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Eden. At first glance of Sandals Ochi, luscious and sprawling over 100-acres, that thought may signal your first impression. All-inclusive and catering to adults-only, this is the largest Sandals Resorts property. Perpetually in the spotlight for all the right reasons, Sandals Ochi is ideal for a vacation that's both trendy and private. And, as its in Ocho Rios, you can easily make your way to the Ocho Rios Blue Hole, Secret Falls, and even the Dunn’s River Falls. Then, return to the comfort of your private island retreat — the exclusive Romeo and Juliet suites, or any of the intimate options in the resort’s elite Butler Village. Recharge, then pencil in some dining plans at 1 of 16 specialty restaurants. During the day, golf at the Upton Estate Golf & Country Club (green fees inc.) or hit the beach just steps away. The endless pools at this resort are hard to resist too! At night, unwind at the Caribbean’s first speakeasy or have drinks at the Latitudes Overwater Bar.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Sandals Ochi garners appreciation for its wide array of amenities, including diverse dining and entertainment options, and its stunning beachfront location ideal for relaxation. However, some guests have noted that the rooms could benefit from modernization and better maintenance. While the atmosphere is generally lively, there are occasional critiques of inconsistent entertainment.
The service experience varies, with commendable staff but slower service at times. Despite high cleanliness standards, the perceived value is dampened by the concerns raised regarding service and room quality.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Pristine
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Abundant
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We just returned from our home away from home, sandals Ochi. We arrived on 6/24 & stayed 11 nights. Sashemia has been our butler for years.
I do not have to request a thing, she always remembers. Sash & Lucky had chosen the perfect room for us. We were exhausted from traveling so stayed in. Otis remembered I got burnt last year & brought me a palm leaf full of aloe squares he cut.
Then we met Dumonte. I was kind of bitter here. One of my butlers was no longer at Ochi & Dumonte replaced her. He had big shoes to fill. I am happy to report that Dumonte did a fantastic job!
Ochi has had a rough year. Many long term staff have been terminated or resigned. While new guests won’t likely notice these things, they are reporting staff seem new or apprehensive to make decisions. While I understand change is inevitable, the amount of turnover in just the last year is shocking. We were happy to see Aliyah but sad that most playmakers are gone. Too many faces that we have looked forward to seeing each year were missing.
Which brings me to my message to management…. you guys know I love you all but, long term staff bring excellent rapport with both staff & guests. This is what Sandals’s needs to figure out. This is my biggest issue with large resorts. TURNOVER! I am speaking for myself but I have also spoken to HUNDREDS of others that feel the same. I know Sandals’s likes to move people around but, what about looking at it from a guest perspective? If I return to find the same people that I was excited to see, I in turn want to keep coming back. If I return & things are not the same as I have come to expect, too many people missing, why would I want to return? After all it’s just a resort, it’s just buildings & furniture, without the smiling faces that we want to see. I DONT return to see a resort…. I RETURN TO SEE MY OCHI FAMILY!!
Ochi has EXCELLENT staff from management down to janitor’s & landscaping. Why not keep them there & promote from within? When the management have a great rapport with staff, things run smoother because everyone respects each other. Unfortunately occupancy is low right now & a lot of it is due to the high turnover rate.
I did not encounter the issues I’ve seen others report. I do not have any complaints on how the resort is being run. We were there for hurricane Beryl & management handled it flawlessly. I do not like that so many are missing but I will not criticize where things do not deserve criticism. Your staff are STILL doing an AMAZING job.
Our first night we never left, Sash brought dinner to our room. We did not even order. She never leaves until she knows we are taken care of. Sash was off the next day, Dumonte surprised us with breakfast. We then headed to the pool.
This was where the changes were the most obvious. Walking up here was bittersweet. I missed Shenae, O'Neil B, Cassine, Jayanne & Donald. Of course Kenroy moved to Dunn’s but Markland & Walvin are doing an excellent job! Shenae & Jayanne are still there, they just moved them. Donald, was moved too. The pool & grill area aren’t the same without them. I was however ecstatic to see Kenisha & Shevaughn. Kenisha is the BEST!! You better hang on tight to her. Shevaughn, I’ve been watching the last few years. He’s always done such a great job. Oneil B. really trained him well. Jessica also surprised us. I was sad when i was told she left, 2 years ago. They just moved her & we did not know. So much hidden talent here, I wish there was more emphasis on promotions from within the resort. You don’t need new staff… you just have to appreciate the ones you have!!!! ❤️
We did meet many new faces today. We had a new Oneil & Andrea who were definitely on top of things. The cafe area always gets busy at lunch time but Natasha, Lenard & Monique kept it running great! The staff here will do anything for you. I do have a request..… can I please ask you to put a bus tub someplace near the cafe? Out of the way but, this would help staff out so much & is a minimal request. It would cut down on broken dishes & bugs along with just giving people a place to put their dishes rather than leave them all over the pool deck. I know I’ve searched for one a few times.
I do have to commend Roan on running that grill area. She did a great job! She also never slowed down & stayed through the storm. I personally wanted staff to go home to be with their families. Roan, Oneil & Marlon all stayed. I know others did too but these 3, we never went anywhere during the storm without crossing paths with them. Oneil made me a smoothie for breakfast. I’m not usually big on breakfast but he insisted & it was delicious.
