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Sandals Resorts - Anyone Been?


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2018 Feb 28, 10:32pm   6,280 views  11 comments

by WookieMan   ➕follow (1)   💰tip   ignore  

Anyone here been to one? Seems like they get solid reviews and have been around a while. Was looking at Sandals Ochi or anywhere in Jamaica really. I dislike most of you here, but will take your vacation advice as long as it's clear you're not lying.

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1   zzyzzx   2018 Mar 1, 7:30am  

I use TripAdvisor reviews to get good info before I visit any touristy place (assuming that it has reviews).

Personally, Jamaica is a shithole and I wouldn't go there.
2   anonymous   2018 Mar 1, 7:51am  

Ocho Rios is decent but I will only holiday in Negril in Jamaica in the future. We rented a whole house on the cliffs a few doors down from Ricks, and after that I could never justify paying such markups to sit on a resort. We were there in July (nobody goes in July for fear of the heat) and the weather was Amazing, probably helps being on the cliffs that you’re elevated and surrounded by water
3   WookieMan   2018 Mar 1, 8:43am  

WookieMan says
Personally, Jamaica is a shithole and I wouldn't go there.


I've heard this a lot. What's so bad about it? I've been to about 6 or so Caribbean islands and they all seem the same to me. Haven't been to Jamaica yet, but can't see how it would be substantially different. As with most places, be aware of your surroundings. I work a lot on the South & West sides of Chicago, so maybe I'm more in tune with the potential pitfalls of higher crime areas. I just can't see Jamaica being that bad.

Use TripAdvisor almost exclusively when researching places. So I'm aware. Sometimes you come across smaller places with fewer reviews though and call me skeptical, but some of the reviews just seem fake. So wasn't sure if maybe someone here had been to a tiny resort or newer resort that was top notch, but might not show up that way yet on TripAdvisor. Trust me, I'm not a big fan of big resort brands, but it just seems to be the easier route for what our plan is.

errc says
Ocho Rios is decent but I will only holiday in Negril in Jamaica in the future.


Okay. We'd only likely be there Tuesday to Sunday some time in November, with the aforementioned days being mostly travel coming from Chicago. So quick little trip. Without going into detail, this trip would be more about hanging out at the resort and in the room if you catch my drift. So not totally concerned about the surrounding area, unless Ocho Rios is just downright nasty and crime ridden. Although I'm sure a resort like this would have that handled. Nice beach/water is a plus as I'm like a kid and can snorkel for hours.

The inclusive golf was intriguing as my wife and I both play and we have Southwest points, so easy enough to bring our own clubs and play a few rounds. I'm not overly concerned about money and the resort being marked up. It's expected. We do usually like to rent houses when we travel, but on a short trip like this it just seems easier to not deal with all the stuff that goes with renting a house (groceries, car, etc). It's small things, but even just having your room picked up daily and having a fridge stocked for you just seems relaxing.

I'm open to other suggestions as well. Just looking to do something different as we haven't done an all inclusive before. There are so many fucking choices out there it's ridiculous. Although we are limited to where SW flies and maybe a quick puddle jumper to another island if there's a cool resort. My wife and I have been looking for a while and just can't pull the trigger on anything. So figured I'd throw it out here to see if I got lucky. I don't get the world traveler vibe here, but I've been surprised before on other threads.
4   anonymous   2018 Mar 1, 9:10am  

I've heard this a lot. What's so bad about it?

——————-

Lots of blacks. If you don’t like blacks, you won’t like Jamaica



We do usually like to rent houses when we travel, but on a short trip like this it just seems easier to not deal with all the stuff that goes with renting a house (groceries, car, etc)

————————

We had a driver and just ate out every meal. Pretty much like any island, the locals are trying to make a living and will feed you well on the cheap. Staying on the cliffs, we could swim to Ricks or Catcha Star. I don’t play around when i cook, and I don’t cook on vacation.



Although we are limited to where SW flies and maybe a quick puddle jumper to another island if there's a cool resort. My wife and I have been looking for a while and just can't pull the trigger on anything.

————————

Southwest to San Juan
Puddle jumper to vieques

The W is currently closed thru 2018 due to the hurricane, but i see http://haciendatamarindo.com/hacienda-tamarindo-hurricane-maria/
Is taking guests.

It’s one Caribbean island you won’t mind driving a remtal car. You’ll need one. Or maybe you could ride horse lol. We traveled there in January and had the island to ourselves. No dock for ships, crappy ferry from PR is worthless and our Navy ran the island up until recently so there’s a few hundred locals and a handful of travelers. The food was stellar, i drove to a road stand for empanadas every day i was there. Fuck i could eat one right now. I’m curious how they fared with the hurricane but there wasn’t much but nature there to begin with
5   WookieMan   2018 Mar 1, 11:25am  

errc says
Southwest to San Juan
Puddle jumper to vieques


I’ve thought about this. Actually did some thorough research on it and heard the ferry to the island like you said is awful. I think the company that flys there literally markets how shitty the ferry is and the cost of flying to Vieques is totally worth it.

