When you are hooked to a particular place, it seems like everything is perfect – the sun, the sea, the service. From my years of traveling experience, I have visited many destinations that checked off all the boxes. But the thing is, to be able to create such a wonderful sight – literally a feast for the eyes and the soul, you need to have a specific vision. I truly understood the power of having a vision when I visited Sandals Dunn’s River. It’s a spectacular place for all those who are looking to experience something new and relax at the same time.

Allow me to explain what I mean.

The Story Behind Sandals Dunns River

A long time ago, there was a young boy who spent his time wandering around the mystic side of the long beach in a place called Ocho Rios. Now, this seems like any other story you can read, but to be honest, it kind of caught my attention, so I stuck to the end. That’s exactly what made me visit this magnificent resort – the boy who played on the beach turned out to be Sandals’ founder! His dreamy childhood consisted of his closest friends and family and selling freshly caught fish to the local hotels. That included the very special site that was, at the time, known as the fabulous Arawak Hotel.

Now, this story may not be of much significance to you. But as I walked through the doors, I instantly realized it took a man with clear vision and determination to create the Sandals Dunn’s River, which opened a year ago. This reopening was the beginning of a new era – one filled with luxury accommodation, excitement, and wonderfulness all around. It turned this place into a dream destination for all the adventure seekers.

Nowadays, Adam Stewart, who is the executive chairman of the Sandals Resort and the son of Butch Stewart, collaborated together to bring the feeling of his happy childhood to life, yet still maintain the highest level of luxuriousness. I am happy to say that, from what I witnessed, they succeeded in that with flying colors!

Adam believes his dad will always be with him just because they did this project together. He claims that almost everything was inspired by him – from the wonderful charm of the Caribbean people to focusing on always pleasing the customer. And, of course, the innovative ideas that were impossible to turn down (because they were so good).

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Now, after learning about this, I had to go and visit the resort myself. If it was truly that transformative of an experience, I should feel something myself, right? With that in mind, I waited for its reopening, and I booked my stay. So, let’s start reviewing my impressions from the very beginning.

You wake up every morning to the sound of classical music. There is a violinist playing on the main pool deck, which adds to the pleasant atmosphere. The subtle quietness of the morning is what they wanted to achieve so you would be able to take in the scenery and enjoy their breakfast in peace. The entire resort is painted with a lovely and gentle color palette – hues of green and blue in the suites and guestrooms, as well as the lobby and the outdoor seating area. They moved forward with this idea because they believed the days of dark furniture and massive mahogany beds were over. They want you to have a light and bright experience here, which is why they focused on these colors.

As a person who absolutely loves spectacular treatment, I immediately went to my room, and sure enough – I was not disappointed. The rooms were all stunning, as described on their site, and they are designed to make your stay as good as it can get. From everything that surrounded me so far, I could easily tell that the Sandals Dunn’s River was carefully built to meet every need.

Now let’s focus on the accommodations

Those of you who want to be pampered to the fullest extent can book one of the SkyPool Suites that have windows from the ceiling to the floor. But, as you guessed by the name, that’s not all they have. All of these suites have glass-paneled infinity edge pools that span across the balconies. They also provide spectacular views over the sea (as well as the villas, but more on those just below).

The Rondoval Villas, on the other hand, are perfection in every sense of the word. There are 12 villas overall, five of which have their own lounge and pool. They even have a telescope and a Stargazing Concierge who will help you find and admire the constellations.

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Because I already fell in love with the accommodation, I wanted to see their availability. I found that the Rondoval Villas were almost fully booked – and to be very honest with you, I didn’t even think I would get another answer. Of course, they would be booked; they are perfect! However, it took me a little bit more investigating to figure out how they could be booked when the resort only opened its doors recently.

I guess a good word travels fast.

However, there’s one more thing that played a significant role here – marketing. It’s true that when the Sandals Dunn’s River opened, the owners assumed there would be a lot of visitors, and they weren’t wrong. However, I guess the word-of-mouth concept still works spectacularly. The travel advisors have accounted for every aspect of their business, and I could easily notice that while I was staying in the resort. There were people who arrived here from all over the world – couples, honeymoons, and even people who were visiting Ocho Rios for the very first time. Noticing this made me incredibly happy – because you could see that all of them really enjoyed the resort. 

I also learned that the people who book accommodation here usually stay for at least six nights. Amazingly enough, some couples were so satisfied with the resort’s offerings that they booked their next year’s vacation upon leaving.

When a resort does not receive any complaints, and the guests are delighted to be here, it instantly gives off a good impression of a job well done. But as someone who may want to go there for the first time, I can assume you still need some more convincing to make up your mind.

And I know just the thing that will keep you on your toes with excitement- food!

Sandals Dunns Restaurants

When you plan on traveling to a faraway destination, you want to ensure that comfortable rooms and breathtaking room views are not the only things you’ll receive. Food is also a very important resort quality that instantly gives you an idea of what kind of a place you’re dealing with. After all, everyone wants to receive some pampering during their holiday, so you want to ensure the meals are of the highest quality.

Well, I am happy to say that Sandals Dunn’s River is a winner when it comes to the food they offer! They have created a new culinary concept that blew my mind! For someone who might be visiting this resort, your expectations are probably high. And sure enough, this resort will keep your bellies full and all your senses satisfied. Let me explain.

