Sandals Dunns River: Newest Sandals Resort Jamaica 2025 Travel Guide
For 2025, the newest Sandals Resort in Jamaica is Sandals Dunn’s River in Ocho Rios. After a multi-million dollar renovation and restoration, it reopened in June of 2023 with a complete Sandals 2.0 redesign, making it Jamaica’s freshest option in 2025 for travelers seeking modern rooms, new dining concepts, and a boutique yet buzzing Caribbean getaway.
What You’ll Learn Here:
- Location and story of Sandals Dunn’s River
- Room types
- Resort experiences
- 2025 travel options
- Pricing and inclusions
- Expert advice
- How Sandals Dunn’s River stands out among other Sandals resorts
At Best Caribbean Resorts, we’ve stayed at every Sandals resort, including Sandals Dunn’s River. As one of the few Sandals Royal Club Diamond Elite travel experts, we offer 100% complimentary, expert vacation planning and look forward to sharing our insider knowledge with you today.
Located in historic parish of Ocho Rios, Sandals Dunn’s River is just ten minutes from the iconic Dunn’s River Falls and draws inspiration from the beauty of that waterfall, incorporating elements of it into the design and guest experience.
If you want the in-depth guide to Jamaica’s newest Sandals and our best advice for making it your perfect getaway, this is the right place to be.
Let’s go!
Table of Contents - Sandals Dunn's River Review
Quick Facts About Sandals Dunn’s River 2025
As part of our travel series “Beyond The Brochure” we take you Sandals Dunns River and give you a close up of what to expect and what to look forward to when visiting this amazing resort.
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Location: Ocho Rios, Jamaica – now with daily direct flights on American Airlines from Miami to Ian Fleming International (OCJ) in Ocho Rios, just 20 minutes from Sandals Dunn’s River. Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston are also major international airport options, with transfer times of approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours.
Vibe: Intimate, boutique styled resort that is both active and romantic
Rooms: Coyaba Sky Rondoval Villas, Skypool Suites, Club, and Butler options.
Dining: 12 specialty dining restaurants and nine bars
Beach: Compact, private, and kept in pristine condition for a calmer, crowd-free experience. New for June 2025 is a private butler beach.
Notable Perks: Golf at Upton Estate included “Stay at One, Play at More” privileges with Sandals Ochi.
Perfect For: Honeymoons, anniversaries, luxury beach getaways, and anyone who loves modern design with the best of Sandals 2.0.
What Makes Sandals Dunn’s River the Newest Standout Near Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica
Location: Sandals Dunn’s River is situated where Jamaica’s famous waterfalls meet the Caribbean, offering epic rooftop views and a true intimate resort experience.
Signature Rooms: The resort features the best of Sandals 2.0, including the Coyaba Sky Rondoval Villas with butler service, which offer rooftop stargazing picnics as part of the Celestial Butler experience.
Club Level: If you’re choosing Club Level, you’ll get premium touches without the complete Butler experience. Think elevated comforts with a private check-in and concierge team while managing the budget.
New Restaurants: Sandals Dunn’s River introduces brand-first restaurants: Edessa (Mediterranean), and Zuka, (Latin American). We love the French cuisine at La Monde too, which is one of the newest specialty dining concepts at the resort. Travel Tip: Always go with the server’s recommendations!
Vibe: The resort creates a romantic atmosphere perfect for couples, while also being a welcoming resort for friends and family.
How to Get There in 2025 – Faster Transfers from Ian Fleming (OCJ) and Travel Tips
Ian Fleming International (OCJ) Flights: Starting January 2025, Miami to Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ) flights bring you within 25 minutes of Sandals Dunn’s River Resort. Ian Fleming International Airport is the closest international airport to Sandals Dunn’s River Resort, offering the most convenient transfer. If you’re flying into other international airports, such as Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay or Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston, expect transfer times of approximately 90 minutes and 2 hours. For those looking for a private transfer we recommend our driver, “O’Shane” from O’shane Tours for these routes. Contact us for more info!
“Stay at One, Play at More” with Sandals Ochi: Your stay at Sandals Dunns River includes full access to Sandals Ochi via a complimentary shuttle, just 15 minutes away, which means an extra 16+ restaurants, more evening entertainment, and different beach settings.
With Sandals Ochi’s ongoing 2025 renovations, the combined experiences of both resorts make Ocho Rios a world-class destination for those who want great food, nightlife, and downtime.
Accommodations – Where You’ll Stay in Style
As a travel expert and Sandals Specialist who’s had the pleasure of experiencing all of the Sandals resorts, I can personally tell you that at Sandals Dunn’s River, your stay is elevated by the Sandals 2.0 collection of accommodations. Here you can choose from 14 room categories, (2 Sandals Luxury, 6 Club Level, 6 Butler Elite) each offering modern elegance combined with a sophisticated Caribbean charm.
For those wanting the ultimate romantic retreat, we have to recommend the Coyaba Sky Rondoval Villa that stands out with its private pool sanctuary, and rooftop lounge—and let me tell you, it’s absolutely perfect for stargazing.
