If you are looking to go to Sandals Ochi vs Sandals Negril, I am going to try to make your decision easier by breaking down the difference.
Overview
Overall, Sandals Ochi is a huge resort with a lot of different options where Sandals Negril is smaller and more intimate.
Whether you want to party or have a bit of privacy, Sandals Ochi in Ocho Rios offers the best of both worlds.Onsite you’ll find 11 bars (including the Caribbean’s first speakeasy), 16 amazing restaurants, and a hot new beach club.
Nearby, you also have access to Sandals Golf & Country Club. But you can also find some time alone for just the two of you, with many private areas available on the adult-only property’s 100 lushly landscaped acres.
Sandals Negril is located on a long stretch of beach, has a great sunset view and is a much smaller resort with a more relaxed feel. There is a range of rooms, but all of them are close to the beach.
Prices at Sandals Ochi vs Negril
When comparing the cost of your stay at Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Negril, Sandals Ochi is the winner. However, Sandals Negril is not too much more. It is one of the most affordable Sandals resorts as well, with prices that start at $241 per person per night.
What can make a big difference are the specials. Sandals have different suites on sale each week and there are last-minute deals at each location.
Sandals Ochi vs. Sandals Negril: Getting There
If you fly into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, it’s a 90-minute drive to Sandals Ochi. You can also fly into Ian Fleming International Airport, which is just outside Ocho Rios so offers a shorter transfer time of about 15 minutes. However, there aren’t as many flights from the U.S. to this airport as there are to Sangster.
Sandals Negril is also 90 minutes from Sangster International Airport in the other direction. At both resorts, complimentary airport transfers are included in your stay.
Which Has Better Rooms
When comparing rooms, Sandals Ochi has more variety while Sandals Negril has the most luxurious rooms, while still having basic affordable options as well.
Sandals Ochi offers a variety of luxurious rooms and suites, including some that are in separate villas tucked into a lush hillside. The best options are in the Butler Village like the Honeymoon Romeo & Juliet Bedroom Villa Suite with a Private Pool Sanctuary, featuring a walled courtyard with its own pool and hot tub, as well as an outdoor rain shower. There are also beautiful beachfront, poolside, or secluded garden suites available, and private butler service comes in all butler-level suites here as well.
The major thing to keep in mind with Sandals Ochi is some resorts are on the beachside, which some people love, while others wish were closer to the largest pool on the hillside which requires a shuttle to get to. Other resorts are on the hillside and require a shuttle to get to the beach.
Sandals Negril has a large range of rooms as well, with all of them close to the beach. While I wouldn’t recommend any rooms that do not have a ocean view since they face a “tropical garden” where there is possible road noise, there are several other options.
There are basic rooms, but also some of the most luxurious resorts in Jamaica. We recently stayed at the more recently built rooms and had a private pool on the balcony of our room. If you are looking for luxury, this is a clear winner between the resorts. There are other rooms that are less expensive, with the club-level rooms that go directly to the beach being a great middle ground.
Activities
There are plenty of complimentary activities at both Sandals Ochi and Sandals Negril, including water and land sports. Even scuba diving is included; certified divers can dive up to twice a day at either resort. However, Sandals Ochi has more to offer, such as golf.
Some of the differences are in golf and watersports. Sandals Ochi has a nearby golf course which is a deciding factor for some.
Sandals Negril has motorized watersports like tubing and waterskis that are not available at Sandals Ochi.
On land you can lounge on the beach or play beach volleyball, bocce ball, pool, or tennis—all land sports are also complimentary. You can also take advantage of the state-of-the-art fitness center and exercise classes. Sandals Negril has three beautiful pools and three whirlpools, all with stunning ocean views.
Both Sandals locations offer the full-service Red Lane Spa for a wide range of restorative spa services (at an extra cost). You can also book area excursions from both locations (also at an extra cost).
Beaches and Pools
When comparing Sandals Negril and Sandals Ochi, the pools and beaches make a big difference. Sandals Ochi has three sections of the beach and they are all very nice to us. Sandals Negril has one continuous beach. The sand does feel a little mushy once you are out a few yards at Sandals Negril.
For pools, Sandals Ochi has tons to choose from. There are several large pools and lots of suites with private pools. Sandals Negril has one large pool that is as large as the medium-sized pools at Sandals Ochi, but it is a fun lively area.
Excursions
You can enjoy some of the same excursions at both resorts since they are available across the island. These are things like ziplines, horseback riding and driving ATVs. There are a few unique activities at each resort as well.
At Sandals Ochi, you have more options nearby. You can go river tubing within a 25-minute drive, go to Mystic Mountain, explore the Blue Hole or go to Dunns River easily. You can even visit a Cannabis producer within a 30-minute drive.
At Sandals Negril, the nearby excursions are centered around Ricks Cafe, a cliff-jumping destination. The best way to go there is by a private boat ride offered at the dive shop or by a catamaran. You can go on other excursions, but they will require a long drive.
Dining
When it comes to dining, Sandals Ochi has more variety, but Sandals Negril has better food.
Sandals Ochi has the most restaurants of any Sandals resort. It features 16 restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisine including gourmet French, Italian, Asian, Caribbean, sushi, Southern, Mediterranean, seafood, pizza, and tapas. Many have water views, some are beachfront, and one is even over the water.
Sandals Negril offers 7 restaurants to choose from. Feast on fresh seafood; Caribbean cuisine; authentic Jamaican dishes; Italian; Asian; international; French; pizza; and casual fare like burgers and nachos. Several of the restaurants at Sandals Negril are beachfront, including the open-air Brava, Bayside, and Barefoot by the Sea.
Where Negril shines are the newer dining options. Crema is now open offering specialty coffee drinks and ice cream. Brava is a new restaurant and our favorite on the property that offers Spanish tapas. On the beach is Perlas which offers tacos and a few other familiar dishes like a hamburger and a specialty cocktail menu.
If you stay at Sandals Negril you can also go to Beaches Negril for dinner, opening up more dining options. They have a new Peruvian restaurant that is worth the trip to the resort.
Nightlife
Both Sandals Ochi and Sandals Negril offer entertainment options, but Sandals Ochi offers more.
At Sandals Ochi, there are shows at an amphitheater, live music, a piano bar, a chocolate buffet, talent night, karaoke, and beach parties with fire dancers. Sandals Ochi has 11 bars, including the Caribbean’s first speakeasy as well as 2 swim-up bars and a piano bar.
Nightly activities at Sandals Negril include theme nights, cocktail parties, beach parties, and live music. There are 5 bars at Sandals Negril, including swim-up bars, a piano bar, and a traditional British pub.
Now that you’ve read our comparison of the two, what do you think?
Our Pick
Overall, we have enjoyed both resorts, but I think we have a slight preference for Sandals Negril. We still loved Sandals Ochi and think it is better if you enjoy a larger property with lots of pools.
Would you choose Sandals Ochi or Sandals Negril for your Jamaican honeymoon or a romantic escape? Let us know in the comments!
He is an expert travel advisor and enthusiast. He has traveled extensively in the USA, Central America, South America, and Europe. He has visited every Sandals Resort and is one of a select few Diamond Elite members of the Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club.
Dan graduated from Johnson & Wales University with an associate degree in Culinary Arts. Later he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a focus on people and culture.