Sandals Negril Day 6 2025

 This was our second last day! There were some things we had wanted to do and hadn't gotten a chance. Sometimes it was too hot and sunny, sometimes it was raining. I really wanted to try the water bikes and had been thwarted a few times. Rob wanted to go tubing. 

We started with breakfast at Barefoot by the Sea. It was so slow. I had read that was common. Rob had the Caribbean shrimp omelet, I think. It wasn't very warm.

I usually fast and don't eat breakfast, but well. I had heard the crunchy coconut French toast was amazing.  It was not crunchy, and the only coconut was on top. I believe I asked for a side, some sausages or bacon, but it didn't show up. I wasn't wowed by this meal. I love French toast too.

We went to the water sports desk. We thought it was the same as the snorkel/dive building, but no. It's in a little shack on the beach, right by the dive pool, but we had never noticed it before--I think because we only really walked all the way down the beach that far at night after dinner, in the dark. 

They wouldn't let us take out the water bikes because some thunder had been heard. 

We headed back to the swimming areas.

This is hard to see, but it's basically a boat with a shell over it to make it look like a sports car. You could rent them down the beach.

Rob really wanted to go tubing, and they were still running despite the thunder. This is not me in the phot. I did not take any pictures! We said I'd never done it before and to take it easy. It did not feel easy. Rob is very experienced, but I didn't understand his terminology and we had some hard bumps. By the end, my neck/butt was hurting--I have arthritis. It was exciting, but I didn't really enjoy the wind in my face or the hard bumps. I'm more of a leisurely tube rider I guess LOL.

They definitely needed that big tent for that wedding. We went by at night, and it was quite a huge group!

The storm blew by, with out us getting rain.

We didn't like the looks of the buffet for lunch, so we decided to finally try pizza. It was quite a long wait (over 30 min). We didn't want a slice from the display, because they don't heat them up. We asked for this pizza to be "extra done". 

Does that look extra done?

The pizza looked good at first, but see that glob between the two bottom pieces? That was the cheese. The cheese was really odd. It has the texture of cheese sauce, not grated cheese. It did not taste like real cheese. We noticed this in the buffet and restaurants too. It could have been a good pizza, but the cheese ruined it. And we love pizza.

We just couldn't eat more. It was so disappointing. 

Later in the afternoon, it was time for the catamaran cruise and snorkel to Rick's Cafe. When in Negril, you've got to go to Rick's, right?

We met in front of Bayside, on the beach. We had to sign a waiver, with our proper legal name. Scary! We waded out to the catamaran and got settled in near the stern.

The crew was awesome. Probably the best, overall catamaran cruise we've done. First up was a guided snorkel. My waterproof camera decided the battery was dead. Lovely. As soon as we were in the water, Rob was being the naughty student, snorkeling away from the group. It took the entire group calling his name to get his attention LOL. The guide took us along a reef, and started feeding the fish. It was pretty cool having them swim so close. Usually they scatter away. The guide dove down for a few creatures, including an urchin. There's apparently two types, one way worse than the other, but I'll stay away from both! It was hard sometimes, the water has a significant optical illusion and I could never tell if I was as close as I thought. Also, I'm near sighted LOL. As usual, Rob was the last one back in the boat!

We got to Rick's, and you have to jump in and swim over to the ladder. Alright.

We walked around the cafe area, but didn't go in the store or order anything to eat. It was very expensive, and there was very loud music. We watched some people diving. I thought there would be "official" divers--things I had read prior had made it sound like there would be. No, it's just random, brave people. 

I always try to take a foot on the trampoline picture on these cruises!

The food was unveiled, and it was really good! We've had some lack luster food on catamaran cruises. I remember our sunset cruise in Aruba.  It was basically frozen appetizers from the grocery store, and the crew member said if we don't like it, to feed the fish. Yeah, they got fed.  This time there were chicken wings, I think sliders...fruit...I grabbed a bag of Doritos that I thought would be nice on the plane trip home. 

The bartender was a fantastic lady. I had a variety of drinks, and at one point, asked her to make me her favourite. It was Jameson's Irish Whisky and soda water, I think. I quite liked it. Simple.  The music was great, though not many were dancing. I bopped around on the walk around, and we talked to the lovely lady from Toronto, about our kids mainly. I was feeling good!

There are lots of really interesting homes, resorts, hotels, inns along the coast. 

They have to get back before the sun fully sets, but that's okay. It was still beautiful. 

We got cleaned up and went for dinner. We went to Bayside for the first time for dinner. Thankfully there's no birds at night. 

