Sandals Montego Bay

Sandals Montego Bay was an interesting resort to visit because it is the original Sandals, so there is definitely some historical significance to the property. It is also extremely close to the airport, less than 10 minutes away, which makes getting to the resort super easy. However, being that close to the airport does mean you hear planes throughout the day while you are on the resort. Personally, it did not bother me because I live near an airport at home, but I have heard numerous people say the plane noise bothered them and took away from the experience.

The room location was one of the biggest positives for us. Our room was on the first level and right on the beachfront, so it was incredibly easy to walk straight out onto the beach. The beachfront room locations are great and make the resort feel very connected to the water. That said, the beds were not as comfortable as some of the other Sandals resorts we have stayed at, so that was one area where I was not super impressed.

As far as food, Sandals Montego Bay did have my favorite restaurant, Butch's, which was a nice treat. Soy, the sushi restaurant, was also amazing, and we actually ate at both Butch's and Soy twice during the trip. Overall, the resort is very nice and simple, with great water views and a wide beach. They also had overwater lounges you could rent, which were really cool to see and added something unique to the beachfront experience.

The pool situation was probably not my favorite. The main pool near the lobby felt like it was in an odd spot and was not very large. The other main pool with the swim-up bar was much better, but it was located on the far side of the resort, which made it a little inconvenient depending on where your room was. For us, it felt far from our room and from about half of the resort.

One of the best parts about staying at Sandals Montego Bay is that you also get access to its sister resort, Sandals Royal Caribbean. When staying at either resort, you are allowed to visit both, eat at both, swim at both, and drink at both. The only thing you cannot do is sleep at the resort that is not yours, so it really feels like a two-for-one experience. That was a great perk because both resorts offer different restaurants, different pools, and different atmospheres. Fun fact, Sandals Royal Caribbean is also the only Sandals resort with a nude beach section on its private island.

Overall, Sandals Montego Bay is a nice resort, very easy to get to, and a great option for someone who wants to experience Sandals without completely breaking the budget. Since it is an older resort and could use some updates, it often falls more on the budget-friendly side of Sandals, but it still offers beautiful beach views, great dining, easy airport access, and the added bonus of being able to enjoy Sandals Royal Caribbean during the same trip.