Sandals Royal Plantation

We stayed at the RP for two weeks for our anniversary, we wanted a peaceful retreat with top tier service and the option to travel to another local resort for livelier evenings if we wished. That is exactly what we received. The room was beautiful and spacious with a stunning view of the sea. Our bar and Ice were restocked promptly each day with our preferences, a small issue when we arrived was seamlessly and swiftly ironed out by the onsite management team. Our butlers were quick to work out what we liked and wanted from our stay and supported us as such. Arranging surprises and lots of fun moments. Thank you Anthony and Chase. The restaurants were varied and the food was just delightful. The resort is quiet after 9 pm which is what we liked, when we preferred a livelier evening we hopped on the minibus for a very short ride to either Dunn’s or Ochi and enjoyed them for the evening, Dunns Saturday beach party is quite the experience! Service was always exemplary, from the cheery reception to the bar staff. The morning breakfast staff were again wonderful, always happy and attentive. I visited the spa and had two of the most perfect massages by Latoya while I was there. Staff at water sports were wonderful as well, happily escorting us out for the daily snorkel trip each day, I would like to also mention the lifeguards who we observed to be constantly busy maintaining the beach, watching the weather and reacting to it and keeping guests safe. Snorkel-wise the house reefs are only accessible by boat, you cannot snorkel out from the beach as there is a boat passage in between. On the boat trips we saw an abundance of tropical fish, various rays.. the reef is damaged in places but there are small spots which are abundant, bright and alive. If you enjoy snorkelling, the wreck trip is a must do ( from Ochi) after snorkelling over the wreck you swim to an abundant cove with some really lovely reef to explore. The site and gardens are beautifully maintained and very relaxing. Staff work hard to maintain it each day. You can see plenty of fish from walking the jetties, on our first day we observed a puffer fish and a juvenile spotted ray peacefully feeding right on the beach. The management were visible and hard working. I had a question about turtle nests and within seconds an environmental manager was by my side imparting his knowledge. Outstanding. There were plenty of loungers always available, our favourite part of the beach was the swinging bed by the cold dip pool, which we used a lot to cool off in the midday heat! We will absolutely return to RP in the future and will be very much looking forward to it, probably in a few years when we are a little older with less wanderlust in our heels. The crowd here are mostly older, returning couples and that makes sense given the resorts peaceful, attentive nature.

We stayed at Sandals Antigua many years ago and my memories are of good food and very pleasant (Beringer) wine. We had often thought of returning to a Sandals resort and finally booked a visit to Royal Plantation based mainly on the excellent reviews, the beautiful resort, amazing Staff and the best food in the Sandals chain we read. We now realise that the majority of those reviews are from returning guests, some on their 10/20/30th visit often several times a year, they want to keep it just how it is and 5* reviews help that cause. RP is a boutique resort where every room faces the ocean, beautiful views and the sound of waves lapping on the shore, every part of the hotel faces the ocean and I loved that element of it. There can be a lot of noise from the road, incredibly loud motorbikes and what sounds like cars with no silencer on the exhaust, at times there is also loud music from Ochi next door, but that does finish not much later than 10pm. The rooms are dated with dark furniture and the bathroom has a tub with shower, again dated. Sunbeds on the beach are old plastic ones, I have a back problem and found them very uncomfortable, no beach chairs anywhere. However everywhere was spotless and tidy, staff do a great job. The staff across the resort are amazing, everyone stops to have a chat, so friendly and obviously enjoy their jobs. The beach and pool bar staff are the unsung heroes of the resort, they are constantly on the go, remembering what you drink, they are top quality. Two members of staff I must mention, Tresall and Aean, they always made us feel special and their smiles when greeting us helped a lot when things weren’t going so well. The butler experience didn’t work for us, too much attention, we preferred the concierge service on our previous visit. Wine is abysmal, I love a glass of red wine with dinner, it wasn’t good. The sparkling wine, what they refer to as champagne, at 5% proof and sweet despite the Brut label, is manageable with lots of orange juice, on its own is fit only to pour down the sink and we did. Food, breakfast was good, best meal of the day, lunch we only ate at the grill where we both found a couple of dishes we enjoyed, nothing at the terrace appealed. Dinner was the worst time, if you like lots of seafood, its average at best my husband does not and really struggled at times to put a meal together. With so many repeat guests who think the food is great, I have no idea why, changes are unlikely to be made. We visited Ochi and it was as bad there but without the attentive service of RP. The greatest strength of RP is its greatest weakness, very high rate of returning guests. Strength as there are lots of very obviously happy guests who come back time after time, great stats for the management team. Weakness? Big groups of people who arrange to meet there who form cliques, they take over the beach, the pool, the hot tub and new guests feel uncomfortable and with the odd exception are rarely spoken to. The other weakness is that there is no incentive for change, we were told 80% repeat guests, why change anything? We have stayed in 5* resorts in other parts of the world, Royal Plantation does not compare. The food is bland and repetitive, the wine is appalling, the only 5* about this resort is the staff. Are we likely to be a returning guest? Highly unlikely, there is a big world out there, lots of exploring to do and genuine 5* resorts to visit.

