Couples Swept Away

We have just returned from a 2 week surprise birthday holiday for my wife and joined by some friends , for what was our first time visiting Jamaica and celebrating at the Couples Swept Away was an absolute wonderful time !!! The transfer was just shy of 2 hours due to heavy traffic through the centre of Montego Bay and the coastal road was horrendous due to the huge pot holes ! but it is definitely worth it to arrive at this just breathtaking location on the Negril beach ! Our room was spacious and clean with a large balcony and was very well maintained by the housekeeping staff !. The birds at night took some getting used to , but after a few nights and some rum cocktails you get used to them. This was the first holiday we have been on where we haven't even been in the pools ! ,we just spent everyday on the glorious beach and with sun loungers not to far from the Bamboo Bar , where Hakeem and Shaniek kept us entertained everyday. The banter and fun and games we shared with them was so much fun and they truly do deserve a special mention for making our holiday a wonderful memory through there commitment in encouraging all holiday makers to relax and have fun !!!. Thank you and much love to them both ! And to all the staff in general who were just lovely and sincerely helpful ! Really no complaints at all and thank you CSA !!! We loved it and will return one day for sure.

2nd time back, and while we were there, booked our 3rd visit for 2027. We don't go to this resort for is amazing food selection (although the food is pretty good overall) but for the fabulous beach, great water sports and friendly staff. Not sure why anyone would want a drink delivered to them on the beach...personally I love taking a walk and getting my own drink! Let's face it, 80% of us need the exercise! We were nice to everyone and were treated very well. Met some great guests who have been coming back for years. I can totally see why. My only minor criticism is that the nightly entertainment is mediocre...with the exception of Exodus, the house band, and the steel drum group. Both groups are super talented. I love dancing, but couldn't get into the music played at the disco. Wish there was a little more variety there...and more fitting for the demographic of the majority of guests (over 50).

First Time Visit to CSA Arrival Arrived late afternoon at Montego Bay Airport and got through quickly. After collecting our luggage, we found the Couples Lounge easily and were checked in straight away. We waited around 10 minutes before boarding the coach. The transfer took about 1 hour 40 minutes, with AC and a friendly driver who shared light‑hearted info along the way. Room – Ocean Veranda Suite (Block 15, 1st Floor – 3209) Our room was perfectly located between the beach and the road. One flight of stairs gave us privacy and stunning sea views and sunsets. Well equipped: balcony, mini bar, ironing board, umbrella (for shade/showers!), hair dryer, TV, walk‑in shower and a hot drinks machine. The bed was huge and comfortable with a variety of pillows, the aircon excellent, and Wi‑Fi was strong everywhere — even on the beach, although we didn’t use it for business purposes. Note: I took with me my own high powered hair dryer from uk but it wouldn’t work with the Jamaican power sockets, but the one provided was fine. They provide drinks bottles in your room and which you can keep. They can be filled up at water and ice stations conveniently positioned around the resort. The water and ice are drinkable and it was nice not to see one use plastic bottles. Beach & Atmosphere The beach is stunning: golden sand, spotless with warm shallow sea. Lounger reserving does happen, but we always found loungers in decent positions on way to breakfast (between 8am and 8.30am) even though peak season. By 9–10am beds were still available, though not in the best positions. All Palapas were taken very early (usually by the same couples, who not only took the palapas daily but would also take two loungers, two chairs and two tables - for one couple!!) The resort do ask people by leaflet not to reserve and leave beds for long periods. Vendors were respectful and easy to ignore if you didn’t want to engage. Buskers added to the relaxed beach vibe and we liked to tip them. Tree frogs at night were loud but magical. Resort cats were friendly — we loved seeing them and giving them treats on the way back. Sports & Activities The sports complex across the road was excellent with good gym equipment The lap pool was quiet and it was lovely to swim outside, whilst trying to avoid the odd palm leaf, frog or insect 😊 There was a pool table which we used daily when the sun was hot around midday. There were great fresh health shots – Pineapple and ginger being our favourite. Kayaking was fun and didn’t need booking The glass‑bottom boat, bookable one day in advance, couldn’t moor over the reef on the day we booked, due to choppy water, so it toured around Bloody Bay which was still enjoyable. The free snorkelling trip was a highlight — calm guidance, colourful fish, sea cucumbers, urchins and even a stingray. We skipped the catamaran as we thought it would be livelier than we prefer. Food & Restaurants/Bars Two non‑bookable restaurants (Palms buffet and Patois Patio) offered good quality food and choice. It probably didn’t have quite the range of food we have had at some other AI’s we’ve stayed in, but we found different things to eat over the 10 days and really enjoyed the breakfasts. In the evening the entertainment would start in Palms around 7.45pm and so people would stay following their meal. Tip: check the Egg Station area at dinner — occasionally extra dishes appear there. The two bookable restaurants were outstanding. We secured Lemongrass for my 60th birthday and Feathers for my partner’s birthday - as it wasn’t open on my 60th. It was Lobster Night and superb. You have to book the bookable restaurants 3 days before you want them and cannot rebook until you’ve been. We managed one more visit to Lemongrass before the end of our 10 days visit. For lunch, Scotch Bonnet and Sea Grapes were great — especially the sushi at Sea Grapes. Bars at both restaurants good but could do with cocktail menus as we would have liked to sample some other cocktails we hadn’t had before, and had no idea what to ask for. Martini bar good and tried a couple of different types. Other Services Two Gifts shops – one larger and both well stocked Business Computers above Reception which we used to print out some documents Staff – The Heart of CSA The staff made this holiday exceptional. Concierge arranged our birthday dinners and sent champagne. Bar staff remembered our drinks. Restaurant staff went out of their way to seat us where we preferred. Housekeeping, gardening and sports staff were consistently warm, hardworking and genuine ensuring everything from the room and towels, gardens and beach were spotless whilst being warm and polite. Special thanks to O’Shane (bar) who ensured my love of Pina Colada’s was sated and Christiana (Patois Restaurants) who helped us on our first day Overall We have previously stayed in (and not enjoyed) some polished, high‑end AI resorts where guests can be sometimes be rude, entitled and glued to Instagram. CSA is the opposite — relaxed, authentic, and full of heart. In our experience, if you don’t like it here, the issue isn’t CSA.

