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Sandals Ochi

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

4.3(5,206 reviews)

Adults OnlySandals Resorts International

Sandals Ochi is the Sandals brand's big, busy Ocho Rios resort: adults-only, built for couples, and one of the largest all-inclusives in Jamaica at 529 rooms. It runs as two halves with distinct moods. On one side is the Ochi Beach Club, which is lively and social; on the other, Butler Villas and Romeo and Juliet Suites sit in a quiet 100-acre hillside garden. It is usually priced below the brand's more polished properties, so many couples use it as their first Sandals stay.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Usually one of the cheaper ways into the Sandals brand, with the same top-shelf spirits, included minibar and taxes-and-gratuities-included pricing as the pricier sister resorts
+Huge choice for a couples resort: 16 restaurants and 11 bars, including a hidden speakeasy and an over-the-water bar for sunset drinks
+Golf is genuinely included: green fees at the Par-72 Upton Estate Golf & Country Club up the hill, with round-trip shuttles laid on
+Water sports are all in the price: PADI-certified scuba diving, snorkel gear, Hobie Cats, paddleboards, kayaks and glass-bottom boat trips
+Two very different sides to pick from: the lively Ochi Beach Club by the water, or quiet Butler Villas set in a 100-acre garden
+Pool lovers are spoiled with 105 pools, 22 whirlpools and 3 swim-up bars across the property
+Ocho Rios puts Dunn's River Falls, the Blue Hole and river tubing a short drive away, a big step up from the resort-bubble feel of Montego Bay
+Bounced back from Hurricane Melissa in about five weeks, and returning guests praised how calmly and professionally staff handled the reopening

Cons

−The resort is spread across two sides and a large hillside garden, so expect a lot of walking or waiting for transport; not ideal for guests with limited mobility
−Room quality varies widely by building and category; the butler villas and beachfront rooms feel a world apart from older garden-view rooms
−Persistent sales pitches for future Sandals stays and the loyalty program, a complaint that comes up across the brand
−Popular restaurants can be hard to get into at peak occupancy despite the long list of venues
−The beach is modest for a resort of 529 rooms; guests who picture a long stretch of sand are often surprised
−Most flights still land in Montego Bay, about 61 miles away, which makes for a long transfer after a travel day

The scale shows in the numbers: 16 restaurants, 11 bars (3 of them swim-up), 105 pools and 22 whirlpools. Food and drink draw consistent praise on traveler forums, and the top-shelf spirits and in-room minibar are included. Green fees at the nearby Upton Estate Golf & Country Club, scuba diving, the Red Lane Spa (treatments cost extra), tennis, Wi-Fi and airport transfers are included too. The trade-offs come from that size. The two sides are far apart, room quality depends heavily on building and category, the best restaurants book up at peak times, and the beach is smaller than the room count suggests. Hurricane Melissa closed the resort after the late-October 2025 storm, Sandals set December 6, 2025 as its reopening date, and it has been operating since. The downtime went on cleanup and repairs rather than a renovation.

Ochi suits couples who want the Sandals formula without paying for the flagship resorts, golfers who want included green fees, and anyone who plans to leave the resort for Dunn's River Falls or the Blue Hole. Getting there is easier than it used to be. American Airlines now flies non-stop from Miami to Ian Fleming International (OCJ) on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which is a 9-mile transfer instead of the 61-mile drive from Montego Bay, and transfers are complimentary from either airport. Couples who care most about a big beach or polished modern rooms will usually be happier at a smaller Sandals resort, and should expect to pay more for it.

Common Questions

Is Sandals Ochi cheaper than other Sandals resorts?

It usually sits at the lower end of Sandals pricing, below properties like Sandals Royal Barbados for comparable room types, though the gap moves with season and promotions such as the Great Jamaica Comeback Sale. Part of the saving reflects the resort's scale and the older buildings in some sections. The inclusions are the same Sandals package, with taxes, gratuities and airport transfers included.

How do I get the best room at Sandals Ochi?

Room choice matters more here than at smaller Sandals resorts. Butler Villas in the garden and the beachfront categories near the Ochi Beach Club get the most consistent praise, while older garden-view rooms are where most complaints about dated decor come from. Decide first whether you want to be near the beach and the action or tucked away on the quiet garden side.

Is golf really included at Sandals Ochi?

Yes. Green fees at the Upton Estate Golf & Country Club, a Par-72 course with sea views, are included, along with round-trip shuttles from the resort. Expect to cover your own caddie tips and any club rental the course charges for. It is one of the better-value perks in the package if you play.

