My boyfriend and I planned this weekend in Ocho Rios at the last minute so there were no good resorts left with availability by the time we got online to find a place to stay.
We found this hotel thru Orbitz and the price was right and the pictures of the hotels webpage looked pretty good. We got to the hotel at noon and found out that checkin wasn't even until 3pm so we found stuff to do and killed some time. When 3pm rolled around we got back to the hotel and upon checking in, we needed to pay a $10 USD deposit just to use the remote control for the TV set and were told that there was no safe in the room and that if we wanted to store anything in the safe, we could use the hotels safe in the office for $3USD a day. That was a little strange.
We get into our room and although nice and clean, there were no light fixtures to cover the cieling lights in the room and there was just a light bulb like the kind that you have in your utility closet at home. Strange again...
We stored some food on top of the refridgerator and left for the beach. Upon returning from the beach and now back in the room, we turned the lights on and roaches scattered from where our food was. Quite disgusting.
Shower time and there was no water pressure. Water was either scouring hot or it was simply cold but there was no in between.
Room smelled a little moldy and overall, if you are looking for a discount hotel and don't care about much more than a shower and a short nights sleep, this place is the place for you but if this is your honeymoon, I suggest that you find a great hotel with amenities such as a safe and remote control!
Happy Travels

Wow...where can I begin!

This hotel (if you can call it that ruined my first ever holiday in JAMAICA) for your own good don't go there!

Basically where can I begin, firstly there is only ever one porter at reception...so as my fairly large group of 14 people arrived we waited almost a hour to get our bags brought upstairs...after a long 9 hour flight and the drive from montego bay, we wasn't impressed!

There were cockroaches in our room, so we had to move to another, then there was no hot water, so again we moved to a place with faulty AC and a door that could only be locked with the key and so when i went out, in order for the door to be locked, i would have to lock my mother indoors. We were only there for 2 weeks, but it felt like we were there forever with all the problems. My cousin, almost drown in the pool, whilst the lifeguard stood there thinking he was playing around (sure after being under water for 2 minutes...and not coming up for breath) Also I had my grandparents coming to stay....they make no facilities for disabled people, we were told they would have to go to the top floor...which we said no as there was no way they would be able to walk up all those stairs...finally they gave us a ground floor room.

Many other problems that i don't have the time to say, mainly that we were there when the hurricane stroke in August, no lighting, electricity or hot water, and so as a hotel in a tourist area, you would have thought they would have had a generator they didn't and could just about give us candles.

As visitors to a hotel, you shouldn't have to buy your own cockroach killer to kills the cockroaches and clean the rooms properly as the maids do a crap job.

We did self catering, with miminal cultery and pots in the kitchen, i would say in you insist on coming here to do all inclusive,...don't even bother as to what i saw it was hardly all inclusive!!

The only thing that made me smile, was when i left there and got to see Jamaica, the beautiful country that it is , and the beach as well :)

Take heed, and be warned, they don't deserve your money for the standard you should pay a lot less.

Thanks for listening!!

My boyfriend and I were planning a trip to Jamaica. We were staying at the Holiday Inn Sunspree in Montego Bay and wanted somewhere different for the week before. Well, we ended choosing Sandcastles, based on the price.

Once we got into Jamaica, (after the long wait at customs or whatever it's called) we looked around for our bus. We ended up asking bus drivers where they were going and if they could take us. No one seemed to know where we were supposed to go! Finally a bus driver told us he was going to Ocho Rios and he'd take us. The drive is about 1 hour 30 mins on a bumpy road...but who cares! You're in Jamaica!!!!

We enter our hotel which looks like an old mansion. Very quaint. But, traveller beware, it is smack dab in the middle of the town. This was a beautiful feature for my guy and I. He is of Jamaican descent and hadn't been back to the "main land" since he was a child, so he loved being surrounded by it's raw beauty...which includes people asking if you want to buy their mix cd, weed, or homemade wine. But, if you are one of those people who call this being "bothered" then, don't bother with this place. However, if you want to experience the "REAL" Jamaica, this location is perfect.

