Vacation time. These two words always bring a bit of excitement to people’s hearts. Everyone always loves to take a small break from their day-to-day life to go and adventure to places they have never seen before. And what better way to do that than with a trip to somewhere warm and tropical? If you are looking for a Jamaican getaway, you may want to consider Sandals Royal Caribbean.
What Is the Sandals Royal Caribbean?
The Sandals Royal Caribbean is an all-inclusive resort located on a private island in Montego Bay, Jamaica. With its mix of both Jamaican and English culture, this resort makes guests feel relaxed, comfortable and adventurous.
Product Specs
Only a ten-minute walk away from the Sandals Royal Caribbean is one of Montego Bay’s outdoor shopping malls, Whitter Village. There is also a resort shuttle that makes frequent trips to the main tourist areas and two other Sandals properties in the area. If you are looking to stay on site, the resort itself has a ton of great activities available for you to enjoy. Sandals Royal Caribbean offers a bunch of different watersports with its package including kayaks, waterskiing, and even scuba diving trips. There is also a spa, live nightly entertainment, and a tennis court.
Pricing
Since the Sandals Royal Caribbean is an all-inclusive resort, the price you pay to stay and eat here is most of what you will spend on the trip. That being said, the price is likely to fluctuate depending on what type of room you would like to stay in and what time of year you choose to come. If you are booking a double room for seven nights during high season, you can expect to pay somewhere around $4,212. If you are planning to book the same room but during the slow season, you will probably spend around $3,003.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar resorts available on the market to see how they compare.
Sandals Montego Bay
The Tryall Club
Riu Reggae
Sandals Royal Caribbean
Price $3,003-$4,212 $$
The price to stay at the Sandals Royal Caribbean will depend on what type of room you want to stay in and when you plan on staying. If you stay for seven nights in a double room during the slow season, you can expect to pay around $3,003. If you are planning to book the same thing but during high season, you can expect to pay around $4,212.
Amenities 4-Star
What is great about Sandals Royal Caribbean is the delicious food they offer with their all-inclusive package Their buffet restaurant offers a lot of hot dishes, seafood, and has a great salad bar. You can also choose to make reservations at one of Sandals Royal Caribbean’s many restaurants. They have a very popular Thai restaurant along with a pizzeria, a jerk shack, a French restaurant, and a Caribbean style restaurant. You may also want to take a ride on the shuttle and check out the other two Sandals properties in the area if you are in the mood to try something different.
Activities 4-Star
If the water is where you want to be, Sandals Royal Caribbean is the place for you. They offer a ton of opportunities to try out unique watersports. Water skiing, kayaking, scuba diving and more are all included in your stay. On land, there is a full spa to help you relax, tennis courts, billiards, beach volleyball, and a gym.
Location 4-Star
Located only a few miles from the airport, Sandals Royal Caribbean is positioned on the eastern edge of Mahoe Bay. This lagoon setting means that the seas are usually calm. This makes it the perfect place to try out all of the included watersports Sandals Royal Caribbean has to offer. It also makes it a safe and fun destination for swimmers of all skill levels. Sandals Royal Caribbean is also only a ten-minute walk away from the shopping area of Whitter Village, and a short shuttle ride from the Hip Strip, the main tourist area of Montego Bay.
Pros
- Shuttles available to head into town
- A multitude of restaurants included
- Lots of watersports to try
- The Red Lane Spa
- Nightly entertainment and beach parties
Cons
- Couples only; not family friendly
- Slightly more expensive
- Lots of music and events going on, not always a quiet, relaxing place
Sandals Montego Bay
If you are looking for a place with a little bit more peace and romance, you may want to consider Sandals Montego Bay. This resort has a beautiful, long stretch of beach that lets you stroll by or take a dip in at any time. With its long list of amenities and luxurious appearance, this is an ideal location to take a honeymoon trip.
Price $3,239-$4,064 $$
The price to stay at Sandals Montego Bay will depend on what type of room you want to stay in and when you plan on staying. If you stay for seven nights in a deluxe room for two during the low season, you can expect to pay around $3,239. If you are planning to book the same thing but during high season, you can expect to pay around $4,064.
Amenities 4-Star
Sandals Montego Bay has nine on-site restaurants and bars available for its guests. You can also take a shuttle to head over to the other nearby Sandals properties to try out their restaurants. Enjoy Chinese, Caribbean, French, and Italian style foods all included with your stay.
Activities 4-Star
In a similar fashion to the other Sandals locations nearby, Sandals Montego Bay offers a ton of things for you to do during your stay. If you are interested in exploring the water, you can hop on a paddleboard, some water skis, or a Hobie Cat. You can also go on a scuba diving trip on the resort’s powerboat. On the land, you can head over to the Red Lane Spa, or play beach volleyball with the other guests.
