Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island - Luxury Included Vacation, Montego Bay

I have not yet been to Royal Caribbean, but Iam going there next week and I plan to be as happy as I have been with the other 8 Sandals properties I have been to. Sandals continues to wow me, each and every time I go. One time, I booked a vacation with them and shortly after my final payment, I received a set of Sandals luggage!!!! 5 large pieces!!!! I still use them. I love Sandals but I will definitely admit that if you take the 3 lowest room categories, you could be dissapointed if you have high expectations. Those rooms are best for people who do not have a lot of money and who are not picky, just happy to go away at a price they can afford!! Cheap rooms still get the same restaurants, water sports, drinks etc. but there is no room service included for those rooms. Overall, Sandals manages to provide a good experience for the wealthy and not so wealthy, all on the same property. I am 6 nights away from my free vacation...I have paid for 64 nights at various sandals resorts and I have not been unhappy with one single night. I have listened to people complaining around the resorts and the complaints are always the same. they got the lowest room categories and were dissapointed. dont book these rooms if you are expecting alot, they are very basic and generally have a poor view. These rooms offer a chance for the not so wealthy to vacation too. It has been my experience that the people who do enjoy these less expensive rooms are so much fun in the resort because they are so happy to be on vacation. There is always a great time to be had at Sandals, just book the room that fits the expectations you have. Surely, a fussy person will not be happy with a Deluxe room. Book a better room or a butler suite if you want to be wowed!!!

Well who ever said they have a desk at the Sangster Airport for transfer is very wrong they have the most gorgeous, comfortable, and well appointed lounge at any airport for a hotel, with drinks, snacks, coffee, and a wide assortments of teas, served by their butlers. The bathrooms are fabulous, clean, and have a refreshing scent which I was advised is available at the hotel. Wonderful helpfull staff, everone in the airport who wanted to ask a question about anything came to the Sandals Lounge from my observation. I loved the time I spent there waiting on my bus, the red stripe was fab just the right thing to begin your journey (bring a large jug to take some on the bus with you). Had a great time at Whitehouse despite the road but our driver warned us before so we were prepared, red stripe in hand.

Service excellent everywhere: reception, housekeeping, bars, restaurants. Just ask! Room good: clean and regularly re-stocked. Variety of buildings - quiet or near the action, sea view or garden view. Various categories of rooms to fit different budgets. Balconies and terraces/patios. Eating places excellent: good variety. Food: excellent everywhere. Regency restaurant is fabulous. Do try the Thai restaurant on the private island. Two restaurants require reservations, the others do not. Bars: excellent, including in-pool swim-up and beach bar/grill. Plenty of variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Free serve yourself ice cream, nachos/cheese, sodas, water. Ongoing variety of entertainment during day and evening. You can participate as much or as little as you want. Also tennis, basketball, water sports. Grounds are superb. Spa (fee). Gift shop. Didn't get to the fitness center. Photographers if you want. Tours if you want (fee). Unobtrusive uniformed security. Regular free shuttles to/from other Sandals resorts in the vicinity. Sandals Montego Bay has a bigger beach.

My husband and I, along with my sister and brother-in-law and another couple just returned from a week-long stay at Sandals Royal Caribbean. What a disappointment. The photographer for the website must be taking photographs through magic lenses because this resort is nothing like what is portrayed on the website. We chose this resort based on the "luxury included" trademark. Luxury was included if you wanted to pay a hefty up-charge. Our room was number 50 in the main lobby building and was very standard; not at all what I expected from a resort like this and for the money we paid. It was a basic hotel room. The problem we had was that the room was first of all in desperate need of updating and there was no balcony. We had requested a Deluxe room with a garden view. The only view we had was out of the only window in the room. All we could see were the tops of the trees and vines over the French Restaurant. So in order to have any natural light in our room, or a view we had to have the curtains open making it open for everyone who walked by able to see into our room. We complained and we were told we could upgrade at a cost, but there was nothing available. Also, we asked to have beer brought to the room, we could have that if we wanted to upgrade to a concierge suite or buy a case of beer for $41. So much for all-inclusive and “luxury included”. Last year we vacationed in Punta Cana at Excellence Resorts EVERYTHING and then some was included for a cost that was less than we paid at Sandals. The resort itself was okay but the “Sandals Difference” is way over-rated. For as luxurious as this resort is suppose to be, it should have been maintained and run much better. Here is a breakdown of what we saw. STAFF- Seemed very sad – most everyone, except those who were obviously management, was friendly but the atmosphere was not what we expected. There were a very small handful of the staff that were actually jolly. Those who were in management positions were downright rude at times. The nurse, however, was an absolute pumpkin. The staff are not allowed to take tips, but we managed to sneak tips to most of our wait staff, who were very appreciative. Even if we couldn’t, they knew we were trying and thanked us. They work very hard for what I am sure is very little pay, so be nice to them. They all seemed to be on edge with the management staff constantly around like vultures. Based on how the management staff were toward us that were guests, I am sure they treat the help worse.  POOLS – Seemed nice, but small. We stayed mostly on the main beach chunk and didn’t swim in the pool. GROUNDS – Seemed fairly well maintained. Noticed garbage on the water’s edge in the morning. People clean up after yourselves. FITNESS ROOM- Is not air conditioned, so be prepared to sweat…A LOT…. ROOMS – Our friend’s rooms were nice, but ours was a dump. BUGS – DO NOT forget to bring bug spray. CATS- There are quite a few cats around the resort. Poor things no one seems to feed them. We fed them every chance we got. Our last day we got in trouble for feeding them. Bring cat food and don’t listen to the animal haters. BEACH - The beach areas are small. Work was being done on the main beach chunk while we were there. We made friends with the men doing the work. Hi Kermit. We miss you. They were very nice and did their best not to disturb the guest. They were very proud to be making the beach “fluffy” for us. BARS - Typical all-inclusive. FOOD- Food was good. The best is the beach grill. Everything on the menu is delicious. Service was impeccable. Cricketers is also good. Look for Deon. He is a hoot. XXOO to him. SUMMARY – The trip wasn’t a total disaster. It is what it is and we made the best of it and had fun. We won’t be back and we will never stay at another Sandals again, anywhere. My heart breaks for the kitties and the sad employees.

