Returning to Jamaica: Negril, VIP touches and two very different stays
During the Covid period (dare I say that word?), I was fortunate enough to win some complimentary nights at hotels in Jamaica. I had not been back since 2013, when my wife Becky and I stayed at Sandals in Ocho Rios, so the idea of returning felt very special. This time we chose Negril. I had heard so many good things about its glorious beaches and great restaurants, so we booked return Virgin Atlantic flights in Economy Class to Montego Bay. We were genuinely surprised to find both flights completely full, especially as we were not travelling in a school holiday period and it was technically low season in the Caribbean. June can fall into the rainy season, but we were very lucky and enjoyed many hot, sunny days relaxing on the beach. We split our time between two properties: 3 nights at Azul Beach Resort on an all inclusive basis 4 nights at Sandy Haven Resort on a bed and breakfast basis
The journey out & VIP arrival
We flew from London Heathrow with a total flying time of around 12 hours to Montego Bay, including a short stop in Nassau, Bahamas of just over 90 minutes. You remain on the aircraft during the Nassau stop and do not need to recheck your luggage, as bags are tagged through to the final destination.
We had also pre‑booked VIP Attractions, which included fast track immigration, meet and greet, and access to the Club Mobay lounge on both arrival and departure. It was absolutely worth the money.
As we stepped off the plane we were met by a Mobay representative holding a board with my name. We were then escorted straight to the fast track lane for immigration. We honestly felt like rock stars as we sailed past the queues at passport control.
After collecting our luggage we were guided to the lounge, where we could help ourselves to snacks and drinks, including rum punch and Red Stripe beer. Our rep was very friendly and polite and it was lovely to have a comfortable place to relax before our transfer to the hotel. The package we booked, which included meet and greet plus lounge access on arrival and departure, cost 83 US dollars per person and we both felt it represented excellent value.
Our shared transfer to Negril took around two hours. There was quite a bit of traffic around Montego Bay, but our driver knew a few shortcuts and drove like Lewis Hamilton, so we still made good time.
Stay 1: Azul Beach Resort, Negril
On arrival at our first hotel, Azul Beach Resort, we were welcomed with a refreshing drink and personally greeted by the General Manager, Jose, which was a lovely touch. The lobby is bright and inviting with lovely views of the sea.
Once checked in, we were taken to our room, 10301 in building 10, and it was absolutely stunning. We had been given a complimentary upgrade to a spacious suite with a separate lounge area, bedroom and a fantastic view of the beach. The bathroom was impressive too, with a separate shower and bath plus his and hers sinks.
As we arrived late on the first evening, we ate in the main buffet restaurant. It happened to be Mexican theme night, with plenty of choice. We are not huge fans of buffets for dinner, so this was more about convenience than occasion, but it did the job.
The next morning we woke properly able to appreciate just how lovely our room was. The minibar was restocked daily with beers and soft drinks, and we were only a two‑minute walk from the beach. The resort offers different room types, including swim‑up rooms and adults‑only sections, and in total there are 283 suites.
Food, drink & facilities
There are two main options for breakfast and we tried both. Each offered a buffet breakfast with a wide range of hot dishes such as omelettes and pancakes, as well as continental items like cold meats and pastries.
After breakfast we would head straight to the beach to relax. Sunbeds and beach towels are provided free of charge. The hotel sits on a beautiful stretch of Negril’s white sand and we were amazed at how warm the sea was, like bath water. During our three nights at Azul we spent most of our time swimming and soaking up the sun.
We did manage to book Ackee, the Jamaican speciality restaurant, which has lovely sea views and serves excellent local cuisine. We really enjoyed our meal there. We were disappointed not to fit in Hua Hin, the Thai restaurant, on this visit. The speciality restaurants (Thai, Italian and Jamaican) all need to be pre‑booked in advance. We also tried Garfield Beach House for lunch, which was great for jerk chicken and other Jamaican favourites.
Our three nights flew by. We especially loved the coffee shop, which is included in the all inclusive package and serves teas, coffees, cakes, ice creams, milkshakes and snacks throughout the day until 11 pm.
The resort also has a spa, kids club, nine bars and seven swimming pools. We saw plenty of families with very well behaved children. Overall, we felt this hotel works really well for couples, singles and families, and we would happily return.
Stay 2: Sandy Haven Resort, Negril
After our stay at Azul Beach Resort, we took a local taxi to our next hotel, Sandy Haven Resort, also in Negril. The journey took about five minutes and cost 15 US dollars.
On arrival we were again welcomed with a drink and greeted by Rohan, the Reservations Manager, and Edwardo, both of whom were very friendly. We were delighted to receive another complimentary upgrade, this time to a lovely room overlooking the beach.
Our room at Sandy Haven was spacious, with a shower‑only bathroom, a fridge for our drinks and a coffee machine. After checking in we went out to explore and quickly found plenty of nearby restaurants and supermarkets.
Beach life & breakfasts
The hotel enjoys an excellent beachfront location. Each morning we enjoyed a continental breakfast consisting of a fresh fruit platter, toast, a choice of pineapple or orange juice, plus tea or coffee. You could also add a samosa to your breakfast, which was a nice little extra. Breakfast is served in an open‑air restaurant, which made for a very relaxing start to the day.
After breakfast we would head to the beach again for a swim and some sunbathing on the white sand. Sunbeds and towels were complimentary here too. We also enjoyed walking along the beach, where we passed lots of restaurants and bars.
Negril is famous for its seven miles of powdery white sand, and Sandy Haven is in one of the more lively sections. Margaritaville Negril, where you will find parties and boat trips departing, is only about a ten‑minute walk away.
Sandy Haven is a small, friendly boutique‑style property with just 35 rooms. It has a swimming pool, jacuzzi and an on‑site restaurant for dinner. Although we did not manage to eat in the hotel restaurant, we tried several local places nearby and found them to be excellent value with great food.
Final thoughts & thanks
We both absolutely love Jamaica and would return in a heartbeat, perhaps including a few excursions next time. We felt safe throughout our stay, found the people incredibly friendly and warm, and especially enjoyed the food, the rum and those beautiful beaches.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this trip possible: Donovan
from the Jamaica Tourist Board, Nicholas from VIP Attractions, Megan from
Essential Detail, Rohan from Sandy Haven, and Denise and Teddy from Karisma
Hotels.
