My wife and I just returned from SDR we were there from 12/18/04 - 12/23/04 and have used this site enough that I believe I owe it a report for others going in the near future. Airlines were not our forte so other than that the overall trip was excellent.
It started out we had a 7:00 flight out of Omaha we were planning on leaving the house at 5:00. We went to bed around 2:00 am excited as children on Christmas Eve (not advised get your sleep). . I awoke to my wife screaming Oh my god I look at the clock it reads 5:30 I scramble and we are on the road at 6:00 making it to the airport at 6:30 only to see the longest line I have ever seen. As we near 7:00 they call our flight to come up front. It was a long walk with my head bowed past all those people who did show up an hour or 2 early for their flight. Run towards the terminal to be stopped by another line at security we hear our names being called over the PA and make it through security and rush onto the plane just as the doors are being shut like we are on Amazing Race. Then on through Memphis to Montego Bay no issues.
Arrive in Montego Bay we are finally back home we went to SOR 4 years ago on our honeymoon and this time they had actual terminals no stairs out of the plane. We walk down the hallway towards immigration do not worry, there are signs all over the place directing you were to go. Round the corner and are stopped by a wall of people waiting to go through immigration. It turned out a couple of flight delays caused 2 or 3 flights to all arrive at the same time. Last time it took us all of 5 minutes to get through this time I kid you not 2 hours. Oh well we are still in Jamaica. It was hot and everyone was sweaty my wife and I felt sorry for all of the families with small children and decided they need to open a line specifically for children. But we are both adults and can wait in line as some later decided they were not and we got to hear them moan and groan for the last hour and a half. One couple which I thought was funny was bragging about coming to Jamaica every year and were getting very perturbed obviously the ‘No Problem’ philosophy never sank in over all of those years. Well lets turn this lemon into lemon aide we start to chat with others in line and meet a few couples also heading to sandals and share about our previous trip to get these guys even more excited. Once we go through immigration it is downstairs to get our bag also easy signs to follow. Wait in line again and head out. People in the airport are very friendly and direct you to the Sandals area. New this trip is an actual A/C waiting room. They have beer and soft drinks for customers unfortunately the keg ran out on my first glass and they were trying to find some one to change it ‘No Problem’ I will go outside and by a couple for the trip. Be sure to remember this once you leave through the door to have a smoke or buy a beer you cannot come back through. There are no signs telling you this so there I was outside with red stripes in hand and my wife inside I can see her in my head getting steamed but again ‘No Problem’ luckily I see someone we met from the immigration line and have here go grab my wife before she comes outside. Finally we are back together again and it is off to the bus. After tipping the porter the bus is loaded and we are off.
I personally enjoy the bus ride and look at it as a free excursion. Get to know the people on your bus they are all fun and interesting to talk to. We met a DJ from our hometown both my wife and I had listened to as kids who had moved onto another town. The ride took us about 2 hours through the seaside and countryside of beautiful Jamaica. Last time this ride took us 5 hours in torrential downpours with washed out roads and water coming in through the door of the bus. So this time it was definitely ‘No Problem’. . We take one break about 30 minutes in to reload on beers and again we are off. We arrive at the resort after sundown around 6 or 7 and are greeted by the staff with our cool lemon towels and champagne. We are upgraded from the standard room we did not know this but realized it after looking over the brochure we were on the second floor of the Rialto building I believe that was the name of the 2 2story building off the main resort this was nice because at least we know there was not a disco or anything below us. One downfall to this was no private balcony your balcony was a shared walkway again ‘No Problem’. . My wife takes a shower and I am off to the beach grill to get a bite to eat and a cold drink. I had some jerk chicken which turned out to be a late night staple throughout my trip. And head back to the room the chicken was excellent. My wife has made herself even more beautiful and we decide to go for dinner. Our 2 choices of open restaurants were the international and Windies. We chose to eat at Windies were again I have the Jerk chicken and my wife has the Seafood medley we were both impressed with our meals. Head to the Piano bar which is a large building of to the side with no walls this will be our home base for the trip as it is about 2 minutes from our room door. We have a few drinks with other couples from the bus and it is off to bed.
Both trips we had arrived in the dark so it is pretty exciting to awake the next day to all of the well manicured gardens and trees. We head of to the buffet for breakfast another enjoyable meal I love their sausage it has a great jerk flavor to it but not good in quantities if you plan on laying around the pool. This is Sunday and the sun is shining so it is off to the pool to waste away the day. Around noon we get some light showers so that means it is time to get lunch. We eat at the beach grill where I again have the Jerk chicken anyone see a pattern forming. My wife has a quesidilla (sp) we both enjoy lunch and then find out they are having a pitch and putt tourney so we decide to enter neither of us golfers I have not golfed at all this year but thought what the hell, note that just because it is called a tourney does not mean it is full of talent. There were a couple of veteran golfers but we all had fun. One thing I did not like was they split you up male and female so I did not get to play with my wife, enough time for that later
love is all you need right, but I got to golf in my first 8 some. The playmaker events are great ways to meet new people and seem a little cheesy at first but about 5 minutes in and you are having a blast. Then sat by the pool and played name that tune with Craig the play maker who was hilarious and sang all of the songs along with the music. Sunday night we ate dinner at Kimonos we found out our group of friends all had the same time dinner reservations. Then its back to our room away from our room the Piano Bar were all of our wives got to watch Desperate Housewives everyone had something to do at 9 and it seemed to be this, so we all sat together and watched it. I got a few good pictures of my wife going all the way to Jamaica and having to watch TV. Then you guessed right if you thought I went for some Jerk chicken then to bed.