After waiting for more tahn an hour in the corcierge desk for check in, we got to a dirty room, without telephone. They offer me a cel phone to contact the desk if I ever need it something. We refuse the room , and after two more hour and ready to leave they gave us an upgrade to the third floor. This Super Inclusive is not super at all. Cheap drinks, bad quality of food except the dinner that was acceptable. Beautiful beach and nice pool. The hotle is very very old and can see the age all around. In rainy days practically is no activities unless you like to get wet. Terrible experience, never will go back

I just want to say that the staff made our stay excellent;the bar tenders,waitwers and waitresses worked hard and seemed as if they love their job . You should dine at the French restaurant and the thai restaurant those you have to make reservation for, and they were all romantic,my husband and I sailed across the resort to the thai restaurant on the Dragon boat and were greeted by friendly staffs,the night was beautiful and the food were the best,i've ever had. the regency suite was where i went for breakfast and there was a variety for us to choose from,the omlets were good,and if i should go back i will try the smoothies. my room was always welcoming. with the towel folding and rose petals were just awes. The Sandals Cay was just the place for relaxation,and a good place to hang out,the bar tender tracey was so friendly,and the jerk pork is realy good! The entertainment team worked hard the staff is just friendly zoey would bring us a drink on during show time so we won't miss a thing on stage,and she would also bring us chairs when we need, this team is the best and full of spo much energy and smiles,i was happy to be there. The beach is always clean the ocean view is the best. The pool is where all activities takes place i don't do much but i like to watch. The pool is just clean thanks to Neville the water sport man,he was so polite.I had a great time i will come back to Sandals with my friends and family.

My girl friend and I recently stayed at the Sandals Royal Caribbean from and unfortunately, we had a negative experience when we first arrived. When I originally booked this trip, I reserved the Royal Grande Luxe Beachfront room. Approximately a week before our trip, Tim from Sandals emailed and called me to tell me that we could upgrade our room to the Royal Honeymoon Luxury Beachfront Concierge Room for the length of our stay for $150. I told him that it was very important to us that the upgraded room was “beachfront” and had an “ocean view”. He assured me that it was. I asked if he was sure because “beachfront” and “ocean view” were our priority. He assured me again that it was. Well, it was not. The room overlooked the pool and was not even close to the beach. In fact, the only way you could see the beach or the ocean was to walk out on the balcony, hang your head over the rail and look 90 degrees to the right. I told the representative that this room was unacceptable and that we would like to have the Royal Grand Luxe Beachfront room that we had originally booked. They said that this room was unavailable. I asked to speak to the manager. After a very long delay, a manager finally came in. He repeated that this room was unavailable. After a very long, uncomfortable, stressful and frankly angry discussion, they “found” the room that we originally booked. I then asked for the upgrade charge to be refunded. The manager said that it was unrefundable. This is when I really got upset. We had now been there for over two hours, our hopes of getting on the beach the first day were gone. We had to fight to get the room that we originally booked and now I was told that after all of this, my $150 was not going to be refunded. I was so about to leave Sandals and go to the Ritz. The manager offered to give me a $150 hotel credit. I said I just wanted a refund. They refused. We were at a standoff. I was upset. My girlfriend was upset. This was ruining our vacation. The manager finally said that he would “give” us concierge service in our room. This was not what I wanted, but I told him fine, just so we could end this unpleasantness. This really left a sour taste in our mouths for the rest of our time there. I wrote to the Sandals home office, hoping that they would do the right thing. They did not respond to my first letter at all. I wrote to them again and almost two months later they responded. They refused to do anything and the letter was very condescending. As a result, I will never go to a Sandals again. They are liars and thieves, plain and simple. Sandals...I hope you enjoy the $150 you stole from me. You have a new enemy.

From our arrival in Jamaica I felt the "Sandals Difference". The staff and entertainment is amazing. Upon arrival we met Marcene who answered all of our questions and made us feel at home. The food is absolutely the best I have ever had. Make sure that you make reservations at arrival; they get full. I really liked how they let us experience all three Montego Bay resorts. The entertainment staff was excellent, Beat Box, Ginger, and Zoey kept us laughing the entire trip. We truly want to take the time to thank Zoey as she was truly special and made us feel special and part of the great Sandals Family.

Went to this resort on our honeymoon andit was absolutely fanastic. I havent got anything bad to say about our whole holiday except they tell you not to tip the staff but the staff that show you to your room and Sabrina the waitress in the Regency Suite beg you for a tip. We were fooled by their sob stories - dont get sucked in like we did. Everything else was faultless. This was the holiday of our dreams. Would definatety recommend this resort. FANTASTIC.

We had a wonderfully relaxing, amazing time at Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort...we stayed 7 wonderful nights and recommend this resort highly. It's staff was so sincerely kind, the entire resort was immaculate...we cannot wait to return!