What a superb holiday in the most idyllic location, excellent hotel and superb food. Had the most amazing time with the friendliest staff I have ever known at a hotel resort. The rooms and hotel are superb quality and if you are wanting a tranquil holiday this is the perfect place.

Arrival We used Club Mobay on arrival and were taken to the Sandals lounge, where we were pleasantly surprised with a private transfer driven by someone we’d had before. Unfortunately, the arrival experience at the resort was a little confusing. We were greeted with a welcome song but given no instructions on where to sit or what to expect. As seasoned Sandals butler guests but first-timers at this resort, we eventually followed another couple’s lead and just sat down. A cool towel was given and some mixed sparkling wine beverage. After about 10minutes, we were told our butler was delayed with another guest. He arrived shortly, gave us a very quick tour, and took us to our room. Room We stayed in an LR category room on the second floor, with an amazing view of West Beach. The decor was lovely, mixing updated touches with old-world charm. We found the bathroom layout was awkward, with the sink outside the cramped area containing the tub, shower and toilet. We often got in each other’s way getting ready for the evening. Unfortunately, cleanliness was an issue and from other reviews I was surprised by this. We take our shoes off at the door, and after unpacking barefoot, I discovered that the bottoms of my feet were black (black, black). My husband’s were the same. Our butler immediately arranged for the floor to be mopped, but the floors never really felt clean. Even wiping them with a cloth left it grey, so we wore our slippers throughout our stay. On a positive note, the bedding was fantastic. I love the weight of Sandals’ bedding, the firmness of the mattresses and the pillows. Our fridge was stocked with our requests, including rum, rum cream and Stella beer. They also made an effort to provide a different sparkling wine for me, supplying a bottle of Jean Dorsene daily instead of the La Roche wine drink I don’t care for. I appreciated the effort, but would have preferred something of better quality. This isn't a resort problem, it's a Sandals problem. Restaurants There are limited restaurant choices and found the overall selection for us (who eat everything) to be disappointing.  Guests can also visit the neighbouring Sandals Ochi for additional dining options, which helps offset the limited selection at Royal Plantation. The Wobbly Peacock has low lounge seating with coffee tables that are really only suitable for drinks and snacks, not a proper meal. Including it as a restaurant option seems odd. We had fish and chips and I propped a pillow on my lap to eat off of it.  The fish and chips were underwhelming. Our experience at the French restaurant was particularly disappointing. Dinner took 2½ hours, despite only five other tables being occupied. We sat outside and were left with empty water and wine glasses, with no updates about the delays. Our waiter eventually blamed the delay on a group he was serving. Delays happen, but communication matters. The food was also off. My lamb was overcooked, with three tiny shrivelled chops, one of which was barely there. My husband’s steak was cooked properly. We both became very sick after returning to our room for the evening. We recovered by morning, but we didn’t return. We can’t say what caused it, although we wondered whether it might have been the amuse-bouche, a small raw fish dish served at room temperature before our meal. Another disappointment was the inconsistency in the food. I had a delicious penne alla vodka with mushrooms and chicken at lunch. The penne was perfectly cooked, and the sauce was fantastic. I enjoyed it so much that I requested the same dish through room service on our last evening. What arrived was nothing like what I had ordered. The penne was severely overcooked (mushy), and instead of the vodka sauce, it was in a tomato based without any cream, and added overcooked chicken. There was no freshly grated cheese or finishing touch, and the dish was inedible. It was hard to understand how a dish that had been so delicious at lunch could turn into something so completely different and disappointing through room