Sandals South Coast

Sandal South Coast Review 2024 This is a review of our trip to Sandals South Coast from December 2nd to 12th, 2024. We stayed in the Rondoval room (RSUP), 4710. This was a trip we booked on property in Ocho Rios in 2022. This was our first time to South Coast but 14th time to Sandals resort and 6th Sandals resort we have stayed at. Travel to resort We travelled from Canada, using Air Canada. Our flight was a little delayed but the fight was fine. Getting through the airport is not hard. Just follow the rest of the people. If you completed the immigration form online, you just have to go to the kiosk, scan your passport and get your picture taken to get a form printed. You will proceed to the luggage collection then a customs desk. Brief questions from a customs officer then down the hall with your luggage then left to the Sandals lounge. We were able to get on a bus leaving in 10 minutes. Still enough time to relieve yourself (do it) and grab some snacks at the lounge. We got on a large bus that would hold 20-25 people but is wasn’t full. The route there is bumpy in places and the driver seems to want you to get to the resort as quick as possible. If you have a weak stomach, don’t sit in the back. It will take about 90 minutes to get to the resort. Room We are met at the resort by the staff with a cool towel and drink. Your luggage will be put to the side to be delivered to your room. We were met by our butler, Tevar or better know as “Poppa Smurf”, who took us to our room. He showed us around the room, gave us a phone to contact him or the second butler, Kevin. There was a bottle of champagne and some snacks in the room to celebrate our arrival at the resort. The room is large with a big soaker tub for 2. The shower has 2 showerheads for different spray. There is a large sink with 2 faucets so no waiting and a makeup mirror so either one can get prepped for dinner without waiting. There is a hairdryer included in the room. Standard type hair dryer. The room has a plunge pool that can be accessed directly from the room or from the patio. The water is cool but you can get adjusted to it. The patio looks out to pool that wraps around the entire rondoval complex. We have a table and chairs inside and outside so you can snack, read or drink. There were 2 lounge chairs that sit in the water and there were 2 floaters for our room. If you have this room, make sure you do the float parade with your neighbours. The housekeeper kept the room amazingly clean. Lots of towels and replenished supplies. Even the turndown service (around 6:30) kept everything looking great. We made sure they were highlighted on GINA. Butlers We usually book Club level but these rooms come with butlers. As I mentioned earlier, we had Tevar, Poppa Smurf, and Kevin, Grandpa Smurf, for our butlers. They took very good care of us. We are not big drinkers but they made sure we have lots of fluids in our room, as well as at our chairs. They had all our dinners booked before we got there. We were able to change the restaurants and times with them as long as we did it the day before. Flexibility on both parts. They made sure we had our chairs on the beach or by the pool, with a cooler full of water and juices. We were brought food for lunch and snacks to our room. They did surprise us with lobster tails for lunch or shrimp for snacks. We were taken to our dinners and brought us to the front of the lines. When we went off property, they made sure security knew about our visitors. We have had butlers at other Sandals resorts but Tevar and Kevin have set the new standard. Property The property is very large but easily walkable. Not big hills but you can get turned around sometimes with some of the paths. Most of the restaurants are close to the main pool. The property is well kept with someone working on something, trees, flowers, walkways, etc. When we arrived, there was a nice cool breeze coming off the ocean so the grounds were too hot. At night it was comfortable to walk around. There are some areas that don’t have a lot of light so you can see the stars at night. Get a star map app for your phone and you can see the stars at night. This year was Venus and Jupiter. One night, we sat on the patio with a drink, just to look at the stars. Everyone was friendly that we met. Just a smile and hello makes a difference. The beach is nice for walking and it is very long. They were working on the overwater bungalows so you could not go farther down the beach. As you enter the water, there is a lot of sea grass so you should wear water shoes in the water. I didn’t go far in the water as the sand felt more like mud. From the docks, wedding chapel and Latitudes, you can see various sea creatures, such as fish, crabs and starfish. Food The food was okay. There wasn’t too much that stood out for me except on the last night. We tried all the restaurants. Each place had its own ups and down. You will not go hungry here and there are lots of choices to choose from. We settled on Bayside for breakfast. It is buffet but you can have as much or as little as you want. Eleanors’ and Schooners have the a la carte breakfasts, with Schooners having the view of the ocean for the morning. You