot be better and they treat you very well. A few names we want to mention... Jenthrow (Valentino's) was amazing! What a truly nice guy and what service he gave! The Great House Pool Bar staff... Keron always brought me a bbc cocktail and a Red Stripe for Mr P without me even asking after she knew what we liked. Rojir and Daniel always friendly and a great smile.
We did a few days at the beachside too for a variety.
The playmakers are brilliant and very funny... especially Javanda! Jess is there to keep you fit with a bit of aqua aerobics,
There is a golf course nearby with free transport. This was about £100 inc caddie, buggy and club hire. The spa is great if want a treat. I went to have gel nails done by Angela. Was fab and wished I could have taken her home as very good.
We didn't do any tours this time but there are a few to do including Dunn's River.
Evening entertainment is varied... White Party, Beach Party, Stage shows and then a couple of clubs, Rabbit Hole (remember to get the daily password :) for this speakeasy club. There is also a club on Beachside which is open late.
This was our first time in Jamaica and certainly won't be the last. We definitely would go back and back to Sandals Ochi Beach too as you can have it as lively or as quiet as you want. Amazing Place.
Hard Rock Hotel
TJAlbinon 28/08/2017 20:16Improve the craftsmanship that goes into the room construction, especially the painting of the surfaces. The paint on our room was very poorly done! I would also recommend insuring that the toilets in the room are fully functional, as the one in our room did not work properly for the first several days our visit. Finally, invest in some quality, comfortable beds!! The bed in our room was as hard as the floor and extremely uncomfortable!! After enjoying a long day of Jamaican beauty and adventure, it would have been very much appreciated, had we been able to enjoy a good night's sleep on a comfortable bed, rather than a rock covered with sheets, which is how it felt trying to sleep on the "bed" we were provided!! While the food was delightful, especially the sushi lounge, I would have liked to have experienced more (any) of the local gastronomical offerings! I can get American food at home, unfortunately the offerings at the resort were overly Americanized, and left little in the way of experiencing Jamaican culture. All in all we had an amazing time, but I can say with a clear conscience that we would have had a far better experience had at least some of these issues been addressed (working toilets, food offerings, exposure to Jamaican culture). However, if all you want to do is drink and party all day and night long...this is definitely the place to do it!! The service is exceptional and the drinks are served without hesitation or waiting, and they are ice cold, refreshing, ever flowing and absolutely deeeelicious! I especially recommend the swim up bar at the beach resort area! The pool, the people, the beach, the view, the water...absolutely fabulous!!!👍👍 Two thumbs up without a doubt!! And while you are there you really must take advantage of the excursions such as the "Dunns River Falls, Blue Hole and Zip Lining at Mystic Mountain," absolutely amazing! Word to the wise regarding these excursions, bring a really good pair of water shoes or high quality strap-on sandal, you'll be glad you did! Also, don't second guess yourself, especially when it comes to the excursion cost, I can assure you, it will be money well spent and you'll make great memories that will last you a lifetime! I have been to Dunn River Falls twice and I can tell you, coming in from the ocean on a catamaran is truly the best way to go!! From the catamaran one gets to experience the beautiful coastal waters and the absolutely incredible views of the island that only an ocean view aboard a boat can offer! Speaking of which, you must take advantage of the free snorkeling excursions Sandals offers, it's free, it's free spirited, beautiful and 100% rejuvenation for the soul, mind and spirit!!! Go once, go twice...but definitely go, it's an adventure you experience! See the coral, the amazing colorful tropical fish and just float on your cares away in the warm crystal clear water! Another excursion I highly recommend is the "shopping" excursion!!! This is especially true if have an appreciation for fine jewelry! On this excursion Sandals provides you with a guide who will ensure you only visit the quality shops and vendors while avoiding the, let's say, less reputable ones! I purchased a BEAUTIFUL tanzanite ring for around $1500 US and had it appraised upon my return home for a whopping $6000, and that's no bull!! All in all we had an amazing visit to Sandals Ochi Resort, and while it could have been better, I would still do it again on a New York minute! This trip was worth every hard earned penny we spent, my wife and I had the time of our lives and we will cherish the adventures we shared and the memories we made fogr the rest of our days!!
20th Wedding Anniversary Trip
Heather Ron 27/08/2017 01:14My husband and I went to Sandals Ochi to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. This was our 1st time to Jamaica and also to an all inclusive resort. I have to say Sandals set the bar. The service was amazing!!!!
When we arrived at the resort we were greeted by Dane with cool face towels and a rum punch. Dane then walked us to the club check in which was air conditioned where Javaughan (I hoped I spelled that correctly) took over and made us feel very welcome.
Sandals Ochi has two sides to the resort, the hillside and beach side. We stayed on the beach side in the Honeymoon Hideaway Villa and loved it. The beach side in my opinion had more restaurants, more bars and of course the beach and it just seemed like it was more of a party atmosphere.
The resort on the beach side has quite a few pools one of which was the Ochi Beach swim-up pool/bar which is where we spent a lot of time at. While at the pool(s) the resort has playmaker's which all of them were wonderful. There were 3 playmaker's that really went above and beyond. Kevon, Akeem and a women whom I totally forgot to write her name down - sorry! They run all of the games and get people involved and just plain make you feel like you have known them forever.
We ate at a few of the restaurants. Tapas, Mariner's, Kimonos, Le Gourmand and Bella Napoli along with the breakfast buffet at Sky Terrace/Vista Gourmet. All of the food was delicious!
Overall I would totally, completely, 100% recommend Sandals Ochi to everyone. It's a top notch resort and worth every penny!
Wonderful relaxed getaway
flycouple77on 26/08/2017 02:56We loved this resort , it was our second trip here, and both times were great. The resort offers the versatility of either a lively beach club or a quiet relaxed atmosphere, you get to choose!
They have a lot of fun activities throughout the day and evening if you want an entertaining activity filled trip. All of which are headed by a fun talented set of playmakers. Through the day they host games and teach local dances in a fun inclusive environment. During the evening the playmakers put on performances to entertain the resort . By the end of our trip the playmakers gave us hugs and wish us a safe journey home, it felt like we left friends behind .
The speakeasy is a must , the local jazz bands and performers are wonderful. Just make sure to find out the secret password for admission.
If quiet is more your speed it is easy to find a quiet romantic spot to spend time with your loved one either on the beach , in a hammock , hidden pool or quiet restaurant.
The restaurant were all very yummy, and make sure to enjoy each ones special drink.
We are certified scuba divers so we went scuba diving each morning , Londel is a great guide, pointing out interesting sites and underwater animals . The dive program is very well and safely run and the boat crew were all great.
We booked a ocean view butler suite . We had 2 butlers assigned to us for our 8 day stay. Both were very attentive, friendly and incredible helpful. They handled everything from booking dining , activities and spa treatments. We had a cell phone to contact them when ever we needed anything. The level of service was exceptional. Every small detail was attended too and each day we returned to our room they had arranged small surprises and snacks for us.