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A Memorable Trip to Sandals Negril: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful

My recent trip to Sandals Negril was a whirlwind of breathtaking scenery, delectable food, and a few learning points along the way. Somehow in all of the 10 years as a travel agent, this was our first trip to the beautiful island of Jamaica. How we have not been before this, even on a cruise stop, I have no idea. We arrived on the island just a couple of weeks after Hurricane Beryl had skimmed Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane. Parts of the island were still recovering and without power, water, internet, and cellular services. For the most part, the tourist areas and resorts were cleaned up and any issues with utilities were not noticed since these places utilize backup power sources such as solar and generators.

      

Smooth Sailing and a Warm Welcome

The journey began with a smooth flight to Montego Bay, despite a slight weather delay where we had to circle Jamaica a few times while waiting for a storm to pass. Thanks to the Club MoBay service, customs and immigration were a breeze, saving me precious vacation time. The private transfer by Bradshaw Tours provided a comfortable and informative ride to the resort. My only complaint for the private transfer was the driver had the music turned up pretty loud and he played Michael Bolton on repeat. We did not request it be turned down or changed, so I'm sure he would have obliged if requested.

First Impressions Matter

Upon arrival at Sandals Negril, the check-in process was quick and friendly. Our room, located in one of the Longshore buildings, offered a tropical paradise view of the lush vegetation, though it came with some noise from the nearby road and the nocturnal chorus of tree frogs. If you are a light sleeper, you might want to bring some earplugs and/or a noise machine. I sleep with earplugs, so it wasn't an issue for me.

                               

Dining Delights and Disappointments

The culinary journey at the resort began on a high note with a delightful dinner at Kimonos, featuring fantastic hibachi-style cooking and excellent service. Breakfast at Bayside was a daily highlight, offering a vast array of American and regional dishes to satisfy every palate. Our dinner at Bayside on the last night was exceptional, possibly the best meal of our stay, ending our trip on a high culinary note.

There were notable service issues at Sundowner and Perla. Neither place was particularly busy when we went, but the waitress at both places seemed to treat their customers like they were an inconvenience. We received excellent service and smiling faces everywhere else around the resort. Again, it wasn't a big deal because we also understand that some of the staff are under incredible pressure and heartache outside of work due to the storm damage, so we didn't take it to heart or let it ruin our time there.

          

Beach Bliss and Vendor Encounters

Mornings at the beach were pure bliss, with plenty of seating and attentive service. The closest bar was the one at the main pool, but it was just a few steps away. There were also staff walking around the beach taking orders and making sure everything was OK. They were amazing and so nice.

One aspect that might concern future visitors is the presence of beach vendors, especially near the Paradise Village area. While they were not allowed to approach guests on the beach beds, their proximity near the walkways and potential interaction with oceanfront-facing rooms could be intrusive feeling during the day if you wanted to relax on your balcony or patio.

The afternoons, though rainy, provided a welcome opportunity to relax in our room or lounge around the protected area by the pool bar and Bayside. 

Housekeeping Hiccups

One significant downside was the inconsistent housekeeping service. We noticed, as well as heard others talking about how late in the day housekeeping cleaned the rooms. This proved to be true during our stay. The first full day, we didn't see or hear from housekeeping at all, not even for turndown service that night. The second full day, we were in our room during a rainstorm when housekeeping came around 2:30 or so. We declined service that time since we were tired and planned on taking a brief nap.  Another service issue that seems to be a running theme according to some of the fan groups on social media is the lack of follow through with requests. Despite multiple requests for in-room coffee packets when we ran out, none was ever delivered, which was disappointing. We requested extra packs from housekeeping when we saw her, plus the front desk. We were told on both occasions someone would bring us some more coffee, but nobody ever brought any.

The Journey Home

Departure from Sandals Negril was marked by the crowded and somewhat chaotic scene at Sangster Airport since we left the day after the major IT issue that affected thousands of flights across the globe. Once again, the Club MoBay service proved invaluable, expediting the security process and making the journey home more manageable, despite some delays.

We arrived at the airport about 3 hours before our scheduled flight. The line for Southwest Airlines check-in extended halfway across the airport. We were in that line for close to 45 minutes, even with Priority lane access. Could we have skipped ahead to the priority lane? Probably, but you couldn't even see where it was when we first arrived, so we just got in line with everyone else waiting. Once closer to the airline counters, we were escorted to the priority lane, and then an employee of the airport who was checking passports took our passports to a kiosk and printed out the boarding passes for us since we were traveling with carry-on bags only. That saved us another 20-30 minutes. 

Because of the crowds and our first time leaving from Sangster, we did not see the signs for Club Mobay departure service check-in. We took in the security line for another 30 minutes before I was able to ask an employee where the Club Mobay departure lounge was. He raised the ropes and showed up where to check into Club Mobay. After that, we were taken to the priority security screening area and skipped hundreds of people standing in line. This probably saved us another 45-60 minutes. When we cleared it was 12:45 and our flight was originally scheduled to start boarding at 12:55. Had it not been delayed until 1:25 boarding and had we not had Club Mobay and Business Select with SW, we would have missed our flight out of Mobay. 

We arrived in Orlando with no issues and our connecting flight left about an hour late due to some of the staffing issues caused by the previous day's IT outage. 

Final Thoughts

Sandals Negril is undeniably a beautiful resort with well-kept grounds and excellent potential for a fantastic vacation. However, while some rooms have been updated, many categories have not and they show their age and wear. There are also some service inconsistencies that need addressing to enhance the overall guest experience. The Club MoBay services were a highlight, making both arrival and departure smooth and stress-free. I will definitely continue recommending these added services for my clients traveling to Jamaica. 

Would I return to Sandals Negril? Possibly, but with hopes that the service aspects improve and a stay in an upgraded room category. In all honesty, for the cost of this resort, I think there are better alternatives out there. This trip was a reminder that the little details and consistent service truly make a vacation memorable.

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Michelle Osborn is the Owner & Travel Consultant at Outta Here Travels located in Pampa, Texas. She has over ten years of experience within the travel industry and serves clients from all over the United States.