Jamaica FAM Trip: Sandals Negril

Our final destination in Negril was the lone Sandals property in the city: Sandals Negril. Also located on Norman Manley Blvd, this property is located in close proximity to Beaches Negril and Grand Pineapple, two of the other resorts I previously discussed. After all, they are all located on Negril’s Seven Mile Beach and are trying to take full advantage of the real estate!

This was our third resort tour of the day and after being out in the hot Jamaican sun, we travel agents were DOG tired. The kind folks at Sandals knew it too, as they greeted us with cool lemongrass-scented towels and cold refreshments (note: the cool towels are a staple at ALL Sandals resorts and have a way of making you feel relaxed instantly). We also knew that we’d be having lunch at this resort – yes, we toured three resorts all before noon – so we were definitely looking forward to some good eating as well.

Accommodations: Sandals Negril has 13 different types of room accommodations, topping out at their Swim-Up Crystal Lagoon and Millionaire Honeymoon Suites. We were fortunate enough to see one of each of these rooms and…WOW!! I was completely impressed.

The Millionaire Honeymoon One Bedroom Suite we saw had a whirlpool tub and private plunge pool outside. There was Sandals’ signature 4 poster bed and fully stocked bar, which comes standard with this type of suite. The private plunge pool (shown below) was accessible through a side door near the bed and also featured a private cabana. Talk about the ultimate getaway! The suite also comes with Butler service to help meet your every need.

My personal favorite room at Sandals Negril was also their top accommodation: the Beachfront One Bedroom Swim-up Crystal Lagoon Suite with Private Lagoon Entrance. (whew that’s a mouthful!). You could hear “oohs” and “aahs” once we walked into this amazing room, located on the Sundowner Block of the resort. Not only was the suite ultra-spacious, but that private lagoon entrance was EVERYTHING! Plus you have a private lanai with ceiling fan, outdoor dining area and a spot to lounge with a direct view of the Caribbean Sea; just lovely and super romantic.

Dining: Sandals Negril features 7 dining options on the property that vary from casual pizza to Teppanyaki to outdoor beach dining. Only 2 of the restaurants require reservations. There are also 5 bars/cocktail lounges, including one swim-up bar. We had lunch at Bayside Restaurant, which serves both a breakfast and lunch buffet. The food was VERY good, as I’ve come to expect at these properties. The restaurant is open-air, but there were enough ceiling fans to make it comfortable.

Pools/Beach: As I mentioned earlier, the resort is located on Seven Mile Beach, so there is plenty of beautiful sand and a plethora of beach chairs to use. The main pool is located just off the lobby and also features the swim-up bar. There are two other swimming pools and three whirlpools that guests are able to use. The standard inclusion of watersports is not an exception here; simply sign up and explore your adventurous side!

Overall Atmosphere: Sandals Negril is set apart because it is the ONLY Sandals property in this region of the island. The resort was lovely and accommodations impressive. We were there mid-day and the place felt peaceful. We spent some time at the very cool (and covered) recreation area, which featured pool tables, board games, a popcorn machine, and a fully-staffed bar. It was located right on the beach and there were a couple of fire pits in walking distance (a new Sandals standard). In just the 20 minutes we spent there, I decided that I really liked this resort and would like to return…and that was BEFORE we saw the Swim-up Lagoon suite! This resort would be a strong recommendation for those who want to enjoy the beauty of Negril (a/k/a Capital of Casual) and still enjoy the upgrades that a Sandals vacation will provide.