What to expect when you arrive in Jamaica and your Sandals Resort

When your plane lands at Sangster International Airport in Jamaica, you will need to collect your bags and then go through customs. Once you have cleared customs there will be plenty of people who will want to help you with your bags etc. I suggest you bring your own things to the Sandals Tour counter. Here you will find a Sandals representative who will put stickers on your bags so you know which Sandals resort to go to. A skycap in red will carry your bags and carry them to the bus. Please note that these are not Sandals employees and will expect a tip. I think $2.00 USD per bag is usual. If you don’t want to tip, I suggest you be honest and bring your own bags. Since Jamaicans are very good hosts, they will probably tell you not to worry and try to bring your things anyway. My advice is to go with him and enjoy his vacation.

Once on your bus, you may have to wait a bit for others to board, etc. I would suggest wandering around the parking lot and getting a couple of red stripes. Whether you’re heading to Negril or Ocho Rios, you’ve got a long drive ahead of you, and you’ll feel better refreshed. You can even drink your strips on the bus.

If you’re heading to Negril, expect a total travel time of 1.5 hours. You’ll stop at the Apple bar for Red Stripes and a bathroom break. Once again, let go, don’t be that guy on the bus complaining that we stopped.

If you’re heading to Dunn’s River or Ocho Rios, you have a longer drive. Because the road is still under construction, expect a two-hour drive with the usual stop for drinks and jerk chicken.

At the resort, you will sit in the lobby. Men will be instructed to stay back to ensure all bags are accounted for. She would suggest beforehand making sure your man knows what his bags look like. (I didn’t) I was just hoping my wife would look at hers and I would look at mine. When all bags have been accounted for, your man will join you in the lobby. Sometimes you will receive a wet towel and more often than not a glass of champagne. In Negril, I like to go to the bar and have a real drink since it’s just a few steps from the lobby.

Shortly after, a host will collect your travel documents and return with a bag filled with aloe lotion and suntan lotion, as well as your room key. From here, a bellman will take your bags and take you to your room. If you have any objections to your room, now is the time to voice them. In our case, our bellhop called the front desk and we got a new room right away.

From here, I suggest a drink and a walk around the complex. Arriving on time for orientation will help you adjust to what will happen and when. If not then try hitting that the next day. I know it sounds silly, but we would have caught up immediately if we had gone on our first visit.