Sandals Dunns River

Thank You to the Sandals Wedding Team To the entire Sandals wedding team, Thank you so much for helping make the Campbell’s wedding experience truly unforgettable. From start to finish, we felt the effort, care, and dedication everyone put into making our special day amazing. A special thank you to Toni-Ann for our pre-wedding tour and bringing the vibes from the very beginning. A huge shoutout to Javel for going above and beyond, bringing our detailed vision to life, and making everything happen. Our butlers, Kim and Rock-Wayne, were amazing and took great care of us. The photo and video team captured our special moments beautifully, and the catering team did a fantastic job. Shoutout to Derrick the barber and our DJ for keeping the experience going, and to the Rum Club dancers and bartenders for knowing how to build a vibe! Special shoutout to Hensue for holding it down and keeping the whole family entertained. To everyone who played a part, big or small, thank you for helping make our dream a reality! With sincere appreciation and love, The Campbell’s Read less

We recently had our honeymoon at Dunns River and it was an absolute dream! We were so pleased to be greeted with smiles from everyone working there each day, especially sweet Amelia who worked so hard all week to make sure we had an amazing experience on the beach. She served us each day, as well as the entire beach front, with a nonstop work ethic and positive attitude. We also had an amazing experience with our favorite bartender Hensue, as he chatted with us each night and prepared phenomenal drinks. He provided local favorite suggestions and enhanced our experience at the bar! Overall this trip was a 1000/10 experience and we can’t wait to come back! Read less

My wife and I spent 11 days at Sandals Dunn’s River, and we had the most amazing time from the moment we arrived to the morning we (sadly) departed. Our room was comfortable and had a great view, the food was far and away better than any all inclusive that we’ve ever been to, the beach was gorgeous, but more than anything it was the people that made our vacation truly special. We went with the Club Mobay VIP service at the airport. Not sure how necessary it is on arrival, because we ended up waiting a while for bags after making it quickly through passport control, but I’m sure it all depends on how many flights arrive all at the same time. We were able to hang out in the Club Mobay arrivals lounge and have some snacks before getting on the bus to head to the resort. For us, it’s worth it, especially on departure from Jamaica. The expedited security screening and included food and drinks at the departure lounge help make it a little less painful when leaving paradise. The ride to the resort was on a large coach-style bus. Very comfortable, A/C blasting, and enough room for everyone to spread out. Took about an hour and forty five minutes to get to the resort, with 10-minute pit-stop for anyone that needed to use the restroom. When we got to the resort, there was a warm welcome with a cool towel, a cold drink, and many friendly faces. We booked a Club-level room in the Travertine building. The room was spacious, had a large closet and dresser with plenty of space to unpack. The safe in the closet easily fit our laptops, tablets, and the other small things we wanted kept away. The walk-in shower was a dream. The window in the shower was similar to what we’ve seen in Europe, where it can either fully open sideways, or crack open from the top, depending on how far you turn the latch. The double vanity was huge and well-lit. The view from our balcony was incredible. Insider tip- if you’re working with a travel agent, have them request the highest floor they can get a couple weeks before you go. I don’t think any view would be bad, but the view from the upper floors can’t be beat! One thing we would suggest is a slightly larger table on the balcony to accommodate eating breakfast outside in the morning. Both of us are certified divers, and one of the perks of every Sandal’s is the included diving. This trip, we decided to upgrade our certification to Advanced Open Water. Our instructor, Lincoln, was amazing. He was laid back, but had that quiet confidence of an instructor with a lot of experience under his belt. We felt extremely safe with him, and the entire dive staff. The food here was a step up, not only from any other all-inclusive resorts that we’ve stayed at, but even for the Sandals brand. We utilized the Club-level room service most mornings for breakfast. It was super convenient to be able to place our order the night before using the QR code, and having it arrive right on time the next morning. Lunch options were solid. We skipped the lunch buffet, and opted for a mix of the Jerk Shack, Galene and pizza at Isola. Needless to say, the jerk chicken at the Jerk Shack is delicious. Ask them if they’ve got a special that day, we had some great curry dishes that they didn’t otherwise advertise. The birria quesadilla was a favorite of ours at Galene. Pizzas at Isola were always a good afternoon snack. Ordering one might take a half hour if they’re