My only real resort complaint this trip is WiFi. It was non existent up until the storm. After, I’d expect it to not work but, it improved AFTER the storm. My butlers called IT so many times with no resolve. The IT guy kept saying it was fixed. Unfortunately it showed full strength & would not connect at all. Showing him the notice on my phone seemed to not be understood so it was ignored. Had I known where the modem was stored, I could have unplugged it myself but there was a communication disconnect here.
We were receiving our free week certificate this trip so decided to go to the returning guest dinner. Walking up I saw Akeen, you can’t miss his smile! I’m sad he’s no longer a butler at Ochi but he is pursuing his dream of being the star we all already know he is. I wish him the absolute best in his pursuit! #TeamFennell
Carol was not at the dinner as expected. I thought she would give us our certificate, it was Michelangelo who handed me the certificate. I did however see Gary & TsoxRoy. These 2 are so dedicated to this resort. They are ALWAYS available to help wherever needed & everyone respects them because they respect others. I did miss Julie & was truly shocked to see she was gone.
I was happy to see Maxine though. Hello, sandals executives… you have an amazing management team here. Please take notice! If given the opportunity I know they could bring back the crowds to Ochi. Change is inevitable but too much change is destructive.
Wednesday we went to the pool earlier than normal, Sash brought breakfast to our room & we were already gone. She put on her Sash censors, found us & brought it to the pool. We never left the pool area until much later in the day. Denise & Petagaye came to check on us too. Yes, I was keeping track of who was still there. Odea was working hard keeping up with the bathrooms, I’m not sure why people go to an adult resort & leave messes like children but Odea never complains. She keeps things spotless & always has a smile on her face.
Tonight we had Kelly’s in our room. The beef this trip seemed different, not at all their fault but I did not care for it. The crab in the chowder was also imitation crab… not good. I do understand supply chain issues so I cannot even complain about this it is just an observation.
Thursday we had booked an excursion into Kingston through Inside Tours Jamaica. Dimitri picked us up. We stopped for coffee & to pick up a friend. Then we were on our way. We enjoyed the Bob Marley museum & had lunch at a cafe. Sadly, the rain prevented us from doing much more but it was still a great day. We enjoyed seeing Kingston & sightseeing along the way. We returned to the resort for dinner & just hung out at our villa pool for the evening. They’ve redone most of the villa pools on the hillside. They have done a beautiful job! I do love the new glass balconies & enclosures around the pools. The upgrades in the hillside rooms are nice as well. I do NOT feel it constitutes doubling the prices but I have to compliment them on their efforts. Many others miss the tubs in the rooms but I love the new walk in showers.
Dumonte brought us Valentinos to our room, it was delicious. We did not go back out in the evenings this trip. Between the impending storm & an issue with a TA we never met, we just stayed to ourselves. I won’t go into that here since it’s not really the resorts fault. I will say if you are reading this & considering a TA, AVOID LIBERTY Lisa TRAVEL!!!
On Friday we met up with friends, Sash brought us brown stew chicken for lunch. It was so good! We went from the pool to our room & never went back out. We did go down to our villa pool & relax a bit before going to bed.
Saturday we had breakfast that Sash brought to us. We had Caillou and vegetables with hash browns & sausage. I have to admit, Sash had us trying all types of Jamaican dishes this trip. I sure wish I had some of those veggies now!
We went to the pool for the day & Sash brought us Greek salads for lunch. For dinner we went to kimonos with friends. We skipped kimonos last year due to broken AC. We walked in after not being in there for over 2 years, staff instantly remembered us. Jayman & Michele took great care of us. Dinner was cooked perfectly & with great entertainment too. After dinner Dumonte picked us up & we went back to our room.
Sunday the weather had started to noticeably deteriorate but that did not slow anyone down. We hung out with friends at the pool then returned to our room for dinner. On Monday things changed drastically. We noticed a bit of urgency amongst management. You could tell they were trying to make plans to protect the resort but also not cause alarm amongst guests. For us, we are from Florida so we understood the preparation as our children were already in panic & calling from back home over this storm.
Monday is when it became very obvious the hurricane had the island in its sights & tensions were getting high. Staff tried so hard to keep a smile on their faces while quickly helping to prepare. Anikie was running all over. She must of had 12 jobs that day. We saw things starting to get boarded up & all types of rumors started circulating. Management made themselves available for questions & did their best to keep everyone calm. We had previously been at the resort when a hurricane rolled through but nothing of this magnitude. I was impressed with how well everyone worked together to prepare such a large resort so quickly.
I must also mention Dwight, Kemisha, ODaina, Alex, & Petagaye. These butlers are not my “assigned” butlers but they will do anything for us or anyone who asks. They always checked on us at the pool. This is the loyalty from long term staff. I don’t see new staff doing that. No offense to them but, your long term staff stand out among the rest! Ochi NEEDS these people! THEY are the face of Ochi!!! I also lost track of how many times Daniel & Samuel picked us up to drive us up or down the hill or just help keep us out of the rain. Again, these are butlers that are not my butlers but they can’t help themselves, they have to stop & offer their help wherever they go.