We've visited this resort many times as the beach is one of the best in the Caribbean and the value for all you get is really hard to beat. The people who work there really make the resort a special place for us and we will be back. This review is going to center on a few areas I think the resort can greatly improve upon. First, they offer a pre check-in portal through their Romance Rewards program. We've utilized this before and every time, including on this trip, none of the information translates to the resort upon arrival. As repeat guests, we've earned points and were entitled to gifts for this trip. We elected our gift, gave the size and that, nor the other items we earned were ready for us upon arrival. Also, none of the reservations we made in advance for dinner/excursions nor our requests for the in-suite mini bar were on record. We had to visit the Guest Sevices desk to get our gifts and re-do all the reservations, plus fill out a new form, wait 24 hours, to receive our mini bar requests. This should be a really simple thing to fix and it's very frustrating to think you'll have these items taken care of so you don't have to do so upon arrival. We always book a couples massage and it generally has been a good value. Not any longer. The price has risen to $360/couple and our lead massuese recommended we try the CBD oil treatment and said if we didn't care for it, we didn't have to buy afterwards. Turns out, that spoonful or more of CBD oil cost us an additional $40/person. We didn't ask if the treatment costs more and should have, but if they want their associates to try to sell add-ons, it should be dislcosed up front that it is an additional cost. I didn't care for that. Really the first time we sort of fell like a "number". The main pool at the south end of the resort needs a lot of updating. It's really small and looks the same as it did on our first visit almost 20 years ago. There's a large area between buildings not too far away that could be a great spot to build a larger, updated main pool. I think the resort would do well to consider that. The beach is, of course, the crown jewel, but a killer pool also goes a long way on vacation. Best of both worlds! We noticed some pretty bad sections behind the Martini Bar that need repair and were pretty easy to spot for anyone visiting. There's probably other areas we didn't notice, but seeing those things while getting "taken" at the Spa didn't set well either. All in all, the focus on customer service from upper management needs a refresh in my opinion. in adidtion to the above, out of nowhere, the menu was completely changed at the martini bar and many items were taken off and puzzling ones were added. The bartenders had to re-learn many drinks on the fly and without prior notice. One martini called "Key Lime Pie" mixed a ctirus with a rum cream. Everyone I saw get one had their ingredients breaking apart not long after the drink was poured. The mix doesn't work and I'm shocked someone didn't check that first before rolling it out. Also, the font is half the size of the previous menu and was very hard to read. This just made no sense to us nor any of the other guests. If it ain't broke... As always, the stafff are largely wonderful. They do an excellent job, are very friendley and welcoming to all guests who choose to engage with them. Not all are like that and that's ok. The grounds are regularly kept pristine, our room was cleaned every day and we received turn down service on top of that. Food is ok to excellent and there is plenty of variety to keep things interesting througout your stay. Drinks include top shelf liquor, all the bartenders are very skilled, some are engaging some keep to themselves. A friendly "hello" and "thank you" go a long way. I don't think they get paid nearly enough for what they do. We will be back, do not hesitate to book a stay at this place! You will love it.

