Have you been dreaming about that all-inclusive dream resort experience with your spouse or partner but you don’t have the time to compare the best locations side by side? We’ve done the work for you! Just sit back in anticipation with your dream cocktail in hand and read on. We’re sure Couples Negril will be on the top of your Jamaican destination list.
What Couples Need
An all-inclusive resort vacation can easily turn from dream to disappointment. Many people dread sifting through possibly Photoshopped images and misleading website information in the quest for the best of the best, without huge margins of error about the unknown. We reviewed Couples Negril and three other comparable Couples resorts.
The phrase “all-inclusive” can be both alluring and misleading. At the minimum, we expect meals, airport transfers, and bountiful resort activities to top our list of inclusions. After all, who likes to be surprised with additional costs (and scrambling for wallets and purses) when the whole point is to get away and leave all that behind (and the kids, the pets and the chores). Romance is the name of the game in this quest.
The whole point of an all-inclusive resort is to hop on a plane to some fantasy destination and adopt a mindset of worrying about little at all. If you’ve had your nose to the grindstone with work and family/social obligations for just too long and it’s time to shake a few of those cobwebs in your brain loose, Couples Negril or any of these Couples resorts we reviewed should do the trick. “Book it, then forget it” should be your motto as you read the nuts and bolts of our top choices.
What Is Couples Negril?
Beach, drinks, meals, sand, play, and spa-does that sound up your alley? Couples Negril has it all. As far as all-inclusive Caribbean resorts go, this one will impress with 234 rooms (including upgraded suites), four restaurants, top-shelf liquors, fully stocked mini-bars (including beer and wine), a spa, outdoor activities and golfing privileges nearby.
After you book your room choice, there is little left to do except packing and booking your flight to Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, Jamaica. Airport transfers via shuttle are included. Couples Negril is located about 90 minutes southwest of the airport and has a dedicated Couples resorts waiting area when you arrive while you wait for your luggage and fellow guests. If you prefer not to wait for other guests in the dedicated lounge, you can opt for helicopter service to the resort.
There is something to suit different tastes and styles at Couples Negril. From sipping coconut juice in the husk to refreshing mimosas at dawn or dusk, this resort has something for the most varied-in-taste couple. If zip lining, rum tasting, massages, swimming or dining don’t do it for you, how about simply frolicking around in one of the two outdoor swimming pools and making your way to the swim-up bar, while your partner camps out at a yoga or meditation class? You can meet them at the piano bar later.
Renovated in 2009, Couples Negril sports a casual tropical look with several low-rise whitewashed buildings so you can always see the natural beauty around you, and because it’s casual, you don’t have to worry about packing too much other than a smart-casual outfit if you want to eat at the fine dining option of their four restaurants.
Product Specs
The Couples suite experience includes turndown service, WiFi, luxury bath products, bathrobes and slippers, LCD televisions and mini-bars; the deluxe room options have private balconies, hammocks, separate baths with jets and nightly hors d’oeuvres delivered straight to your door.
The resort itself has nine buildings on 18 acres of oceanfront. In addition to the four restaurants that serve a continental breakfast, buffet, Asian, Mediterranean, and Caribbean fare, there is also a fresh juice/smoothie bar, and four regular bars The Otaheite restaurant is the fine dining option at Couples Negril. Smart casual attire is required.
A tree house spa has services to soothe sore muscles after long flights. Tennis courts and off-site golfing and other aerobic activities are nearby. If you rent a car for your stay, self-parking is complimentary.
For those very romantic visits or occasions, you can avail of the resort’s wedding services, or simply organize an intimate private dinner on the beach. Consult Couples Negril’s dedicated Romance Concierge for your specific needs like gifts, planning and special meals.
Their well-equipped fitness center with free weights and cardio equipment might be the place to help reduce both stress and unwanted weight from the many culinary choices available. There is also a well-equipped business center if a work emergency arises.
Outdoor Activities
Venturing away from the two swimming pools and four jacuzzis, there are many water sports available: scuba diving, wakeboarding, paddle boarding, kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling, Hobie Cat sailboats, and boat cruises. Be sure to enjoy the glass-bottom boat tour. For an additional fee, book a romantic night cruise. The beach swimming area is partitioned to keep swimmers safe from the more strenuous activities, and there is also a clothing optional strip of beach nearby.
If you like to mingle with other guests, Couples Negril also hosts group activities like casino night, beach volleyball, and dance lessons, or you can find a partner for a game of racquetball or squash. Take in an informative Blue Mountain coffee lecture with your fellow guests, or enjoy the nightly bonfires on the beach.
Outside the resort, there are several excursion options available to choose from including zip lining, rafting, dolphin spotting, rum tasting, ocean excursions, river and waterfall tours, and horseback riding. Golfers can rent clubs and enjoy complimentary shuttle service to the course though caddie service is extra.
For your souvenir needs, there is a complimentary shuttle to local shopping. As with most vacation excursions, don’t forget to tip the local tour guides.
Pricing
For around $500 or so per night, Couples Negril has all the features for the right price. The resort’s website and other booking sites like Fodor’s Travel, Orbitz and Booking.com can compare and give you the best rate for your dates. If you book on Couples’ website, look for resort-only specials and free excursions.
How It Compares
We picked a few resorts similar to Couples Negril to see how they compare (all from the same Couples company):
Couples Negril
Be sure to compare Couples Negril’s website with other booking sites for up-to-the-minute specials and extras.
Amenities (Score: 5 out of 5)
We liked all of the amenities at Couples Negril but noted that the higher quality top shelf liquor was a nice touch.
