This will be a very extensive review, but I think VERY helpful to anyone planning a trip to the Inn. So you know, this was our 3rd stay at a Sandals resort. Our first stay was in the Bahamas & was our FIRST trip alone overseas... that was in Dec. 2004. In Dec. 2006, we returned to a Sandals resort, but chose the Royal here in Montego Bay. We came that time with our brother & sister in law & thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. This trip was alone & again we had a great time! Here’s my summary… just an opinion, but things you might want to know before going!J

Pros:
1) The Staff is #1!!!! We enjoyed the staff at this property more than any of our other trips! From the general manager, Cheryl, to the staff, waiters, playmakers, spa employees, everyone…. all of them are TOPS!!! From the moment you get there, you will be treated wonderfully & they remember you every time they see you. By the 4th day, the guy at the entrance even had our room number memorized. They're all fabulous & I can't say enough about the friendliness. I appreciated that most about this resort. The SRB & SRC resorts are nice, but you seemed to get lost among the many other guests there.

2) Quick service at the bar..... Because the Inn is smaller, you don't have to wait long in line to be noticed. They are quick & ready to serve. They interact with the guest well too. It was nice to have Mark & Guion sit with us & chat a few nights. You don’t get that at the larger resorts.

3) Returning guest extras. Because we were returning guests, we attended the Tues. night dinner with only 3 other couples. The food was some of the best we had all week & Mark/Lisa ate with us & got to know us. It's a GREAT night ... make sure you don't miss it! Also, we got a FREE bottle of run & 2 “sandals necklaces”. They also gave us an EXCELLENT room upgrade. We were in room 311... top/center of the resort. NICE!:)

4) Low cost. This resort is the least expensive & b/c you can go to other resorts, you get 3 for the price of one & can save LOTS of money!!!!

5) Spa service. I had a pedicure & it was SOOO relaxing. The Spa girls are awesome! The spa is MUCH smaller than the other ones, but it’s nice to go into a small room where it’s air conditioned & they have the lights low/candles burning & give you special service. I was the ONLY one in the spa during my treatment & it was VERY relaxing. Michelle – you did an EXCELLENT job!

Cons:
There aren't too many, but for some, these may affect your decision.
1) No swim-up bar... you have to actually walk to get your drinks/food:) lol Not too bad, but something you might want to know. There were quite a few times when the playmakers would come around & take drink orders. That happened quite regularly. That NEVER happened at the Royal or SMB… so, I guess that part is a “Pro”!J

2) Breakfast/Food. The other 2 resorts in Montego Bay have excellent breakfast buffets. At the Inn, I'd recommend ordering your food off the menu. The buffet is mostly muffins/cereal/fruit and they are uncovered. I'd recommend they consider covering them b/c the doors are open & there are flies/gnats around. Our best b'fast was the day we got the 9:30 shuttle to SMB & ate their buffet. Very nice & they keep everything covered! You CAN order room service at the Inn, but I'd recommend requesting it BEFORE you want it. We asked for 8:00 -8:30 & it got there at 9am. No biggie b/c we weren’t in a hurry or on a schedule ... just something to think about. I think with the Inn being smaller, it’s a bit more difficult for them to estimate how much food they will need & so I don’t fault them for some of the food issues. However, not covering food kept out in the “open air” shouldn’t be an issue.

3) Beach. There is only a public beach here. It can get noisy sometimes (mainly on weekends). We brought a small travel fan & between that, the ceiling fan, & a/c, we didn't hear a thing & slept VERY soundly! I did see a few Sandals guests wander out there in the early morning hours (7-9 am) & it was pretty quiet over there. BUT I never saw a tourist over there w/o having a Jamaican approach them. So, just be aware. We chose to spend most of our time at SMB or SRC when we wanted to be on a beach. We also spent a couple days at the INN just lounging by the pool & playing pool volleyball... fun, fun!

4) Air conditioning. It does shut off when you leave the room. We had friends who tried to find a way to “trick” the door & keep their A/C on, but it didn’t work. The rooms do stay quite cool compared to the hallways, though. So, when you come back, they will be cooler than the hall/outdoors. We liked to go on the balcony & sit, but wanted the room to be cool when we came back in. So, we kept the right door closed (the one with the sensor on it) & used the left door to get in/out. Then, the a/c stayed on while we were out thereJ. Nothing major for us, but something to note.

