Sandals are running great special and i feel you wont have any problem finding a resort for under $5000. We have been to quite a few of them email me with your specifics you are looking for and i will help you with everything i can.

Antigua. The pool is nice. We liked grabbing pizza and nachos on the way back to our room and enjoyed all of the restaurants. The town is safe. When we were there, Kimono's had an employee named 'Sugar' that had us rolling on the floor. We have been to Mo Bay, Bahama's, Antigua and St. Lucia and this was the most interesting.

Sandal's Negril - Jamaica. Not sure whether it's the absolute best or not but it was great for our honeymoon. Don't go to Sandal's Dunn's River. We went there as well--there's no beach to speak of as it's fenced off to keep out the peddlers.

Kim, you have been to SO many Sandals. Why can't you just explain which are your favorites (and why) and let us ALL know, instead of "private email"? That way, you would help lots of folks!

Thanks to all who replied.

We really have three favorites; Sandals Negril, Halycon and Antigua. They all offer a tropical and romantic atmsophere, have nice beaches (Antigua and Negril more so then Halycon) and just really found them to be very relaxing and beautiful resorts.

To keep costs down, Jamaica is going to be the cheaper island to stay at. Air is always cheaper there but there are now alot of good packages out there. There are also many good travel specialists that dealonly in Sandals and offer prices far lower then going through a traditional travel agent. We have always paid under $5000 but we also go in the off season (April and beyond).

Another tip - in both Antigua and Halycon you can really book the lowest room category and be very happy. All the rooms below concierge at these resorts are really the same and all in the gardens, which are beautiful. Not a single bad room location at either. Even the only concierge suite at Halycon is really no different then the other rooms - just four feet larger and with a bar. Really can save alot of money at these resorts booking lower room categories. Concierge service is a nice perk but basically all you get is a bar (and there are soooooo many on the resorts!) and people to book reservations for you.

At the Sandals in Jamaica - booking lowest room really depends on the resort and the location.

If you need further help, just feel free to ask or email. I do have sites that offer picatures and reviews as well as travel agents we ahe used and been very happy with.

Penney

You should also look into Beaches Royal Plantation in Jamaica. It's not "couples only", but it is adults only. It's also only 80 rooms, so it's very private. I really don't like going to large hotels where the service is so generic. At BRP, the servers know your name, what you drink, and provide very personal service. I got a good deal for week including airfare and spa treatments for like $3500.

Where did you get a price that low for BRP?

Ok, first off I have been to Sandals Negril, Sandals St.Lucia, Sandals Royal Bahamian, Dunns River and Royal Caribbean on a Day passes. Sandals Negril has been our favorite, St.Lucia and the Royal Bahamian run a close second. Negril for its Beach and the Jamaican people are the best. St.Lucia for the pools, food and the tropical lush green landscape. Royal Bahamian is a beautiful resort and the staff is great, and the water is so blue and clear. The weather in Feb was not as warm in the bahamas as we would have liked, so farther south for us. We too have always pd below $5000 for 7 days.

Thanks Kim!

Penney, my son and his girlfriend were going to the Royal Plantation next week and there total price was $2300 for the best suite . They cancelled because they dont feel safe after the Sept 11 attack.
The price was a great deal. They had booked the trip in Sept before the attack.

That really is an excellent price because as of late, the prices seem to start around $2000 per/person with air from Newark. That is why we have not considered it - to0 rich for our blookd this year with renting a place this summer in SC.

That really is an excellent price because as of late, the prices seem to start around $2000 per/person with air from Newark. That is why we have not considered it - too rich for our blood this year with renting a place this summer in SC.

Hi Helena- I've been to Sandals and this year to Beaches Royal Plantation- it's just wonderful btw. My question to you is what type of activities do you like? Royal Plantation is a more sophisticated crowd with few activities while when we were at Sandals everyone seemed to be between 20-35 (some exceptions of course) with pool activities like beer drinking contests and reggae dance lessons. Two different places- decide which is more like you.