can grab a crepe and coffee at Café de Paris for the light fare. We only used room service for breakfast on our last day due to time but they messed up on our order of croissants and banana bread. We got 2 croissants with no butter or jam and 2 muffins. The best meal was at Bayside. They had just starting serving dinner at Bayside for the last couple of nights we were there. The shrimp cocktail was tasty with the Marie-Rose sauce. They made a good mistake with my plate. I had the Chicken Cordon Bleu, that was supposed to be served with rice pilaf, but was served with Au Gratin Potatoes. Very tasty. My wife loved the Lobster Thermador at Bayside as well. Also, the Chicken Dippers were really good. Enjoy the ice cream at Café de Paris. You can always walk the property for an extra scoop. We saw an amazing server (Everton) at Giuseppe’s. My wife was interested in the risotto del Giomo (Green pea) but not that flavour. She wanted shrimp and bacon and he made it happen. The table next to us were hoping for fried calamari but it wasn’t served in the Italian restaurant. The same waiter ordered some Neptune’s and brought it to their table. A little thing can make the trip more enjoyable. This was definitely reported on GINA. Entertainment There was entertainment every night. Sometimes outside but usually a show in the Le Cabaret. We took in some of the circus show but we didn’t watch too many shows. Do catch the singer who preforms in front of Eleanor’s and the Silver Birds. The Silver Birds play steel drums but have a lot of energy in their shows. Off Property We did not take any excursions offered at the resort. We had family come pick us up and took us back to their house. You will get to see Jamaica. There is nothing too close to the resort for shopping. We did go to the YS Falls. It is about 40 minutes from the resort. It is a pretty place to visit. You can swim in the water or the pools. You can swing in to the water from rope swings or use the zipline. There is a restaurant and gift shop on site. It is not as big as Dunn's River Falls but it has less of the tourists and the gantlet run of the gift huts. The Black River is close by the YS Falls too. Travel from resort The travel back from the resort to the airport was nicer. We did not have the former race car driver taking us to the airport. We have to leave 2 hours before the 3 hours required at the airport. Realize that there are limited routes from South Coast to Montego Bay. If the road is washed out, blocked or some other reason making unpassable, you could spend hours getting the airport and may miss your flight. It has happened before and Sandals had to take of the passengers until the next day. Getting through check in and security was easy. We did get Club Mobay for departure. Quick pass through security and into the lounge. We were directed to a location that we could watch planes land or take off. There was small snack food buffet with jerk chicken, salads, small sandwiches and other hot/cold bites. There were servers that brought your drinks to your seat and keep the area clean. It was very busy there. Overall Our experience at the resort was a lot of fun. We had a really good time. Our butlers worked hard to make sure we enjoyed ourselves. We were not short of anything that we needed. We met some very nice people, both who work there and who were visiting. Visit the gift shop for Moulton. She was great. We like the layout of the resort. Of course, our room was amazing. It was a dream room that we may not do again. We have booked for 2026 but in a Club room. We worked with the Loyalty desk and got to see a couple of rooms before deciding on our next trip. Yes, booking on site will save you some money, especially over a couple of years, but do some research on the property you want to visit and the room you want, so you know you are getting a deal.

As a repeat guest at Sandals South Coast, I can say that this resort truly embodies the essence of Jamaican hospitality. From the moment you step foot onto the resort your not only in a tropical paradise, you select home with a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere that makes it nearly impossible to ever want to leave. The people here are truly the resort's shining gems. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure that every guest feels valued and catered to. Standouts in my trip, like Miss Tracy (and her entire team) at Club Sandals, Claudia and Cardella at the Red Lane Spa, Jeffrey at the sushi restaurant, Legister (who seems to be everywhere, always with a smile), Clayton and Courtney behind the bar, and Markus the bellman, have all left quite an impression. The dining options are equally impressive, from Italian to Caribbean with a variety of newly opened "food truck" style eateries serving up delectable tacos, chicken tenders, and more. No matter your craving, you're sure to find something to satisfy your palate. But it's the overall vibe of Sandals South Coast that keeps me coming back. The ability to truly slow down, unwind, and soak in the island's natural beauty is unparalleled. I haven't had a single bad experience during my time here, and I can't imagine a place I'd rather be than this Jamaican oasis.

