Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island
Montego Bay, Jamaica

JamaicaTripper Review: What's the difference between Sandals Royal Jamaican and Sandals Montego Bay? Quite a bit.

While Sandals Montego Bay boasts more of a party atmosphere, Sandals Royal Jamaican takes the more elegant, laid-back approach. In general, this property is much quieter than its cousin.

What it may lack in liveliness, though, it more than makes up for in lavishness. Small touches -- cool towels on the beach, herbal teas in the gym, aromatic saunas, continental room service -- make this resort styled after a Jamaican plantation truly royal.

We stayed in an elegant oceanfront deluxe room with a mahogany
four-poster bed and two-level floor plan and thoroughly enjoyed it.

On another visit, we came for dinner at Sandals private island restaurant, known for its Indonesian fare (which has since been changed to a Thai menu) and unbeatable night view of the city.

Most recently the resort added the St. James River Suites, rooms that open out onto the resort’s lazy river. Like other Sandals, top tier room categories offer Butler Service with your own butler assignment to help you during your stay.

Clientele: Like other Sandals resorts, Sandals Royal Caribbean is for couples only. Sandals no longer limits this to male-female couples.

Good Choice If:

you'd like a slightly refined all-inclusive with a somewhat quiet atmosphere
you'd like a variety of room category options to best fit your budget
you'd like to stay east of Montego Bay (you'll be closer to several golf courses in the area as well as Ocho Rios if you'd like to plan a day trip there. While you're in Ocho Rios, you can eat, drink and play at any of the Sandals there for no charge; you will be responsible for transportation to Ocho Rios. You can enjoy the other Montego Bay Sandals resort by just hopping on the free shuttle.)

Bad Choice If:

you don't want what some feel is the Noah's Ark atmosphere of a couples-only resort