Location 3-Star
While being near the airport is very convenient for your departure, the noise of the airport can become bothersome to some people. If you are a light sleeper or are simply looking for a quiet place to relax, this may not be the best choice for you. That being said, the luxurious stretch of beach here is incredible and can make up for the noise for some guests.
Pros
- A long stretch of private beach
- Lots of watersports included
- The Red Lane Spa
- Nine restaurants and bars on sight, the shuttle can take you to the other Sandals properties as well
Cons
- Couples only; not family friendly
- Nothing is within walking distance of the resort
- Located right next to the airport, meaning you will hear flights taking off and landing
The Tryall Club
TryallClub.com
While many of the other resorts are focused on adults, the Tryall Club is a family friendly all-vila club that has a ton to offer. You can choose from 75 different private villas on this reclusive beach resort. Getaway with your significant other, or your whole family to this beautiful Jamaican paradise.
Price $4,491 $$$
The price to stay at the Tryall Club will depend on what type of villa you want to stay in and when you plan on staying. If you stay for seven nights in a standard villa, you can expect to pay around $4,491.
Amenities 5-Star
What makes this place truly special is that each of the villas has year-round employees that wait on the guests hand and foot. They make sure your vacation experience is incredible. Among the staff is a private chef that prepares your meals for you. If you are looking to head out of the villa and enjoy a meal at a restaurant, you can also head over to the Great House or to the Beach Cafe.
Activities 4-Star
On-site, there is a full golf course, tennis courts, a croquet lawn, spa, gym, and a gorgeous private beach that has a number of watersports available. The staff is also more than happy to arrange tours and excursions around Jamaica for you.
Location 3-Star
The Tryall Club is located in Hanover Parrish’s Sandy Bay, which is approximately a 30-minute drive from the airport. While the place itself is beautiful, and each villa offers its own unique experience, heading off-site is not easy. There is nothing within walking distance of the Tryall Club, meaning you will have to arrange a cab if you are looking to see any of the other things Jamaica has to offer.
Pros
- Family friendly
- Personal staff
- Reclusive and quiet
- Stay in a personal villa
Cons
- A 30-minute drive from the airport
- Nothing is within walking distance
- Not as many on-site activities as some of the other places
Riu Reggae
If you are looking for a high-quality resort to stay at without completely emptying out your wallet, you may want to check out Riu Reggae. This incredibly affordable all-inclusive resort keeps you close to the city while also offering the luxury of a private beach.
Price $1,159-$1,415 $
The price to stay at the Riu Reggae will depend on what type of room you want to stay in and when you plan on staying. If you stay for seven nights in a double room during the slow season, you can expect to pay around $1,159. If you are planning to book the same thing but during high season, you can expect to pay around $1,415.
Amenities 4-Star
Sometimes when you book a stay at a place significantly cheaper than its competitors, you don’t get the same level of service. At the Riu Reggae that is definitely not the case. The staff is well trained and great at meeting all of their guests’ expectations. There are five restaurants and four bars included with your stay, and you also have access to the neighboring Riu Montego Bay, which allows you to have access to four additional restaurants, a nightclub, a larger spa, and tennis courts.
Activities 4-Star
While the Riu Reggae may not have as many on-site activities, it makes up for it by being located so close to town. If you are done with the spas, beach, and nightclub you have access to; you can quickly and easily head into town and explore all that Jamaica has to offer.
Location 4-Star
Riu Reggae is located only three miles from the airport, making arrivals and departures a breeze. You are also only a ten-minute drive from the center of town, and only a two-minute drive from local shopping malls. Not to mention the fact that you are right on the beach and can enjoy the beautifully blue waters at any time.
Pros
- Incredibly affordable
- Access to neighboring Riu Montego Bay
- Five restaurants and four bars on-site
- Very close to the center of town
Cons
- Not family friendly
- Does not include as many on-site activities
- No room service included or nightly turndown
http://www.riureggaeresort.com/
Conclusion
Overall, the Sandals Royal Caribbean has so much to offer your vacation experience, which is why it has received a rating of 4 stars. With its ideal location, only a short walk away from town; there is so much to explore both on and off site. Plus, there are two other Sandals resorts nearby that you can go to for free with your stay. Even though it may be a little bit more expensive than some of the other places, it makes up for it with its amenities. With its exceptional staff, luxurious rooms, and countless food options for you to pick, Sandals Royal Caribbean really give you your money’s worth.
Considering all the options, you really can not go wrong with any of the places on this list. Each place offers a different view, a different experience, and a different dent in your checkbook. Jamaica is truly a gorgeous place to take a break from it all and provides both the quiet and the lively atmospheres people adore. So give yourself the vacation you deserve and book a flight today.