One evening I walked into Le Gourmand. I knew things were closing up for the storm & I just wanted to hug Taneisha & say hi before this all happened. I asked a girl that I had never seen before if she was there. She did not know who she was! I said do you know “T”? The girl shook her head… how are you working in Le Gourmand but do not know who your manager is? I don’t know her name & that part isn’t important anyways. It’s just an observation. Too many new people that have no idea what is really going on at the resort. Kinda strange the guests know more than the staff? Hmmm…..🤔
On Tuesday we were at the pool when Natasha said that Carol was going to speak to the resort from the upper deck above the swim up bar. We rushed down to hear what our next plans were. Sadly, all restaurants had to close this day. We were told they would open a buffet on each side for guests to have 3 meals a day. They wanted us to stay out of the water & prepare to be stuck in our rooms for an extended period of time. Room service would be discontinued until after the storm passed. We were offered carry out boxes & encouraged to take as much food as we wanted to back to our rooms. I must say the amount of people that complained about butlers not waiting on them & room service not operating THROUGH A HURRICANE was appalling. The entitlement of others was nauseating. The staff, however, did a great job. This was due to great communication across the board. Gary was constantly available for questions. There were guests there that never experienced a storm like this & were obviously more concerned than others. Carol did tell everyone that management was available for any concerns. I saw Gary out speaking to guests & reassuring them. Carol I believe was seaside doing the same. They asked us to stay on the side we were staying so we did not go to the seaside to respect their request.
I will still mention Oceans night club. We did not go there this trip. Many things contributed to that & honestly we wanted to go the day Shenae was bartending but it is MISERABLE in there! Fans!! They need huge fans! I understand the doors stay open so AC isn’t an option but, that heat is dangeous. The staff do not complain, they’re used to it. It still doesn’t make it right. I feel nauseous just sitting in there for 15 mins. Sandals can afford to put a few large ceiling fans or even a couple of those cyclone fans to circulate air. Please, I beg you, put a couple fans in there.
We also missed Patrick on the seaside. I’m not even sure if he is still there. He was always cleaning late night in the riviera lobby. I always try to mention Patrick because I feel he works so hard & often gets overlooked.
We did not go to the buffet until Wednesday morning for breakfast. By then, the resort was totally boarded up. Talk about eerie! It was so strange walking around seeing the resort we have loved for so many years, boarded up like it was abandoned. As much as I wanted things to be ok on the resort, I was most concerned with staff outside the walls. I knew the resort would be OK. Each zone has a generator so as the island slowly lost power & water, the resort maintained these resources all throughout the storm.
We were staying hillside in an NV1 butler villa. For hillside guests we had buffets in Le Gourmand & Southern Table. They also offered entertainment in the ballroom. They brought loungers from the pool into the ballroom to provide more seating for guests. We chose to return to our room.
We skipped lunch as the storm intensified. We could see trees uprooting from our window. Once things slowed down enough to walk outside we went to the great house to grab some dinner. Once again TsoxRoy & Gary were out in the rain to check for damage. I dont know how they kept going. Rushawne was also working hard. He drove guests up the hill & attempted to clear walkways as they filled with tree branches. The staff that stayed, truly worked together & worked VERY hard to keep guests happy. Some guests were not very friendly to staff which I felt was uncalled for but as always, they smile & do their job. At some point I do feel Sandals should step in & not allow guests to treat staff rudely. This is THEIR home! If you cannot respect it, then YOU should be made to leave.
Sadly this storm ruined a lot, We stayed 11 nights but it felt like a super short trip due to everything being so up in the air. On Thursday morning, the resort was in shambles. We had a tree in our villa pool. Most the staff were still stranded back at their homes with no utilities & downed trees & power lines. My butler phone kept ringing. It was Sash! She was checking on us & wanted to say she was coming in soon. I told her take care of her family, we will be fine. Of course Sash & Odaina came in about 11AM. They could have stayed home but they are insanely dedicated!! Most staff were not here. Yet they came in to make sure their guests were ok. Again… Sandals, take notice!!! This is why we come back every year. Their dedication & loyalty is unmatched! I also saw Samuel & Daniel assisting guests today. Those that could make it in did their best.
Thursday was an odd day. They still had buffets only open for all meals. I even saw Petagaye, the butler serving tables through the storm. Actually, this makes me think… please explain to me how butlers are allowed to help out in other areas in an emergency but you do not allow them to fill in elsewhere when occupancy is low?? WHY!? They have been trained in all areas so why not let them continue to work?? Remember… YOU need THEM!
Housekeeping had also been put on hold for the storm, as expected. Thursday most staff were unable to make it in. Teraine came in when no one else could. I know she had her work cut out for her since she was basically cleaning up the rooms alone after everyone was locked in them so long. She did a fabulous job & deserves credit for putting her job first when I know she has a family at home too. We went to the pool & came back to a spotless room!
Thursday was our last day but, unknowingly. Flights were a mess & the airports were closed. Contacting JetBlue was a headache. Sandals did everything they could to help us. They even gave us all a letter that gives us 2 free nights tacked on to any 4 paid nights to use within the year. This was great because TRIPMATE, the travel insurance offered with Sandals bookings was absolutely USELESS!