All in all, I think b/c we did our research & knew what to expect, we felt the Inn was just what we wanted for this trip -- less expensive, access to other resorts, personal service, and VERY friendly!!! I do realize why others might be a bit disappointed if expecting a grand hotel or something of that nature. The Inn IS older, you will have flies/gnats around if you eat outside at ANY of the resorts. The only TOTALLY inside restaurants (a/c & no doors opened to the outside) are the Oleander (SMB) & the Cricketer’s Pub (SRC). DO bring plenty of bug spray & use it on your legs EVERY afternoon/evening no matter which resort you will be at in the evening (even if you think you won’t need it). My husband didn’t use any & had quite a few bites. This is more of a concern at the Inn b/c of the vegetation on the grounds – I used the spray in the evenings, but not 1 Sunday afternoon & was outside after it rained. I got most of my bites that afternoon just sitting & talking in the amphitheater. I didn’t have much of a problem in Dec. at the Royal.

OH – about the excursions…. this has NOTHING to do with the Inn, but I would NOT suggest the Dreamer Cruise to anyone staying at a Sandals property. For $70/person, they took us ½ mile off shore & circled around for ½ hour (we could still see the dock – it was within swimming distance!). Then we went snorkeling (free at Sandals) for about ½ hour. Then, there was an open bar (again, free at Sandals). There was NO food/lunch included on the cruise (which is what we thought was included). After not eating all day, I wasn’t about to start having drinks. They take you to Margaritaville (which is a 2 minute cab ride from the Inn – you could probably walk there if you wanted to) & you can order food or drinks to go (but then again, you have to pay for the food). On the way back, we got to listen to “party” music & watch 250 lb women pole dance & bump/grind with the captain. Not a very pretty sight. All in all, we thought it was a BIG waste of our money. I’d have much rather went to Negril with Dalton or even Dunn’s River. Those would have shown us the other Sandals properties & we’d have gotten something for our money. HUGE waste of time AND money -- Just beware!

You do see/hear planes at this resort, but it is on the "arrival" side (or west side) of the airport. You see planes landing (the landing strip begins in the ocean just off of the Sandals Inn shoreline). However, it's fun to see them land, and they aren't nearly as loud as at SMB where they are taking off. SMB is to the east of the airport & when the planes take off, they are pretty loud. You get used to it, though.

I guess that's all I can think of. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions. We made a lot of great friends while we were there -- We hope to see them all again sometime at the INN. I HIGHLY recommend the Inn to anyone! If you’re planning a trip, Go-relax-enjoy!!

When looking for a place to spend my honeymoon I found this site. I noticed that Sandals Inn was currently ranked #1 overall (now its ranked #2) and began to read the reviews. I then visited the Sandals website and discovered that Sandals Inn is about half the price of the other Sandals resorts. So I booked it:P Anyways....to make a long story short we stayed at Sandals Inn for 5 days and it was amazing! I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting a quiet, laid back vacation or honeymoon stay at Sandals Inn. We found ourselves visiting Royal Caribbean and Sandals Montego Bay in the mornings and staying there for lunch at one of their grills but we always headed back to the Inn for a quiet dinner at their beautiful poolside open-air restaurant. Have fun!

We had the time of our lives! Throughly enjoyed visiting Sandals Negril. Had a great time snorkeling, thanks to a very funny and entertaining staff (Toby and Macky!) We can't wait to come back!!!

As many before us have stated in their reviews, the Sandals Inn is simply the best when it comes to making you feel at home. The staff are all eager to serve and please, calling us by name and asking often about our vacation. The pool is as beautiful as any at any of the Sandals properties in Montego Bay, but with a more serene atmosphere. Fewer guests means fewer pool side entertainment events, so you are left to the sunshine and the refreshing waters. The only caution I would offer about Sandals Inn is the quality of the food. The twice-a-
week evening buffet at the Bay Window should really be avoided. The food was over cooked, and often dry. Breakfast each morning at the Bay Window was of an average quality--stomach filler to get you on your way for the day. We ate at the reservation-only Carlyle one evening, and it was unremarkable. From your table, you watch the band set up for the evening entertainment in the adjoining ampitheater, and you are within earshot of the laughter and conversations going on at the nearby bar. Better to get your reservations for the restaurants at Sandals Montego Bay and Royal Caribbean. We enjoyed several great dining experiences at those properties. The "stay at one, play at three" policy provided us with all the fun offered at the larger Sandals resorts, while enjoying the savings and homey atmosphere of Sandals Inn. All in all, a wonderful time, and with the attentive service, we will no doubt return.