Just hasn’t sounded like the rebuilding is going all the well, but I’ll check out the W. Was looking at El Conquistador on the northeastern point of the main island in the past, but I’m trying to avoid kids like the plague for this trip. I have younger ones so 5-6 days away from my little devils is precious. Don’t need other dumb ass, obnoxious kids bothering me. So trying to keep it adult only.

errc says
Lots of blacks. If you don’t like blacks, you won’t like Jamaica


Yeah, I figured. I have a neighbor that would go down every year about 10-12 years ago. They would find places that were literally $30/nt assuming they’re telling the truth. They’re both professors and would hang out for two weeks plus each time. So they’ve spent a good 3+ months in Jamaica over time. Never had a problem and they definitely weren’t in guarded resort type properties. So I’ve always been at a loss about the negative vibe.

errc says
We had a driver and just ate out every meal. Pretty much like any island, the locals are trying to make a living and will feed you well on the cheap. Staying on the cliffs, we could swim to Ricks or Catcha Star. I don’t play around when i cook, and I don’t cook on vacation.


Gotcha. Makes sense. Now you got me looking at houses too now. You’ve now made this process even more complicated.

Kidding. Thanks for the info.
6   anonymous   2018 Mar 1, 11:57am  

I have younger ones so 5-6 days away from my little devils is precious.

——————-

Well then screw a house, get a room.

The puddle jumper from san juan to vieques was well worth the money. That’s a fun ride. If you dare the ferry you have to drive from san juan to fajardo. Not as fun
7   RWSGFY   2018 Mar 1, 12:45pm  

WookieMan says
As with most places, be aware of your surroundings. I work a lot on the South & West sides of Chicago, so maybe I'm more in tune with the potential pitfalls of higher crime areas. I just can't see Jamaica being that bad.


Yeah, being constantly "frosty" and with head on 360 swivel is everybody's idea of a relaxing vacation. I mean, if a place can be mentioned in the same sentence as the South & West sides of Chicago it is a ringing endoresemen of a vacation destination, amiright?
8   WookieMan   2018 Mar 1, 12:51pm  

Satoshi_Nakamoto says
I mean, if a place can be mentioned in the same sentence as the South & West sides of Chicago it is a ringing endoresemen of a vacation destination, amiright?


I wasn't referencing the destination, just the fact people seem to place it in a category similar to these bad Chicago neighborhoods. That hasn't been my experience in the Caribbean from some of my visits there. I just always hear Jamaica is shitty, but about the worst thing I've heard is some guy asking you to buy drugs. That's really not a big deal, so I don't get what the fuss is about Jamaica.
9   WookieMan   2018 Mar 1, 12:53pm  

WookieMan says
place it in a category similar to these bad Chicago neighborhoods


Misspoke a little here. Not saying others have said it's like the south side of Chicago. That was my doing. Even outside of Patnet (excluding my neighbors) most people just say Jamaica is bad. I just kind of feel like a lot of people haven't actually been and are just feeding stories from people that don't get out much.
10   Patrick   2018 Mar 1, 12:53pm  

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/NEWS/Jamaica-homicides-jump-20-per-cent--highest-level-in-5-years_48331

The Jamaica Constabulary Force said the country had at least 1,192 slayings in 2015, a roughly 20 percent increase from the previous year. There were 1,005 killings in 2014, the lowest annual total since 2003 in this country that has long struggled with violent crime.

Jamaica had about 45 slayings per 100,000 people in 2015, keeping it ranked among the most violent countries in the world. In recent years, the UN listed the island as having the world’s sixth-worst homicide rate. The World Bank ranked Jamaica in the top five in 2013.

By comparison, Chicago, which has roughly the same population as Jamaica at 2.7 million, had 468 killings in 2015.


So more than twice as dangerous as Chicago on average.
11   WookieMan   2018 Mar 1, 1:14pm  

Patrick says
So more than twice as dangerous as Chicago on average.


That doesn't surprise me. But who is getting killed (not that is should matter, murder is bad)? What areas in Jamaica? Chicago's murder rate is basically coming from 3-4 neighborhoods almost exclusively. I'd guess almost 95% of all murders are the result of someone knowing the person that killed them as well. I don't know anyone in Jamaica that wants me dead so I do generally feel safe going there and most countries that "seem" dangerous.

I'd actually guess that specific neighborhoods in Chicago are vastly more unsafe then any part of Jamaica.

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