Of course we had our butlers there but everything was closed. Staff made everyone cheeseburgers for lunch & opened up a bar for each side. Most things seaside were still shut down so people crowded over on the hillside. It wasn’t really an issue except those people forgot to bring their manners with them. Imagine being so lazy that you lay on your lounger & wait for staff to pick up YOUR trash! This is an adult resort… RESPECT goes a long way. This would have been a great time for those bus tubs to come in handy. Jerome, was on it though. Every 20-30 mins he walked the pool deck with a trash bag. People wanting things opened should think about the fact that Jerome could have been working to open up another area if they would have used their own feet to walk their trash to the trash can.
We went back to our room & Sash brought us dinner. It was from the buffet since that’s all that was open but she made sure we had quite a few options. I sat on hold with JetBlue & was told there were no flights out until 7/10. We were supposed to check out 7/5. By this time management had finally went to get some rest so we figured we would get it squared away in the morning.
Friday morning Sash came in to help us extend our stay. We worked with a girl in loyalty & I just have to say she was PHENOMENAL! We called the select line & spoke to Anna. I must thank Anna as well. Sandals & Unique were so much help & I appreciate everything they did. Unfortunately all their efforts went down the drain thanks to the incompetent “escalations team” at JetBlue. That however has nothing to do with Ochi, they did their job.
I had to contact Inside Tours Jamaica last minute but Kemar was on it. We made it to the airport in what we thought was plenty of time. Unfortunately the airport was a nightmare & JetBlue despite claiming they were ready, they were not! At 3pm we finally got someone to listen to the fact that we had to board in 25 minutes. Thank God for club mobay. We did not have a chance to check into the lounge but did use the expedited security line. At 3:15 we received our boarding pass. At 3:25 our flight started boarding.
I was unable to reach sandals again to let them know we did make it home, until Monday. They were holding a booking for us just in case, since they knew we were having issues. Anna remembered us & handled it immediately.
Sadly we left in such a hurry we did not get to say goodbye. It felt terrible leaving the island in shambles. I was honestly torn. While I wanted to stay, I felt it was not acceptable for the resorts to utilize all the resources of the island while the local residents were without. I know many don’t pay attention to these things but we do.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Avion P, Other at Sandals Ochi
Responded Aug 6, 2024
Thank you for sharing your detailed and heartfelt review. We're thrilled to hear that your stay at Sandals Ochi was memorable despite the challenges posed by the recent storm. It's wonderful to know that Sashemia, Dumonte, and our dedicated team made a positive impact on your experience, and we truly appreciate your acknowledgment of their exceptional efforts. We also value your feedback regarding staff turnover and will certainly consider your insights as we strive to maintain the high standards and personal touches our guests cherish. Thank you for your loyalty and for being part of the Sandals Ochi family. We look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable stay.
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My wife and I visited this resort for our 10th Wedding Anniversary and my birthday and we were not disappointed! This was our 3rd time to a Sandals, 1st time in Jamaica and probably our best! The resort, we stayed beach side in a good sized room in the tower with sea view, (sun rises and sunsets were amazing), had all we wanted and all within close proximity. Majority of restaurants, entertainment was located here and we enjoyed our days by the beach club and pool and Kelly’s Dock/Mariners.
We heard the resort was 80% full but you would never think it was with how much space there was, and no overcrowding or issues with getting into restaurants or getting loungers. We used the Vista/Sky mainly for our breakfasts which easily filled us up with a variety of buffet stations. Kimonos was really entertaining, with the chef cooking food right in front of us :-) We booked a few excursions through Sandals and Island routes and highly recommend them…Bamboo rafting down the Martha Brae(so relaxing for an hour), Sunset catamaran(friendly crew, good snorkeling and food), the Bob Marley’s birth and resting place in 9mile, inc the onsite band playing some medleys. (Though not sure on the need to try to sell us the ganga on arrival!) and the 2hr shopping trip. We did also do Dunns Falls & Blue Hole too, which were really memorable and not too busy.
The resort snorkeling was great, having booked through the watersports shack and even close by the shore we had many variety of fish swimming around us walking out from the beach!
We did use the convenient ‘hop’ to get over to the hillside a couple of times for the large pool and the French restaurant which we did enjoy too.
The only thing we felt it does need is little TLC on the bedroom floors in the beach tower, eg the carpets but that’s all. The grounds are really well kept, praise here to all who maintain them, and even the beaches were raked once or twice per day with wave patterns! There are a few cats about but they didn’t bother us.
The staff throughout the resort were amazing, so friendly, helpful and couldn’t do enough. I have to call out a few people… Davian at the entrance to Beachside, Travis at the UpperHouse Cafe, Akeem, Maxwell & Harrian at the Beach Tower bar and Odeane at the beach bar bar - You guys deserve a raise! We will be back!
Ps Don’t forget to try the daily signature cocktails and check out visit the silent disco!
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Avion P, Other at Sandals Ochi
Responded Jun 14, 2024
Thank you for celebrating your 10th Wedding Anniversary and birthday with us at Sandals, and for sharing such a detailed and positive review of your experience! We are thrilled to hear that your stay in Jamaica was your best Sandals experience yet, and that you enjoyed the stunning sea views, diverse dining options, and entertaining activities. It's wonderful to know that our team, especially Davian, Travis, Akeem, Maxwell, Harrian, and Odeane, contributed to making your stay memorable. We appreciate your feedback regarding the room floors and will certainly look into it. We look forward to welcoming you back for another amazing stay!
