Beaches Ocho Rios Review
If you’re looking for a family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Beaches Ocho Rios is a great choice. Part of the Beaches brand, which is owned by Sandals, it features a ton of inclusions, lots of restaurants to choose from, and a private beachfront setting that’s perfect for families with small children.
To see if this resort is right for you, check out our full Beaches Ocho Rios review.
Beaches Ocho Rios Overview
- The smallest Beaches resort so it’s easy to get around
- Most affordable Beaches resort
- Set in Ocho Rios near wonderful local sights like Dunn’s River Falls
- 7 restaurants and 6 bars
- No tipping allowed (unless you stay in a butler suite or get a service at the spa)
- Tons of complimentary activities including watersports, tennis, golf, and kids’ camps
- The lowest-rated of the three Beaches resorts (4.1 on Google)
- No butler suites
Beaches Ocho Rios Rooms and Suites
Rooms and suites at Beaches Ocho Rios are smaller and somewhat less luxurious than the other Beaches resorts, with no butler suites available, but they are still nice. However, larger families may want to check out Beaches Negril, which has multi-bedroom suites. The most any of these rooms will sleep is 5 people.
The nicest suite here is the Caribbean Oceanview Penthouse One Bedroom Concierge Suite. It offers beach views, a large furnished deck, a separate living room and dining area, a wet bar, and a spa-like bathroom with whirlpool tub. It comes with concierge service and has a king bed and single and queen pull-out sofas.
You can also choose from beachfront walkout suites, beachfront terrace suites, oceanfront suites, and “family sized” rooms and suites with a king or two double beds, a sitting area with a queen pull-out couch, and a private balcony with garden views.
Beaches Ocho Rios Things to Do
- Watersports: snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, Hobie Cat sailing, aqua trikes, and windsurfing
- Golf: green fees and transportation are included for the nearby Sandals Golf & Country Club championship 18-hole golf course, and there’s a complimentary kids’ golf program as well
- Pirates Island Waterpark: features waterslides, pools, whirlpools, and a splash zone with water cannons, but no lazy river
- Land activities: day and night tennis, beach volleyball, basketball, outdoor chess, bocce ball, croquet, shuffleboard, and table tennis
- A full fitness center
- 5 pools and a scuba practice pool
- Kid and teen amenities including Kids’ Camps with certified nannies, teen/tween programs and lounge, teen disco, Xbox Play Lounge, Sesame Street character activities, and more
- Daily and nightly entertainment
A full-service spa and area excursions are also available but cost extra.
Beaches Ocho Rios Beach
The beach is here is lovely—a small protected cove of private beachfront with soft white sand and calm, shallow water. This makes it great for families with young children, as swimming is safe and it’s easy to keep an eye on kids as they run around. It’s also perfect for all the complimentary watersports.
Beaches Ocho Rios Restaurants and Bars
Beaches Ocho Rios has seven restaurants serving a variety of cuisines and 6 bars including swim up bars and an adults-only bar.
Here are the restaurants at Beaches Ocho Rios:
La Parisienne
French; dinner only; requires resort evening attire
Bayside
International; buffet style breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Neptune’s
Seafood and Mediterranean; dinner only
BBQ Park
Barbecue and Southwestern; lunch, dinner and late night
Josephine’s Creperie
Crepes and snacks all day
Bella Napoli
Pizza; lunch and early evening
The Venetian
Italian; dinner only
Is Beaches Ocho Rios worth it?
Because so much is included at Beaches Ocho Rios, most guests feel that it is worth it—especially since this is the most affordable Beaches resort. What’s included?
Practically everything including spacious accommodations, all meals and snacks at all restaurants, all nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks including premium liquor and Robert Mondavi wine, stocked inroom minibars, unlimited watersports including snorkeling and paddleboarding, scuba diving for certified divers, land activities including a fitness center, daily and nightly entertainment, kids’ and teen activities and facilities including a Kids Camp with certified nannies, unlimited access to the Pirates Island waterpark, WiFi, roundtrip airport transfers, and all tips and taxes.
Has Beaches Ocho Rios been renovated?
Yes, Beaches Ocho Rios had a $30 million renovation in 2013.
How far is Beaches Ocho Rios from the airport?
Beaches Ocho Rios is about an hour and a half from the airport in Montego Bay. Airport transfers are complimentary.
Beaches Ocho Rios vs. Negril
While we prefer Beaches Negril to Beaches Ocho Rios, there are pros and cons to both. Beaches Ocho Rios has a Google rating of 4.1, while Beaches Negril has a rating of 4.4.
The beach at Beaches Ocho Rios is a small protected cove perfect for smaller kids, while the beach at Beaches Negril is larger, which is good for parents with older children. Beaches Ocho Rios is more affordable than Beaches Negril, and rooms are smaller. Beaches Ocho Rios has golf, but Beaches Negril has more watersports. There are more restaurants at Beaches Negril than Ocho Rios.
