Beaches Negril

We traveled to Beaches, Negril in mid July with our three daughters and my husband’s family. We did not have a butler but we did rent a cabana for two days, which comes with full service. I did not regret not having a butler this time around. I spent most of my time on the beach and found out that you have to get there early to get a good spot. I highly recommend that you put a t-shirt or something on the chairs with the towels because we there was another large family that tried to take over our reserved chairs each morning. The service on the beach was better than any other Sandals resort I have been to. They came by at least every 15-20 min and were so fun to talk to. Shout out to the working moms on the beach—Shaneak, Ann Marie, and June! We had a family suite and it was very nice, although it was a hike up 3 sets of stairs various times throughout the day. Chevelle was our housekeeper and I wish we could stay with her forever. She made cute towel animals for the kids, cleaned extensively every single day and always had a smile on her face. We really enjoyed the food options—iced coffees at Cafe de Paris every morning and lunch was chicken fingers for the kids/green machine for me—which were very close to the beach and pool. Yaku was our favorite food, but Kimonos was our favorite experience—Raheim made it the most fun hibachi experience we have ever had. Hands down. He is now a Mountaineer by affiliation and proudly sang “Eat S@#* Pitt” with us during Sweet Caroline. While we had a fantastic vacation, we are going to try a new resort next year. Frankly, we have found that the sandals resorts are priced pretty high, and I did not like the vendors on the beach. I am all about supporting the local economy, but they would not leave us alone. A couple of them even grabbed my children and put jewelry on them. This is absolutely not okay. When we had the cabana, they kept asking us for waters. I don’t mind sharing but it just became very intrusive. Because of this, and the fact that for the price, the resort could use an upgrade, I am docking it one star. I should also note that the bus ride to Negril was awful. My poor daughter threw up once on the way there and twice on the way back. If you get motion sickness, pack plenty of Dramamine. It’s very expensive in the gift shop—$24 for a small travel bottle.

Overall good family trip. The shining highlight of the trip was definitely the water sports staff. The dive team is incredible! “Queen Boss lady” Caveen is a kids best friend when getting into Scuba Diving. Her unwavering dedication to her craft and safety is second to none.

We have been to Sandals and was not sure what to expect with Beaches. They did not disappoint. The beach is fantastic - the sand you can melt in. My husband and I are going to Sandals in Negril next year!

We just got back from a week at Beaches Negril our first time at a Beaches (or Sandals) resort and first trip to Jamaica. We traveled as a family of three (two adults and our 8-year-old daughter), and while we had some memorable moments, we left feeling like the whole place could use a little refresh – in both style and service. The Good:    •   The Beach is the Star: The sand and water are beautiful. Grab a spot before 8am if you’re picky, but people do move around so it’s not impossible to find one. Later on. Shades can be a challenge if you are not early enough. The anchored rafts in the calm ocean were a family favorite.    •   Water Activities Galore: The included water sports were a highlight. Snorkeling was surprisingly great – lots of colorful fish, even for first-timers. Glass bottom boat was neat. Banana boat rides were a huge hit for our daughter. Water trikes and kayaks were fun too.    •   Entertainment Team: Truly a standout. The shows were fun and well-timed so the kids could enjoy and still get to bed. The vibe they brought made a difference.    •   Cafe de Paris: We found ourselves here often. Coffee and treats were consistently good. Froyo bar was popular with the kids – do-it-yourself style and always a hit.    •   Special Mentions: A few team members truly made an impression. Shaudine at Stella was warm and attentive, going above and beyond to make our meal feel special. Shaunek on beach service was the one to offer beach service—and she made it count. Trevon on the Beach: Great with kids and played beach soccer with our daughter, teaching her all sorts of tricks. . And Kevon on the beach was another standout: kind, helpful, and full of good energy. The OK    •   Service is Spotty: Some folks were great (like those above and the lifeguards), others seemed totally disengaged. Pool bar service was hit or miss.    •   Food Overall Just Okay: A couple bright spots like the nacho bar at Mariachi and Café Paris, and Stella was good. Yaku was good definitely catered to kids with fried rice and Mac and cheeee. The rest very average. Soy’s sushi tasted fishy, though the apps were good. Buffet had long lines for the make your own omelette bar and not a lot of rotation.    •   Cabana Service: We rented one and while it was “fine,” I wouldn’t call it worth the price unless you’re with a large group. Since there’s not regular beach service, it might help there.    •   Room Issues: We were in Building 8 (tip: top floor Lux King has a peek of the ocean). Room felt worn down, and the bathtub backed up daily. Slow drains, spotty hot water, and ants everywhere. Also – no drying rack, even after asking four separate times. Walls are paper-thin, so hope for quiet neighbors too. The Not-So-Great:    •   No Room Tour or Orientation: We were just dropped off with no idea where anything was. Had to figure it out ourselves.    •   No Room Service: Not a dealbreaker for us, but surprising for the price.    •   Towel Shortage by 3pm: Plan ahead – they’re out early.    •   Nothing to Do When it Rains: And it rained a lot. There are game areas with foosball, ping pong, etc., but it gets crowded quickly. Splashpad really geared toward the 5-and-under crowd. Waterslides (2) were a huge hit - fast and fun    •   From the rooms to the restaurants, nothing felt especially fresh or well-maintained. Paint chipping, awnings dirty, pool not especially clean.    •   Vendors for Extras: You’ll see vendors offering tubing, parasailing, etc. Just know those aren’t included – and they’re expensive ($100–$200+ per activity). Hair braiders all over the beach if that’s your thing too    •   Photo Pricing is Wild: $20 per photo or $200–$600 for packages. A bit of sticker shock. We made great memories and loved parts of our trip – especially the beach, snorkeling, and evening shows – but overall the resort felt like it’s coasting on its location and branding. For the cost, we expected better food, more consistent service, and fresher facilities. I can see why people love Jamaica, and I’m glad we came, but not sure we’d return to this resort without some big updates.

Our teens had so much fun! We didn’t even have to book an excursion, they never got bored the entire week! Excellent food and very clean! The staff is SO friendly!