With many Canadians heading down south for the Winter, we love hearing all the great stories from everyone about their experiences at various resorts. Our Travel Expert Leslie Villeneuve recently spent some time at the beautiful Sandals Royal Plantation property in Ochos Rios, Jamaica and shares her highlights from the trip:
My vacation began upon descending in to Montego Bay where my boyfriend and I were both directed to the Sandals lounge to wait for our transfers. With complimentary drinks and snacks, the airport lounge gave us a glimpse at the luxury and service that was waiting for us at the resort.
Upon arrival, we were greeted in the lobby by our designated butler who gave us a heartfelt welcome. After check-in, we were given more drinks and taken on a tour of the resort before heading to our room. The tour showed how truly spectacular the grounds are. The resort has a rainforest-esque feel with lush surrounding forests and welcomed seclusion from the real world.
When we were finally reached the room, the luxurious surroundings continued! The beautiful mahogany bed and furniture, double bathroom sinks, huge walk in closet and of course a fully stocked bar fridge was just the extravagance we were looking for. Now remember, if you don’t feel like unpacking, get your butler to do it! The butler is only a phone call away if you ever need anything he hasn’t already fulfilled; he will treat you like royalty. Perhaps this is why British royalty have chosen this spot to vacation.
The first night we had a lovely dinner on the terrace beneath the breathtaking stars. When we finally decided to retire to our room for the evening we were stunned to find our bed, covered in fresh flowers, pleasantly laid out. The display was so perfect we didn’t want to touch it!
In hopes of preserving the art on our bed, we ventured off to the Wobbly Peacock. This place is where it’s at. Andre, the pianist, knows every song you could ever think of! He was outstandingly talented, leaving us in awe. We also had the privilege of meeting the General Manager Peter, who exuded charm to his very core. He is so proud of Royal Plantation, his staff and expressed his honor of having any guest join him at the resort! The rest of the night was spend mingling, dancing and partying with seasoned guests, newcomers and staff alike.
With the resort being comfortably small, you never have to fight for a spot near the pool. In fact, a lot of the time we found ourselves alone and able to enjoy the amenities without any bother. The resort has an air of relaxation that trickles down from the staff and property to guests. The service, location and overall experience of the resort has couples coming back time and time again. In fact one couple we had met had come every year for the past 12 years! Loyalty like that is only found with exceptional service.
I couldn’t complete this blog without taking time to talk about the meals. The taste, presentation, portion size and quality of each meal exceeded my expectations as a self-proclaimed foodie.
Most of the pictures we took while at the resort was actually of the food. Room service is just as exceptional with the table settings and service right in your very own room.
My overall experience at the Sandals Royal Plantation will be one of my fondest vacations ever. I have traveled to many different Caribbean Islands and Jamaica will definitely be the island I would love to call my “Caribbean Home”. It was an emotional good bye to so many wonderful people who work so hard to excel in amazing service. Sandals…have done it again and I thank you for that!!
Ready to start planning your Sandals vacation? Leslie can be reached online, in-store, or by calling 1-866-991-5585.