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This is the second time we have visited a Sandals: (1) Montego Bay and (2) Ochi. we also brought along another couple, which was their first time. We have traveled together over the years, and we convinced them to try Sandals. So far, I am impressed with the brand because everyone works very hard to make our vacation enjoyable: airport arrival, housekeeping, facility cleaning, building maintenance, grounds keeping, cooks, servers, entertainment, bartenders, spa services, and managers all work hard to please those of us privileged to travel and enjoy their country and hospitality. We already booked next year and although time moves fast as we age, we cannot wait to return and have fun and explore a new club. Jamaicans are experts at hospitality, which is why I return to the island; they make it easy because I don't wanna think! Our last booking agent conferenced called with us and the other couple. He gave us "three hours" of his time helping align our airfare to fly together as friends (old military buddies) from two different States and finding the right deal within both our budgets so we could convince our friends to visit a Sandals with us. The same couple will be returning with us next year too. Thank all of you at Sandals for your hard work, fixing the sometimes bumps in the road that do happen at times, and making vacation with you a worthwhile expense.
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Date of stay: February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Avion P, Other at Sandals Ochi
Responded 3 weeks ago
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful and detailed review! It’s wonderful to hear about your positive experiences at both Sandals Montego Bay and Ochi. It sounds like the hospitality you received from every team member made your stay truly memorable, from airport arrival to spa services. We’re so glad you were able to share this experience with friends and that your booking agent helped make the trip even more special by aligning your travel plans. We can’t wait for you to return next year and enjoy another amazing stay. Thank you for choosing Sandals, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!
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I decided to take my wife to Sandals Ochi for our 25th anniversary, her 60th birthday and my 64th birthday. I booked room that had butler service and a private pool and jacuzzi. We arrived in Jamaica on April 21st, the day before her birthday and I ordered a private driver to pick us up. This was wonderful and the driver was awesome. He made the hour and a half drive pleasant and it was fantastic. We arrived at Sandals and we were taken to the butler villa check-in and after meeting our butler Oshane, we were taken to our villa. It was nice and we loved the room we had. The problems started the next day. On my wife's birthday, she was laying out topless, enjoying the sun when there was a knock at the door. The pool people arrived and advised that they were there to clean the pool, not if they could clean the pool, but were there to clean the pool. So my wife had to get dressed and wait for two hours for the people to finish. She was really upset and this put a damper on her birthday, although our butler Oshane made up for it later.
There were several cons to go with our trip starting with issues with the toilet where it backed up three times and we were constantly having to call the front desk to have someone come over to unclog the toilets. All they needed to do was leave a plunger in the room and that would have been ok. They didn't properly address the tip situation as we were told that the only people who were tipped were the butlers. We had a private cabana and the guys adamantly told us they were part of the butler service and when we got back to our room, we asked our butler who confirmed that they are indeed part of the staff so we tipped him later when we saw him. There were times when we went out to eat and several staff members acted as if they didn't want to be there. Made for very uncomfortable evenings. Room service was a joke as we tried to get room service three times and each time, after calling on several occasions, we were told that they showed up and no one answered, finally forcing me to wait at the door until they showed up. And there were too many cats out there. My wife who is allergic to cats, joked when she was asked if she had any allergies, and she said cats, the girl checking us in bowed her head. We saw several cats on the compound and two of them tried to beat me to my door one day as I was walking back to our room.
The pros of the vacation was of course our two butlers, Oshane and Devon. Ultra professional and I would love to have then again. Kaylando at the Jerk Shack and Soy was the perfect host. Very informative about both places to eat. We took a scenic boat ride and Winston and his crew were fantastic. I would love to charter them for a boat ride around Jamaica anytime .
All in all, it was a good vacation and Sandals Ochi is a place we will visit again, but with so many Sandals out there, it maybe a while before we head back to this one. All in all, a five out of five was not possible because of the problems that we encountered but a 3 out of 5 was what we felt was the right number with all the things that went wrong.
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Date of stay: April 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Get a private butler room so that way, if anything goes wrong, they can get you some help as...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Avion P, Other at Sandals Ochi
Responded Jun 27, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your recent experience at Sandals Ochi, especially on such a momentous occasion as your 25th anniversary and your wife's 60th birthday. We are thrilled you enjoyed aspects of your stay, particularly the service provided by your butler team and another member of our on-property team. The inconveniences you encountered regarding maintenance issues in your accommodation and your cabana feedback have been noted. We truly appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention, for it is never our intention to cause undue stress, and for this, we sincerely apologize. Also, rest assured, we've shared your feedback with our management team to further improve communication issues moving forward. Additionally, we sincerely apologize for any discomfort the cat's presence caused during your stay. Sandals Ochi is designed with a beautiful open-air concept, which can make it challenging to completely prevent the cats from accessing the resort grounds. These animals are often drawn to our friendly guests, who may unknowingly provide them with food. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to further refine our approach. Most of the changes we make at the resort level are a direct result of the feedback received from our guests. We only regret that it seems the points mentioned in your review were not brought to the attention of Resort Management via GINA during your stay, as the team would have been more than happy to see that every aspect of your experience agreed with your standards. Should you have lingering concerns, please don't hesitate to write to our customer support team directly at customersupport@sandals.com. We value your feedback and hope to regain your confidence in creating unforgettable memories at Sandals in the future.
