Beaches Negril Review – Is this Family All-Inclusive Resort Right for You?

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Last week, I had the best time at Beaches Negril with my 14-year old son. Since he wasn’t enrolled in too many camps this summer, we decided a mother-son trip was in order! We wanted to go somewhere new, with lots of activities for a teen, but I also wanted a smaller resort where we could go our own ways and not worry about having to hunt each other down. I knew Beaches Negril would be perfect for this type of trip, and we truly had the best time. I am so excited to share my Beaches Negril Review with you and help you decide if Beaches Negril would be perfect for your next family getaway

Beaches Negril – Family Friendly, Luxury Included All Inclusive Resort

 

I’m definitely not new to the Beaches brand, or Jamaica. I was at Hilton Rose Hall in January, and I have been to Beaches Turks and Caicos, and many of the Sandals resorts (Royal Caribbean, Montego Bay, Sandals Barbados and Royal Barbados, Sandals Grenada and Sandals Grande Antigua) and each definitely have their own vibe. So I was curious to check out Beaches Negril and experience it for myself so I can help my clients figure out which Beaches resorts is best for you!

Where is Beaches Negril?

Beaches Negril is located in Negril, Jamaica. This is a sleepy fishing village on the west coast of Jamaica. Known for its gorgeous seven mile beach and even more beautiful sunsets, Negril is home to many popular resorts.

Negril is about a 75-90 minute ride from Montego Bay airport, depending on traffic. It’s a pretty straight shot, but on a one-lane road. Beaches Resorts includes round trip airport transfers with your stay, and getting to and from Negril could not have been easier!

When you arrive in Montego Bay, and clear customs (PS Always book Club Mobay VIP arrival service, you will NOT regret doing so), there is a Sandals/Beaches arrival lounge outside baggage claim. Here you will wait for your transfer, be able to use the bathroom, get a drink and snack.

When we arrived, we had about a 10-minute wait before we were called for our transfer. My son and I shared the ride with two other families in a large, air conditioned mini-bus.

On departure, my son and I were the only guests departing at 8am, so they sent us in a private van.

 

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Beaches Negril Activities

The activities at Beaches Negril is where this resort really shines. The resort is all beachfront, on a gorgeous stretch of 7-mile beach, so they really offer so much in the water!

Beaches Negril is the only beaches to offer waterskiing on site (complimentary of course!). You can also try knee boarding, thrice daily snorkeling trips are offered, as well as glass bottom boat rides, banana boat rides, use of the kayaks, stand up paddle boards, aqua bikes, and hobies!

You also have two waterslides on site, a lazy river, two splash parks, two swim up bars, pool volleyball, beach volleyball, pool tables, foosball tables, ping pong tables, shuffleboard, tennis, and a basketball court.

Oh and there is a newly reimagined kids’ club, with programming from infants to teens. And of course an Xbox lounge if your kids need their video games, or a much needed break from the heat!

There are also organized activities offered through the day like trivia competitions, volleyball tournaments, and Sesame character meet and greets.

At night they have a teen-tween club from 10 -11pm, and then that turns into an adults only disco after 11pm!

Also, don’t miss the chocolate party and silent disco, so fun!

Really great fun for kids of all ages!

Plus you might be wondering how are the beaches in Negril? And yes, seven-mile beach does live up to its reputation and then some. It’s a truly gorgeous, calm stretch of beach. Great place for enjoying the water, and its western facing, which makes for amazing sunset watching!

 

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How to choose your room at Beaches Negril

So now that you are convinced a stay at Beaches Negril would be perfect for your family – you need to decide on a room. Beaches Negril has 22 categories of room, from luxury level, to concierge offerings, to butler suites and villas.

We stayed in a WBCK, a tropical beachfront walkout concierge king (they are re-coding these rooms since now the Eventide Villa building does make this area less “beachfront” but it’s a great room option).

I personally love the options in the Savannah building as you are close to everything and in the heart of the resort. Consider an oversized family suite or one-bedroom for more space.

For larger families, Beaches Negril also offer a “guaranteed connecting category” which can sleep 8 guests.

Of course, consider a Beaches butler suite, you will want for nothing on your vacation!

One thing to note – besides in the new villas, there no elevators at Beaches Negril. Unless you book a room designated as a WALK OUT, you will be on floors two or three.

Which is why it’s always best to book your Beaches stay with a certified Sandals specialist like myself, I can help your family choose the best option for your travel style and budget. And of course help you get the best deal on your Beaches vacation.

 

 

 

Villas at Beaches Negril

The Firesky and Eventide villas at Beaches Negril are brand new – when I toured in August 2023, they had only been open for a few months. And let me say, these villas are amazing!