busy, so it’s worth planning ahead a bit if you can. I also appreciate that they’ll cook it a bit extra if you ask for it well-done. It’s totally personal preference, but I love a pizza that’s been in the oven a bit longer. Also, the self-serve popcorn and ice cream machines were a nice touch. Kinda wish one of the late-night bars would have had the popcorn machine, but there were always other snacks to be had when we needed them. It’s difficult, but if we had to pick a favorite restaurant, it would probably be Cascata, the Italian restaurant. We ate there three times over our stay because every meal was so great. Every pasta dish was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Beyond that, Salvatore was an amazing host. He had a warm and friendly personality that showed he truly cared about every guest that dined with him. The rigatoni and beef brisket ragu was a crowd favorite, along with the lasagna, ribeye, meatball appetizer, and one of the chef’s specials that I wish I would have taken a picture of. Several nights we also found ourselves at Hanami, the sushi restaurant. Our go-to was to get there right at 6pm when they opened, and get a snack before going to dinner later. We usually opted to sit at the sushi bar and watched Chefs JM, Darwin and John work their magic. On our last night, Chef John went off-menu and made us a roll that was incredible. I don’t remember what he called it, but it seemed like it had a little bit of everything, and then some. All of the food at Hanami was so fresh and delicious. Eugene was also a wonderful host! Edessa, the Greek inspired restaurant was also high on our list. The two best dishes we had were the braised beef, and a blackened salmon chef’s special that they really should offer on the regular menu. Direct quote from my wife, “this is the best salmon I think I’ve ever had.” It’s also one of the two places that regularly serves lobster on the menu. The first evening we had dinner there, the place was packed. We still got seated relatively quickly and the service was great. Locordo and Deandre were working their tails off, and still managed to spend the time with us to take sure we had a memorable experience. Zuka, the Latin-fusion place, was the restaurant that surprised us the most. The Tajin Ahi Tuna appetizer and the Surf & Turf were the all stars. The lobster on the serf & turf was succulent and tender, the snapper was flakey and moist, and the steak was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. Mercina and Latesha were incredibly attentive and friendly! We wished we would have tried it earlier in our stay, we definitely would have gone back! The Blum coffee shop is a treasure. We avoided caffeine on diving days, otherwise we would have been there multiple times every morning. Kadia and Shernice made some amazing coffee drinks. I’m far from a coffee snob, but appreciate a quality cup of Joe when I can get one. Everything at this resort seems pretty close together. Naturally, you’re always going to be close to a bar. For both drinkers and non-drinkers alike, there was always something nearby to satisfy anyone who’s thirsty. There were so many friendly and amazing bartenders throughout our stay, I know we’re going to miss mentioning many of them. Seymore was the first bartender we met when we got in, and he immediately made us feel welcome. Seems like we ran into him at any and every bar on site, and he was always slinging drinks with a smile. The Rum Club was also one of our favorite hangouts. Gabriel and Shanice were both incredible. We usually went early, while it was pretty calm and quiet. The drink selection is great, but even better was when we would get to chat, and they would make us something on a whim. Only criticism, as a semi-crotchety 40-ish year-old, it gets loud late-night. But it’s the late-night spot, so we get it. It is difficult to try to recognize so many bartenders working hard to make sure everyone’s having a good time. Donavan - he was everywhere (does he get a day off? He deserves one). He has an absolutely contagious smile, and is always around to help. Hensue always made sure we had a drink when we were walking by. Mario was friendly and attentive. Toni-Anne, Aljay, Raj, Omar T, Antionette, Jauvon, and Ketecha all were amazing. The entertainment team at Sandal’s Dunn’s River has got to be the hardest working team on the resort! There is almost always something going on, if you want to be involved. We participated in some of the activities hosted by the entertainment team. The arts and crafts type activities were some of our favorites. Sip’n’paint, bracelet making with Miss Sandra and pottery with Taney were all well worth the time. We also did basket weaving and I really enjoyed it, but I think it may have been a bit too intricate for participants with less experience with weaving and crafting. Above and beyond the activities that the entertainment team hosted, what was most memorable from our trip was having conversations and getting to know some of the people working there. We had the opportunity to really get to know a few of the members from the entertainment staff during our stay - like