Sandals South Coast vs. Negril
Sandals South Coast and Negril are both popular options for visitors heading to Jamaica. We know choosing between the two can be hard, but in this article, we will cover the pros and cons of each resort so you can make an informed decision and pick the best Sandals Resort for you.

Sandals South Coast Overview
Sandals South Coast is a luxurious, all-inclusive resort located on Jamaica’s unspoiled southern coast. Nestled within a 500-acre nature reserve, this beachfront retreat offers a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. Highlights include the stunning Over-the-Water Bungalows, the overwater bar, and the largest pool in Jamaica.
Guest love Sandals South Coast for the number of pools, the lengthy beach and the feeling of seclusion from touristy areas. The major con is the long windy drive to arrive here from the airport.
Sandals Negril Overview
Sandals Negril is a laid-back, all-inclusive resort set along Jamaica’s famous Seven Mile Beach, offering a perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Known for its stunning sunsets and soft white sand, this resort is ideal for couples looking for a romantic beachfront escape.
Guest love that almost all the rooms are beachfront. The only con that we hear is that the largest pool is still fairly small.

Resort Amenities
South Coast and Negril are both all-inclusive with unlimited dining and top shelf wine and liquors; taxes, tips, and airport transfers are all included as well. Both resorts have several play amenities at no additional cost: multiple pools, snorkeling, glass bottom boat tours, tennis, scuba diving, motorized water sports like wakeboarding and waterskiing, nightly entertainment, and 24-hour fitness centers.
South Coast and Negril also offer additional activities at a cost like relaxing spa treatments and excursions outside of the resort.
Most of Negril’s rooms are on the beachfront and some have been refurbished recently and 2 building built in the last few years. Negril is on the famous Seven Mile Beach. It’s not a private beach which might turn some travelers off, but it is a wonderful crystal-clear beach with pristine sand and snorkeling opportunities.
Sandals South Coast is a much more private setting with its own 2-mile stretch of beach, it also has pickleball which is not included at Negril.
Dining and Cuisine
Both Sandals Negril and Sandals South Coast have several dining options with plenty of variety.
Sandals South Coast has nine gourmet restaurants, each included in your stay. The resort blends global flavors with fresh, locally sourced ingredients in stunning beachfront and overwater settings.
Additionally, we know changes are coming with an upgraded coffee spot, rum bar, Butches Steakhouse and updated to existing restaurants.

Casual & International Dining
1. Bayside – A buffet-style restaurant offering a mix of international cuisine for breakfast and lunch. In the evening, it transforms into a French brasserie with an à la carte menu.
2. Schooners – A classic Caribbean seafood restaurant set in an open-air, beachside setting.
3. Giuseppe’s – A charming Italian trattoria serving traditional pasta, seafood, and wood-fired pizzas.
Upscale & Specialty Dining
4. Eleanors – A fine-dining Caribbean fusion restaurant with a romantic atmosphere.
5. Jasmine’s – Asian-inspired dishes from Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese cuisines in an elegant setting.
6. Neptune’s – Mediterranean-inspired seafood and grilled dishes, served on the beach with beautiful ocean views.
Unique Dining Experiences
7. Café de Paris – A charming French café with pastries, coffee, and sweet treats.
8. Jerk Shack – A traditional Jamaican jerk hut, serving spicy jerk chicken, pork, and festival (sweet fried dough).
9. Sushi on the Sand– Fresh sushi alongside views of the Caribbean Sea
10. Taquiero (New) – Mexican Style lunch option
11. Chick’N Dippers (New) – Grilled and fried chicken and sides
Bars & Late-Night Snacks
• Several bars and lounges, including Swim-Up Bars and the Lover’s Rock Martini Bar, offer premium liquors, wines, and tropical cocktails. Latitudes Overwater Bar offers small plates and craft cocktails with incredible sunset views.
Sandals Negril has eight restaurants included in your stay. Additionally, you can go to Beaches Negril if you’d like during your stay.
Casual & Beachfront Dining
1. The Bayside – A buffet-style international restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, transforming into an à la carte French brasserie for dinner.
2. Barefoot by the Sea – A seafood-focused, open-air dining experience right on the sand, specializing in fresh catches with Caribbean flavors. This is also an a-la-carte breakfast spot that we love!
3. Bella Napoli Pizzaria – Get brick-oven pizza made to order.
4. Perla– seaside restaurant with beautiful views and the best ceviche you’ll find at the resort
Upscale & Specialty Dining
5. Sundowner – An elegant Caribbean fine-dining restaurant with tropical flavors, located in a beautiful oceanfront setting.
6. Kimonos – A lively Japanese teppanyaki restaurant, where chefs cook hibachi-style meals right in front of you with theatrical flair.
7. Brava – A new Spanish tapas restaurant, and our favorite on property.
Sweet Treats & Snacks
8. Crema– One of my favorite places to go serves specialty coffees, pastries, crepes, and sweet treats throughout the day.

Rooms & Suites
Both Sandals South Coast and Sandals Negril have a variety of rooms from simple rooms similar to what you find a typical hotel to luxurious getaways.
Sandals South Coast is one of few resorts offering Over-the-Water Bungalows that have just been remodeled. They have the largest number of swim-up rooms of any Sandals Resorts and almost all the rooms have an ocean view. We particularly love the Rondoval Village. The Rondovals offer a higher level or privacy and amenities including their private plunge pool.
If you are looking for a newer room, the Longbeach rooms were all recently remodeled and only a few years ago the Starlight rooms were just a few years earlier than that.
Sandals Negril offers a similar variety of luxurious, beachfront accommodations. The newest rooms are the Bamboo Grove suites which include Skypool Butler Suites and swim-up suites.
Location and Nearby Attractions
Negril is located along the north portion of 7 Mile beach on the northwest coast of Jamaica, it’s about 90 minutes away from the Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport. South Coast is also about 90 minutes away from MBJ toward the southwest portion of the island, but to get there the road is much more windier.
The most popular excursion from Sandals Negril is to go to Rick’s Cafe. Don’t let the name fool you. No one really goes there for the food. The location has very high cliff platforms you can jump from or watch locals dump from. We recommend going by catamaran and stopping to snorkel on the way.
For Sandals South Coast, we highly recommend YS Falls as an excursion since it is beautiful and refreshing. Because of the location of the resort, guest are the first group there each day.

Overall Cost
Each resort has a tiered structure for accommodation choices. Standard hotel style rooms cost around 6,000 USD per week while top tier rooms or bungalows can cost up to 27,000 USD weekly. These amounts can vary greatly with seasonal discounts.
South Coast offers the unique, over-water bungalows that are not available at Negril. These are the priciest options but are ideal for honeymooners!
Make sure to check the 777 deals which can make a big difference on cost.
Which resort is better for a honeymoon?
Both offer their own pros and cons. I think I lean towards Sandals South Coast since it is larger and more spread out.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of which resort you end up going with, it is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. Sandals is one of a kind in their overall offerings and stay true to their promise of exemplary service. From the 7 mile stretch of beach at Negril to the confines of South Coast, the satisfaction of visitors is Sandal’s number one priority and remains consistent throughout their resorts!