I think this was a breakfast picture. I can't find anything on the menu that matches at dinner.

These are the marinated olives, an appetizer. It was interesting. I don't know the point of the whipped ricotta. 

Rob went crazy and got the escargots. That's my ciabatta he's eating. He says the snails were "some good, some okay". 

I had the linguine ai scampi. I was glad to see there wasn't too much linguine.

Rob got the Mediterranean steak and hummus. He doesn't like any of the other parts of this dish. He should have asked to not have the quinoa and hummus. I wish one of us had ordered the Duck a l'Orange. It sounded good, but I'm too scared LOL.

Baba au rhum....it was nice. I didn't realize it would have the cake part.

Tiramichoux. I'm not sure why I didn't get this. I think we intended to share. 

After dinner, I think it was raining, so we went for our walk through the different buildings. We might have stopped at Crema for ice cream too. The rum and raisin was really good, and the coconut was also great. 

We found the gym and no one was in it, so we went in.

Rob found the fridge with chilled washcloths! He quite enjoyed them LOL. 

We walked through the Bamboo Grove building. A couple weeks before we got there, they started emergency construction on the top two floors/roof.  Some pools were leaking. All day long they were jack-hammering and apparently debris in the pool. There were still guests in the swim out suites. Rob really wanted to see what was happening, so we just took the elevator upstairs. One room was actually left open!

What a mess!  In fact, much of this building was a mess. Chunks out of the corridor walls, paint scuffs, the main floor "public" bathroom was missing a mirror and the lock had been changed a few times. I think it was out of paper towel all week too. 

I don't have any pictures or notes from the evening entertainment. It might have been the silent disco. 

Sandals Negril Jamaica Day 5 2025

We were looking forward to Thursday all week. We had planned to go to Beaches Negril! The weather was beautiful! Not too humid. We went to the front desk, and they called a taxi. As we left, security took our names (I think...). It was a short taxi ride. When we got to Beaches, I'm pretty certain security took our names/room #. 

At the front desk we got a map and headed out. Of course, I didn't actually get a chance to look at the map before we started moving. We were thinking about lunch, most of the food stuff was just starting to open. We kind of walked all over. I think we found some chairs on the beach, then went to the water slides (the left one, as you're standing at the top) was pretty intense, and it's the one Rob went down. Or maybe it was reversed. LOL.). While we were reading the rules, trying to see if I was tall enough, a friendly staff member joked with us we were too tall. He was great! He used to work at Sandals but wanted more excited. After the slides, we asked him where a washroom was. He started taking us all over, eventually at where he said the cleaning staff had washing machines, but it seemed they were gone now. We laughed. Bathroom! Restroom? Aaaah! That he knew. I wish I could remember his name. Alex? He had been a maintenance engineer and wanted a more rewarding job, working more with the people. He wasn't very old but I think he said he had been at Sandals for 7 years.

Photos are kind of random order, because it's all a blur now.

The food trucks by the beach opened and we went for the chicken tenders. Yummy.  Just be mindful of the seagulls!

Main pool, it was so big!

Standing at the in pool bar, looking at their buffet restaurant. It's interesting that there are steps that go into the pool, but there's a railing up. There's also netting all along that side, so the birds can't get in. Why can't Sandals do that?

We sat at the bar and the woman beside me asked for something not sweet, a little sour. What the bartended suggested sounded good, and refreshing, so I asked for it too. I had seen sour green apple syrup at the bars, but every time I say I want something not sweet, or with that syrup, they add so much other stuff that it's not really green apple anymore and it's almost sweet. I started talking with the lady, telling her we had come over from Sandals. She asked what we thought. We were honest--we felt it was a little run down and some cases of poor/slow service. She said she was a travel agent and had been in a tour group yesterday, which had seen by the pool. She said she got that impression too. It's not that it's run down--falling down--but it's just...not sparkling new, just a lot of little things, like the urinal next to Perla that was plugged and flooding the washroom for three days. Sinks not installed so they line up. Chips in the stucco. Worn paint. The lady was quite happy with Beaches though. 
 

While we were in the pool, some Sesame Street characters came by. I don't know why, but it was kind of cool to see, even as adults with no young kids there! 

I can't imagine being in one of those character suits in this weather!

We went in a hot tub briefly, but it was too sunny. The pool deck was also quite warm. There were quite a few loungers available, though mostly in the sun. This is very different from the main pool at Sandals. There, the butlers get to reserve loungers at 6am for their clients. There's not very many to begin with. Yet of course, when you go, most of the loungers are empty, with just a book and towel. Yet, there's no body in the pool. At the main pool at Sandals, we would have to put our towel and bag/shoes on the garden wall at the back, or on the half way separating the lobby.  If they had cubbies to stash stuff, that would be very helpful. We don't lounge by the pool, but we need a spot for our stuff.

