The Best Hotels to Book in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Sans Souci translates to “carefree” in English and carefree couples are aplenty at this remarkable all-inclusive Ocho Rios resort. Wellness and water define a stay at this beachfront property. Play a round of tennis, join one of the regular meditation or aerobics classes, sweat it out in the spa, or bathe in the on-site mineral spring. Staff offer lessons in sailing a small catamaran, or you can strike out on your own in a kayak, returning in time for sunset – best enjoyed from the resort’s own west-facing beach.

Adults-only resorts are a speciality in the Ocho Rios area – designed to offer a calmer, quieter environment where all of the hotel’s resources are dedicated to providing the best stay imaginable. Sandals do Caribbean luxury to the utmost – with a champagne and caviar bar and a butler service to the 74 suites, all with ocean views. And lest we forget the multiple peacocks strutting around the place. No wonder this resort has attracted writers such as Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, in the past.

Occupying a prime slice of beachfront real estate in the heart of Ocho Rios town is Moon Palace, a family-friendly resort with a ton of fun activities. For example, FlowRider – no, not the rapper – is a surfing simulation ride that creates artificial waves of water for you to practice your technique. And if you want a little alone time, the Playroom offers a variety of activities and games for kids of all ages – including arcade games and air hockey – so you can enjoy the hot tub in peace.

Rooms all come with their own private verandas at the Jamaica Inn – where the delightful building features historic architecture painted a calming pale blue and white. As the name suggests, the onus is on celebrating all things local, such as the cuisine – where the chef sources local ingredients as much as possible and turns them into regional and western-fusion dishes. The sandy beach here is especially pretty, dotted with squat palms and sun loungers.

Fancy spending your luxury vacation staying inside a palatial treehouse? You can at the Hermosa Cove – the Cottonwood Cottage is a thing of fantastical marvel. In fact, every building of the resort has its own unique charm, with arcades, spiral staircases and other unusual features. The cove occupied by the resort has coral-dappled azure waters overlooked by palm-frond pagodas – borrow a kayak to get even closer to the sea’s more tranquil inlets and bays.

For couples who are looking for a resort that balances a romantic setting with plenty of opportunities to be active, take a look at Jewel Dunn’s River. Included in your all-inclusive package, you can play tennis, beach volleyball or try your luck at a nine-hole pitch and putt golf course. Look back to dry land from the deck of a Hobie Cat – or jump into one of the kayaks and explore the nearby coves and beaches at your own leisure.

One of the larger family-friendly resorts in Ocho Rios is the Hotel Riu – where there’s a water park with various thrilling slides and an array of entertainment programmes for adults and kids of different ages. When it comes to all-inclusive eating, you can order snacks at any time of the day or night, head to the buffets – both Italian and Asian – or have an a la carte meal at either the Kulinarium restaurant or the on-site steakhouse.

There is very little of the Ocho Rios shoreline that remains undeveloped. With time, it quite possibly all will be – while Frankfort Bay remains relatively peaceful. Hotels in this area are smaller, blending more naturally in with the tropical vegetation. For example, Prospect Estate and Villas consists of five luxury villas and one large, 18th-century house – set amid 1,000-acres (404ha) of land. Frangipani Villa, for example, has four ensuite bedrooms and a private terrace and pool overlooking the sea. Bliss.

Named after the beautiful flowers common to Caribbean islands like Jamaica, Hibiscus Lodge is a two-storey building with verandas on both levels overhanging the Caribbean’s turquoise waters. This is a good option for anybody looking to stay in Ocho Rios in a hotel rather than a resort. The Almond Tree is an on-site restaurant specialising in Jamaican cuisine – while the bars, cafes and other amenities of Ocho Rios are a few minutes away on foot.