With so much of the world to see, and not enough vacation time, my travel preferences are road trips, or hopping from place to place via a series of planes, allowing us to squeeze in as much as possible in a short time. Our holidays are typically busy and active, involving lots of walking, hiking, swimming etc. While exciting and invigorating, we often return home in need of another vacation!
With that in mind, when our invitation came along to join our friends Rob and Michelle for their wedding at the Sandals All-Inclusive hotel in Negril, Jamaica, I was excited but slightly lost. I was so accustomed to extensively researching my destination, planning out restaurants, things to do and see, the best modes of transport from A to B, etc. I didn’t quite know how to approach a vacation where no planning was required!
Here is how we spent our three days at the Sandals Resort in Negril, and my take on my very first all-inclusive experience.
Day 1
We boarded our flight from Grand Cayman as the sun was rising, and after a couple of rum punches for breakfast, and a very short power nap, we were in Montego Bay by mid-morning. We collected our bags and made use of the Sandals lounge inside the airport terminal, grabbing complimentary Red Stripes and snacks for our 2-hour drive to Negril.
We arrived to good news that we’d been upgraded to a Honeymoon Beachfront Butler Suite (without the butler) which we were thrilled about. As the room wasn’t quite ready yet, we had lunch with friends at the Beach Bistro, which is one of the more laid back dining options serving bar food like jerk chicken, burgers and the like. It was such an odd, but NICE feeling to get up and walk away without settling a bill!
After our tour of the luscious, green, very well manicured hotel grounds, we were shown to our room. It was comfortable but basic without much in terms of design elements. It had all the necessities, including a bar that had been stocked according to our liking, and a gorgeous ocean view. We transformed into swimwear within seconds, and were at the swim up pool bar with the rest of the wedding crew within minutes! The afternoon was spent between the pool and beach, relaxing and drinking in the sunshine (tough life). I instantly slipped into vacay mode, and in retrospect, it was refreshing not needing to work our way through a check-list itinerary of must-see and eat items for a change.
It was so great to see our friends who had been at the resort for several days already. The bride and groom opted for the top suite (of course they did!), equipped with everything you can think of, including a phone to reach their butler at any hour of the day! Maybe a little excessive, but when he arrived mid-afternoon poolside with piping hot pizzas from Bar Napoli for us all, I had no complaints whatsoever.
As the sun started to go down, we retreated back to the beach to watch a magical sunset, before heading back to get ready for dinner. We dined on the veranda of The Sundowner, serving up-scale Caribbean dishes with a sea view (no reservations or dress code required). I must say the quality, presentation and taste of the food pleasantly surprised me, as I didn’t expect gourmet meals to be their focus (I was wrong). The wine selection was less impressive, but there were options to select bottles of your choice from a menu at your own expense.
After dinner, we met up with the others who were dining at the Bayside restaurant, and watched an entertaining and energetic show that described the history and progression of Jamaican music and dance over time.
Day 2
Day 2 started with a run down the pristine Seven Mile Beach (needed after the eating and drinking). The security was a little over the top requiring me to sign out as I left the grounds, but I did appreciate how secure the resort was in general. The run was followed by room service with a view. It’d been a long time since I’d had a cup of blue mountain coffee and I’d forgotten how great it was. Three cups later…
After breakfast, we headed out on a glass bottom boat to snorkel at nearby reefs. It was a short trip but extremely refreshing to explore the underwater life, and make use of one of the many amenities included in the stay (diving, tubing, water skiing, paddle boarding, windsurfing, fitness classes, tennis, pool, and too many others to mention).
We relaxed on the beach with frozen drinks and beef patties for the rest of the morning (absolutely no calorie counting on this trip) until it was time to get glammed up for our friends’ big day.
It was such a special afternoon, evening and night spent witnessing our friends say their vows with our toes in the sand. We switched location for the reception to a more private area of the beach, and were gifted once again with a beautiful Jamaican sunset, setting the scene (pardon the pun) for a unforgettable evening of wining, dining, and dancing the night away with our dear friends. The set up with its explosion of fairy lights was very magical! We saw MANY weddings during our stay and it was very evident that Sandals take this aspect of their business very seriously, making each one the very best day ever.
Day 3
After a late and boozy night celebrating with our friends, I traded the run for a lie in. Feeling a little under the weather, the coffee and fresh fruit delivery worked magic and held me over nicely until we headed to The Sundowner for brunch. It was a private brunch organized by the bride and groom for all the wedding guests. The mimosas were flowing, and as with all our meals, the quality of the food was consistent.
Post-brunch, we lazed in the pool with the group playing beer pong, and soaking up our last bits of sun and drinks before returning back to reality. For dinner, we headed to Kimonos, which was a teppanyaki style meal with the chef performing/cooking our meal in front of us. The food was decent, and the lychee martinis strong and tasty!! This is one of the two restaurants on site requiring a booking and has a strictly enforced dress code. Post-dinner, we met up with everyone for our last drinks and goodbyes, as we were departing the hotel at the crack of dawn. I was particularly sad to say bye to the bride’s grandma who was the absolute star of the show (next to the bride of course!).
Our complimentary transfer was uneventful yet again, and we were the first to check-in when we reached the Sangster International Airport, giving us lots of time for our final patty, coconut water, and to shed a small tear that we were returning home.
What’s the Verdict?
Altogether, it was a refreshing change to have a vacation with no plans, with convenience available at our fingertips 24 hours a day, to be spoiled with options (7 restaurants, 5 bars, 3 pools, unlimited beach and land activities). The one word that follows my mind after my experience is CONVENIENCE..
Has my view on All-Inclusive hotels been changed? YES. Will every vacation of mine be at one? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I missed getting to indulge in the Jamaican culture, local food and happy people. However, I did leave feeling more rested and rejuvenated than our standard vacation.
The cringe moments such as photographers taking your photo at every corner of the resort, or the organized drinking games at the swim-up bar were outweighed by the amenities, high quality food, beautiful setting, convenience, relaxation and experience catered to us.
It was quite a pricey stay, but in retrospect, it was extremely worth it when you consider the offerings and inclusions, many of which we didn’t have the time to explore. My husband and I walked away having seen more brides and grooms, honeymooners, and Sandals life timers than we can convey. It really is the perfect playground for a romantic getaway, and I can see why people can fall in love with an all-inclusive vacation. We’ll be back to an all-inclusive, but probably not before we tick some items off our bucket list! Thanks to the bride and groom for including us, and Sandals for making it a memorable one!
