Sandals Negril

Sandals Negril sits directly on the widest part of Jamaica's Seven Mile Beach, on Norman Manley Boulevard, a scenic drive of forty five miles from Sangster International Airport at Montego Bay. It is adults only and built for couples, and everything is all inclusive, from meals and premium spirits to the stocked minibar in the room and the water sports on the sand. The pace is deliberately unhurried, and the beach does most of the work.

Nineteen room categories run across three levels, Sandals Luxury, Club Sandals and Butler Elite. Crystal Lagoon Suites, Skypool Suites and Millionaire Suites sit at the top of the range, with swim up, walkout, penthouse and two storey layouts below them. Tranquility Soaking Tubs, private pools, balconies or patios and in room bars appear in the higher grades. Views take in beachfront, oceanfront, oceanview, pool or tropical garden, and room service runs to the door.

Scuba diving runs through the PADI programme with equipment and instruction provided, and kayaks, sailboats, windsurfers, paddleboards, glass bottom boats, waterskiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, tubing and snorkelling all launch from the sand. On land there is tennis by day and night, pickleball, squash, beach volleyball, basketball, bocce, croquet, lawn chess, table tennis and pool tables. Evenings bring live music and parties along the beach and around the pool.

An adult pool sits at the centre of the resort with a swim up bar and poolside bar service, and several suites come with a private pool of their own. Red Lane Spa handles the treatments, from full body, foot and head massage to facials and couples treatments, with its own changing rooms, a sauna and a salon alongside. The fitness centre runs Life Fitness equipment and puts on group classes and aerobics through the week.

Eight restaurants cover the resort. Bayside works as an open air buffet by day and turns French Italian by night, Sundowner serves island dishes from a seaside cottage, Kimonos does teppanyaki at the table and Barefoot by the Sea takes the seafood. Bella Napoli Pizzeria turns out Neapolitan pizza, La Perla goes Latin and Brava goes Spanish. Six Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks wines and Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee come as standard, and a Culinary Concierge Desk handles dietary requirements.

Negril spreads along the coast beyond the gate, and Rick's Cafe draws a crowd at dusk. Island Routes runs a river walk through Mayfield Falls, along with a catamaran cruise to Floyd's Pelican Bar, a reggae sunset sail and swimming with dolphins. Back on the resort, fire pits and secluded corners give couples somewhere quiet to end the evening. Airport transfers are arranged both ways.