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The weather was on the chillier side and very cloudy a majority of our trip (which is obviously not the resorts fault at all) but Sandals Ochi was not prepared to entertain guests at all other than providing the ocean. There was only ONE working whirlpool on the whole resort, the paint and sip was held at a location that could not accommodate all people that wanted to participate and they also didn’t have enough easels, I cancelled my spa appointment after waiting over 20 minutes undressed past my appointment time and the staff just kept telling me they were backed up, rooms experienced flooding, and there was atrocious communication between guests and staff. My parents were randomly “upgraded” to a butler villa suite, but the staff did not inform my parents that would mean they would have to take the bus every time they wanted to go to the beach. They also had to wait an additional hour and a half to even be brought to this new room after checking in. They also upgraded them to a suite that should have came with a butler but then neglected to provide them one, this made it incredibly hard for them to get a golf cart to pick them up from their room to even get them to the bus station. Every restaurant took at least 1.5 to 2 hours to get food. This has been my second time to this exact location and after the first time I was so excited to go back, but now after this time, I will not be returning.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Avion P, Other at Sandals Ochi
Responded Dec 11, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback about your recent visit to Sandals Ochi. It was our pleasure to host you and your family, and we truly appreciate your insights, as they help us understand where we can refine the experience for our valued guests. Sandals is committed to delivering exceptional vacations, and it is always our goal to ensure that each stay is memorable for all the right reasons. We sincerely apologize for any areas of your experience that fell short of your expectations. Even in less-than-ideal weather conditions, Sandals Ochi offers a wide variety of entertainment and activities to suit every guest. While some operational challenges may arise, we recognize the importance of timely communication and smooth service to enhance your overall experience. Your observations regarding various operations around the resort have been noted, and rest assured, resort management is going to be reviewing these areas to address any inefficiencies. Additionally, we understand that timely service is an essential part of a pleasant dining experience, and we regret that delays impacted your meals during your stay. While our goal is to provide carefully prepared dishes that reflect the quality and care our guests expect, we recognize the importance of balancing this with efficient service. We are reviewing our processes to improve wait times, especially during busy periods, and to ensure guests can enjoy their meals without unnecessary delays. Your feedback plays a vital role in helping us make these enhancements. It is worth noting that upgrades and suite assignments are made with the intention of enhancing guest comfort, and we regret that the details surrounding the villa suite did not align with your expectations. We value your feedback on this matter and will use it to better inform how we communicate these changes to our guests in the future. We hope you will consider giving Sandals another opportunity to demonstrate the true standard of our service and hospitality. Should you have additional concerns or wish to discuss your stay further, our customer support team at customersupport@sandals.com is available to assist. We would love to welcome you back at a later time and provide you with the exceptional experience that defines a Sandals vacation.
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We have stayed at MANY Sandals resort, so we were excited to try Sandals Ocho Rios and add it to our list. Upon arrival in March 2024, we were immediately wowed by the sheer size of the resort. Boasting 3 different areas (upper, riviera, and beach club), the resort has a HOP bus feature that runs every 15 minutes to take you to all the areas. We stayed on the Riviera side in a club level room, which was the perfect location for us being interested in lots of beach time and scuba diving. The first few days on property, we instantly noticed how smoothly everything ran. Restaurants were efficient and quick. Drinks were always refilled. Staff were always smiling and ready to serve. It was a wonderful experience and the hotel manager definitely has everything operating well! The diving was a good time and the newer Scubapro equipment was well maintained. The boat was large and had plenty of room. The team seemed to have great communication and worked well together. This can make or break a scuba experience so we were very pleased!
We took advantage of every opportunity to get photos taken because it is rare to have us in photos together normally. We have been going to Sandals for 15 years and we like that they have upped their photography game. Those who get annoyed by it, just remember you can say "no thanks". We used to review that we wished Sandals had more photographers on property! Good to see that they are there now.
They do bring in some outside venders who set up and sell items. They were not overly pushy when told no thanks and they do have some lovely items for sale (we just have too many things).
The drive from Montego Bay is pretty long and tiresome (over 2 hours with a couple stops), but we are excited for the new Ocho Rios airport to open this year.
We had an excellent stay at Sandals Ocho Rios and already booked our next Sandals stay. We recommend this resort 100%!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Avion P, Other at Sandals Ochi
Responded Mar 17, 2024
Hello and thank you for sharing your Sandals Ochi review with us! It was a pleasure to read your review as it seems we were able to meet all of your expectations for this trip. We are delighted to note that you enjoyed our gourmet dining options along with our other amenities. We appreciate your review and are also looking forward to hosting you again soon!
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My wife and I returned to this Sandals resort after an incredible stay nine years ago. Back then, it was so exceptional that we eagerly recommended it to family and friends as one of our all-time favorite destinations. Unfortunately, our recent visit was frustrating and disappointing—it’s clear that little has been done to maintain the property over the years, and the once-magical experience has faded.
Upon arrival, we were placed in a room without hot water or internet. The front door barely opened due to warping, the outlets were damaged to the point of being unusable, and there was only a single towel for the two of us. When we reported these issues to the concierge, they confirmed that other guests had also complained about the lack of hot water and promised to resolve the problems. Instead, we endured a night in this room before being moved.