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First off, there are 12 restaurants on-site, which means you can get a taste of all kinds of culinary wonders. Here are some of the options that left the biggest impression on my palette. First up, you can enjoy the spectacular Asian-fusion menu at Banyu. Then (and you shouldn’t skip this one) you should visit the Greek restaurant Edessa. For those of you with a sweet tooth, you need to try their baklava – it is the absolute winner of everything I have tasted there. 

There are twelve (12) restaurants available:

Saltaire:
Type of Cuisine: Caribbean
Breakfast (Buffet): 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Lunch (Buffet): 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Dress code: Resort Casual

Edessa:
Type of Cuisine: Greek
Breakfast (a la Carte): 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Dinner (a la Carte): 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Dress code: Resort Casual

Cascata:
Type of Cuisine: Italian
Dinner (a la Carte): 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Dress code: Resort Casual

L’Amande:
Type of Cuisine: Classic French
Dinner (a la Carte): 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Dress code: Resort Evening (Reservations required)

Banyu: Asian Fusion
Type of Cuisine: Asian
Dinner (a la Carte): 6:00 p.m.– 9:30 p.m.
Dress code: Resort Casual

Zuka:
Type of Cuisine: Latin Fusion
Dinner (a la Carte): 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Dress code: Resort Casual

Dunn’s Rum Club:
Type of Cuisine: Rum Bar
Late Night Dining: 4:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Dress code: Resort Casual

Galene:
Type of Cuisine: Seaside Grill
Lunch (a la Carte): 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Dress code: Resort Casual

The Jerk Shack:
Type of Cuisine: Authentic Jamaican Jerk Specialties
Lunch (a la Carte): 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Dress code: Resort Casual

Isola Pizzeria:
Type of Cuisine: Pizzeria
Lunch (a la Carte): 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Dress code: Resort Casual

Blum:
Type of Cuisine: Jamaican Coffee Shop
Open: 6:00 a.m.– 10:00 p.m.
Dress code: Resort Casual

Hanami:
Type of Cuisine: Sushi
Dinner (a la Carte): 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Dress code: Resort Casual
*Galene Seaside Grill & Isola Pizzeria – Combined Restaurant

The next stop: if you’ve always been a fan of Central and South African cuisine. I suggest you go to Zuks. While you’re there, don’t forget to try the eels – I know this is not something many of you would order right off the bat, but it is definitely worth expanding your palette for. You can also visit Hamani, where you can find a vast range of sushi, each of them as delicious as they come.

Some of you may feel like grabbing a quick snack in between your outdoor adventures– which is totally understandable. In these cases, you want to go to Saltaire – this is their buffet restaurant that serves both breakfast and lunch. The food there is amazing! But, if you want something even smaller and “quicker” in a way, then go to Jerk Shack on the beach. I mean, it’s on the beach, and their menu is very interesting – why not give it a go?

Sandals Dunns River Bars

After you’re done with the food, it’s time to focus on the drinks. Beginning with the non-alcoholic beverages, Sandals Dunn’s River does not disappoint in this area too! The first stop should be BLUM café – the name BLUM is short for Blue Mountains. This is a reference to the magnificent region in Jamaica where the famous coffee grows. There are a lot of coffee varieties to try – both hot and cold, and the pastries are just simply delicious!

Moving on to the alcoholic beverages, your next stop should be the Dunn’s Rum Club. The name speaks for itself here – you have a chance to try the largest selection of rums on the island. Its opening hours begin at 5 PM and continue well into the night, giving you the ultimate chance to relax, unwind, and try something new. This club is even considered the gathering spot after the poolside party has finished.

While they were working on developing a luxuriously spectacular resort and adding a lot of different cuisines to match everyone’s palette, they didn’t forget to include a touch of history, as well. For this purpose, they created the Lapidus Lounge – which is a tribute to the famous architect Morris Lapidus. He designed the 1960s Arawak Hotel – the name of Sandals Dunn’s River before it was completely refurbished. I suggest you take a sip of that signature Morris Manhattan cocktail – I loved it! Also, you can go to the open-air Champagne Bar, which overlooks one of the pools. Finally, visit the Laughing Waters Beach Bar – a bar named after the Dunn’s River Falls, which are near the resort.

Sandals Dunns River Review and Ranking

The Sandals Dunn’s River can make all of your dreams come true. Even if you are not looking for a destination for your vacation but rather for a special occasion –they can accommodate every need. The place easily makes for the dream location for your destination wedding you always wanted. Or it can help you plan the most epic proposal. No matter what type of traveler you are- solo, family, or couple- the Sandals Resort is there to accommodate your unique needs. 

Sandals Discounts & Special Offers

Oh, and a little fun fact just before I wrap things up – the owner, Butch Stewart, had a philosophy where he would want to develop tourism but also invest in the locals, too. So, out of all 830 employees at Sandals Dunn’s River, 825 are Jamaicans. They have given every job opportunity to the locals, offering to train them and giving them a chance to advance in the field they want. I think of it as an excellent idea and a wonderful way of supporting the community.

With that in mind, I wrap up my journey to the magnificent Sandals Dunn’s River. It was a genuine pleasure to be a part of such an exotic and luxurious experience, which will definitely stick with me for a while. I highly recommend you visit their site and check the availability – and, of course, book your stay! Believe me, you have never seen or experienced everything like it! Give it a chance for your next vacation – you won’t be sorry!

And if you are still looking for travel inspiration, my site offers plenty! Keep reading and allow my blogs to pique your interest and make you want to open that calendar and start planning your next vacation!