Azul Beach Resort Negril by Karisma
Azul Beach Resort Negril by Karisma sits on Seven Mile Beach and builds its identity around the Karisma Gourmet Inclusive program - a step above standard all-inclusive dining that replaces buffet monotony with actual restaurants covering Italian (Di Romagna), Thai (Hua Hin), Jamaican (Ackee) and world cuisine (Palms and the open-kitchen Mahogany), plus two Gourmet Corners and a coffee shop. If food quality matters to you in an all-inclusive setting, this is one of the strongest options in Jamaica for the price. The all-suite structure gives every room a terrace with a canopied daybed, and the swim-up categories, which open straight into the water channel that Karisma's room pages call a lazy river and its fact sheet calls ocean-front pools, are a genuinely memorable accommodation experience that you would pay significantly more for at a Sandals.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Located directly on Seven Mile Beach, one of the most celebrated stretches of sand in the Caribbean, with the turquoise shallow water and white sand that Negril is genuinely famous for
- +Karisma's Gourmet Inclusive program means the food quality exceeds standard all-inclusive, and the venues are real restaurants rather than a buffet rotation: Palms (world cuisine with an interactive cooking station), Hua Hin (Thai), Di Romagna (Italian), Ackee (Jamaican specialties cooked by an all-Jamaican team) and Mahogany Restaurant & Kitchen (open kitchen with themed nights), plus the Oceans and West End Gourmet Corners for bites, paninis and wraps and the Beans coffee shop open 7am to 11pm. Most of it is walk-in; only Hua Hin and Di Romagna ask you to book ahead
- +Swim-up rooms and suites open straight onto the water from the terrace, with a Bali bed or sunbeds outside - Karisma's room pages describe the channel in front of them as a lazy river while its fact sheet calls it ocean-front swimming pools - and the category runs from the 403 square foot Deluxe Swim Up Room to the 608 square foot Premium Ocean View Swim-Up Suite, a rare and highly praised feature that justifies the upgrade for couples
- +All-suite resort with no standard hotel-style rooms - every category comes with a balcony or terrace with a canopied circular daybed, a rain shower, a pillow menu and a minibar restocked daily, which gives the property a boutique feel at a mass-resort price point
- +The inclusions go further than most: 24-hour room service, free Wi-Fi, free international calls to cell phones and landlines, and taxes and gratuities are all in the Gourmet Inclusive package
- +Family section and adults-only section are physically separated on the property, backed by adults-only (18+) bars - Nesta Rasta Lounge and the Poinsettia swim-up bar on the fact sheet, with the website also marking the Tamarind, West End and Hibiscus bars 18+ - so each side genuinely delivers what it promises
- +Non-motorized water sports including kayaks are included, and the activity programme is unusually deep for 283 suites: tennis, yoga, archery, water polo, Zumba, beach volleyball, aqua gym, dance classes, Jamaican Creole lessons, cocktail lessons and a weekly rum tasting at Nesta Rasta Lounge
Cons
- −Rooms in the original section of the property are noticeably older and smaller than the 149 suites in the newer Premium Section - booking without knowing which section you are in can lead to disappointment on arrival
- −Maintenance consistency is a recurring complaint, with reports of damp smells, condensation issues, and bathrooms that have not been updated to match the rest of the suite
- −Some guests report checking into rooms that were not properly cleaned from the previous guest - a jarring experience at a property that markets itself as premium
- −Room service menu is limited compared to the resort's marketing and can feel like a downgrade after a day of eating at the full restaurants
- −The resort is smaller than Sandals or Beaches Negril, which means fewer restaurants and a more contained entertainment schedule - and Karisma's own pages do not agree on how many there are, six on the fact sheet and five on the website, where the Mediterranean venue Garfield Beach House no longer appears
- −Karisma's premium pricing puts it above some Negril competitors that offer similar beaches and more rooms, and the 9,400 square foot Vassa Spa charges extra for treatments, so budget-focused travelers should run the comparison carefully
- −Getting a table at popular restaurants during peak hours can feel crowded, since a la carte seating is by availability and waits form organically when everyone arrives at 7pm - and all restaurants enforce a resort-casual dinner dress code (long pants and collared shirts for men, no sleeveless shirts or sports caps)
- −Nightly entertainment, while praised as creative, runs on a fixed rotation that repeats within 7 days, which limits its appeal for guests staying more than a week
The practical experience depends quite a bit on which section of the property your room falls in. The newer Premium Section, 149 suites added most recently, gets high marks for space, freshness, and condition. The original section's suites are smaller, show their age, and occasionally have maintenance issues that the premium pricing makes feel more significant. The beach is the great equalizer - Seven Mile Beach delivers regardless of your room assignment, with calm, clear water perfect for swimming and the included kayaks making the most of the Caribbean setting. Four pools, a 9,400 square foot spa with nine treatment suites (treatments cost extra), and separate family and adults-only sections with 18+ bars mean both types of travelers get what they came for without the experience bleeding together.
