Sandals Ochi and Sandals Royal Plantations have few similarities except for being close to each other and of course being Sandals Reosrts. So in this article, we will make it easy for you choose between the two.
We’ve visited both Sandals Resorts and while we love both of them, I think the choice is pretty easy to make once you understand their differences. At that point you can decide which will be the best Sandals Resort for you.
Comparing the Cost
When you look at cost, overall Sandals Ochi is the most affordable Sandals resort, with rates starting at $200 per person per night. However, Sandals Royal Plantation is an all-butler-suite resort. Once you start comparing equivalent rooms, Sandals Royal Plantation is very close in price.
So when it comes to price, it comes down to what you are looking for. For example, at Sandals Royal Plantation all rooms have an oceanview and butler service. To get that at Sandals Ochi prices are about 20% more at Sandals Ochi.
When looking at price, current promotions can have a strong effect. If you are booking last minute you can even get a 4th night free at each resort. Make sure to check the deals here before you book.
Overview
In general, Sandals Royal Plantation is best if you want a quiet vacation with the option to go to Sandals Ochi for a change of scenery and more dinner options. Sandals Ochi is best for variety and affordability.
Sandals Royal Plantation is one of the best-rated Sandals resorts and offers a more relaxed, sophisticated vibe. Sandals Ochi is the most affordable Sandals resort and has a livelier atmosphere.
Sandals Royal Plantation is an excellent choice if you are looking for a quiet resort to relax. What makes Royal Plantation unique is two things, its small size and the Butler Elite service provided to every room. Since the resort is small, your butler and other staff will always be nearby to serve you a drink, bring you some food, help you schedule an excursion, or anything else you may need.
FYI, if you’re staying at Sandals Royal Plantation, you have access to all the amenities and facilities at Sandals Ochi. Sandals Ochi guests cannot go to Sandals Royal Plantation, likely because it is so small.
How far is Sandals Royal Plantation from Sandals Ochi? It’s located just down the road. While there is a shuttle that comes sporadically throughout the day, you can also walk from one resort to another on the road.
Newly refreshed bulter village bedroomroomsSandals Ochi on the other hand is the biggest resort in Jamaica. Covering 100 acres, it offers tons of activities plus 16 restaurants and 11 bars. Whether you like tranquility, excitement, or both, Sandals Ochi has it all.
The resort is split into two sides: the hillside and the beachside. On the hillside, you can find serene villas with full butler service and private pools as well as the Main House with the largest pool. The beachside is home to the lively Ocho Rios Beach Club. Overall, Sandals Ochi has a more active and party vibe than Sandals Royal Plantation.
Both have access to the Sandals Golf & Country Club, which is recognized to be one of Jamaica’s finest, with tumbling fairways creating an 18-hole course over 700 feet above sea level. Private golfing lessons are available should you want to improve your technique.
Location
Both Sandals Ochi and Royal Plantation are conveniently located in Ocho Rios, close to many local attractions. If you fly into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, it’s a 90-minute drive.
You can also fly into Ian Fleming International Airport, which is just outside Ocho Rios so offers a shorter transfer time of about 30 minutes. However, there aren’t as many flights from the U.S. to this airport as there are to Sangster. This should be changing soon since we’ve heard they will be having daily flights during the busy winter season.
As at every Sandals, your airport transfers are complimentary.
Beaches
The beaches at Sandals Royal Plantation are small and quiet, with clear water and clean white sand. There are two different beaches and since they are small, the staff at the beachside bar and cafe is always close, making sure you have anything you need. This is really what makes the difference to us.
Among Sandals resorts, these beaches are some of the best. They are private so no one will be there to try to sell you anything (except some Sandals employees from the spa and loyalty office).
The East beach is surrounded by a coral reef, making it some of the calmest water in Jamacia. From here you can take snorkeling and scuba excursions as well as glass bottom boat tours, or check out watersports equipment like kayaks and paddleboards.
On the West beach, you will find swings, day beds, and tiki huts, perfect for a relaxing day. If you just want to relax by the beach, Sandals Royal Plantation is the best option.
At Sandals Ochi there is one long beach separated into 3 different areas. All areas are calm with white sand beaches.
At the Sandals Beach Club, there is a section of the beach that has beach chairs in the sun and some with shade provided by trees. The beach is very nice with white sand and a few anchored floats you can relax on. There is also a pool behind this area with a swim-up bar, and Neptune’s restaurant is located on the sand.
There is a stretch of beach located in the Riviera Seaside Village. This is completely surrounded by the docks at Sandals Ochi and is located near several food options and bars.
Last is the longest stretch of beach, in front of the Riviera Beachfront Tower. Here is where you can try all the watersports and relax in a beach chair with shade provided by the trees.
All are excellent options and are some of the best beaches for relaxing in Jamaica.