We go to Jamaica every year and at least twice a year. Negril,,we love going there but the two hours mini van bus ride is very long after your flight so prepare yourself for a bumpy ride too… The greeting is very smooth and nice. The lobby is small,but it s ok no need for large fancy lobby right! 9 out 10 staff are all very nice and smiling all the time. Now the rooms! Rooms are average,clean,but be aware if you are in the garden part,specially where are those sections number 9 ,and 10 section it is super noisy at night,and day time,it like sleeping on the high way,the windows and doors are not sealing well,and the street is like not even a hundred feet away and lots and lots of traffic going by all day long ,,starting very early in the morning too. Even having your coffee early in the morning on your balcony is annoying because of the traffic noises.We did not know that… We would like to go back,but with a room on ocean front,it will be worth it,i am sure it must be so amazing waking the ofean waves instead of the cars and motorbikes!!! The beach is simply amazing and super long,you are on the 7 miles beach. You can walk in the water with beautiful clear and sandy ,,no weeds there like in Montego Bay area.We fell in love with that beach and the ocean. Also during the day time at the beach,it is very very quiet,no drunk screamers like around those pools,not that we are pool people but i ve never experienced such a super quiet place during the day time.. On the beach,if you want a drink,you need to go,so no waiters that brings you drinks to you,though I don t mind that at all.. Now as for food,and restaurants. All the food is good,but there is not a lot of choices,specially at the buffet for lunch,it is very limited in variety! They should have more restaurents for lunch and sometimes beach BBQ which there is no activities at all..There is two snaks and bar ,but my first day experience was not that great … Restaurant a la carte,or to reserve for dinner,they are only two available! And one is a very little one ,inside place too ,but it was indeed really great food for our last dinner ,but again been inside that little closed place humm no I would have preferred an open place near the ocean! We will go back,but with a better emplacement of our room… We do recommend Couples Swept Away.

This is a great resort. Some travel info first, it is about 9-10 hours flight from London and a further 2 hours from Montego Bay airport so you won't get here until about 2am UK time, so it's a long day. Check in was very quick and we were shown to our room, Atrium room, and then went and got some food. The food is excellent here: great choice for breakfast - egg and waffle/pancake stations, buffet help yourself everything you could want The resort is on a lovely beach and the sea is very shallow for a long way so no chance of being out of your depth. Plenty of sun loungers both by the sea and by the pools. There are sellers going up down the beach, mainly selling weed and such like and you get to know each other over a week, even if you just say no. Lunch is very good, buffet in the main restaurant or set menu items in different places - all very good. There are numerous bars but a big shout out to the Martini bar people as they were great and we drank there every evening. evening food was excellent, plenty of choice, two restaurants need booking but we had no problem getting in these. The room was ok. Plenty big enough but the lighting was very dim and it's not possible to read in the evening in the room if you wanted to as there are no decent lights. the resort, and all the other ones as well, are off a main road so there is traffic noise. there was a lovely balcony with a hammock but a couple of chairs would have been great so we could have sat out there in comfort. the staff are excellent, friendly and helpful. Could not have asked for more. big shout out to Shania who learned our names and said hello to us personally each day. evening entertainment is very good - highlight was Leo Carmichael. there are plenty of activities you can do there, snorkelling, go out on boats etc, so never need to be bored. Superb gym and lengths pool across the road which we used every day. Great changing rooms there as well. All in all this is a great place to come on holiday. It's a shame we had rain every day we were there!

It is ALWAYS amazing! We are repeater's! The people that work there make it incredible! I have been all over the world and I never repeat a vacation because how will I see the world if I do that BUT- I have been to this resort 7 times - I can't help it- it is exactly like the brochure pictures and it never disappoints!

Context: We've done 1 AI previously. Typically rent condo's/houses albeit with friends and family. This was just my wife and I, so chose AI. First time to Jamaica. Most outstanding qualities of the resort are the staff, the beach, and watersports. We found ALL staff to be consistently friendly, welcoming, and service oriented. I've stayed in nice hotels around the world (years of work travel), this was the most genuinely friendly and helpful staff I've encountered. Beach is amazing! Exceptional strip of sandy beach and sandy swimming area with gorgeous westerly views. Starfish (please don't touch) and stingrays frequent the area. Watersports are plentiful with sailboats, wind surfing, scuba, snorkeling, kayak, SUP, etc. Lessons are available as well. All included except for scuba certifications and use of wetsuit. This area is also staffed exceptionally well. Friendly staff assisting with all gear, answering any questions and ensuring you have a great time. We chose a beachfront verandah suite and were assigned 3317, exactly what we hoped for. 3rd floor, corner room, amazing views, ocean sounds, etc. Room was as expected. A few gripes: mini-split AC ran constantly and took edge off humidity and heat, but couldn't really cool the room. The TV was not 'smart', image was

Nothing but great a positive things to say about our recent visit. All staff were friendly and responsive, and the weather was outstanding. All facilities were good, but they are becoming dated. Might be time for a facelift on rooms, restaurants, etc. The pickleball courts were fun with lots of players from around the world, and also a qualified pro working with guests. The website does not really do the pickleball courts justice. Will definitely go back to this paradise.

