Sandals South Coast is located in Whitehouse Jamaica, about an hour and twenty minutes from the Montego Bay airport. We visited this location in March of 2021, shortly after the resort finished some renovations. Sandals renovated the Dutch village adding swim up rooms to the resort. They also added a first ever swim up rondoval village which is where we stayed for our fantastic 7 night vacation.
We are still in the middle of the COVID pandemic so of course there were requirements before traveling to Jamaica… We were required to test negative for COVID within 72 hours of travel. We also had to complete a travel authorization found on the Jamaican travel website. Sandals kept us informed of changes via email, phone calls and their website.
Our travel day was as smooth as it could have possibly been. We flew out of Chicago O’Hare at about 7:30am on a direct flight to Montego Bay. We normally fly American Airlines for our Caribbean vacations but this time was a little different. We still flew American but this time we flew first class on the way to Montego Bay because it was only $140 more for the two of us. It was 100% worth it! During this time American is still not serving alcohol to guests in coach, but in first class you can drink all you would like! I am a huge fan of drinking on airplanes because flying gives me so much anxiety, the booze calms me down 🙂
Our flight to Montego Bay was about 3.5 hours. We landed at the Montego Bay airport right at 11am. Once we got off the plane we were met by our club Mobay representative. Club Mobay fast tracks you through customs. Once we met our rep we were through customs in about 10 minutes. We were dropped off at the Sandals lounge and reminded that we could utilize the club Mobay lounge as well. Little pro tip: the Sandals lounge has Red Stripe and snacks, but club Mobay has rum punch. UMMM YES PLEASE! We both brought water bottles to fill up for our journey to the resort. Don’t worry we didn’t fill them with water, they were filled up with rum punch from club Mobay 😉
After about 20 minutes our transfer was ready for us. We were escorted to a small shuttle to ride to our resort. There were 2 other couples and a gentleman on our shuttle, they are not stuffing them full in order to comply with COVID guidelines. I immediately asked the driver if there would be a bathroom break (LOL- the rum punch) and he told me we would stop about halfway through. We did make that quick stop halfway through our journey. About 1 hour 20 minutes after we got on the shuttle we were pulling into Sandals South Coast.
Upon arrival to the resort we were handed our chilled towel to freshen up with and offered a cocktail. We were then taken to the Club Sandals lounge for check in where we were again offered some more booze. After a short 10 minutes our Butler Tenniel was there to greet us. It was still too early to check in so he escorted us to lunch at Schooners. About 45 minutes later Tenniel was back and ready to escort us to our room. He gave us a quick tour of our room, popped some bubbly and provided us with our Butler phone. Now the party can begin!
South Seas Swim-Up Rondoval Butler Suite with Private Pool Sanctuary
Our first two days at the resort were perfect. We hung out in our rondoval village and at the beach. We also booked a Sandals for our five year anniversary coming up this September. We enjoyed some sushi for the first time and I promise it won’t be the last time. Our second night at the resort ended with us partying in the martini bar until about 12:30am. Why did we leave you might ask? I rolled my ankle dancing. No, I wasn’t wearing high heels. I was actually dancing barefoot. The Sandals staff took us back to our room via a golf cart because I was a hot mess crying my eyes out. 😦 Again, its not a vacation until Ashley get hurt right?!
The next morning I texted our Butler and explained what happened. Shawne was our Butler working that morning. He brought me some ice for my foot and got in contact with the resort nurse. After about 30 minutes Shawne was back at our room to drive me to the nurses station. The nurse wrapped my foot and provided me with crutches. I was offered pain medication and X-rays but I declined both. I wanted to keep enjoying what an all inclusive has to offer, unlimited booze! I also didn’t want to know for sure if my foot was broken. I decided to wait until we got home to go to the doctor.
The next five days of our vacation were full of me hopping and crutching everywhere. I attempted putting pressure on my foot hoping it wasn’t actually broken but there was no way, I was still in so much pain. But in Jamaica there are no problems, only situations. We continued to party on the rest of our trip it just looked a little different than normal.
Gotta pose like the Captain LOL 
OUCH 😦 
My poor toes are so swollen
The staff at Sandals South Coast is absolutely spectacular. I was in the perfect spot to be injured. Our Butlers provided us breakfast in our room almost every day, brought us lunch to our beach/pool spot daily, used golf carts to get us where ever we requested on the resort, made sure we had baggies so I could ice my foot wherever we were. Lets be honest, they took absolutely perfect care of us. The playmakers (the people that make sure you party hard during the day and watch their shows at night) also took amazing care of us. They always asked how I was doing and made sure to make me feel special. One of the playmakers, Tiffanie, even helped me ice my foot the first day. She made me put the ice directly on my foot and made me keep it there for 5 minutes. It was brutal but this actually SAVED me on vacation. I did this multiple times a day and it helped my pain SO MUCH.
