JenniferSS

Great advice MoBride! Most resorts check in at 3pm but let you use the pools, restaurants and the bars (yea!) so that you can start your vacation immediately. But be sure to bring your swimsuit, sunglasses, a small bottle of sunscreen -3 oz or less so that you can keep it in your carry on luggage ( you do not want to start with a sunburn!) and a quick change of clothes-especially if your coming from a cold climate. I also recommend taking the private transfers (ask your TA what the cost is as they can vary depending on who they are using for a supplier). The highway is finished going into Ocho Rios but if you are at a resort farther down ( in May they were still working near Couples Sans Souci) you may encounter some delays. At this time a straight ride-no pit stops- into Sandals Grande is an hour 45 minutes. TA Jennifer

Hey Dedra! Sandals Grande is a fantastic resort because it has a bit of something for everyone! It is actually two resorts in one- the mountain side (which used to at one time be a Botanical Garden and so it retains that lush beauty) is called the Manor section. This section is fantastic if you are looking for nooks and crannies to get some alone time, beatiful greenery and are a pool lover. The buildings are only two stories tall and most house 4-6 units that share a pool. There is also a huge main pool with a swim up bar and poolside cabanas ( So many guests would plunk their items down to claim them and then not even use them Sandals has decided to rent these out for a day! I know the ones in Antigua come with a Butler a cute little cooler to kept beverages in, that the Butler will refill as needed and he/she will also bring you lunch and set it up! This would be great for the day after your wedding!!! ) There are some new Villas (2-4 units per building) that are suppose to be completed in January 2008 that I can't wait to see! The Manor house rooms have just finished up their refurbishment There are bars, excercise facilities, the nightclub,Red lane Spa and two restaurants in this section. The Riviera section is located along the beach. This is where the majority of public facilities (bars, restaurants, ect ) are located. Plus the rooms of the Manor house and the Riviera cottages (these are currently being refurbished). The beach is quite a bit longer than most photo's show. It stretches beyond the piers. And as you face the resort from the ocean, to the right you'll see a little bridge. Go over that to another section of the beach and another pool! There is a little strip of land that the neighbor will not sell however he was fine with Sandals building the bridge to the other section of land that Mr. Stewart owns! The secret to booking the Grande Ocho Rios is the room category. Some of them aren't all that great-don't get me wrong, they're ok. but others are a fantastic value! Of course you really can't go wrong with the Romeo & Juliet suite! If you have questions feel free to pM me! Jennifer

Hello Denise! I took a brief tour of this resort in May (it was full so I couldn't get photo's of the room categories) but I did get a couple of the wedding gazebos and I met with the wedding coordinator. She was extremely sweet and seemed to genuinly want the best experience for her guests! The Sunset Jamaica Grande ones are about the 5th page in! TA Jennifer

Hello Md_ocr! Both COR & CSS are fairly quiet & laid back. CSS being the quieter of the two!The Riu Ocho Rios is a fairly high energy experience- there is always something going on at the activity pool and with the nightly entertainment, so it will be quite a change going to the smaller, intimate, laid back Couples resorts. After the wedding and visiting with family it may be just what you need! As much as I enjoy the Couples products -in my humble opinion- the age and needed rennovations at COR will be glaring when you are just coming from RIU. When I was there in May the RIU was still "sparkly", the rooms updated and facilities were all very modern (as they should be with a newer resort !) COR is an older facility that has quite a bit of charm of it's own but it is due for renovations in the rooms and some public areas. CSS would be my personal choice for the Ocho area, it's a bit classier on the whole, many of the rooms have already been renovated (keep in mind that it was soft renovations - and that Couples philosophy is simple and comfortable) but it is also quieter. The free tours that COR offers that CSS doesn't are the catamaran cruise & horseback riding. I believe that COR has a few more water activities also. I know it's a heck of a ride to Negril from Ocho but I would endure it and stay in Negril at either Couples Swept Away or Couples Negril.The Couples resorts in Negril are fab! Maybe take in a visit to Rose Hall-if you like ghost stories, do some shopping in MOBay to break up the trip. Staying inNegril would provide a whole other dimension to your visit to Jamaica. Ocho has that rugged, lush beauty with the mountains rising up from the sea and all of the small beaches. Negril has that fantastic 7 mile beach where you could walk forever. Plus the sunsets there are breathtaking! My husband and I are taking our first real vacation (without the kids-woohoo!) this December and we are staying at Couples Swept Away. I can not wait to lay on the beach and just stick my flag in the sand when I need a drink! Another option ( if you want to stay in Ocho Rios and at a more modern facility) may be to stay at Sandals Grand Ocho Rios,(large resort) or Sandals Dunnes River Falls Villagio ( midsize resort with a very Italien flair!). Of course these don't include any of the free tours that Couples does - like to Dunnes River Falls or the horseback riding but they do offer the kyaking, golf, diving, sailing, ect. Sandals is offering an up to 55% off sale at the moment. Feel free to drop me a PM if you have additional questions! Jennifer

Thank you for the warm welcome ladies! I am really excited to be here and to assist Tammy! I look forward to getting to know everyone! Jennifer