Our second room, in an adjacent villa, finally had hot water but still no internet. Despite raising the issue again, no one from IT ever followed up. On top of this, the bathroom outlets didn’t work, and water from the air conditioner was pooling by the doorway. Although staff were polite and accommodating, we were moved again.
The third room, located in the main building, initially gave us hope. It seemed newer and had hot water, working outlets, and a weak but functional internet connection. Unfortunately, on the second day, the hot water disappeared, and the water pressure was so low it felt like using a watering can.
While waiting for help in the concierge room, we noticed several other guests with similar complaints, all asking for room changes.
The staff, though generally friendly, seemed less enthusiastic and engaged compared to our last visit. Many appeared unhappy in their roles. During our previous stay, employees made an effort to remember our names and preferences, which added a personal touch to the experience. This time, that level of service was missing entirely.
It’s heartbreaking to see such a promising resort fall into disrepair. We understand that properties age, but it seems management has neglected its upkeep and allowed the charm and magic we once loved to wither away.
We truly hope the owners and management take these issues seriously and work to restore the resort to its former glory. Until then, we’ll be avoiding Sandals and Beaches properties and warning others rather than offering our previous enthusiastic recommendations.
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Avion P, Other at Sandals Ochi
Responded Dec 15, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. It was a pleasure to host you and your wife again, and we are truly grateful that you chose to return to Sandals after such a memorable visit nine years ago. At Sandals, we strive to provide our guests with exceptional experiences that create lasting memories, and it is disheartening to learn that your recent stay did not reflect the high standards you previously enjoyed. We acknowledge your concerns about the condition of the rooms, including the issues with hot water, internet connectivity, and maintenance. While it is our goal to ensure all accommodations meet the comfort and quality our guests expect, we recognize there were areas where we fell short during your stay. Your feedback serves as an important reminder of the opportunities we have to enhance the guest experience, and we have noted your comments for review. Additionally, we understand how impactful attentive service is in creating a personal and welcoming atmosphere. While we are pleased to hear that our team was polite and accommodating, we regret that the level of engagement and enthusiasm you remembered so fondly was not as evident this time. It is never our intention to make any guest feel less than valued, and we appreciate your candid observations. We would love the opportunity to connect further and ensure that your concerns are directly addressed. At this time should you have lingering concerns please reach out via customersupport@sandals.com. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts, and we hope to restore your confidence in Sandals in the future.
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We stayed for our honeymoon, paying just over £6,000 with high expectations for a luxurious and memorable experience. Unfortunately, while we created some beautiful memories, the overall experience didn’t live up to what we had hoped for.
Our journey to the resort was long, taking nearly 17 hours of travel followed by a 3-hour coach transfer. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted with a cold towel and a rum punch. However, the check-in process was frustratingly slow. Despite being told our butler would arrive shortly, we ended up waiting over an hour and a half before we finally asked to be taken to our room without them.
Our hillside room itself was modern, clean, and comfortable, aside from a broken bed, which was promptly fixed the following day. While we were satisfied with the room, we did hear from other guests that the rooms on the beachside were dated.
During our stay, we were surprised to find that there was no pool or beachside food and drink service. We had expected this at a 5-star resort, especially given the premium price. The main pool was pleasant, and we were able to find sunbeds without much trouble, though the canopy beds came at an extra cost of $65 per day. It would have been a nice touch if each guest had an allocated day to use them as they were not used! The beach was lovely, but it was challenging to find sunbeds with shade, and there were no parasols available for those in the sun.
Our butlers seemed to be juggling multiple couples at once. They were friendly and tried their best, making dinner reservations for our first few nights and arranging transport to the restaurants. However, the butler phone was unreliable, often not working or running out of battery, which made it difficult to reach them when needed. On one occasion, we requested food by the pool after seeing other guests being served, but after an hour and a half of waiting, we gave up and opted to eat at a restaurant instead. It felt like the butlers were stretched too thin to provide the level of service promised.
One of the highlights of our stay was the Rabbit Hole, a speakeasy bar with excellent entertainment and fantastic bar staff who quickly remembered our favorite drinks.
The biggest DISAPPOINTMENT was the food. As food enthusiasts, we were excited to try all the different restaurants, but we were let down by the lack of flavor and quality. Most dishes were bland and overcooked!
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Don’t book!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Avion P, Other at Sandals Ochi
Responded Nov 17, 2024
Thank you for choosing to spend your honeymoon with us. It was a pleasure having you as guests, and we're happy to hear that you were able to create lasting memories. However, we understand that certain aspects of your experience did not meet the level of luxury and comfort you had anticipated, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. Regarding the butler service, it is typical for butlers to assist more than one couple at a time based on availability, and we apologize if this led to any inconvenience during your stay. Your feedback about the check-in process and the lack of poolside and beachside service has been noted, and we’re looking into how to improve these areas. Additionally, your comments about the availability of shaded beach areas and the charge for canopy beds are valuable as we continue to assess guest experiences across the resort. While we’re glad to hear you enjoyed the Rabbit Hole bar and its entertainment, we acknowledge that the food quality did not meet your expectations. Providing a diverse and flavorful dining experience is a priority, and your feedback has been shared with our culinary team for review. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts, and we look forward to the opportunity to host you again in the future. Should you have any further concerns, please feel free to reach out to customersupport@sandals.com. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back and provide you with a more seamless and enjoyable stay in the future.