service. The Terrace was our favourite, and Jamaica Night was outstanding. I had the best curry goat I’ve ever tasted! The repeaters’ dinner was also the best we’ve attended at Sandals. The atmosphere, flow of the evening and presentations were a refreshing change. General Manager Omar, the General Manager, is a real asset to this resort. He seems to know everyone by name, genuinely engages with guests throughout the day and is willing to help wherever needed. He also made our repeaters’ dinner a wonderful experience. His presence and approach make a noticeable difference. If we return, Omar will be a big part of the reason why. We left feeling that the resort has a great deal going for it under his leadership. Beach and Beach Butlers The beach was surprisingly good for the Ocho Rios area, with lovely sand, calm water and a clean, well-maintained setting. However, by around 4 p.m., we felt awkward staying on the beach. It was like 80% of the folks left and of course the staff would rake and rearranging empty loungers. When we asked our butler about it, we were told that most guests head back to get ready for dinner. With a 7 p.m. dinner reservation, that seemed far too early. I also thought it was an odd response, rather than reassuring us that we were welcome to stay and enjoy the beach for as long as we liked. We love watching the sunsets and experiencing the peacefulness of the water as evening approaches. There were also a couple of groups whose noise and shouting became increasingly noticeable as the day went on. It felt out of place at a resort that otherwise has such a relaxed atmosphere. The beach butler concept is excellent, and the service here should be a model for other Sandals resorts. Efficient drink service on the beach should be part of the luxury experience, not something that feels like an extra. We tipped the beach butlers, as many guests do, because their service was genuinely appreciated and they were tremendously attentive.. Butlers Unfortunately, our butler experience wasn’t among our best. One butler clearly stood out more than the other, but overall, we never quite connected with the team. This was unusual for us, as we’ve had some wonderful butler experiences at other Sandals resorts. We’re accustomed to butlers taking care of things when we ask, often telling us not to worry and that they’ll handle it. On this occasion, we were given a cooler for the beach and told to call when we were leaving so it could be collected (understood) As we stay on the beach late, sometimes until after sunset, our call is after 5PM. On one occasion, when we called, our butler said he was getting ready for night service. Feeling guilty, we asked if he wanted us to take the cooler to our room. He said yes, so we carried it upstairs ourselves. Our other butler was surprised to find it there the following morning. It was a small thing, but not quite the level of service we’ve come to expect from a butler resort. Overall Despite some disappointments, we genuinely liked Royal Plantation. The room’s view, the beach, Jamaica Night, the repeaters’ dinner and, especially, Omar all made our stay memorable. Perhaps we simply caught the resort on an off week. This was the first stop on a 17-day Jamaican vacation, and we’ve been visiting Jamaica on and off since the late 1980s, with many, many, many visits over the years. When people ask which resort is our favourite, it's always the resort we are at, at the time. Every resort has something that sets it apart and makes it special for the guests. Ultimately, it’s the people and Jamaican culture that keep drawing us back to Jamaica. Royal Plantation has plenty of potential, and with Omar at the helm, we would consider returning to experience it again.

What a fantastic hotel! From the moment we arrived, we felt welcome. The staff were incredibly friendly, the food was excellent, and the location was ideal. The manager's ability to know every guest by name was amazing and made the experience feel very personal. Although the entertainment was sometimes a little hit and miss, it was always enjoyable. The service provided by the whole team, especially the butlers, was outstanding and truly second to none. We had a really lovely holiday and cannot wait to come back. Thank you to everyone for making our stay so special.