Azul Negril positions itself between the budget Jamaican all-inclusives (Riu, Barcelo) and the top-tier brands (Sandals, Beaches). It beats the budget options on food quality and suite accommodations by a meaningful margin. Compared to Beaches Negril, it offers mostly walk-in dining and a more boutique atmosphere but fewer restaurants, no water park, and less recently renovated rooms across the board. It is best for food-focused travelers, couples who want a swim-up room on Seven Mile Beach without Sandals prices, and families who want an upscale but not ultra-premium Jamaica experience. The transfer from Sangster International in Montego Bay is 80.7 km and about an hour and a half; day trips from Negril include YS Falls, Rick's Cafe for sunset cliff diving, and the Black River Safari.
Common Questions
How does the Gourmet Inclusive experience compare to a standard all-inclusive buffet?
Is the swim-up suite worth the upgrade price?
How does Azul Negril compare to Sandals or Beaches Negril?
What is Seven Mile Beach actually like at this property?
Is this resort appropriate for families with young children?
How do you get there, and what are the best day trips from Negril?
Restaurants (5)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Italian | Di Romagna Restaurant |
| Asian | Hua Hin Restaurant |
| Caribbean & local | Ackee Restaurant |
| International & fusion | Palms Restaurant, Mahogany Restaurant & Kitchen |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Seven Mile Beach5 min drive · 1.6 mi
Rick's Café cliffs14 min drive · 6.6 mi
Negril Lighthouse20 min drive · 7.2 mi
Savanna-la-Mar45 min drive · 20 mi
More things to do (11)
- Bloody Bay Beach · beach4 min drive · 1.2 mi
- Catamaran sail and snorkel cruise from Negril · excursion5 min drive · 1.6 mi
- Booby Cay boat trip · excursion5 min drive · 1.6 mi
- Dolphin Cove (Lucea) · adventure park45 min drive · 25 mi
- Negril West End · town10 min drive · 3.9 mi
- Half Moon Beach · beach20 min drive · 8.5 mi
- Negril Hills Golf Club · golf20 min drive · 6.6 mi
- Blue Hole Mineral Spring · nature30 min drive · 12 mi
- Hanover Museum · museum35 min drive · 20 mi
- Fort Charlotte (Lucea) · historic site40 min drive · 21 mi
- Lucea · town40 min drive · 21 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Jamaica gets sargassum, typically worst June through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.6 · 6,593 reviews
“We just returned from a week at Azul and had the best time! Our room had a beautiful ocean view from the balcony and we loved to rest out there on the lounger pod. Whether you love the local flavors or are looking for something a bit more common like...”
“We stayed as a family of 3 (2 adults and our 9 year old daughter) We had a wonderful experience from start to finish. We stayed for 14 nights and didn’t want to leave. The staff provide a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. They really are a credit to...”
“This is a nice resort, but it is no longer equivalent to 5 star resorts, certainly not within the Karisma chain. It's too bad this is priced as a top tier resort, because it just isn't anymore. We are Prestige members and traveled as a group of 5 and...”