We spent a LOT of time in the lazy river. Why do adult only resorts not have lazy rivers? They're so much fun. We were the only adults in it most of the time. And any other adults had children with them.

The children's water park area looked like fun!

There were lots of different options along the beach. We started out under an almond tree and then realized it was not a good option, so we kept walking, and found these loungers under a palapa. There were some HUGE palapas, some with activity stations, some with loungers. The butler day beds were also pretty awesome looking.

Look at how deep the beach is! Look at the turquoise water! No sea grass here! 

You can see that island just down from Sandals. 

The swim area was all one area, much larger than Sandals, even if you combine their areas. The only downside was it was further from the lounger to the water, and there were quite a few boats just on the other side of the ropes offering tubing, parasailing, etc. They weren't bothersome, but it felt odd ignoring them.

I noticed these trays up in the rafters of the palapa! Why? We also noticed that these ones were real grass, while the ones at Sandals were artificial. A staff member (the gardener?) told us the grass ones only last 6 months.

Those are the butler palapas at the front right.

Looks like they were setting up for a big wedding. Imagine how great that would be!

The green flag was sweet. I didn't notice a yellow flag at Sandals.

At some point in the afternoon, we went to the Mexican restaurant, Mariachi. You have to be dry to sit inside. We fibbed a little. The waitress didn't seem too friendly at first, but by the end, she was! Our food was good, but the salad/nacho bar was almost bare. We didn't think we were too late for lunch, so it was surprising. Then we went to Yo-Yo's, frozen yoghurt. It was really good. The staff was amazing, so patient with the kids that came in. 

At some point, Rob was getting too hot, so we asked at the front desk if there was anywhere air conditioned that we could go. At Sandals, there's the Club lounge for club level guests, but we usually just go to our room. Of course, we couldn't here. They pointed us to the concierge lounge, and it was heavenly. We just lounged, they brought us water, we chatted a little about how much we were enjoying our day. 

Refreshed, we continued our exploration. We had dinner reservations at Yaku, the Peruvian restaurant. It was a bit of a challenge to find it. It's on the second floor in the main building. The giant main buffet did not seem to be open this day. 

The first thing we learned is that the menu is served family style. Now, Beaches is a family resort. Sandals is not. There was SO much food. Each dish is basically made to serve 4, I think.

I wasn't going to have a cocktail, but decided to give one a try. This is their signature cocktail, the Pisco Sour. It was quite good!

Dishes are divided into Small, Medium, and Large plates. For Small, we got tequeños de pollo, and I honestly don't really remember what else. There were these little skewers of meat, but I don't see them on the menu. We got the Peruvian beef stir-fry and the Chinese fried rice, so two dishes had rice. I wanted to try ceviche, but none of the items on the menu were ceviche. I do think I had the salad with the hearts of palm. All the food was good, but way too much for two people.

I loved the wall decor--twisted and braided yarn hanging. And this little flocked fellow!

This is the Suspiro de Limeña. I'm pretty sure it was good. 

It had been a tiring day and we wanted to get back to Sandals for the evening show--the fire show on the beach, and buffet. Earlier in the day, Rob noticed his room card was missing. We went to the front desk, and they did have a Sandals card turned in. However, there's no name on (like there is on a cruise sea pass card). The desk called Sandals, but there was no way to verify it was Rob's and they wouldn't give it to him. After dinner, we went back to the desk to get the taxi, and he asked again. No one else had come looking for a Sandals card. We said we'd give it to the Sandals front desk if it didn't work on our room. Of course it worked. Rob figures he lost it on the wild water slide.

Note to others--if you're wearing a Tilley's hat with a secret compartment in the inside crown, do not put your paper US money there and then go swimming. It was a little embarrassing paying for the taxi and tip with soggy money!

A foggy shot of the buffet. I don't think we knew about the buffet actually, or we probably would have chose a different day for Beaches. 

It's hard to photograph a fire show!

I believe there was also a DJ, and a dance competition for the men. It was fun, but we were pretty exhausted.  Beaches was amazing. Yes, we heard a couple crying kids, and watched some siblings beat each other up on the beach, but it wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. It made us wish we had taken our kids to something when they were younger...but at the same time, we know that would not be a very relaxing holiday and frankly, our few trips/cruises were intentionally with out the kids, since I spent so much time with them already. I hope someday we'll have grandchildren and we can take them here...or somewhere similar.