(‘Irie’ – “all right” in patois)
Sandals Ohio Rios Jamaica December 29 2018 – January 6 2019
We had a wonderful time: the weather cooperated, NY party was grand, the resort was most tropically beautiful and lush we have been to so far.
Another great thing was that there were only two buffet-style restaurants. The majority is a la carte with very modest portions. You can order as many as you like or you can control yourself and have one dish. We shared multiple, and it worked out fine.
The sea is unobstructed, no commercial traffic at all, total peace on the horizon at all times.
The beach is broken into 3 swimming enclaves by piers that break waves and create promenades with restaurant, bar, docking for Sandal tour boat, spa palapas, swings, and just balconies to enjoy sunsets and sundowns. However, the beaches are short, no opportunity to walk far.
The room was solid good: large, all necessities, 4 post bed that I had to climb up on to.
Very nice people and the service is fine if you adjust expectations to some waiting. They will, eventually, remember about your request or order. Or you can remind about yourself. Kindly.
The only upsetting event was to learn that our flight was canceled after arriving at JFK at 5 am, without any online status changes or e-notifications. Carribean Airlines did not know(or were not willing!) to transfer money and rebook us to another carrier (Delta that had flights to Montego Bay later the same morning with seats available to purchase).
In the end, we had to spend 10 hrs at the airport and get on the flight to Kingston that arrived around 8 pm to Jamaica. Sandals ensured our private transfer, and we made it to the resort by 11 pm. It was an unpleasant ordeal that cost us .5 vac day and lots of grey hair. Luckily, it was the only faux pas, and the rest of our vacation was uneventful.