Activities and Amenities
There are plenty of complimentary activities at both Sandals Ochi and Sandals Royal Plantation, including water and land sports. Even scuba diving is included; certified divers can dive up to twice a day at either resort.
Water sports at Sandals Ochi include aqua trikes, kayaks, windsurfing, sailboats, snorkeling, scuba diving, and paddle boards. Land activities include beach volleyball, day and night tennis, table tennis, shuffleboard, lawn chess, bocce ball, squash, horseshoes, rock climbing, pool tables, board games, and a fitness center.
Golf is also included at Sandals Ochi and Sandals Royal Plantation. You’ll get complimentary greens fees at and transportation to and from Sandals Golf & Country Club, where you can enjoy a round or two along the emerald fairway overlooking the sea.
Sandals Royal Plantation offers a variety of complimentary water and land activities as well. These include scuba diving, snorkeling, Hobie Cat sailing, paddleboarding, glass bottom boat rides, kayaking, and tennis and land sports. There’s also a fitness center, and guests here enjoy complimentary greens fees at and transfers to the Golf & Country Club as well.
Both Sandals locations offer the full-service Red Lane Spa for a wide range of restorative spa services (at an extra cost). You can also book area excursions from both locations (also at an extra cost).
One thing we love about the Ocho Rios area are the many excursions available nearby. You can go to Dunn’s River, the Blue Hole, river tubing, ziplining, and even visit a Cannabis farm.
Pools
Sandals Ochi offers 7 pools (plus 100 private pools, located at some suites), as well as multiple whirlpools. There are swim-up bars at three of the pools, including the oceanfront pool at the beach club. If you want activities and lively entertainment, Sandals Ochi is the best choice for you. The main pool on the hillside is where you will want to be.
If you want to relax by the pool, Sandals Ochi has several pools that are perfect for that.
At Sandals Royal Plantation there is only one small pool. Usually its not crowded and its really easy to make friends at since you’ll end up talking to everyone overthere if you would like to.
Rooms and Suites
There are only 74 ocean-view suites nestled along the beachside at Sandals Royal Plantation and every room includes butler service Each of the room styles qualifies as a Love Nest luxury suite, with the balance of tropical Jamaica and old-school elegance forming the perfect home-away-from-home.
The rooms have recently been refreshed with new art and paint, but the bathrooms remain untouched, even though they are small and outdated. All the rooms have an oceanview, with the higher rooms having the best views. We loved the view, especially since you can enjoy room service and dine with ocean views.
Sandals Ochi offers a wider variety of rooms and suites, including some that are in separate villas tucked into a lush hillside.
There are beachfront, poolside, or secluded garden suites available. On the hillside you can have a room in the middle of the action in the Manor House, or a secluded room in one of the villas which has recently been renovated. These rooms have private or semi private pools.
On the beachside there is even more variety.
Food and Drink
Sandals Ochi has 16 restaurants (the most of any Sandals resort) and 11 bars, including the Caribbean’s first speakeasy. The restaurants at Sandals Ochi serve a wide variety of cuisine including gourmet French, Italian, Asian, Caribbean, sushi, Southern, Mediterranean, seafood, pizza, and tapas. Many have water views, some are beachfront, and one is even over the water.
There are five restaurants at Sandals Royal Plantation, serving French cuisine, international cuisine, grilled items, Caribbean and Jamaican dishes, British pub fare, and seafood. The Terrace features ocean views, and Royal Grill is on the beach. There’s also the Tea Terrace, a quaint tea bar that offers guests a late afternoon teatime experience.
At both Sandals Ochi and Royal Plantation, you can also take advantage of room service or request private dining options like a candlelight dinner on the beach (for an extra fee). If you are in a club level room, you can get room service between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.; butler suites get 24/7 room service.
As usual at Sandals resorts, your all-inclusive rate covers unlimited meals and snacks plus beverages including premium liquors and Robert Mondavi wines.
Both are great options, but with Sandals Royal Plantation you still have access to the restaurants at Sandals Ochi.
Nightlife
Sandals Ochi is known to have more of a lively atmosphere than Sandals Royal Plantation.The Caribbean’s first speakeasy offers nightly entertainment and there are shows in an amphitheater, live music, a piano bar, a chocolate buffet, talent night, karaoke, and beach parties with fire dancers.
Sandals Royal Plantation there is nightly entertainment and the pub is open late, but in general it gets quiet pretty early.
I hope our comparison of Sandals Ochi to Sandals Royal Plantation was helpful. Both are great Sandals Resorts in Jamaica offering unique charm.
He is an expert travel advisor and enthusiast. He has traveled extensively in the USA, Central America, South America, and Europe. He has visited every Sandals Resort and is one of a select few Diamond Elite members of the Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club.
Dan graduated from Johnson & Wales University with an associate degree in Culinary Arts. Later he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a focus on people and culture.
