If you’ve been avoiding all-inclusive resorts because of an underwhelming college experience you had nearly two decades ago, it’s time to let it go. Hospitality brands like Sandals Resorts International (the parent company of the couples-centric Sandals Resorts and family-focused Beaches Resorts) have made it a central part of their corporate mission to change the polarizing term’s perception in the public’s eye.
Properties like Beaches Negril are proving that you can have an all-inclusive experience while leaving out none of the high-end expectations. The lovely Jamaica property offers modern accommodations, a host of quality restaurants and bars, and a banana boat full of onsite activities for the whole crew.
After experiencing the resort, we’ve pinpointed three things that will have you considering a last-minute Labor Day escape or planning a Christmas getaway.
The Rooms
The beloved children’s show Sesame Street has a big presence at Beaches Negril. Images of Grover can be seen on signage. There’s a kid-friendly cooking class with Cookie Monster. You might even see Abby Cadabby pass right by you at the lunch buffet. But once you get to the rooms, it’s a different story. Units have coral-colored carpets and wooden trundle beds. There’s marble all over the bathroom and Robert Mondavi wines on the counter. Elmo and Ernie? More like elegant and elevated.
With one of the newest overnight options in the Eventide Penthouse Collection, the bar is raised even higher. The three- and four-bedroom suites are not only huge (10 people can comfortably sleep on all the beds and couches here), but they’re handsomely outfitted with exposed-beam ceilings, hardwood floors and cool coastal furnishings.
Because of the thoughtful layout — there’s a primary bedroom on one side and two smaller bedrooms with their own bathrooms on the other — you can send the kids and their phones elsewhere but still centrally meet in the living room or kitchen when room service arrives or when it’s time to play Jenga. And if you’re missing anything, the suite comes with a device for texting the attentive butler 24 hours a day during your stay.
Another plus of the Eventide units is the convenience to the beach. Simply walk out of one of your three patio exits onto a terrace that leads directly to a private cabana with a cooler that’s filled with local beers and Fruta juices. Set up a candlelight dinner on the sand and be treated to a remarkable spread of meats, lobster and grilled vegetables that your family will talk about for months.
The Dining
Scotchies has the best jerk chicken in Jamaica. Rather than compete with that cherished Montego Bay restaurant, Beaches Negril’s Jerk Shack serves its own take on the beloved national staple and the semi-spicy results are mostly delicious. You might wish there were a few more sides accompanying the chicken (wait, no rice and peas?), but as a quick bite, it’s one of the winners from the lineup of nearly 20 dining and drinking options on property.
Café de Paris (a crepe and coffee shop) and Green Machine (a salad-serving food truck) are a couple spots you wouldn’t automatically associate with a Caribbean resort, but they prove surprisingly good places to fuel up during a draining day in the sun.
When it’s time to ditch the swim trunks for spiffy linens, two other restaurants stand out — Kimonos and Yaku. The former is a traditional hibachi-style eatery, but something about the jumbo shrimp, seared mahi mahi and fried rice tastes a little better than usual when it comes from a spirited chef who’s putting on a show with the spatula.
You don’t see much of the cooks at the stylish, yarn-art-hanging Yaku, but their dishes say plenty. You can’t go wrong with anything off the Peruvian menu, but do yourself a favor and order the snapper ceviche and juicy beef skewers. You’ll not only be amazed at how fresh everything tastes, but you’ll be shocked at how quickly others at the table reach their fork in your plate’s direction.
The Activities
Like any self-respecting waterfront property, Beaches Negril offers windsurfing, kayaking and scuba diving — and yes, it’s all included in your rate. There’s also the incredible Pirates Island Waterpark that has fast slides, a lazy river and plenty of water fun for the little ones.
But on those days you don’t feel like getting wet, ship the tweens to the game lounge, head to Red Lane Spa for a Himalayan salt stone massage or connect with the concierge about one of the off-site tours. There are countless ways to spend the day at Beaches Negril.
The Negril resort also shines around the holidays. During Easter, for example, the property was hopping with activations. There was an egg hunt so massive that you needed GPS to find all of the treats. For Labor Day, we’d be surprised if an elaborate barbecue on the beach wasn’t in the plans. And though there won’t be a speck of snow in Jamaica’s December forecast, the luxury all-inclusive hotel will still be decked out in Christmas cheer and the calendar will be teeming with holiday happenings.
Another Beaches Negril treat is the yoga. Sure, you’ve heard of resorts incorporating paddleboards or even goats into their sessions, but Sesame Street Sunrise Yoga might top them all. While sun salutations start out basic enough, a few minutes into the class, Elmo, Zoe or one of the other characters will join you on the mat and start stretching, too. After 30 to 40 minutes of deceptively challenging moves, the special guest will offer a hug and skip off to the next appointment. Like with the rest of the resort, it’s just enough Sesame Street to be cute without ever feeling kitschy.