Club Level Beachfront suites place you just steps from the sand (and trust me, waking up to those ocean views is something special!), while swim-up suites give you pool access directly from your private terrace—one of my personal favorite features that I always recommend to clients.
All but three rooms feature tranquility soaking tubs and all rooms at Sandals Dunns River have king size beds. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a romantic escape, Sandals Dunn’s River’s promises an unforgettable vacation in paradise that I’m confident will exceed your expectations in many ways.
Dining and Bars
As travel experts who’ve experienced Sandals Dunn’s River firsthand, we can tell you that dining here is absolutely a culinary adventure that will delight your taste buds – again, always go with the servers recommendations as they will not disappoint. With 12 specialty restaurants offering everything from the freshest seafood to international gourmet cuisine, there’s something for even the pickiest of eaters too.
When it’s time to unwind, you’ll choose from nine bars throughout the resort, and each one has its own charm. The Dunn’s Rum Club is an absolute must-visit – we’ve spent countless evenings enjoying their expertly crafted cocktails.
Travel Tip: Go for the Higgins Swizzle… It’s as much fun to say as it is is to drink!
Cost Guide – What You’ll Pay in 2025
Sandals Dunn’s River’s luxury level entry-level rooms average around $276 per person per night, compared to $182 at Sandals Ochi.
For a July honeymoon in a Skypool Suite with Butler service, expect to pay around $11,000 for seven nights. Butler level rooms, include exclusive amenities like personal butler service and more privacy. Along with the rondovals, we personally love the beachfront skypool suites, with infinity pools and direct beachfront access. The views are amazing and such a unique feature only offered at a few Sandals properties.
Here are three ways to get the most value for your Sandals getaway:
- Join Sandals Select for loyalty discounts and bonuses.
- Take advantage of free-night promotions or the 777 deals.
- Work with a travel advisor at Best Caribbean Resorts who knows when and how to pair these offers with peak room availability.
What’s Included and What’s Not
Included:
- All meals and snacks at 12 restaurants.
- Unlimited premium drinks at 9 bars, including the beach bar, lobby bar, Dunn’s Rum Club (featuring Dunn’s Rum), and Lapidus Lounge. (Tito’s, Johnny Walker Black, Johnny Walker Red, The Glenlivet etc…)
- Blue Mountain Coffee as a premium coffee option at the Blum cafe is must for breakfast.
- Golf at Upton Estate, all land & water sports (including hobie cats, knee boarding, water skiing, snorkeling, and scuba diving), daily entertainment (including theme nights and beach parties), and round-trip airport transfers.
- Access to the fitness center located on the 6th floor with beautiful beach views.
- Water amenities including plunge pools, two main pools and two heated whirlpools with features such as a volleyball net.
- Private beach access and butler beach for butler level guests.
- Recreational activities such as beach volleyball.
Not Included:
- Spa treatments at Red Lane Spa.
- Off-property excursions via Island Routes.
- Premium wines beyond the standard top-shelf brands.
- Butler and spa gratuities (we recommend $25 – $40 per butler per day).
Insider Tips from Guests & Sandals Travel Specialists
Club vs Butler – How to Decide
Butler Elite at Sandals resorts provides the highest level of personalization, including private dining, priority reservations, and exclusive services and amenities not available in standard rooms. Butler level rooms all feature a king size bed as a standard amenity. Club Level offers similar amenities and concierge-style services, including dinner reservations when booked early, but lacks 24/7 personal service.
Pro Tip: For honeymooners, the “Celestial Butler” in a Coyaba Sky Rondoval is a memorable experience. Your butler team will arrange a private rooftop dinner from any restaurant on site, followed by a guided tour of the night sky that concludes with a romantic bath in your rooftop tranquility soaking tub.
Excursion Pairings for 7 Nights
- Day 2: Climb Dunn’s River Falls, then unwind at the resort’s river pool.
- Day 4: Half-day snorkeling or catamaran sail, with sunset cocktails back at the Rum Club.
- Day 6: Quick adventure like Mystic Mountain or river tubing if flying from OCJ, less transit, more playtime.
Your Sandals Dunn’s River Trip, Planned Right the First Time
Sandals Dunn’s River is one of those resorts where every choice, room type, flight route, and dining reservations can dramatically change your experience. That’s exactly where we come in.
Here’s how Rivage Travel and Best Caribbean Resorts can make your trip seamless:
- Personalized Resort Matchmaking – We don’t just “book a room”; we match you with the right category, location, and timing based on your travel style and budget—whether that’s Sandals Dunn’s River or other Sandals properties, ensuring you find the perfect fit among all Sandals resorts.
- Flight & Transfer Optimization – From the new Miami–OCJ flights to private MBJ transfers with curated stops, we handle the logistics so you spend more time at the beach and less in transit.
- On-Site Experience Planning – Pre-arranged dining, spa, and excursions so you arrive knowing your week is set for maximum enjoyment.
Ready to plan your Sandals Dunn’s River escape? As a standout among other Sandals resorts, it offers a unique luxury experience. Contact us today and let us handle the details so you can simply show up and enjoy your luxury Caribbean getaway.
