What to expect upon arrival in Jamaica and your Sandals Resort
When your plane lands at Sangster International Airport in Jamaica, you’ll need to collect your bags and then go through customs. Once you have cleared customs there will be many people wanting to help you with your bags etc. I suggest you bring your own things to the Sandals Tour desk. Here you will find a Sandals representative who will place stickers on your bags so you know which Sandals resort to go to. A skycap in red will load your bags and take them to the bus. Please note that these are not Sandals employees and will expect a tip. I think $2.00 USD per bag is usual. If you don’t want to tip, I suggest you be honest and bring your own bags. Since Jamaicans are very good hosts, they will probably tell you not to worry and try to carry your things anyway. My advice is to go with him and enjoy his vacation.
Once on your bus, you may have to wait a bit for others to board etc. I would suggest walking around the parking lot and getting a pair of red stripes. Whether you’re headed to Negril or Ocho Rios, you’re in for a long drive, and you’ll feel better if you’re refreshed. You can even drink your strips on the bus.
If you’re heading to Negril, expect a total travel time of 1.5 hours. You will stop at the Apple Bar for Red Stripes and a bathroom break. Once again, let yourself go, don’t be that guy on the bus complaining that we stopped.
If you’re heading to Dunn’s River or Ocho Rios, you have a longer drive. Because the road is still under construction, expect a two-hour drive with the usual stop for drinks and jerk chicken.
At the resort, you will sit in the lobby. The men will be directed to stay behind to ensure that all bags are accounted for. She would suggest making sure your man knows what his bags look like beforehand. (I didn’t) I just hoped my wife would look at hers and I would look at mine. When all the bags have been accounted for, your man will join you in the lobby. Sometimes you will receive a damp towel and most of the time a glass of champagne. In Negril, I like to go to the bar and have a real drink since it’s just a few steps from the lobby.
Shortly after, a host will collect your travel documents and return with a bag filled with aloe lotion and suntan lotion, as well as your room key. From here, a porter will take your bags and take you to your room. If you have any objections to your room, now is the time to voice them. In our case, our bellboy called the front desk and we had a new room right away.
From here I suggest a drink and a walk around the complex. Arriving on time for orientation will help you adjust to what will happen and when. If not then try to hit that the next day. I know it sounds silly, but we would have caught up immediately if we had gone on our first visit.