The Best All-Inclusive Resort in Ocho Rios
Resort
Our most recent all-inclusive vacation was to the lovely Sandals Royal Plantation resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We arrived to SRP late on a Thursday afternoon. One thing we love about Sandals is the included transportation from the airport to the resort. Additionally, we purchased the expedited service through customs and immigration, called Club MoBay. This service definitely saved an hour or more inside Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
After arriving to the resort, the bellman greeted us and took our bags. We were offered a refreshing cocktail and a cold towel as we took a seat in the lobby area. Shortly afterwards, one of out butlers greeted us and escorted us to our room. Sandals Royal Plantation is an all-butler resort, meaning a pair of butlers will be at your service throughout your stay. The butlers can arrange your dinner reservations, bring breakfast or special snacks to your room, reserve appointments at the spa, and more. We have had butlers on a few of our Sandals vacations so we were familiar with the service. Along with the pair of butlers assigned during your stay, SRP also has beach-butlers.
In addition to the elegant, private beach, the resort has a pool and hot tub overlooking the ocean. Sandals Royal Plantation is an intimate resort with beautiful grounds. And, the kindest staff help make your vacation a memorable one!
Beach
While on resort, you can not only admire the stunning views of the Caribbean Sea, but you can also lounge on the deck of one of several piers. The secluded, private beach is the perfect place to spend the day. More specifically, there are two beach locations on the resort – the East beach and the West beach. Our room location faced the West beach. Each morning, we made our way down the set of steps right out to the beach. Around 10 in the morning, the beach butlers made their way around the area offering guests a mango mimosa or other beverage of choice. We enjoyed meeting the beach butlers and were able to interact with them daily throughout our stay.
Dining
We were able to enjoy each of the 5 restaurants on site at Sandals Royal Plantation. When we arrived late in the afternoon, we ordered snacks from inside the Wobbly Peacock. We also found ourselves inside the Wobbly Peacock each evening after dinner to enjoy nightly entertainment.
Each morning, the Terrace restaurant offers both an a la carte menu for breakfast as well as a breakfast buffet. We chose to eat breakfast at the Terrace a few mornings during our stay. On the other mornings we ordered breakfast to our room. We enjoyed a number of breakfast items from waffles and french toast to omelets and breakfast burritos.
For lunch, we enjoyed eating right at our beach chairs. Our butlers arranged for us to have lobster thermador brought out one day, coconut lobster another day, as well as burgers and Jamaican Beef Patties (our favorite)! Late one afternoon, we made our way to the Terrace for afternoon tea and snacks.
In the evenings, we enjoyed a variety of food options. The Terrace had Italian Night on Thursday as well as Jamaican night on Friday. We also enjoyed a few evenings at the wonderful french restaurant, Le Papillon. The french onion soup and escargot were delicious!
Due to the possibility of rainy weather coming in one evening, we were moved to the Terrace for our dinner at Royal Grill. The menu was still that of Royal Grill, but the location was just at the Terrace, under the beautiful covered outdoor seating.
Golf
Greens fees are included in Sandals owned Upton Estate Golf and Country Club in Ocho Rios. Transportation is provided by the free shuttle (via shuttle schedule posted in the lobby). The golf course is a short 10-15 minute shuttle ride. Additionally, a Caddy as well as a Golf Cart is required to play.
We enjoyed playing golf one morning during our stay. The Caddy was extremely helpful and the lush, green course was beautiful!
Entertainment
Throughout our stay, we attended nightly entertainment inside the Wobbly Peacock. We enjoyed listening to a live band, karaoke, the piano sing-along, as well as playing the game Shut the Box at the bar. Not to mention, the bartenders always had a smile and a fun joke or laugh!
The royal plantation is a gem in Jamaica! We hope to come back to this remarkable resort but for now, One Love!!!
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