Over in the Eventide building, on the south side of the resort, you have three and four bedroom options that are situated all on one floor. Your family can opt for a ground floor walkout (where you are literally walking out on to the beach), an ocean front second floor unit, or a third floor unit with access to private rooftop – all are great options!

These three bedroom villas have a king primary suite, with a gorgeous bathroom, a living room/dining room/kitchen (where you can have a chef come cook in the villa one night during your stay), and then a second bedroom with two queen beds, and a third bedroom with two twin bunk beds.

The four bedrooms here can sleep up to 18 persons, which is amazing!

Over on in the Firesky building, on the north end of the resort, these are four bedroom, three story, beachfront units. You have your own private plunge pool, and outdoor garden to enjoy. On the first floor, you have one bedroom with two twin beds (or can be configured to a king bed), with a living room/kitchen/dining room. On the second floor you have a gorgeous king primary bedroom, with the most amazing views and private balcony. Up there is a third bedroom with built-in queen bunk beds! An then up on the third floor you have a loft style room with a queen bed and a private terrace.

These four bedroom Firesky Reserve Villa Four Bedroom Butler suites can sleep up to 10 guests.

The villas at Beaches Negril are Perfect for a larger family, multi-generational travel or a group of friends!

Beaches Negril Destination Weddings

If you are interested in a destination wedding, Beaches Negril is a great resort option! Not only do they have the most beautiful wedding locations, but you can invite the whole family and no one does weddings better than Beaches. Plus a Beaches wedding is going to be so much cheaper than a wedding in your hometown!

Yes, the wedding packages at Beaches are fantastic, and the Beaches on-site wedding department can customize the wedding of your dreams, and I promise, no two Beaches weddings are alike.

As a certified Beaches specialist, and an agent working my way through my Beaches weddingmoon program, I can easily help you plan your Beaches destination wedding. And my wedding travel planning services are FREE – contact me here to start working on your Beaches Negril wedding.

 

 

Beaches Negril Tips

When you book your Beaches vacation with me, I give you all the great tips to maximize your time at the resort. But here are a few things to consider when planning your Beaches Negril trip:

Download the Beaches app to see all the resort offerings, and restaurant times

Kimonos and Yura are the only restaurants that require reservations

There is a chocolate party and silent disco on Wednesday. This is also white night.

On Thursday night there is a beach party, including a buffet on the beach

Try to find Soy, it’s hidden.

There are THREE places to get ice cream at Beaches Negril – I’ll includes those spots in travel docs for my guests

For the glass bottom and snorkeling tour, you must sign up at the Dive Shop the day before. If possible, book your tour for earlier in the day, as winds tend to pick up in the afternoon and those tours are more likely to get cancelled.

Try a banana boat ride, offered from 2-4 pm

If you want to Waterski, you have to knee board first. Although the schedule says these activities are offered until noon, go early (around 9AM) because that is when the lessons are offered. Plan to kneeboard one day, and if you can handle that, you can graduate to waterskiing the next day.

The tennis courts are across the street, the equipment should be by the courts.

Most chairs are by the beach, there are not a ton around the pools. Go out early to reserve your spot if you want to sit by the pool.

Ask your bartender for a Bob Marley

Adults 18+ at Beaches can go to Sandals Negril and dine at their restaurants, use their facilities, but guests have to pay for the transportation. A taxi will cost you $20 round trip.

Book an excursion to Ricks café. You will depart Beaches around 4:15 for sunset. The shuttle picks you up at Rick’s at 6:50. It’s about 15 minutes to Rick’s from Beaches.

There is a children’s pool in the back of the resort, behind gym, not many folks know it’s there.

Check out the Sesame parade!

Bring bug spray, especially for the beach party.

Beaches Negril Review

With a Beaches (or Sandals) stay, you can really not go wrong. Is Beaches Negril worth the money? I do think so.

On this vacation, you will find incredible food, great service, the resort is beautiful and clean, and there are so many great inclusions. I love the no tipping policy, I really did not open my wallet during my Beaches Negril stay.

Beaches Negril has 197 rooms, so it’s a smaller, intimate property. You won’t have to venture far to get anywhere, but this resort has everything a family needs for a great all-inclusive vacation.

Beaches Negril is a beach lovers resort. It’s also truly a family resort, and very casual. Leave your high heels at home, and opt for Sandals (or Beaches Turks – they have more stuff for adults only) if this is an adults only trip.

But if you are looking for a beachy, relaxing, tropical, true Jamaican experience, your family will love Beaches Negril. I would NOT let the longer ride from the airport turn you away from this property (although I think you need at least four nights to really enjoy everything Beaches Negril has to offer).

This is a great spot for multi-generational trips and groups of families as well. If you are trying to decide if Beaches Negril is right for your family, be sure to contact me here. Little man I loved our stay at Beaches Negril, and I know your family will too.

Be sure to contact me here if you are interested in booking a Beaches Negril vacation!

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