Swept Away by Couples

Suzanne Barney on 06 November 2010
I hadn’t been to Jamaica since 1992 so I decided I needed to ‘re-visit’ and see how it had changed! We flew from Gatwick with Virgin the aircraft was a jumbo and was full! We were staying at Couples Swept away for 7 nights and Couples Negril for 4 nights. Couples Swept away is Located in Negril on seven-mile Beach and is the best part of the island for sunsets. We received a cold towel and drink on arrival in reception and our luggage was taken away by porters. Couples have a no tip policy so you don’t have to worry about tipping. We had booked an Atrium room which surpassed expectation . This was the only room type not to have a TV. It located amongst mature tropical palms and trees which gave you privacy but also gave you the feeling you were in the jungle. Everything from dressing gowns as were toiletries, ironing board, iron, umbrella everything you could think of! When we arrived they were expecting a ‘hurricane’e but in the end it passed over and all we had were a couple of tropical showers…In the morning thousands of conch style shells were washed up on the beach which were promptly dealt with. However because of the hurricane we were unable to do any water sports as the sea was too choppy (like Blackpool on one day as the storm passed over). Which was a shame as included on our all inclusive package was glass bottom boats, snorkelling trips ( there is even a wrecked boat close by to do this)All scuba diving equipment is provided & hobie cats. The hotel is quite large around 27 acres in all and spread out so it is easy to get lost . The ‘sports centre’ was out of the hotel over the main road and had the best tennis facilities you will find anywhere. There were 10 courts 5 clay and 5 hard courts. You could book 1-1 tuition free of charge and also there were tennis clinics twice a day taken by a Tennis Pro from the USA. This was all included. It became tennis boot camp as we got up at 8am to play every morning. There were 2 air-conditioned squash courts & free golf as well but we didn’t have the energy! The sports centre also had a 25 metre lap pool , spa, squash courts, gym,yoga & table tennis etc and was our little sanctuary as not many people used it. The service in the hotel was excellent the staff were brilliant with fantastic personalities and always a smile. You could have buffet breakfast which was excellent good choice of fruit (muesli was delicious- I don’t normally eat muesli), patries, egg stations..and delicious coffee. Or go for ala carte at the Patois Patio. Lunch was either buffet (again scrumptious ), or ala carte( there were 4 options).Evening meal – 2 al a carte (very rarely buffet), and 2 fine dining . The food was lovely especially the surf and turf at’ Feathers’ which was lobster and steak which melted in your mouth. The bars were great ..we loved the chocolate martinis at the Martini bar before dinner.The cocktails flowed especially bamboo bar where innocently went in for a quick drink one lunch time 3 cocktails and 4 shots later staggered to lunch! On the subject of alcohol the room had a minibar where you could order your spirits (full litre bottles) daily and your mixers on a daily basis… The entertainment was really good..the bands they had on were very good quality ,steel band players were brilliant playing the latest hits including Lady Gaga – bad romance on their reppetoir. We didn’t make the nights club,late piano bar or casino but it was all there if we wanted it. I have never been to a hotel with so much going on and I have to admit the whole holiday was pretty much faultless (despite the weather) The staff are the best I have ever come across anywhere .