RJT Travels
Sandals Ochi Beach Resort is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and one of the more established properties in the Sandals collection. Its original seaside property opened as Sandals Ocho Rios in 1989, and the resort was later expanded and renovated before being relaunched as Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in 2015. It has an older, more traditional resort feel than newer Sandals properties, with mature tropical gardens and the largest footprint in the Sandals portfolio, spanning more than 100 acres.
The resort is divided into two distinct areas: Hillside and Seaside. Hillside features the Great House and villa accommodations among the gardens, while Seaside puts you closer to the beach and Ochi Beach Club. With such a large layout, hills, and stairs, choosing the right room location is an important part of planning your stay.
Dining is a big part of the experience, with options including Soy Sushi Bar, Catherine’s favorite, the Jerk Shack for Jamaican flavors, Kimonos for Japanese teppanyaki, and Valentino’s for Italian cuisine. Between the two sides of the resort, guests have plenty of restaurants, pools, bars, and entertainment to explore. Sandals Ochi suits couples who enjoy variety and an active resort atmosphere, with room location helping shape the experience.
Sandals Ochi Beach Resort was a different experience from what I have been used to in the Sandals chain. Its much larger footprint brings some great advantages: more entertainment options, multiple pool areas, and plenty of places to eat. The flip side is that getting from one place to another is not always easy. Traveling between Hillside and Seaside meant taking the resort shuttle rather than simply walking from one side to the other. Whichever side you choose, be prepared to spend much of your time there. Both sides have pools and restaurants, but Hillside does not have direct ocean access.
For most guests, I would recommend Seaside. It puts you near the beach, water sports, the theater, and a pool with a swim-up bar. If your priority is a villa, a larger room, or a private-pool experience, Hillside is worth considering. It really comes down to whether you want to be closer to the ocean and activities or focus more on your room and villa experience.
The food was good, and the variety was a real benefit. There were plenty of restaurants to choose from, so dining options were never lacking. Having different places to eat across the resort made it easy to change things up throughout the trip.
Another major benefit is the location in Ocho Rios, about 15 minutes from Sandals Upton Estate Golf & Country Club. I played there during a Sandals-hosted golf tournament on this trip. We had a golf team and played two days at the club, so being close to the course was especially convenient. If golf is part of your vacation plans, Ochi is a great location for it.
The price point is another strong reason to consider Ochi. For someone who wants the Sandals experience but finds resorts like Dunn’s River or Saint Vincent outside their budget, Ochi can be a more affordable alternative. It gives you a trip to Jamaica with the all-inclusive Sandals perks at a more approachable price. Overall, I was not unhappy with Ochi, especially when considering the variety and value it offers.
The biggest caution from our stay is mobility. Hillside lives up to its name: it is built on a hill, with lots of stairs and walking. Based on our experience, I would avoid Ochi if you use a wheelchair or cane, or if long distances and stairs are difficult for you. The layout and changes in elevation can make getting around challenging, so mobility needs should be a major consideration when choosing this resort.
My favorite thing about Sandals Ochi was the sheer variety. With such a large footprint and two distinct sides to the resort, there were plenty of restaurants, pools, and entertainment options to choose from. It really felt like there was a little bit of everything, giving us lots of ways to spend our days and evenings.
My least favorite thing was how spread out the resort is. There are a lot of stairs and a lot of walking, and things are not close together. Especially at the end of the day, when we were tired, having to walk long distances to get around was not great.
