Sandals has knocked it out of the park with their newest resort – Sandals Dunn’s River in Jamaica. This resort is the 17th resort for the brand and my personal favorite by far. It is fresh and new, and the food is phenomenal. The entertainment is fabulous, the pools are inviting and the beach is perfect. Located close to the famous Dunn’s River Falls, this resort captures the essence of Jamaica. The wood and water theme is beautifully inviting and refreshing to the Sandals brand.
Disclaimer: We visited as part of a group trip to the property. And while we do receive a discount as a travel agent, we paid for our visit. As always, all opinions are our own.
Newest resort in Jamaica
Sandals was born in Jamaica so it only makes sense that 7 of their 17 resorts are in Jamaica. The property’s location was hand picked by the founder of Sandals long ago for its pristine beach and its close proximity to Jamaica’s spectacular natural wonder.
Now, completely reimagined and reinvented, the resort returns to the Sandals family as their newest resort. They are calling it Sandals 2.0 because it is all new and so different from anything Sandals has done before.
Arrive into and depart out of Jamaica in style
with Club Mobay & Club Kingston’s VIP lounges!
What’s different about Sandals Dunn’s River?
There are so many things that make this resort different from all the rest. The biggest one for me was the food. We will dive deeper into that in just a bit.
The pools and river pools are fabulous. Not only are they beautiful, but the layout and design make them spacious so they never feel crowded. There also seemed to be more things to do during the day. I know this is not for everyone but I really enjoyed having the options available.
My favorite activity was the sip and swirl painting class. This activity took place mid day at the Laughing Waters bar above the pools. There was a saxophonist playing, the breeze was blowing, the painting supplies were provided, the bar was open and we had the best time. It was nice to have options during the day along with the entertainment at night.
Focus on Food
If you have read many of our blogs then you know we are a family of foodies. Many of our travels revolve around food. After traveling to all of the Sandals Resorts over the last few years I had reached the point I could tell you what was on every menu at every restaurant. Not that it wasn’t good but every resort pretty much has the same restaurants. Except for the 2 resorts in Barbados and the second newest one in Curacao.
However, Sandals Dunn’s River has 12 all new restaurants. I can’t tell you how excited I was to try them all and they did not disappoint. The food truly is 5 star global gourmet.
Restaurants
My two favorite restaurants at Sandals Dunn’s River are Hanami (sushi) and Zuka (latin fusion). We literally travel the world to experience the best sushi there is at Buddha Bars and I have to say this sushi ranks as some of the best. It was so fresh and different than the sushi served at Soy – the sushi restaurant at other Sandals Resorts.
Edessa (Greek) was my next favorite followed by Banyu (Asian). Saltaire is the international and Caribbean restaurant serving a buffet for breakfast and lunch. I am never impressed by a buffet and usually reserve it as a last resort but this one was different. There are stations in addition to the buffet and the cuisine changes daily.
My favorite lunch option was the salad station where the salads are made fresh to order.
Dunn’s Rum Club
Many of the Sandals Resorts have a pub such as the Tipsy Turtle in Grenada, the Drunken Duck in Exuma, Cricketers in St Lucia, or the Rabbit Hole at Ochi. But the Dunn’s Rum Club at Sandals Dunn’s River is completely different. It opens at 5pm each day making it the perfect place to meet before dinner. The atmosphere is laid back and inviting. We were celebrating a friends birthday during our trip and this was the perfect place to do so.
New to rum and don’t know what to order? They have curated speciality flights to allow guests to experience the sweetest to the spiciest. And don’t worry, the food menu is just as amazing as the drink menu offering upscale tapas items perfect for sharing. Need a late night snack before bed? They are open until 2am.
Sandals Dunn’s River : The Property
The footprint of Sandals Dunn’s River property is perfect to me. It is not massive like some of the resorts we have been to, where you have to walk great distances to get from point A to point B. It is laid out in such a way that it never feels crowded.
We were there when the resort was near max capacity and never felt congested. Most of the restaurants, entertainment and pools are centrally located and beachfront. It sounds crazy to say but it really fells like a small resort with a lot of space.
The Pools and Pool Area
The design and layout of the 3 pools and 2 river pools really make sense. They are all beachfront and stretched out in a way to provide guests with ample space. The glass wall and infinity design are gorgeous and give the resort a more modern look. The swim up bar quickly became a hit with our group as we spent much time here. The extended design also provides a generous amount of space for lounge chairs so there was never trouble finding some available.
The Rooms at Sandals Dunn’s River
The rooms are also improved at Sandals Dunn’s River. Not just in decor but in layout and size. We stayed in the TB Travertine Beachfront Club Level room and it was larger than some butler suites I have stayed in at other resorts. The wood accents, carried over from the rest of the resort, are the perfect addition to the decor.
This resort also has the first sky pool suites in Jamaica along with many butler level options that are a first for the Sandals brand. One of which is the Coyaba Sky Villa that is a swim up Rondoval suite with a private rooftop area and private pool. Many first for Sandals in this 2.0 resort.
Events at Dunn’s River Sandals
Our first trip to Sandals Dunn’s River was a group trip with many private events. There were so many options for group spaces and activities. Our group enjoyed a private cocktail party at sunset the day we arrived and a private dinner on the beach on our final evening. The possibilities are endless here.
This would be the perfect location for a destination wedding or any group event. The groups department on site was very helpful in planning exactly what we wanted for our group.
NEW: Sandals Dunn’s River
Sandals Dunn’s River really does take the best of the Sandals brand and elevate it. It bodes well for any future resorts they open, as we approve of these new 2.0 features! As I’ve said, the food is an absolute stand out, and we can’t wait to go back and eat more.
If you want to enjoy the stunning new Sandals Dunn’s River, contact us today.
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