Couples Vs Sandals: Luxury Inclusions,Locations, And Top Picks

Sandals, founded in 1981 by” Gordon Butch Stewart,” now has 18 luxury resorts across eight Caribbean islands. While both target couples, Sandals occasionally welcomes groups (like families with adult children), whereas Couples stays strictly couples-only.

Moreover, Couples Resort includes unique perks like free excursions (e.g., Dunn’s River Falls), unlimited golf, and access to nude beaches at three resorts. Their smaller size fosters a relaxed, community feel. While Sandals offers overwater bungalows, butler service, and up to 16 dining options per resort.

Couples win on affordability and intimacy, with rates often 20-30% lower than Sandals. However, Sandals provide more variety in rooms, dining, and activities. 

Couples Resorts offer smaller scale, which means quieter beaches but fewer entertainment options. However, Sandals’ larger resorts can feel lively and perfect for socializers but less ideal for solitude seekers.

So, if you want value and simplicity, choose Couples Resorts. For unparalleled luxury and endless choices, pick Sandals Resorts.

For example, Couples Swept Away might be the ideal choice if you and your partner are looking for an active vacation filled with sports and activities.

It is located on Seven Mile Beach, with Jamaica’s largest sports complex (10 acres). This resort offers everything from tennis courts and yoga classes to catamaran cruises included in your stay.

On the other hand, if you want true luxury and indulgence, Sandals Negril may be more up your alley. This resort boasts 8 restaurants, swim-up suites, and butler service for an extravagant experience. Plus, nightly entertainment further adds a lively touch to your vacation here.

Moreover, you can also choose Couples Negril for a more intimate and secluded setting. It is located on Bloody Bay’s calmer shores, which offers access to a private nude beach and free excursions like Dunn’s River Falls. The resort’s smaller size (only 234 rooms) allows you a more intimate and personalized experience.

At Sandals Negril, you can experience the ultimate beachfront all-inclusive resort where barefoot elegance meets laid-back luxury on Jamaica’s famous Seven Mile Beach. It also offers many private areas for more intimate and secluded setting.

So, the combination of stunning sunsets, world-class amenities, and exceptional service will make your vacation truly unforgettable at Sandals Negril.

On the other hand, Sandals Resorts has a much broader regional presence. It spans 8 Caribbean islands, which includes Jamaica (7 resorts), St. Lucia (3 resorts), Bahamas, Barbados (2 resorts), Antigua, Grenada, Curaçao, and St. Vincent.

It’s also worth noting here that there are some regional differences between Couples Resorts and Sandals Resorts.

The Couples Resorts in Jamaica offer a more authentic Jamaican experience with unique perks like unlimited golf and nude beaches, while Sandals provides a wider range of options, from volcanic views in St. Lucia to Dutch architecture in Curacao.

All of these incredible amenities and diverse locations will make your Caribbean getaway truly unforgettable.

Couples Negril has a total of 234 rooms divided into five categories:

• Deluxe Garden
• Deluxe Ocean
• Deluxe Beachfront
• Garden Suite
• Beachfront Suite.

These rooms feature modern decor, private balconies with Caribbean views, and simple yet comfortable amenities. On the other hand, Sandals Negril has 226 rooms divided into three tiers:

• Luxury (basic) 
• Club (mid-tier with concierge service and room service)
• Butler (top-tier with personal butlers). 

This means that Sandals offers a broader range of room options, which allows you to upgrade for perks like priority reservations and round-the-clock butler service.

Regarding price, Couples Negril rooms start at around $500-$700 per night and include perks like excursions (such as Dunn’s River Falls) and access to a nude beach.

Meanwhile, Sandals Negril’s Luxury rooms average $400-$800 per night, but the Butler Suites can cost up to $1,200. It provides an unmatched experience with its prime location on the longest stretch of Negril’s famous Seven-Mile Beach, offering guests direct access to one of Jamaica’s most beautiful coastlines.

• Both resorts are adults-only and provide a peaceful, romantic atmosphere.
• Couples Resorts focuses on providing an authentic Jamaican experience with free excursions such as snorkeling and visits to local attractions like Dunn’s River Falls.
• Sandals Resorts offers a more global Caribbean experience, with access to private offshore islands and over 240 dive sites. It also offers nightly entertainment, including beach parties and themed events.
• Couples Resorts offers basic treatments such as massages, facials, and free yoga sessions for relaxation.
• Sandals Resorts has a premium Red Lane® Spa that offers more luxurious options such as couple’s massages, beachside treatments, and unique experiences like Blue Mountain Coffee scrubs.

With all these activities and amenities, both Couples and Sandals Resorts make sure that you have a truly unforgettable and romantic vacation.

On the other hand, Sandals provides a wider global variety with up to 16 restaurants per resort, which features Japanese teppanyaki, French haute cuisine, and Italian pasta.

