Category

Jamaica

Couples Sans Souci Resort in Jamaica – a Review

By | All-Inclusive Resorts, Caribbean, Honeymoons and Weddings, Jamaica, Romance | No Comments

Couples Sans Souci – A Great Jamaican All Adult Resort

Being a travel agency that specializes in Honeymoons, Destination Weddings and romantic escapes of all kinds, one of the most frequent questions we hear at EZTravelpad is “which resort is best?” – talk about an impossible question to answer…it’s like choosing the best flavor of ice cream- so many wonderful flavors I just want to try them all! But alas, we all know we can’t do that.

But I can tell you quickly that one of my favorites in Couples Sans Souci Resort in`Ocho Rios!

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Is Couples Sans Souci right for everyone? Heck no!

So how do you know if it’s right for you? Well, one method is to hit their website and read the reviews- look at the photos – view their amenities…

But the best thing is to talk with a travel pro that can help you sort out the best options for you based on your immediate needs and requirements. Things that will impact the decision are

  • Interests
  • Style
  • Budget
  • Time Frame

All the resorts look good on paper and the photos are always awesome, but which is going to be the best fit? Which offers the right mix of fun and romance? Who has the best beach? Best pool? Which is the most romantic? Who has the best spa? If you’ve narrowed it down to the Caribbean, which island might be the best best?

So often the choice gets narrowed down and the island of Jamaica rises to the top, but with so many resorts in Jamaica (I can easily think of well over a dozen all adult resorts, not to mention the dozens that cater to guests of all ages) which is best? Well, that’s where I can help.

If romance, seclusion, space and serenity are the order of the day, the Sans Souci is definitely a top pick.

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Couples Sans Souci is the most intimate of the 4 Couples resorts in Jamaica with only 150 luxurious rooms and suites, and given that the resort is spread out along 35 lush acres fronting the gorgeous Caribbean you can imagine how many opportunities there are for romantic moments of seclusion.

If you are thinking of tying the knot in one of the most romantic spots in the Caribbean, then it’s hard to beat this location…. a gazebo perched over the Caribbean in the midst of gardens. Awesome.

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If you are looking for excellent yet basic accommodations with calming sea blue color schemes you may have found your spot

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Whether you opt for a Deluxe Ocean Suite or a Penthouse Suite you are going to find a beautiful accommodation, but if you opt for the Hibiscus Cottage you are going to find a romantic cottage nestled behind a hedge of colorful bougainvillea and situated cliff-side overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The Hibiscus Cottage is the ultimate secluded hideaway. This unique accommodation features a private outdoor infinity-edge Jacuzzi, a spacious living room, large master bedroom and bathroom suite with walk-in shower and a Jacuzzi tub for two

If you would like to select a suite with a gorgeous bath of marble featuring a soaker tub with whirlpool jets then maybe this is the pick

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So sure, you are going to find a lovely suite, and the intimate nature of the resort certainly appeals to many couples interested in a romantic getaway, Honeymoon couples, or small groups in for a Destination Wedding – but if you are looking for a party spot this one is not for you-

At EZTravelpad we have the experience and the desire to help you select the best possible resorts to fit your style and make the most of your most important vacation – the NEXT one!

We like to think of ourselves are “Your friends….in the travel business” – get with us and see how we treat our friends – I think you’ll like it.

 

Reviewing Riu Montego Bay

By | All-Inclusive Resorts, Blog, Caribbean, Jamaica | No Comments

Riu Montego Bay – a Review

The Riu brand of all inclusive resorts is one of the more popular choices of the many Spanish owned resort chains operating throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, and Riu Montego Bay is one of the more popular choices in Jamaica. As a large hotel & resort brand operating across much of the globe, Riu offers a good value and is certainly a good option for many – but does that mean it’s the right choice for you?

 

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EZTravelPad will try to help you make that decision with some insight, photos, video and more….so read on

 

Recently spending a few nights at the resort gave me a good chance to get a pretty good feel for the pluses and minuses of the resort and traveling with several other travel agents also lent some additional perspective and insight

 

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Overall Design-

 

With nearly 700 rooms in a fairly small amount of acreage, the space to guest ratio is fair – comparable to direct competitors but far from spacious compared to some brands pricing just a bit higher so competition for beach and pool chairs starts early in the day….

 

For so many the all inclusive resort vacation is all about the party and if that is your main focus then this might be a good option for you – especially if you and your group are aged in your 20’s. The party at the main pool’s siwm up bar was definitely on full tilt from 10a-6p daily due in large part to the design of the pool & swim up bar. With in-pool “booths” and tables and jacuzzis and bar stools the architect created a fantastic space for enjoying the pool and the bar

 

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As many resort designs include several sections of room blocks located individually across the resort grounds Riu was no exception but falling a bit short when it came to tying everything together. Many competitors will have covered walkways which offer shelter from the frequent tropical rains that will pop up anytime day or night – your umbrella is the only option for staying dry when walking from room to restaurant – some covered walkways would be a good thing

Rooms are comfortable with decent space, modest furnishings and extra firm mattresses. Bathrooms are spacious yet a huge design flaw in my thinking was that the small bathtubs were very hard to maneuver in since the tubs are rounded as opposed to flat – tough to turn, even stand while taking a shower – good space but poor tubs = fail for me on that aspect

 

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Food

 

It’s interesting how perceptions are so individual. For example I am generally fairly critical of food quality and selection wherever I travel. I appreciate good food quality and selection – and good service. Interstingly, I found the food selection and quality to be pretty good considering the cost of the resort overall – compared to some competitors I felt they did a good job in this area, but many others that I was traveling with felt the food was less than impressive – and so it goes for opinions….

 

The main restaurant buffet consistently offers a wide range of offerings prepared reasonably well – the a la carte options (both the Italian “Little Italy” and the Asian “Kalu”) that I experienced were more than adequate yet certainly not overly impressive from a culinary standpoint

 

Location-

 

One of the attractive features of this moderately priced resort is it’s close proximity to the airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Being located close to the airport definitely helps to maximize your resort time but it can be a mixed blessing though – being located directly in the flight path means that frequent low flying jets will bring a stop to the conversation for a few seconds several times per day

The beach at Riu Mo Bay is not bad. A bit of seaweed washes us, and sand that is less than powdery is a bit of a drag but overall the space is good and the view at sunset is very good. Few peddlers exist since this is a private beach for guests only, but the occasional salesperson will find their way onto the beach and attempt to sell some things.

 

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Intangibles

Overall I found the service to be ok – certainly nothing close to the level of service at some of the higher priced options. Staff was generally polite but not really friendly with few exceptions. It seemed they were going through the motions and doing their jobs but not really loving it so we all found the overall level of service and training of staff to be fair – could definitely use some improvement

Some people only require cold beers and sodas to enjoy themselves – others have a more discriminating palate. I found the limited beverage selection to be disappointing and the wine selection was nearly undrinkable. That said, blended drinks and simple mixed cocktails are hard to ruin so there are options…

Due to the family friendly nature of the resort, if a Destination Wedding is something that you are considering and keeping the budget as low as possible is a top consideration then this is a good choice since people of all ages can enjoy the resort

Check out this video for more…

 

 

Overall I would say that for a certain set of clientele this is a good option – and for others not so much. It’s not so much about price, but finding the right fit and that is exactly what a good travel consultant should be doing for you – finding the best fit for you!

When it comes time for your next all inclusive trip find a travel advisor like EZTravelPad to help insure that you make the best choice possible – after all, wasting money is not fun but wasting life’s most precious commodity (yout TIME) is a shame!!