On a private Mahoe Bay beach about a mile past the eastern end of the airport, this huge all-inclusive resort (and I do mean huge: eight restaurants, seven pools kind of huge) hangs on to a whiff of that old British-Caribbean style: mahogany four-poster beds and other Colonial-style touches in the guest rooms, a pub, afternoon tea.

The Sandals private island just offshore, however, is done as an ersatz slice of the Orient—vaguely Asia-meets-South Pacific, with Balinese-style thatched beach cabanas, a lagoon pool, and a Royal Thai restaurant. You even ride a dragon boat to get there.

The all-inclusive fees include airport transfers, meals, premium booze at the five bars, and unlimited water sports and scuba diving (beginners can do a resort course, but that incurs an additional fee). One nice thing about staying at a Sandals resort is that you have access privileges at (and free, 5–10 minute shuttles to) Sandals’ other two Montego Bay resorts, where you can avail yourself of any of their restaurants (bringing the total from which you can to chose up to 19) and other amenities.

 

 - Reid Bramblett