THE GOOD: It's a relatively good bargain (but not for you if you want the pool boy to bring you an umbrella drink). Well-maintained gardens: pretty even, if you are into tropical plants. Convenient location in Ocho Rios: walking distance to attractions in the area that kept me occupied for several days: beach front, shopping, movies, restaurants, craft market. No problems with security during stay, rooms cleaned daily, breakfast ok, with slow but very attentive waiters. Privately owned suites have more amenities and furnishings and are WAY better maintained than hotel run-rooms.
THE BAD: Have to go around property to beach because hotel does not have direct access to the beach front even though it is very close. Back access from property to road parallel to beach has limited hours; minor inconvenience- it takes about 3 minutes to go around, so no sweat. Unlike other hotels nearby, SC does not offer beach chairs, so I had to rent one daily. Hotel rooms had only one key, so sharing a room required dropping off the key at the front desk to give roommate access when we had different schedules, which would be no problem if the front desk was manned full-time, but that was not the case....sometimes patrons had to wait for about 5 - 10 minutes (although it seemed like an eternity) before someone came out to the front desk. You're supposed to ring a bell to alert the staff in the inner room, but there were clearly gaps in coverage. Stayed in a hotel-managed room. Hot water hot or miss, same thing for wifi access. Tried to call hotel several times while away from premises, phone was either not picked up (probably because no one was at the front desk at the time), or transfer was botched.
THE UGLY: Management response to problems with room requiring significant maintenance: APPALLING.
- Sand Castles Ocho Rios
- Sandcastles Resort
- Sand Castles Hotel
- Sandcastles Ocho Rios
- Sandcastles Beach
- Sandcastles Resort Jamaica