Both resorts offer unlimited drink options. Couples take a simpler approach, enjoying beachside rum punches and fresh smoothies from their veggie bar.

While Sandals Resorts also impresses guests with unlimited premium liquors such as Appleton Estate rum and Robert Mondavi wines at up to 11 bars per resort. Butler guests can further have access to personalized in-suite bars and 24/7 room service. 

Both resorts cater to dietary needs; Sandals Resorts also provides customized meals for allergies, such as gluten-free or vegan options, which makes it a better choice over Couples Resorts.

• Both Couples and Sandals include unlimited dining options. Couples feature 4–7 restaurants. On the contrary, Sandals offers up to 16 restaurant dining experiences.
• You can enjoy premium liquors at both resorts. Couples offers house brands, while Sandals excels with premium tests like Robert Mondavi wines.
• Non-motorized activities such as kayaking and snorkeling are also included there. At both resorts, certified divers can also go scuba diving.
• Both resorts offer free airport shuttles for your convenience.
• At Couples, you can experience a private catamaran cruise, relax on a nude beach, play golf with complimentary greens fees, and visit Dunn’s River Falls, all for free.
• Sandals offer luxurious overwater bungalows, explore private islands, have access to butler service, and try out motorized sports like waterskiing.

Ultimately, the choice between Couples and Sandals will depend on whether you prefer adventurous excursions or luxurious perks.

Sandals Resorts also start from $400 to $1,500+, depending on room tiers. For example, Sandals Negril’s basic luxury rooms cost $400 to $800 nightly, while butler suites (with private pools and 24/7 service) jump to $1,200 to $1,800. 

Moreover, Sandals’ newer locations, like Grenada or Curaçao, often cost 20–30% more than Jamaican properties due to their exclusivity. Both brands drop prices 20–40% during off-peak months (June to November), but Sandals runs more frequent promotions, like free wedding packages or airfare credits, and even sometimes offers up to 65% off. 

Couples bundle free excursions (catamaran cruises, Dunn’s River Falls tours) worth $200+ per stay, while Sandals’ all-inclusive packages include all water and land activities. 

So, Couples Resorts would be the best choice if you prioritize local experiences. However, if you want to experience the next level of luxury (overwater bungalows, butlers), then Sandals Resorts would be the best choice.

 Sandals also offers 16+ dining options per resort (like sushi bars and French bistros) and unlimited premium drinks (e.g., Grey Goose, Veuve Clicquot) that cater to different tastes. Moreover, their Stay at 1, Play at 6 programs in Jamaica allow you to explore multiple resorts. 

Sandals also goes the extra mile for honeymooners, so they can get many extra perks here, like free Champagne, breakfast in bed, and anniversary certificates.

Important Tip: Among all Sandals Resorts, the Grande St. Lucian stands out for romance. It offers cliffside infinity pools, volcanic views, and candlelit meals on Piton Mountain. 

All this makes Sandals Resorts a worthy option to unwind and enjoy a memorable experience.

Couples Negril has a quieter beach atmosphere, smaller pools, and a laidback vibe with nightly piano bars. On the other hand, Sandals Negril offers livelier entertainment, swim-up bars, and themed parties for those who enjoy socializing.

You can take advantage of free golf at nearby courses, catamaran cruises, and a secluded nude beach at Couples Negril. Sandals Negril offers luxurious butler service for tasks like packing/unpacking, access to a private offshore island, and 8 different restaurants to choose from.

If you value privacy during your stay, Couples’ Garden Suites may be the perfect option for you. These suites have private patios surrounded by lush tropical foliage. While, the Millionaire Honeymoon Suite at Sandals also offers a private plunge pool, but guests share amenities like main pools and beaches with others on the resort.

So, you can choose any according to your preference!

However, Couples Resorts enforces a strict “couples-only” rule, meaning that all guests must be part of a romantic pair. This means that singles cannot book stays there unless they are part of a wedding group (limited to 5% of group bookings) and require special approval and full double occupancy payment.

So, if you’re single, consider Sandals’ sister brand, Beaches Resorts. These resorts offer the same kind of experience but in a family-friendly environment. So, there, you can enjoy the same kind of exclusivity with the entire family.

• Sandals offer luxurious overwater bungalows and personalized butler service. Moreover, it offers an all-inclusive package that includes everything, including meals, drinks, water sports, and land activities. But, it can be a little pricy.
• On the other hand, Couples Resorts offers a more authentic Jamaican experience with free excursions. However, compared to Sandals, there are fewer dining options and a quieter nightlife.

Both resorts offer honeymoon packages that can be upgraded to include private dinners or vow renewals. Depending on your preferences, you can choose Sandals Resorts for a luxurious and unmatched experience and Couples Resorts for a more culturally rich and budget-friendly option.