Antigua vs. Jamaica

Need advice ladies!!!

I just spent an hour on the Sandals website. It seems like Jamaica has WAY more of the tours and things we like to do than Antigua does... however, here is my dilemma...

I have heard that the ride to and from the airport is quite long in Jamaica if you stay anywhere other than Montego Bay - like a 2-hour ride. The problem is that I don't know where any of these tours are and if we chose to say at Montego Bay, but then had long rides everyday to a different tour, that may present a problem for me (I get bad carsickness). I am wondering if its worth it to stay further from the airport and just suffer that ride twice but be closer to everything we'd want to do while we're there...

Am I making any sense?! Help!

Re: Antigua vs. Jamaica

I personally recommend Couples in Negril (or Couples Swept Away, also in Negril). it's just over an hour from the airport in MB and absolutely stunning! it's on the western tip of the island, so the sunsets are to die for!

Re: Antigua vs. Jamaica

Re: Antigua vs. Jamaica

Posted by RisiLeigh

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

I personally recommend Couples in Negril (or Couples Swept Away, also in Negril). it's just over an hour from the airport in MB and absolutely stunning! it's on the western tip of the island, so the sunsets are to die for!

OH I totally forgot about the Couples resorts! I guess I need to do more research! Thanks for the reminder

Re: Antigua vs. Jamaica

ive been to both antigua and jamaica. we stayed at the verandah in antigua and liked it alot.
we stayed at royal plantation in jamaica and LOVED it. i would recommend royal plantation. its a bit pricyer than the other sandals and couples resorts but soo worth it!

Re: Antigua vs. Jamaica

Ok, I know a few of you have voted for the Couples resorts... have you stayed at Sandals before, too, or no? I am very torn b/c it seems like the Couples resorts include more of the tours and excursions in their packages than Sandals does, but their dining options seem less... ACK

Re: Antigua vs. Jamaica

Posted by RisiLeigh

Ok, I know a few of you have voted for the Couples resorts... have you stayed at Sandals before, too, or no? I am very torn b/c it seems like the Couples resorts include more of the tours and excursions in their packages than Sandals does, but their dining options seem less... ACK

Re: Antigua vs. Jamaica

Message edited 12/12/2008 6:58:49 PM.

Re: Antigua vs. Jamaica

I stayed at Sandals Ocho Rios. I had a great time but I dont think I would go back. Long ride, plus the resort was to big for me. We did not do excursions but heard that they where not to far at most 1/2. Dunn's River is only 10 minutes from there. Now Sandals Dunns River I loved. We did not stay there but took the Sandals shuttle there. That should be much closer to the excursions.

Re: Antigua vs. Jamaica

Jamaica has lots to do - all of their resorts (Sandals) on Jamaica are beautiful and nice in different ways. It depends on what you like. Don't stay away from a resort because of the bus ride -- we did the longest ride there was at 1 hour and 45 minutes and I get car sick SO BAD but I was fine because I took Dramamine. If you take Bonine or Dramamine you should be more than OK for the shuttle ride. I wasn't going to let that stop me from going to a nice resort. We stayed at Sandal's Grande Ocho Rios - it was very pretty, great service, food was tasty. We were happy and for what we paid - it was a GREAT deal. We would return to Jamaica and probably do another resort only because I like to experience different things.

For you - since you mentioned you like excursions, I would check out what excursions are offered at which resort - they should have a list or you can call Sandals and ask. The big thing where we were was Dunn's River but like I said - this particular vaca was *ALL* about R&R so we didn't do anything but hang out and enjoy ourselves. I *really* liked the look of Negril (Sandals) -- they seem great!! So, if I had to go back to Jamaica I would do Negril although I did really like Ocho Rios. The good thing, though, about Negril is that the bus right is much shorter but you are not in MoBay -- so, you get the best of both. I had done a lot of research on TripAdvisor and was very happy with the deal we got and our stay at Ocho Rios... we look forward to trying Negril out in the future and then also Antigua. I don't know much about Antigua since I have not been there but DH told me that he LOVED it when he went there years ago -- I have heard that that particular Sandals is very romantic and beautiful.

There has to be lots to do at each resort and on each island so I would call and ask them, specifically, what tours are offered. We did do activities when we went on our HM (Hawaii) and I would recommend, wherever you go, doing a zip line tour and a catamaran cruise. Hope that helps -- just look at the site, look at tripadvisor, ask questions that are important to you and go with your gut!!!

Our next trip will probably be to Antigua if it is not Costa Rica first --- then, we would love to do Jamaica again - the people there are wonderful.

Re: Antigua vs. Jamaica

Here is what I wrote when I got back from our trip:

http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic-365286-1.html