Dining (Score: 5 out of 5)
Just for the variety of cuisine and different atmospheres available, we gave Couples Negril our top rating for food.
Location (Score: 4 out of 5)
While it’s not the most remote couples resort choices around Jamaica, we found the 90-minute shuttle to Negril from the airport a little far. What might have been lacking in airport accessibility was surely made up for by the resort’s intimacy and stunning sunsets? If you have a little extra to spend and want to make it extra special, consider booking the private helicopter option.
Customer Service (Score: 5 out of 5)
Whether a couple’s needs are restorative or romantic, service attention is not lacking, from Couples Negril’s personalized Romance Concierge and wedding planning services to the superb attention of the daily resort service team. In particular, we liked the in-suite hors d’oeuvres service in the upgraded suites. The Couples experience has been highly reviewed by all the top travel sites.
Pros
- Truly all-inclusive
- Variety of indoor/outdoor activities
- Exquisite beach
Cons
- Distance from the airport
- Tips for caddies and local guides not included
Visit
Couples Tower Isle
Couples Tower Isle is Couples’ flagship resort and encompasses 19 sprawling acres located on the northern edge of the Ocho Rios area of Jamaica. The 226 room resort features and amenities are similar to those at Couples Negril, but this resort boasts a private island that is clothing optional. There are six restaurants and five bars, four swimming pools and four Jacuzzis. Breathtaking sunrises await early risers at this sleek, modern looking all-inclusive resort. Their Signature Oasis Spa Villas option includes unlimited spa treatments.
Price $$$ (for around $600 a night)
Couples Tower Isle is surely priced as a flagship resort would be.
Amenities (Score: 5 out of 5)
Overall, the amenities at Couples Tower Isle rival those at Couples Negril.
Dining (Score: 5 out of 5)
Of the six restaurant choices, one includes a veggie bar, for those with certain dietary restrictions. Executive Chef Stefan Spath oversees the culinary experiences.
Location (Score: 4 out of 5)
On the northern shore of Ocho Rios, Jamaica, there won’t be the spectacular sunsets one could see on the western shore, like Couples Negril, for example.
Customer Service (Score: 5 out of 5)
Both dedicated and regular service from Couples’ signature resort team parallels those at Couples Negril.
Pros
- Private island
- Unlimited spa treatments for Signature Suite Guests
Cons
- No sunset views
- A little more pricey
Visit
Couples Sans Souci
Also on the northern coast of Ocho Rios, Couples Sans Souci boasts its own mineral spring pool and grotto. The resort amenities are the standard Couples resorts product lines and options, though the150 suite capacity will decrease the foot traffic in common areas, providing a more spacious vacation experience. The resort has four swimming pools, three jacuzzis, five restaurants, and seven bars. The suites have a colonial feel with bright whites and blues, and some rooms have French windows and doors.
Price $$ (starting as low as around $450 a night)
We looked for the same dates on different websites, and Couples Sans Souci had fewer choices, likely because of the fewer rooms.
Amenities (Score: 5 out of 5)
Couples Sans Souci has similar amenities that exist across the Couples resort line.
Dining (Score: 4 out of 5)
Although the same cuisine-type formula seems to be operative at this property, and despite hosting the lunchtime veggie bar, there seem to be fewer lunch options than other Couples locations.
Location (Score: 3 out of 5)
Who wouldn’t enjoy a private grotto and mineral pool? Despite their appeal, the northern view of the resort limits full sunsets that are available on the western coast of the island.
Customer Service (Score: 5 out of 5)
The same excellence that Couples is known for is par for the course at Couples Sans Souci. We liked that it had fewer rooms than the other resorts we looked at.
Pros
- Less common area foot traffic
- Breathtaking sunrises
Cons
- No direct sunset views
- Less emphasis on cuisine choices
Visit
Couples Swept Away
This Couples resort has a whopping number of suites: 312 in all on the 19 acres of property. While the number of restaurants and bars (six and eight, respectively) might serve the additional guests, only three swimming pools and five (small) jacuzzis might be a little too crowded. Couples Swept Away is just north of Couples Negril, on the famous Seven Mile Beach and has the same stunning sunsets. The colonial doors and windows with wood trim give a relaxed, tropical feel. The resort lays claim to the largest fitness center on the island.
Price $$ (a little less than $500 a night)
Couples Swept Away is in about the same price range as Couples Negril.
Amenities (Score: 5 out of 5 stars)
Couples Swept away has comparable amenities to the other Couples properties.
Dining (Score: 3 out of 5 stars)
We appreciated the on-the-beach dining option. Consider in-room dining one night because we noted that the extra guests in the one formal dining option would make it quite busy.
Location (Score: 5 out of 5 stars)
We loved this location on Seven Mile Beach.
Customer Service (4 out of 5 stars)
The customer service standards are similar to other Couples properties, but be wary when this resort is at full capacity.
Pros
- Large lap pool and indoor racquetball courts
- Prime Seven Mile Beach location
Cons
- • Very busy at full capacity
- Limited restaurant choices
- No resort-specific features
Visit
Conclusion
We reviewed four similar Couples resort properties and rated Couples Negril with a hands-down 5 out of 5 overall. Romantic getaways, whether for that special moment or for sheer relaxation with that special person shouldn’t be teeming with people all over the resort vying for the same relaxation spots.
With just over 200 room accommodations on 18 acres, we found the space and facilities at Couples Negril to be proportional to the number of guests, and the property layout lends to a feeling of fewer guests than the actual capacity. The most convincing consideration was the value-for-money, but the superb Couples’ signature service experience combined with the unforgettable sunset views put Couples Negril Resort at the top our list.