Dreaming of... Sandals Royal Plantation, Jamaica
Winston Churchill, Noel Coward and Ian Fleming certainly knew a decent hotel when they saw one. And they saw one tucked into a low coral bluff at Ocho Rios, on the north coast of Jamaica.
If Sandals Royal Plantation was good enough for them, it’s good enough for us.
Sandals is renowned for its large, luxurious all-inclusive Caribbean resorts, but this is the firm’s exquisite, intimate hidden gem.
The property was built in the late 1950s to a charming colonial style, which now oozes retro chic.
Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, the late boss of Sandals, grew up in these parts and always dreamed of owning and running the Royal Plantation. Eventually he did just that.
It’s a five-star all-suite resort – there are just 74, with attentive attention-to-detail butler service for all of them.
Set above two cosy beaches and a crystal clear sea straight from a holiday brochure, there are lush grounds with resident (show-off !) peacocks, a pool, five dining venues and two bars.
Those restaurants include the alfresco Terrace with a wide variety of dishes, via the seafood focus of the beachside Royal Grill to the classic French fare of Papillon.
If you’re feeling especially loved up, the hotel can arrange (at extra cost) a candlelit dinner for two on the pier, should steaks and champagne accompanied by the gentle hiss of Caribbean waves and the twinkling constellations be your thing.
Or, if you’re really feeling really flush, C-Bar is the only champagne and caviar bar in Jamaica and is a memorable, super-premium experience.
Sandals’ all-inclusive basis does, of course, cover your food and drink, but it also extends to various watersports, such as kayaking, glass bottom boat rides, waterskiing, windsurfing, snorkelling and sailing.
For qualified scuba divers, there are also complimentary PADI certified trips.
On dry land there’s a tennis court and the resort is also close to the Sandals Golf and
Country Club, where you can spoil a good walk.
After all that effort, guests can unwind at the Red Lane Spa, which has a beauty salon, gym, steam room, plunge pools and secluded garden relaxation areas.
Royal Plantation is not a place to easily leave, but you can use the many facilities at the much larger, more typical Sandals resort next door.
Or join excursions to the likes of the James Bond Dr No movie location
Dunn’s River Falls or try ziplines and off-road driving.
Or you could stay by the beach just a little while longer and order another ice-cold Red Stripe beer and some coconut shrimp from the Royal Grill.
Join trips to the James Bond Dr No film location at Dunn’s River Falls