SANDALS WHITEHOUSE

This is the newest Sandals and has been open since Feb 10, 2005. I spent a week there in December and a repeat visit this past May.  It is fantastic.  This is the best beach of any Sandals and has the watersports to go with it.  And with 1400 beach and pool chairs, you never have to worry about finding a place to relax.  The beach is so large, there are plenty of places to lounge in privacy. 

The food is plentiful, but the best place for lunch and afternoon snacks is Bluefields, for great jerk chicken, burgers, etc.  It is on the beach at the French Village and offers great views of the water and sunsets.  The patisserie is very popular for those after-meal treats such as fresh-baked cookies, pies, torts and more.

In the evening you can enjoy the sing-along piano in the martini bar as well as special nights such as carnival, when the Montego Bay Boys and Girls Drum and Bugle Marching Band performs.  A real treat. Also, savor the delicious chocolate and coffee bar on Tuesday nights at 11p and on Fridays at 11p you can have fun at the seafood and martini tables set up in the main piazzi. 

Many people think the isolation of Whitehouse is a drawback.  Quite the contrary.  The 50 acres of resort offer plenty to do and it's a real pleasure to have a 1/2 mile beach that is truly private.  For those wanting to explore outside the resort, there are lots of interesting excursions such as visiting the Appleton Rum Factory, going up river on a camera safari to 'hunt' crocodiles, climbing YS Falls, river rafting and tubing and the newest attraction...the Canopy Tour, where you 'tour' the jungle across the tree-tops on a cable as you cross streams, gullies and beautiful scenery.  One of the more unique excursions is a visit to the Pelican Bar, built on the reef a short ride from the Black River.  This is a must-see place and can easily be added to the Black River Crocodile Safari.  For pix, go to www.floydespelicanbar.com.

BEST BUY

Our recommended 'Best Buy' right now is the newly remodeled Sandals Dunns River Villaggio Golf & Spa Resort.  Re-opened in late December, it now has a very distinctive Italian flavor and offers redecorated rooms, restaurants, bars and more.  The concierge rooms and suites have all been re-done and are fantastic.  Marble bathrooms, hydrajet tubs, and gorgeous furnishings.  And all concierge rooms and suites include room service as well. The resort is now offering up to 55% off regular rates.  Take advantage of this great resort. And don't forget it includes golf and has an interchange with Sandals Grande Ocho Rios, giving you 14 restaurants to choose for dinner.  I toured the resort in late March and was very impressed with everything.  And it you like pizza, the new brick-overn pizzaria is to die for.  They have a menu with twelve different pizzas or create your own from a large variety of ingredients.

NEW MEDITERRANEAN VILLAGE AT ANTIGUA

As part of the new additions to Antigua, it has now become Sandals Grande Antigua.  The new Mediterrannean Village opens early 2007 and is incredible.  It adds three restaurants to the complex, additional shops including a rum-cigar-spice specialty store, the largest pool in the Eastern Caribbean (with cabanas), the largest whirlpool in the Eastern Caribbean and 180 new suites, 32 of which have separate bedrooms and 11 with private pools.  These new suites are all concierge level, have whirlpool tubs for two with separate shower, wall-mounted flat screen televisions and gorgeous furnishings.  The largest suites are 1200 square feet and have private plunge pools and hot tubs on the pool deck.  Other suites range from 500--930 sq. feet.  Book now for the best rates and to receive a $1000 gift certificate toward a future Sandals/Beaches booking.