The Sandals Great Jamaica Comeback Is Real, and Worth the Wait
If you have been waiting to hear that Jamaica is ready for you again – this is that post.
After Hurricane Melissa hit the island in October 2025, Sandals Resorts temporarily closed three of its Jamaica properties for assessment. What happened next was not just a repair project. It became one of the most ambitious resort transformations the Caribbean has seen in years.
Sandals is calling it Sandals 2.0, a US$200 million reinvention of three beloved resorts – Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Caribbean Cay (formerly Sandals Royal Caribbean), and Sandals South Coast. Each property is being reimagined from the ground up, and bookings are open right now.
Here is what you need to know.
What Is the Great Jamaica Comeback?
When Hurricane Melissa made landfall in fall 2025, Sandals moved quickly to reopen the five properties that were ready – Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Ochi, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Negril, and Beaches Negril all welcomed guests back in December 2025.
But for Montego Bay, South Coast, and Royal Caribbean, the team saw something different. As Executive Chairman Adam Stewart put it: “The opportunity to completely reimagine three resorts at this scale, with full focus and without compromising the guest experience, is extraordinarily rare.”
So that is exactly what they did. Instead of a standard rebuild, Sandals turned three resorts into blank canvases – and the results are coming in November and December 2026.
The Three Resorts – What’s New
Sandals South Coast – Reopening November 18, 2026
The first to return, and a great one to watch. Sandals South Coast sits inside a 500-acre nature preserve on Jamaica’s southwestern coastline. It has always attracted couples who want something quieter and more secluded than the Montego Bay strip – and the renovation leans into that identity.
Here is what is new:
- Overwater Butler Villas with fully refreshed interiors
- Beachfront Club Two Queen Junior Suites – the brand’s first-ever double queen accommodation category, designed specifically for groups
- BLUM, a new coffee shop serving Jamaica’s renowned Blue Mountain coffee alongside pastries and light bites
- Butch’s Island Chop House, a new steakhouse concept
- A reimagined pool experience integrated into the surrounding tropical landscape
- Lobby and public space redesign drawing inspiration from the resort’s roaming peacocks
If you have a group that wants an adults-only Jamaica experience with overwater suites and a more laid-back setting, South Coast is worth a close look right now.
Sandals Montego Bay – Reopening December 18, 2026
This is where the whole Sandals story started. More than 40 years ago, Sandals opened its first resort in Montego Bay – and the 255-room flagship is entering its boldest chapter yet.
What to expect:
- A completely redesigned arrival experience with a new lobby framing sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea
- A fully rebuilt main pool – the social centerpiece of the resort
- New swim-up accommodations and spacious ocean-view suites
- Buccan making its Jamaica waterfront debut, serving island dishes cooked over an open flame
- Scrimshaw, Jamaica’s first seafood restaurant of its kind, with panoramic ocean views
- Bay Roc Rum Club, a signature rum experience inspired by the resort’s origins as Bay Roc Hotel & Villas
- Parisol Beach Club – home of the Caribbean’s first-ever swim-up bar, with original bricks preserved and carved with decades of guest names
That swim-up bar has history. Sandals preserved the original brickwork, carvings and all, as a tribute to the resort’s legacy. It is a detail that tells you a lot about how this renovation was approached.
Sandals Caribbean Cay (formerly Sandals Royal Caribbean) – Reopening December 18, 2026
A new name, a new identity, and a serious upgrade. Sandals Royal Caribbean is returning as Sandals Caribbean Cay – a nod to Sandals Cay, the private island that makes this property one of the most unique in the entire portfolio.
What is changing:
- 84 new rooms bringing the total to 291 – including new SkyPool Suites overlooking the ocean and new Swim-up Suites
- Oceanview Butler Suites arriving in June 2027
- Open-air lobby redesigned with direct sightlines to the pool and the Caribbean Sea beyond
- Suppa, a new restaurant built around the tradition of Jamaican Sunday dinner – comfort food designed for sharing
- Keynote Rum Bar, an intimate spot for premium Caribbean rums
- Heart & Sol, a lighter grab-and-go option for juices, bowls, and sandwiches
- Sandals Cay reimagined as Parisol Beach Club – accessible exclusively by boat, featuring a restaurant, Jerk Shack, swim-up bar, and expanded leisure facilities
- New state-of-the-art fitness center with panoramic ocean views
The private island was always the reason to book this property. The 2.0 version takes that differentiator and runs with it.
The Other Jamaica Resorts Are Open Now
If you cannot wait until November or December, the good news is that five Sandals and Beaches properties in Jamaica are operating right now:
- Sandals Dunn’s River – Ocho Rios
- Sandals Ochi – Ocho Rios
- Sandals Royal Plantation – Ocho Rios
- Sandals Negril – Seven Mile Beach
- Beaches Negril – Families welcome, Seven Mile Beach
I can help you book any of these properties today. Jamaica is open, flights are running, and the island is ready for visitors.
Why Book Now for the Reopenings?
Early access matters here. The reimagined resorts are going to generate real demand – especially Sandals Caribbean Cay and Sandals South Coast, which had specific limitations the new designs are directly addressing. First-wave guests will get the freshest experience in the history of these properties.
Bookings are open right now for all three reopening properties, including stays at Sandals South Coast starting November 18 and Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Caribbean Cay starting December 18.
That puts you in Jamaica right at the peak of winter season – exactly when you want to be there.
Ready to Book or Want More Information?
This is exactly the kind of thing I love helping my clients plan. Whether you are a repeat Sandals guest curious about the changes or exploring Jamaica for the first time, I can walk you through all of the options and help you find the right fit.
You can learn more and explore the three properties directly at: sandals.com/great-jamaica-comeback.
Or visit my Sandals page at booksandalswithrobert.com for everything Sandals-related.
Ready to plan your trip? Fill out my quick booking inquiry form and I will reach out to get started.
Prefer to reach out directly? Email me anytime at sandals@somuchtoseatravel.com.
Jamaica is back. And honestly, it is looking better than it ever has.