Woke up Monday and went to the International for breakfast I had steak and my wife had French toast and an omelet we both enjoyed our meals. This day it chose to rain all day so we drank a lot this day. Went to the gift shop to pick out what we will bring home and went to the piano bar for some more drinks. Monday was the beach party and it cleared up but was still windy so they served dinner at Windies ,ironic, and had a buffet that was delicious. After dinner they still had a show on the beach were you get to lay in lounge chairs around the portable stage with a bar 30ft away pretty hard to stay awake this relaxed but the show kept you entertained with a limbo guy, fire guy, and contortionist all truly amazing. The limbo guy balanced a lounger on his forehead even with the wind blowing +30 mph. Then back to the piano bar for more chit chat and then to top the night off with jerk chicken and Nachos.
Tuesday more rain and we had scheduled for the Booze Cruise to Dunns River falls which we had taken last time. The sea was angry that day my friends with 10 – 15 ft swells. We made it to the falls and had a very enjoyable climb we had done this same trip last time and still wanted to do it again. After our climb they took us to the reef outside of Ocho Rios to snorkel the calmest water they could find. This too was fun and we got to see a lot of fish. After that they decided the sea was to rough to go back to SDR so they were going to drop us off at SOR for a bus ride back. This was nice because we wanted to go back but did not think we would have time so we got to see our old Villa were we both fell head over heels in love with Jamaica. There was a lot of work going on at SOR and they had a large barge in the ocean right in front that would not make laying on the beach very enjoyable. We met a couple staying at SOR that came to SDR everyday because of that. By the time we docked ½ of the boat was seasick I had enough rum punch in me to still be enjoying myself. It was then a 10 –15 minute ride back to SDR were we immediately went to the hot tub. That night we ate dinner at the International were I had a steak not the best but edible hey I will probably have more jerk chicken that night which I did. This was also Casino night it was $20 to enter money going to a charity and a whole lot of fun this was the night we got awarded our sandals. Then to the Piano bar were this time we sang with a very charming man who new all of the songs and it was fun to see him and the piano player quiz each other but neither could stump one another. Then back to the room.
Wednesday we woke to sunshine this was our last day so it’s Suntan lotion free day gotta have that burn to show off when we get home to our friends and family. We spent most of the day at the pool and also went snorkeling through sandals we got to see a group of 30 squid that was neat to see all pointing the same direction kind of like a choreographed dance of mother nature. I entered and won a pool tourney remember what I said about the talent level from golf same applies here I am no pool shark by any means my wife chose to have a pedicure instead of playing we both enjoyed our events. Wednesday night was the signature guest dinner we had to go to the desk and invite ourselves because I believe our TA erred on mentioning this others got balloons and welcome back cards when they arrived but again ‘No Problem’ once we mentioned it I believe on Sunday they dropped off a personal invitation the next day. Dinner was pretty fancy with cocktails before over looking the ocean you got to hear a lot of Sandals stories from past guests all good. The meal was 4 or 5 courses they just kept brining out food you get to sit with the managers and we had the head guy I believe his name was Newton and was quiet at first till I started drilling him with my 20 questions as my wife put it to bring him out of his shell. After dinner we were awarded with a bottle of Appleton, pair of sandals necklaces, and a pair of T-shirts. And then who would of thought it was back of to the Piano bar and more Jerk chicken and Nachos to wrap up a very pleasurable trip.
Thursday was time to leave our island paradise and head back to the cold. We bussed back to the airport very somber unlike the ride there. Once at the airport it is time for our duty free shopping I load up my 3 1 Liter bottles of Absolute Vodka for $10 a bottle and wait for our plane which is delayed a ½ hour from the weather in Memphis. We leave somewhat excited to get back to our 18 month old son both looking out the window wondering to ourselves when we will be back and what will have changed in our lives till once again get back to our island home.
One thing to mention that I did not get from this board
Phone calls from the resort we never got a calling card but still reasonable at least for a parent to know his kid is doing OK with Grandma and Grandpa $6 for the first 3 minutes and $1 a minute after that.
Also Fruit problem no bananas or limes but ‘No Problem’ my wife loved the MJB last time but this let her expand and try a couple of drinks she would not have tried.
Overall a very enjoyable trip even if it rained ½ the time my wife was a little upset but Sandals does not control the weather. Last trip we were there 7 nights and had maybe 2 hours of sunshine so this one was much better. Last time was 1/1/01 – 1/8/01 if anyone was wondering.
Every time we leave Jamaica that trip becomes the best trip either of us has ever taken. I will keep checking this board occasionally to bring back some memories but thanks all for your advice and to help build my anticipation its to bad it all went by so quick. Next trip will probably be with 2 kids and we will give Beaches a try and maybe plant a little seed of what we enjoy so much into them.
And for all of your time as the Jamaicans say Bless
Jon and Nancy from Omaha