Our Butler Shawne 
Our Butler Tenniel
Okay enough about my foot, lets talk about FOOD. Sandals South Coast has 9 different restaurants, of course we enjoyed all of them! Schooners was my absolute favorite restaurant at this resort. I had a lobster tail and spicy shrimp for dinner. It was perfect. Eleanor’s was the sit down brunch spot and also offered a delicious dinner. Cafe de Paris is also a savior late at night after dinner to give me the boost to stay awake before the nightly entertainment. Of course no trip to Jamaica is complete without some jerk chicken at the Jerk Shack.
Brunch on our Patio 
Dinner at Schooners 
Dinner at Neptunes
The entertainment at this resort was by far the best I have seen at Sandals. There was amazing entertainment every night. There was a beach party, Jamaican night and even a musical night. One of my absolute favorite parts of the musical was when they performed the Cell Block Tango from the musical Chicago. It was spectacular. This resort has an entertainment theater, Le Cabaret, where most of the shows took place, it was beautiful. Make sure not to skip the entertainment at South Coast.
This Sandals resort does offer a lot of water activities. Stand up paddle boards, hobie cats, kayaks, snorkeling, scuba diving and even waterskiing. Unfortunately we did not get to enjoy any of these things due to my injury.
There are three distinct villages at this resort. They include the renovated Dutch Village, Italian Village and French Village. South Coast also offers Over the Water Bungalows as well as the new Rondoval village. The beach at South Coast is two miles long so it never felt crowded and our Butlers set us up in a beautiful spot on our beach days. I highly suggest hanging out by the French Village on beach days. There are also three main pools at this resort. Our favorite was the pool in the Venetian Plaza, the main area of the resort. This pool has the signature Sandals tower and swim up bar.
We did enjoy one excursion at this resort. We took a catamaran to Floyd’s Pelican Bar. Even with being on crutches the island routes staff made sure I had a great time. They helped me onto the catamaran and had me go over to the bar on the first dinghy boat. While at Floyd’s you could enjoy drinks, lunch, sunbathe or play in the water. Make sure to bring cash to pay for your food and drinks. Check out my Vlog for some awesome footage of Floyd’s, the link is provided below 🙂 The catamaran footage starts at 2:45.
This vacation was filled with all sorts of excitement. The night we ate at Eleanors, Phil and I saw a woman choking on her food. I asked Phil if he knew the heimlich maneuver, he said he is not certified. He rushed inside the restaurant to ask for help and my nurse brain took over. I hopped over to this woman on one foot and said, “I’m a nurse, can I help you?” She nodded like OMG YES! I performed the Heimlich on her with what I assumed was a broken foot. She started coughing (thank you God!)… I asked her if she was okay and she replied with, “I am now, you saved my life, thank you so much.” I started crying because I was so happy I was right there when she was in need. We also shared a wonderful hug (which means even more during COVID). The Sandals staff actually gave Phil and I a free candlelight dinner the next night for my “heroic act.” To me it was just doing the job I love but I am still so appreciate of the love we received.
After 7 amazing nights our vacation had come to an end. It was time to journey back home… on crutches LOL. We boarded the shuttle for our 1 hour 20 minute transfer back to the Montego Bay airport. Our Butler’s had been in contact with the airport to make sure I could have a wheelchair upon arrival, and I did! If you book Club Mobay for arrival and departure, you get shorter lines through security on your way back home. This gives you more time to enjoy the Club Mobay departure lounge where you can enjoy your last cocktail and some food before flying home.
So… did I break my foot?! Oh yeah, totally. I broke my fifth metatarsal. This was not the first time I broke this bone HAHA. I broke the same bone in January 2013, eight years ago. Thankfully (?) I broke it in a different spot this time. When I met my doctor that Monday when we got home he said “I have good news and bad news.” The good news was NO SURGERY! Of course the bad news was I broke my foot and had to be in a cast for 2 weeks. UGH. After that I would be in a walking boot for 4-6 weeks. Its the end of April as I write this and I see my doctor on May 5th. Im crossing my fingers this silly boot can come off then!
Final review of Sandals South Coast… 10/10 stars! We have been to three different Sandals resorts now and this is the only one we have booked again. The other two resorts are still fantastic but I feel a strong need to redo this vacation without a broken foot. We will be returning to South Coast in June 2022 for my birthday 🙂 Only 412 days left until we return to South Coast!
The kissing tree! 
Our private plunge pool
I would like to give a huge shoutout to our Butlers, Tenniel and Shawne. Thank you so much for taking amazing care of us. We hope you are both there when we visit next year! Also Tiffanie deserves a shoutout. My vacation was saved by your icing skills, also you are an amazing entertainer! Last but not least, I actually emailed the general manager of the resort, Adrian Whitehead, to tell him all about our visit and the amazing hospitality. Thank you for keeping the staff informed about my injury even once we were back in the US. This means SO much to me 🙂 Sandals, you continue to amaze me!
Sunshine and booze with the Dempsey’s 