other aspects of this Sandals resort, this part was above and beyond what we’ve experienced at other locations. We looked forward to chatting with them every day, and got to have discussions that went beyond superficial interactions. While everyone was amazing, Omanda and Jordan were standouts for us, personally. Always super friendly and professional, making us feel welcome, sharing with us about their lives and stories, and connecting with us as people rather than just guests. When we rebooked to come back in a couple of years, we were excited to be able to reconnect when we return! Akeem, Janeal, Shavia and Rebecca also worked their tails off and contributed hugely to our stay. They put in a ton of work (especially with the Jamaican Independence Day celebration), and they were consistently keeping the party vibes going, ready to jump in to teach a dance lesson, lead a volleyball game, or just chat with guests to make sure everyone was having an incredible vacation. One morning, we took advantage of the garden tour around the resort with Christopher. The grounds on the resort are immaculate, and walking around with a staff member that knows so much about each and every plant, flower and tree made us appreciate all of it that much more. On the Tuesday night of our stay, we attended the Returning Guest’s dinner, held at the conference center a bit up the road from the lobby. The food was great, and it was fun to be able to meet other guests and hear about their experiences at different resorts through the Caribbean. The singer that preformed during dinner was amazing, however the volume made it difficult at times to have conversations with others at our table. It was also great getting to have dinner with members of the Management team. Adrian, with Security, was at our table. In our conversations at the returning guests dinner and later on in the week when we’d run into him around the resort, it was apparent that more than anything else, everyone that works there is committed to making sure every guest has an amazing experience. One afternoon when we were chatting with Adrian, and we somehow got on the topic of Jamaican KFC vs. KFC in America. The next day, he made a point to grab us some Jamaican KFC so we could try it. If you’re reading this, Adrian- we never doubted you, and Jamaican KFC is worlds better than anything we can get back home. That type of personal connection makes a world of difference, and is something we’ll always remember!! The one thing that’s a little tricky, is that the morning “Chair Game” is a real thing. Many of the prime spots by the pools and on the beach are reserved by butlers, and many more are claimed early in the morning. Shade can also be at a premium. The resort was at capacity when we were there, and if you’re particular about where you sit, you’ll need to get up early to snag a spot. The most surprising thing about our stay was that everything was incredibly punctual. Activities started on time, service was always prompt, and I never once heard about things running on “island time.” We don’t mind everything being laid back on vacation, but it almost caught us off-guard how on-point everyone was. Everything operated like a well-oiled machine. One final highlight from our stay at Dunn’s River was being there during Jamaican Independence Day. The whole team took such special care in creating and organizing a huge celebration - setting up a dinner with banquet tables on the pool deck… they had all sorts of traditional Jamaican dishes, put up large stages for entertainment, decorations all over the resort, and the entertainment team put on an AMAZING show complete with traditional dancing and fireworks. Needless to say, we had an amazing vacation and can’t wait to return! The resort, the beach, the food & drinks, and entertainment were all great. More than anything, the people at the resort made our time there so incredibly memorable. Read less

Our first trip to Sandals, and we truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience! A very special thank you to Jose from Concierge, who went above and beyond from the moment we arrived. He made us feel so welcomed and genuinely cared for, and his customer service was absolutely superb. He took the time to make sure our 25th wedding anniversary and my husband’s birthday were truly memorable, and his attention to detail did not go unnoticed. Jose is a true asset to Sandals! We also want to recognize Rashane, who took amazing care of us during our candlelight dinner (and my apologies if I misspelled your name!), and Shanakay, who made our couples massage such a wonderful experience. You were both phenomenal! Honestly, everyone we encountered at Sandals Dunn’s River was incredible. And when I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE! The staff was warm, attentive, and consistently went the extra mile. The level of service and attention to detail made our anniversary trip even more special. Thank you, Sandals, and staff for an unforgettable first experience. We came as first time guests and are leaving as customers for life! We will absolutely be returning. Mr. & Mrs. Estus - 3207 Read less