This was our first visit to a Sandals Resort and we definitely enjoyed it! We stayed in a Butler beachfront view room with balcony soaking tub. We were provided two butlers (Odain and Komar) who served us during our five night stay. Their service was phenomenal... from the setting up of our room in the evening, to securing a spot for us daily on the beach. Each day was filled with good weather and relaxation. We will return!

Another wonderful trip to SSC Dec 6-14, 2024. Booked 3 return trips while on site! Ride: The ride is usually about 90 minutes. Yes it’s on winding roads through the mountains which is something to consider if you’re prone to car sickness. We book Sandals private driver. In the past we have taken the provided transfer and it’s great too! We have also used random services but that’s hit and miss with the car. I’m just immunocompromised and try to avoid any extra exposure to illness. On the way back to the airport, I take the provided transfer as I’m not as worried now that my vacation is ending! Our ride there this time was in a very small BMW, I’m only 5’2 and had no legroom behind the driver. I don’t know if they are using smaller cars but this was the first time I’ve felt cramped. This was really one of the only down sides to our trip. For the expensive ride, there should be some comfort as in the past. The driver brings some beer, wine, and snacks for the ride. Our trip this time was about 3 hours due to rush hour and rain so if that bothers you, try for an early arrival to MBJ. Room: We always book the Silver Sun Beachfront One Bedroom Butler Suite - IB1 (in the past it was referred to as the Italian village). This area is near the majority of restaurants! The room is as described on the website. My favorite room is 1428 on the corner. I believe 1328 and 1228 would be the other corner butler rooms that would be good. We like this because we are 7:30ish dinner people and not ready to go out for our night at 5:30 when the sunsets. Depending on the time of year, you cannot see the sunset from your balcony without these corner rooms. In December we could have seen it without a corner room. You can call about 2 weeks before your trip and request a room or better yet a group of rooms you would prefer however there is no guarantee of specific rooms! Remember there really isn’t a bad room and a short walk outside to the beach or even better Latitudes bar offers amazing sunset views! Restaurants: Everyone has different tastes so this is all subject to opinion. I do recommend trying the drink specific to each dinner restaurant! Breakfast: This trip we just chose the buffet everyday (after room service coffee) as my husband prefers this quick option. It was great with a good selection. I was able to get poached eggs with hollandaise sauce placed on my self toasted English muffin so that was nice! My favorite dinner spot is Sushi on the Sand and I say this as “not a real Sushi person.” The appetizers are THE best on the resort. All the sushi I’m brave enough to try is wonderful. Ask for the off menu Dynamite roll and Volcano roll, you won’t be disappointed. Also, nobody there makes it awkward when you decide to order more food—so fill up on Sushi, it really can be done! Ha! We usually go here at least twice. You can just go for appetizers too before dinner. We love seeing Jeffery and Ramoy—our favorite servers there! Sometimes you can catch them during the daytime working the Jerk Shack too! We also like Jasmines. Get the Shrimp Kisses (or maybe even two)! My favorite is the Beef Szechuan and a side of noodles! My husband likes the Salmon. THE BEST MEAL OF THE TRIP: Bayside opened for dinner while we were there. We both had the French onion soup and the LOBSTER & SHRIMP THERMIDOR, loved this dish. It’s great too if you want to try the Caribbean cold water lobster but find it a little tougher and more difficult to eat boiled (when compared to our usual cold water lobster that is more tender). I feel like I didn’t expect such a difference on my first trip to the Caribbean years ago. Now I love their lobster! Be aware they have a season where it is not available (April-June). I will miss this dish on my next trip! Our favorite for lunch is The Jerk Shack! I order white meat jerk chicken and my husband loves the fish in foil. We also enjoyed the spicy chicken tenders from The Chick-N Dippers truck. Felicia at that truck (and the breakfast buffet in the AM) always greeted us with a warm welcome! Dessert: We went almost every night to Cafe de Paris to share a Cookie Crumble which is a boozy coffee cookie ice cream shake! They can be very busy there and do their best. It could be much better organized but eventually