Couples Sans Souci
Couples Sans Souci is a couples-only, 18-and-over resort with 150 suites on a hillside above a sheltered crescent cove outside Ocho Rios, and it has a loyal following that comes back year after year for its small scale and its mineral water. The signature is the natural mineral spring pool, filled from springs on the property and set by the spa overlooking the sea, with a second Mineral Grotto pool behind the cave where Charlie the sea turtle once lived. The resort reopened on August 1, 2022 partway through a $12 million renovation that redid every suite with new furnishings, walk-in showers, double-paned balcony doors and LED lighting, along with the lobby, pool, restaurants and spa.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +A natural mineral spring pool filled from the resort's own mineral springs, tucked by the spa above the ocean, plus a second Mineral Grotto pool behind the rock cave that was once home to Charlie, an old sea turtle the spa is named after
- +The resort's own spa page carries Travel + Leisure's Best Caribbean Spa honour, and the 2022 renovation added a massage hut beside the Lily Pond and upgraded the spa gazebos
- +Only 150 suites, all redone in the $12 million renovation the resort reopened from on August 1, 2022: new furnishings, double-paned sliding doors to the balconies, walk-in showers in Italian porcelain and LED lighting, with terrace tubs on selected penthouses
- +Unlimited scuba is included, day and night dives, and glass-bottom boats run snorkel trips to around 30 reef sites with fins, masks and snorkels provided
- +Golf at Upton Golf & Country Club is part of the deal: the bus leaves around 8am, returns by 1pm, and greens fees and transport are covered
- +Premium drinks are included without an upgrade, and Couples runs a strict no-tipping policy, so nobody is angling for cash at the bar
- +The au-naturel Sunset Beach is a proper self-contained area on its own crescent of sand, with a swim-up pool bar, a grill and a jacuzzi, and it is camera-free
- +Round-trip airport transfers are included from both Montego Bay (MBJ) and the small Ocho Rios airport (OCJ)
Cons
- −The beach is a small, sheltered cove rather than a long stretch of sand; if a big beach matters most, the Negril properties are the better pick
- −The resort is built into a hillside with lots of stairs and steep paths between the suites, restaurants, pools and beach, which is hard going with mobility limits
- −It is about an hour and forty-five minutes by road from Montego Bay airport, much longer than the MBJ-area resorts
- −Tower Isle is not included as a second resort: Romance Rewards members get one Trading Places visit per stay, on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, back by 4pm
- −The extras add up: golf carries mandatory cart and caddy fees of $50 per person plus club rental around $60, and spa treatments start at $159 for a 60-minute Swedish massage
- −Nightlife is gentle: piano sing-alongs at the Balloon Bar four nights a week at 11pm and themed evenings, but no nightclub
- −The clothing-optional areas still catch out the occasional guest who booked without reading up on the resort
There are six restaurants and six bars, from the terrace at Casanova to the casual Beach Grill, and the 2022 work added Asian-themed dishes by the shore and Java, a Blue Mountain coffee bar off the lobby. Three pools and three jacuzzis are spread around the grounds, with swim-up bars at the Main Pool and at Sunset Beach, the private au-naturel beach that has its own grill and jacuzzi. The Charlie Spa, which the resort says Travel + Leisure named Best Caribbean Spa, charges for treatments, and the gym overlooks the mineral pool. Unlimited scuba, snorkel trips by glass-bottom boat, Hobie Cats, kayaks and golf at Upton are all included, though golf carries a $50 cart and caddy fee. Service gets warm, personal praise, helped by the no-tipping rule.
Sans Souci suits couples who would rather have a small, quiet resort with character than a big beach and a party. It competes with Couples Tower Isle and Sandals Royal Plantation for the romantic Ocho Rios traveler, and wins on the mineral pools, the spa and the included diving. Guests who want a long sandy beach or late nights should look at Negril or the Montego Bay Sandals instead, and anyone who struggles with stairs should think hard about the hillside layout. Dunn's River Falls and the shops of Ocho Rios are a short drive away.
Common Questions
What is the mineral pool, and is it worth the hype?
Can we use Couples Tower Isle during our stay?
How does the scuba diving work?
Is it suitable for guests with mobility challenges?
How does it compare to Sandals resorts in Jamaica?
Restaurants (5)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Asian | Bella Vista Asian Restaurant |
| American & grill | Beach Grill, Sunset Beach Grill |
| International & fusion | Palazzina, Casanova |
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
Dunn's River Falls20 min drive · 5.8 mi
Reggae Beach4 min drive · 1.6 mi
Blue Hole (Island Gully Falls)20 min drive · 6.2 mi
James Bond Beach25 min drive · 11 mi
Ocho Rios town7 min drive · 2.4 mi
Ocho Rios Cruise Port9 min drive · 3.3 mi
More things to do (16)
- Catamaran cruise to Dunn's River Falls · excursion9 min drive · 3.2 mi
- Columbus Park (Discovery Bay) · museum55 min drive · 25 mi
- Mystic Mountain · adventure park12 min drive · 4.3 mi
- Konoko Falls · nature9 min drive · 3.4 mi
- Green Grotto Caves · nature50 min drive · 22 mi
- Bob Marley Mausoleum (Nine Mile) · museum55 min drive · 26 mi
- Mahogany Beach · beach7 min drive · 2.3 mi
- Turtle Beach (Ocho Rios Bay Beach) · beach9 min drive · 2.9 mi
- Ocho Rios Fort · historic site10 min drive · 3.7 mi
- Fern Gully · nature13 min drive · 4.3 mi
- Sandals Golf and Country Club · golf13 min drive · 3.2 mi
- Dunn's River Beach · beach14 min drive · 5.2 mi
- Seville Heritage Park · historic site30 min drive · 11 mi
- Firefly Estate · historic site40 min drive · 14 mi
- Runaway Bay Golf Course · golf45 min drive · 19 mi
- Puerto Seco Beach · beach55 min drive · 24 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★ 4.5 · 1,260 reviews
“We had a great experience at Couples San Souci as first timers at a Couples resort. Even though Jamaica had recently had the cat 5 hurricane, you wouldn't have known it at the resort. They did an awesome clean up. Service was excellent and the food...”
“As always, Couples has exceeded all expectations! Absolutely pristine with unbelievable service and ambiance. Food quality is outstanding! I'm still a Swept Away guy but will definitely becoming back to Sans Souchi soon.”
“Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (6/10) This hotel has the potential to be amazing, but it falls short in several areas. The property itself is beautiful, with lush landscaping and well-kept grounds, but be prepared for a lot of walking. The rooms are v...”
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