Trying to narrow down my choices for a June honeymoon. Couples in Ocho Rios/Negril compared to Sandals Dunn's River. There is a huge price difference. I am wondering if Sandals is worth the extra money. Anyone ever stay at either resort? Which type of room? Activities? Excursions? Food? Drinks? Atmosphere? Any insight would be helpful. Thanks.

if you go further down this list of topics you will find other posts on both couples resorts an* sandals by other travelers. Couples also has a website www.couples.com

My husband & I stayed at the Sandals Ocho Rios last July on vacation. If price is a factor, this Sandals Resort was cheaper than the Sandals Dunns River. The resort provides complimentary transportation between the two properties (about 10 minutes away from each other). The Ocho Rios property definitely had a "fun" atmosphere. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and the staff was great. Everyone was so friendly. We scuba dive, which is included in the price, so it helps to justify the cost. The food was good with several restaurants to choose from. We dined at Dunns River one night. That resort seemed more upscale, but the Ocho Rios resort was nice.

Couples....all the way. For many reasons.
Call 1-800-Couples and you will get their most recent brochure. From the Hot tubs for two in the Jungle (wine and wine glasses are provided at the bar) to the 5 restaurants (no reservations required) to the deluxe treatment, and the Nude Island (optional and it's a boat ride (1 minute) from the resort. If you require more information email me (I've been there twice) and I would be happy to let you know.
Janette

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Hello,
We were married at Sandals Ocho Rios on Feb 10th, and I was wondering if you want to compare notes-


Very rushed meeting with the wedding coordinator when we arrived at the resort--rushing to pick music,flowers. etc.) Not organized-not detail oriented--
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I was very dissapointed in the photos- which we paid $140.00 extra to have a package of 13 taken. They all were dark~!!
The photographer and wedding coordinator said it was the lab.......I will take the negatives to a lab today to see what they say- but I don't think it's the lab....I studied photography in college- and the pictures are terrible!!!

Also, the video was very poor quality- my voice was cut off in part of the video, and the rest of the video you could not hear the voices of the minister my husband and myself
-Granted- we were married on the gazebo on the water- yet they should have adjusted their microphones! We cannot re-create the moment

The other dissapointment was that the whole ceremoney, "reception" and photography was very rushed-
The ceremoney was at 4:00- the best part was the ministers' words, then we were wisked away quickly to a reception area - we sat down and then the wedding coordinator orchestrated the cutting of the cake- the champagne toast, the dance quickly...then the photographer said he wanted to take photos-(photos should have been taken first!!!!.
I think we were in the reception area for a whole 1/2 hour-( The whole thing was not the typical "slow jamaican way".... our wedding was the most rushed part of our trip

I thought that after the photos were taken, we would be able to go back to the reception area, and have some drinks, yet they had already cleared everything away. I was very mad but blew it off in anticipation of the "great photos and video" we would be getting--

I was expecting great photography- a great video- The experience was fine, but not as great as it should have been, or as they advertised-

I called Sandals customer service when we returned, ( 4 days ago) , yet no return call-
I plan on writing to "Butch" the owner to complain and get a refund of the wedding fee and photography fee..

I have been to "Couples" in Ocho Rios several years ago, and wish we would have gone there to get married.
The only reason I didn't choose this resort was because I had been there with a different person, and thought it would be tacky-
I am glad they are opening a Couples in Negril- because that is where we plan to go next.
The service- just everything at Couples was perfect-I have not one complaint about Couples- It is fun and very elegant-best service!

Sandals always has something to sell you- and not all of the employees are friendly-

To top it off, two nights before we left- our room had no hot water- and the water was brown- When I called they said they were fixing the hot water heater-and did not accomodate us to take showers in another room- as they said they were booked.

We got a decent rate for Sandals -$1,200. pp including air- Thank god we didn't pay more-
The only positive I can say is that they did upgrade us to a grande lux room when we first arrived ( when I asked for a complimentary room upgrade)
(But all the rooms at Couples are more elegant and romantic- Sandals rooms are very plain and lower end-the bathrooms were run down as well-)

Yet , when we arrived at sandals- some received champagne-some didn't- very unorganized-I didn't get offered champagne- It was like herding cattle at Sandals- Couples takes more time for individual attention-

Couples was much more friendy- much better service- just better--

I do not recommend Sandals to anyone- Do yourself a favor and go to Couples- they do not advertise like Sandals- but they are 100 time better-

My neighbors were married at Couples, and their wedding video was awsome compared to ours- Couples really took time to make everything in their wedding perfect--
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Thanks,
Lynn in MI
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