Checking in wasn't so great however. The guy there wasn't overly polite and didn't seem to care too much. Also, we had paid for all-inclusive and he had originally given us "european plan" bracelets. (Good thing I asked. I recommend you make sure they give you the right bracelet too!) You also have to pay a deposit of 10$ US for a remote. (no probs getting money back after..)

We were finally taken to our room after a lengthy wait. Our room was pretty nasty. Almost "hostel" like. But I had antipated as much so told myself to make the most of it. 20 mins later, we get a call from Front Desk advising they had put us in the wrong room (which, from what i've read, seems to happen fairly often). Our 2nd room was absolutely wonderful. Clean, big, we had our own kitchen...we were very pleased!!!

The pool is ok although I didn't go into it once. The service was alright, however, the lady bartender wasn't a big fan of me. Hahaha, I think she liked my boyfriend.

We didn't do any tours through the hotel as it was WAY more expensive. (60$ US per person to go do a day at Dunn's River Falls....so we took a cab, paid our own fare at Dunn's River Falls and paid 20$ US per person! The Falls are a MUST SEE!)

The food was good, very true to jamaican culture. (But where's the oxtail?) The entertainment...well...there wasn't really any entertainment. 1 band, 1 night...1 song : "Shy Guy".

We ventured in town and tried "Mother's", which is a fast-food chain in Jamaica that offers various types of the "jamaican patty". We also went to Margaritaville, which was a blast! We ended up purchasing my engagement ring in Ocho also! (lots of wiggling room, in terms of negociating!)

So all in all, we had a great time. We plan to go again. You must have an open mind and be ready to make the most of your stay and venture out of the hotel.

REMEMBER: you don't travel to experience the luxuries of home (comfortable bed, food we're used to, top-notch 24hour service)...you go to experience that country! Make the most of it!

I'll try and keep it short and breif but if I cant forgive me. Where do I begin!!! After a 12hr flight delay with Thomsons We arrived at sancastles the next day at 7am- No 1 was there effiecent enough to deal with the poor jet lagged guests. Instead all we got was ' 'We werent expecting you today we were expecting you yesterday' ( like we arrived there late on Purpose). Didnt get seen to till 1 hour later. I went on Holday with a group of 6 girls ( 1man and 6 girls) and hot looking as my girls are they didnt need all that male intimidation by people who didnt have a room in the hotel and were just off the streets (they allow anyone of the streets regardless who you are). I had my own apartment which was booked for the duration of the holiday but after the first week I was forced to move in with one of my girls,there excuse was that they had over booked but were not apologetic. After a disturbingly long row without getting anywhere I was left with no option and no refund. That was number 1, the tip of the ice berg is when me and my female friend I was sharing with had our apartment ransacked after a lovely evening partying the night before. C13 was our apartment. There was no sign of forced entry and the door was obviously opened with a key! (spare key they have). My suitcase which I lock was bursted open along with £600, Sony state of the art Camera, Mobile phone, and gold bracelet and me and my sisters passport which was with me.My room mate lost, £400 pounds, some jewelry and aftershaves she bought from duty free at gatwick for her man. The managers attitude was really stink he came down called the police and went back to bed, Thanks for nothing! The manager claimed to the police ater showing up 6hrs later at 10 am that were we lying. Basically the whole attitude from staff is ' we dont care'.One of the male staff even admitted to one of the girls I was with who he took a shining to that this happens all the time, implying staff are corrupt and do go looking through you stuff during room service when your not there. Please, Please, PLEASE I Urge you find somewhere with security and Manners. The manager really feels he has no business with guest and he really knows nothing about customer service even after 25 years he claims. If you know you work hard find somewhere you can invest your safety and security. The guards are always asleep as well so dont expect them to jump up and start assisting.