everyone gets served. Grounds/Beach/Ocean/Pool Beautiful well maintained grounds! Awesome long white sand beach which is great for walking! Ocean is a protected area and has natural grass occurring on its floor. Not the best ocean for standing waist deep and seeing your feet if that’s your thing. Water shoes recommended to walk/swim in ocean! I’m content to just enjoy the sites, sounds, and smell of the ocean without actually swimming in it! We just hang out mostly at the main pool where there is a swim up bar and a view of the beach and ocean! Spa: Lovely spa area. My morning there for a massage was loud this time as it sounded like someone with a weed wacker was working outside. It wasn’t ideal but I’m guessing they have to do it sometime right? See post above about beautiful grounds. The massage was great! They do add a small fee/tip to your bill which I added additional money so it would equal out to about 25% tip. Ask for “Pinky” she did a great job. Butlers: Lavardo and Davion always do a great job! They spoiled me all week for my birthday! This is my 3rd or 4th time with them and I always request them! I enjoyed birthday cake, fried lobster and coconut shrimp along with birthday decorations and a song a dinner! We went to a Butler reception one night that was fun! Cabana: Okay so you don’t really need to rent this if you have butlers but one of our favorite staff members had a new role as a cabana butler so we rented one to spend some time with her! Maxine made my birthday cabana experience extra special with a decorated cabana, birthday cake, too much food & drink, presents and all her love and kindness! All that being said, my husband felt it was a hot day at the cabana and generally prefers our pool side chairs and being more near the pool. Excursions We don’t really do any excursions from this resort, we just go to relax. Entertainment: We aren’t big show people but go sometimes to see our friend Shavia perform! Francois is great too! We did go see the steel drum group perform this trip-it was a great show! After this long review, I’m sure a lot was still left out. Basically this is a relaxation vacation for us. We settle into an easy lazy routine of doing a lot of nothing but floating, eating, and drinking.

It is getting increasing difficult to write a review for Sandals South Coast because there are only so many positive adjectives in the English language . This was our 14th visit there and the people , the service , the food , the grounds/ beach and the entertainment were all excellent especially since like it felt like coming home to family . Mr . Heron , I know as soon as you heard I ( aka Trouble ) was on property , you decided to take your vacation . 😉😂 That’s ok , I’ll see you in April ! Alicia Mullins , we loved seeing your sweet face and getting your lovely hugs . You are an extremely hard worker - seems like you are everywhere all at once 🤷‍♀️ and you don’t mind getting your hands dirty . Laura , Guest Services Manager , congrats again on the new position . Thank you for accommodating me in regards to my minor mobility problem . We loved having dinner with you ! To our concierge “ girls “ - Mykayda , Shanice and Deamore thank you for the delicious treats you left in our room . We loved seeing you all . Elaine in Loyalty and Travel , you are such a sweetheart and any request we made was addressed immediately . Also hi to Latoya and Tresean . Chin , manager at Giuseppe’s , you are VERY good at your job . Thank you for the perfect seating area on our last night there . ❤️ Robinson , server at Elenor’s and Diamond Luncheon , we have known you for many years and your sweet smile and quiet demeanour have not changed ! Tamara , chef extraordinaire at Giuseppe’s , thanks for preparing a special dish for us . Even though you were off that night , you made sure we received it . If that wasn’t enough , thanks also for preparing and serving us another meal we missed having at Bayside since they were closed . 👍 We were so happy to see that Sheldon in photography has returned to SSC . We loved our chats ! Shout out to O’Neill as well . Dialdo and the whole entertainment team provided us with an amazing musical experience . Damion at Bayside , the only thing better than your smile is your omelette making - Delish ! Akiba , server at Giuseppe’s , provided excellent service . Keep an eye on him , he will go far ! Juilyanna at Bayside runs a tight ship . She is so friendly and attentive . Thanks for remembering our favourite booth . So sorry we missed Kenroy the lifeguard as he was on vacation but thanks for reaching out to us . We love SSC and the best adjective to describe the vibe there is “ ONE LOVE “ .🇯🇲