OCHO RIOS — With 21 luxury resorts spread across the Caribbean, the Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts brands have become synonymous with Jamaica-based entrepreneurship and high-end hospitality.

To Deryk Meany, the General Manager of the new Sandals Dunn’s River Resort on the north coast of Jamaica, the totally reimagined and stylish 260-room property represents a significant evolution.

“This is a whole new concept,” he told us. “We’re elevating Sandals to Sandals 2.0.” It appears to be the model for all Sandals resorts in the future.

This lush, 25-acre seaside property near Ocho Rios is where Sandals Resorts’ founder and visionary Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart got hooked on tourism by delivering fresh fish as a young man to what was then the Arawak Hotel. Opened in 1957 it was the largest resort hotel in the British West Indies.

For Stewart, who died in 2021, the major transformation of Sandals Dunn’s River was also his final project in tandem with his son Adam, now Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International. At the official opening in May of this year Adam Stewart said that this resort was his father’s ‘final masterpiece’.\

The view from the main, Travertine building

‘THE GREAT TRANSFORMATION’

The original Arawak Hotel is now called the Travertine Building. Its interior has changed over the years as the property changed ownership and became known as the Jamaica Hilton, then the Eden II followed by bankruptcy and closure.

In 1989 the Jamaican insurance company, Sagicor, bought the hotel for $10 million and hired Sandals, then a successful and growing resort company, to run it.

For almost 20 years it was known as Sandals Dunn’s River Villaggio Golf Resort and Spa. In 2010 the contract with Sandals ended and the resort became known as The Jewel Beach Resort.

Finally in 2020, after pandemic losses, the property was sold outright to Sandals and the great transformation began.

 A key priority for Butch and Adam Stewart was the Travertine Building (i.e. the old Arawak). It was totally gutted and stylishly refurbished. Meany told us that well over $100 million has been invested over the last two years to change and modernize Sandals Dunn’s River. Out went the dark woods, vibrant colours and mahogany four poster beds of the past. In came natural Caribbean colours of pastel blue and green along with all new room layouts and new furnishings in both main buildings – Travertine and Mammee.

Sandals Dunn’s River now has 14 room categories in three levels – Butler, Club Sandals and Luxury. All include a king bed, stocked fridge (alcohol and non-alcohol), a coffee maker with excellent Blue Mountain coffee,  a 50” smart TV, soaking tub, make-up mirror, safe and plenty of storage.

At the top end of the Butler category is a brand new section at the back of the resort with swim-up Rondoval Villas. Each has a private pool and access to the river pool that meanders among the Rondoval buildings. The top end suites include a rooftop sanctuary and a telescope in each unit with butlers trained in basic astronomy. Also new are the beachfront Tufa Terrace Buildings with Butlers and zero entry swimming pools on the ground floor or Sky Pools with soaking tubs on upper floors.

Club Sandals rooms are located in both the Travertine and Mammee buildings and include private check-in, concierge service and access to a private lounge.

We enjoyed our stay in the Travertine building with a marvelous view of the Caribbean, a two-person soaking tub on the balcony and a large, comfortable room with great lighting and plenty of power and USB outlets. The spacious bathroom included a large, walk-in shower and a dual sink with vanity and makeup table.  Luxury level rooms with similar amenities are also in the Travertine building but face the lush landscape of the resort and the mountains in the distance.

The splendid beach at Sandals Dunn’s River

12 DINING CONCEPTS & NINE BARS

A resort of this size (maximum 560 guests) might normally have five or six restaurants. Sandals Dunn’s River has 12, including several concepts new to the chain.

Edessa features Greek cuisine, Banyu has authentic Asian fusion food and the high end L’Amande offers French and Jamaican fare.

We found the beachside Jerk Shack had excellent Jamaican jerk for lunch although their evening offering of whole fresh red snapper was marred by three competing and noisy music sources.

Excellent jerk chicken at the beachfront Jerk Shack

The Isola Pizzeria produced some of the best pizza pies we’ve ever enjoyed while the Galene Seaside Grill had tasty Jamaican patties at noon every day.

Meany told us that almost 65% of the resort’s 850 staff come straight from school and undergo three months of training. “They may be a bit green,” he said, “but, trust me, they’re very proud of their jobs and want to offer guests their best.”

The resort includes nine bars offering a wide variety of complimentary wine, beer, spirits and cocktails. The most intriguing and another first for Sandals is the Dunn’s Rum Club. With comfortable chairs and a knowledgeable staff the bar offers 30 different brands of Caribbean rum poured neat, mixed or in six testing flights of three contrasting rums. It’s a great way to introduce guests to the most famous Caribbean spirit.

STRONG MIX OF CLIENTELE

Like many Caribbean resorts, Sandals can be a bit noisy with thumping pool music in the afternoons but evening entertainment in the central plaza usually ends by 9:30 or 10 p.m.

Most guests were in their 30s or 40s but we were surprised by the number of older couples who seemed to be having a great time.

Complimentary water activities (SCUBA, snorkel trips, kayaks, sailboats, glass bottom boats} along with clear Caribbean water and a wonderful seaweed-free beach are among the daily diversions that seem to keep all ages happy.

One important note: Sandals Dunn’s River, a 90-minute complimentary drive from the Montego Bay Airport, is trying to become paper-free. Access to the Sandals app is required for resort maps, daily activities and information about restaurants and menus.

Sandals appears to be on the right track with the new, modern look that will eventually be part of all its Caribbean resorts. At the Dunn’s River resort, land is being cleared next door along the beach for the Sandals Royal Dunn’s River Resort. It will include several over-the-water ultra luxury villas. It should be ready sometime in  2025 and will further enhance Sandals reputation for innovation and luxury.

Deryk Meany, GM, Sandals Dunn’s River