RJT Travels
Sandals Dunn's River
YouTube videos from the trip
About the resort
Sandals Dunn's River opened in May 2023 as the 17th resort in the Sandals chain. Located in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, this adults-only, all-inclusive resort is one of the newest and most modern properties in the Sandals portfolio. It was completely reimagined and rebuilt on a legendary piece of Sandals history, with a fresh "Sandals 2.0" feel, beautiful beachfront views, modern room categories, and a strong connection to Jamaica's natural beauty. The resort features 12 restaurants, 9 bars, multiple pools, included water sports, and unique touches like the Dunn's Rum Club and BLUM Cafe. Sandals Dunn's River is a great choice for couples who want a newer, elevated Sandals experience with a mix of luxury, beach, food, and authentic Jamaican style.
What I thought
Sandals Dunn's River is now my favorite resort in the Sandals chain. This resort was breathtaking from start to finish, and from the moment we arrived, it felt different. The layout is huge, open, and beautiful, with the buildings surrounding the pools and a wide-open two-story lobby that immediately makes the resort feel grand. As you walk through the lobby area, there is a really cool waterfall feature flowing into the pool, and around that main pool area are a lot of the restaurants, making everything feel easy to access and connected.
The food at Dunn's River was excellent. They had a really good Asian restaurant, and one of the desserts that stood out was the deep-fried banana with caramel, which was delicious. You could also go to Edessa and get a really good steak and eggs, which was another highlight. Beyond the food, Dunn's River had a really fun and festive nightlife scene. They have a rooftop bar on one of the room buildings, and they also have a rum bar toward the front of the resort, away from the rooms. I did not do the rum bar when I was in Saint Vincent, and after experiencing it at Dunn's River, I really regret missing it there. The rum bar at Dunn's River had music, fun cocktails, and an amazing atmosphere.
This resort was very fun at night. One evening, they even had a beach party with food and a DJ right on the beach, which made for a great night. To me, Dunn's River was the perfect hybrid between peaceful and relaxing during the day, but fun and lively at night. It gave you the best of both worlds without feeling overwhelming.
Another major benefit of this resort is the location in Ocho Rios, about 20 minutes from Sandals Upton Estate Golf & Country Club. Sandals owns the golf course, and greens fees are included, so if you want to golf, you only pay for the golf cart rental and caddy fee. They also offer golf club rentals, so you do not have to fly your own clubs down in order to play. Plus, there is a free shuttle to and from the resort and the course, which makes it really convenient.
Overall, Sandals Dunn's River is absolutely my favorite resort in the Sandals chain now. It has a little bit of everything, from beautiful views and great food to fun nightlife, relaxing daytime vibes, and easy access to golf. It was by far one of the most memorable Sandals trips I have taken, and I would highly recommend this resort to anyone.
The nightlife entertainment
My favorite thing about Sandals Dunn's River was the nightlife entertainment, including the Rum Bar, Rooftop Bar, and parties on the beach. The resort had a fun energy at night without losing the relaxing feel during the day.
The long airport commute
My least favorite thing was the commute from Montego Bay Airport. The bus ride was about 1.5 hours long, so it is something to plan for after arriving in Jamaica.