Which airport should I fly into for Sandals Ochi?

Ian Fleming International (OCJ) is only a 9-mile drive from the resort, against 61 miles from Montego Bay's Sangster International (MBJ). American Airlines flies non-stop from Miami to OCJ on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so that route is worth checking first. Most other flights still land in Montego Bay. Sandals includes the transfer from either airport.

How is the beach at Sandals Ochi?

It is the most common letdown. The Ochi Beach Club side has a lively beach and an over-the-water bar, but the sand is modest for a resort this size, so it can feel crowded at peak times. Most guests end up spending more time at the pools, which are plentiful. Couples who want a big beach often look at Sandals Negril instead.

Was Sandals Ochi damaged by Hurricane Melissa?

The resort closed after the storm hit Jamaica in late October 2025, and Sandals set December 6, 2025 as the reopening date for Ochi and several of its other Jamaica resorts. The work was cleanup and repairs rather than a renovation, and the resort has been open and taking bookings since, as of October 2026. Guests who returned early praised how the staff handled the reopening.

Restaurants (15)

Type	Restaurants
Italian	Valentino's, Dino's Pizzeria, Bella Napoli Pizzeria
Japanese & sushi	Soy Sushi Bar
Teppanyaki / hibachi	Kimonos
Seafood	Vista Sky, Kelly's Dockside
French	Le Gourmand
Mediterranean & Spanish	Neptune's
Caribbean & local	The Reef Terrace, Manor House, The Jerk Shack
American & grill	The Southern Table, Sweet Wood
International & fusion	Tapas on the Riviera

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 Falls
15 min drive · 4.8 mi
Reggae Beach
5 min drive · 2.4 mi
Blue Hole (Island Gully Falls)
20 min drive · 7.0 mi
James Bond Beach
30 min drive · 12 mi
Ocho Rios town
5 min drive · 1.5 mi
Ocho Rios Cruise Port
7 min drive · 2.3 mi

More things to do (17)

Catamaran cruise to Dunn's River Falls · excursion7 min drive · 2.2 mi
Columbus Park (Discovery Bay) · museum55 min drive · 24 mi
Mystic Mountain · adventure park10 min drive · 3.4 mi
Konoko Falls · nature7 min drive · 2.4 mi
Green Grotto Caves · nature50 min drive · 21 mi
Bob Marley Mausoleum (Nine Mile) · museum55 min drive · 25 mi
Mahogany Beach · beach4 min drive · 1.1 mi
Turtle Beach (Ocho Rios Bay Beach) · beach6 min drive · 1.6 mi
Ocho Rios Fort · historic site7 min drive · 2.7 mi
Dunn's River Beach · beach11 min drive · 4.3 mi
Fern Gully · nature12 min drive · 4.3 mi
Sandals Golf and Country Club · golf15 min drive · 3.7 mi
Seville Heritage Park · historic site30 min drive · 10 mi
Firefly Estate · historic site40 min drive · 15 mi
Runaway Bay Golf Course · golf45 min drive · 18 mi
Puerto Seco Beach · beach50 min drive · 23 mi
Rio Bueno · town60 min drive · 29 mi

Amenities

Golf Course

Diving

Tennis

Swim-Up Bar

Snorkeling

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Nightly Entertainment

Show 3 more amenities

Spa

Gym

Beach

Style & Rooms

Atmosphere

Couples Only

Seaweed & sargassum

Jamaica gets sargassum, typically worst June through August.See the month-by-month guide →

Every all-inclusive in Ocho Rios & Runaway Bay →

Google Reviews★ 4.3 · 5,206 reviews

Alexis L.

2 weeks ago

“This trip was a birthday trip for my boyfriend and first out of the country trip for us! We stayed January 11th - January 15th. We stayed on the Hillside in a 4 unit butler villa. We arrived there and was taken to the Club Sandals lounge where they g...”

Jacob S.

a month ago

“My fiancé and I got engaged at Sandals Ochi and it was absolutely perfect. The staff was extremely friendly, attentive and accommodating. Every single person we encountered went the extra mile to make our experience great and always had a smile on th...”

Theresa H.

2 months ago

“I want to praise Sandals Resorts, specifically Sandals Ochi, for taking such great care of all of its guests during Hurricane Melissa. What began as a vacation planned 2 years in advance for a destination wedding became a dire situation when we found...”