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Positives: Resort was reasonably nice looking overall. It was maintained outside for appearances constantly. Scuba trips were nice Staff is generally very friendly The photographer Michael Jackson was nice
Negatives: We almost were run over by golf carts several times on the sidewalk to our room Constant resort maintenance means constant noise. Always lawnmowers or leafblowers going. Resort is a party resort - loud music is common. Our room was pounding with bass so relaxing was not an option, even late at night some nights. Be ready to walk. Our room was up a large hill, so we had to walk up and down over and over. Supposedly golf carts were supposed to be waiting to bring us up and down, but I never saw one even once. Most of the food is extremely bland and no flavor. Breakfast is terrible. You either get the flavorless buffet where nothing is seasoned and bacon is a rock that hurts to chew or choose the french one where an omelette takes 35 minutes and is still served half raw. kelly's dockside is booked far in advance because it's the only decent food. Book immediately DO NOT eat at kimonos. It's severely overcooked and the cooks don't do any hibaci showmanship. Literally just cook food and talk to you. Sushi was completely lacking of any taste. Roll ordered was supposed to be seared tuna, but was served raw. Food consistently was served with different ingredients than the menu said. Was informed during booking that scuba goes on two dives a day. First 2 days no trips went out, then only 1 per day even though conditions were safe Be ready to be harassed if you don't book another vacation while you're there. Staff will repeatedly call your room (5 times in 20 minutes) and constantly ask you about rebooking. They don't ask or care if you're not enjoying it, it's just rebook now. Staff literally every day, and nearly all day, blocked our sidewalk with golf carts to get into our room What's the point of the turn down service, they come at 9:30, wake me up just to tidy the bed? If you don't (or can't drink) alcohol prepare to be uncomfortable. They resort is very pushy for alcohol, luckily one of the extra events they replaced the alcohol with a carbonated grape juice, but we still paid the alcohol rate. The one extra on site event (smores) we booked the server was over 30 minutes late. Photographers are annoying. I want to enjoy my vacation, leave me alone. Or at least take candids. One asked my wife to spit food into my mouth for a picture
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Beron Hurst, Other at Sandals Ochi
Responded Apr 26, 2023
We appreciate you sharing your review of Sandals Ochi with us. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to host you as a guest and for being a part of our Sandals family. Although we are thrilled to have had you on the property, it saddens us to know there may have been some aspects of your stay that were not in line with your expectations. We wish to extend our sincerest regret if there was any disruption in your family’s vacation as a result of the renovations. While we always perform renovations and redesigns to ensure that we provide the highest standard of luxury and comfort, our process is an ongoing one. To avoid a complete shutdown of service, we work in sections until each area is updated. We encourage you to visit us again in the future and experience the improvements currently being worked on. While we respect that opinions regarding food will always be subjective in nature, we are left remorseful if the meals were not up to your standard. Please note that our chefs are always willing to adjust meals to better reflect your expectations once a concern is brought to their attention. In response to your feedback, we continue to follow through with words and actions, and it is our hope that despite the circumstances surrounding this stay, you will allow us to demonstrate this during your next stay.
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We traveled to Sandals Ochi for a destination wedding in mid-January. The weather was just perfect, especially given the fact that a snowstorm was happening back at home. The resort is just beautiful and the staff was excellent in every way. The rooms were very clean and the food and drinks were fantastic. Loved the pina coladas!! Romerio, our entertainment coordinator was so much fun to be around. He really made a difference in making sure we all had the best time possible. The entertainers at night in the piano bar and amphitheater were so incredibly talented and we were all amazed at the ability of these singers. The wedding itself was truly magical! I highly recommend this resort and hope to go back someday. The only issue is the bus trip from Montego Bay Airport to Ochi Rios. They tell you it is a 1 1/2 hour ride, but they stop midpoint so the guests can shop, use the bathroom, etc. This added another 45 minutes to the bus trip when the only thing you want to do is get to the resort. Sandals should spend the money to have buses equipped with bathrooms so this stop can be eliminated.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Beron Hurst, Other at Sandals Ochi
Responded Jan 30, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful experience at Sandals Ochi following the destination wedding you attended in mid-January. We are delighted to hear that the weather, resort, staff, rooms, food, and drinks all contributed to making your stay exceptional. It's heartwarming to know that Romero and the entertainment team, as well as the performers at the piano bar and amphitheater, left a positive impression and added to the enjoyment of your time at the resort. We will make sure to share your kind words with them. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the bus trip from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios. Your suggestion about having buses equipped with bathrooms to eliminate the midpoint stop is valuable, and we will consider it as we continually strive to enhance the overall guest experience. Thank you for choosing Sandals Ochi for such a special occasion, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another memorable stay. If there's anything specific you'd like to share or plan for your next visit, please feel free to reach out to our team.
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"We used Kemar Smile with inside tours Jamaica got our private transport and a local day out excursion. I highly recommend inside tours for all of your needs. "
There are more places to choose from in the Ocho Rios area.
PRICE RANGE
C$576 - C$988 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sandals grande riviera beach & villa golf hotel ocho rios, sandals grande riviera beach and villa golf resort, sandals ocho rios, ciboney ocho rios
LOCATION
CaribbeanJamaicaSaint Ann ParishOcho Rios
NUMBER OF ROOMS
523
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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