The location here is hard to beat - if you are a beach person, this is the one! I have only been to this Couples resort, and before that only been to Sandals resorts! The beach, like I said was the winner for me. Comparing what I had been to in the past, I am going to leave my honest review! The rooms are nice, plain, but nice. Beds comfortable, nothing extravagant about the room, but I don't go to spend a lot of time in my room. We had the beachfront verandah room, with amazing sunsets! I loved sitting out there after a long day in the sun. We had the third floor, so the view wasn't blocked in any way, but they don't have elevators, so keep that in mind! The thing about my room that was a bummer to me, was the noise!!!!!!! Not from guests, but from workers in the mornings, yelling, and the carts that they are pushing on the sidewalks to refill the bars and stuff! It would be helpful to put nice rubber tires on the carts, because its amazing how much noise they made! Also, the A/C in our room stopped working on the 4th day. The housekeeper reported it before we even knew, and I checked on it personally 3 more times after that, and in the last 3 days, it was never fixed. I really only wanted that for sleeping, and it helped drown out the noise, so that was a bummer for me!!!! Bars, restaurants etc. were fine. Two of the restaurants you have to have reservations, we got into both, and Feathers, our meal was amazing. The food is good, not grand or spectacular, but good! Bars are quick and convenient, which is good especially when its hot laying on the beach and swimming all day. In the scheme of things we took the most advantage of Scotch Bonnet on the beach there and the buffet! The Aura nightclub - had a lot of fun in there. BUT - we went the next night when it was not a piano night, and the bartender said it was open till very late hours. A few of us were in there, and the bartender turned off all the lights, and sat with his friends and watched a movie, and never came back to the bar for our drinks! It was very odd, so we all left. The grounds are beautiful, and our housekeeper, Tracey Ann was amazing. I went to the spa, loved it there as well, it feels like you're in a private jungle! We played a TON of beach volleyball with all of the guys out there! They definitely keep you moving and made it fun! HOURS, we played :) They do a great job keeping guests active! All in all, I will definitely return - but I will get a room there off of the beach, they are private and much more quiet!

We just completed our 7th trip to Jamaica and after many years of changing hotels and locations, we opted for our 7th consecutive time to return to CSA. Note that we have booked next years trip already. They will get you a better deal than any travel agent if you book while you are there. Our choice is an Ocean verandah suite near one of the hot tubs. You can see the ocean, but not close enough to be disturbed by the road or the passing guests. Just works for us. Room is well layed out, and they make sure it stays clean. I have been reading some of the reviews and have to laugh. One guy said you had to get a torch to get a chair on the beach. I am an early riser and love to go to watch the sun come up and get pretty much the area I want. My wife had surgery for skin cancer, so sitting in the direct sun is not going to work for us. We would walk on the beach, have breakfast and then swim and there were chairs open everywhere, and the hotel was at 90% occupancy. We did see a lot of people come to the beach around 11:00 am and appear to be upset that someone hadnt reserved a palapa for them. You snooze you lose my friend. The food here really is quite good. We are not foodies and love jerk chicken, and the other jamaican specialties they offer. You will always find good things to eat here, but keep in mind you are not at a five star gourmet restaurant, and if thats your thing, you might look elsewhere. We were impressed by the burgers at Scotch Bonnet by the pool. Smokehouse burgers they called them, and while we didnt go to Jamaica for burgers, they were outstanding. We dined at every restaurant and Feathers was our favorite with Oshea as our server, who embodies the friendly, caring Jamaican personality that we really enjoy. We felt like Patios really upped the quality of the entrees and the service was really good. Lemon Grass is always good, especially if you enjoy a bit of spice. They offer sit down breakfast at Patios which was great, or you could have the breakfast buffet at the palms, and if you cant find something in there to fit your pallet, you have issues. We did order pastry baskets with fruit a few mornings that was delivered to our room. You will not go hungry at the resort. The bartenders are fun and will clean and wash your tumblers before refilling them. One thing we do miss, is the servers on the beach taking drink orders. Supposed to be doing that, but we never saw one being delivered. They need to get that going again. We did get a couples massage that was incredible. Very relaxing. We played pickleball and enjoyed that side of the resort as well. The repeaters dinner was good, and it was nice to listen to Moses playing his guitar and singing for us. The man is so talented and such a nice guy. Highly recommend catching him on Wednesday nights at the romantic bonfire. If your looking to simplify your airport experience, book Club Mobay. It is so nice to have someone meet you at the airport and get your quickly to their lounge for something to eat and drink while you wait for your transport. Dont be in a hurry, as the drive to the hotel is lengthy (2 hours) in construction, and there is no short cut. Our hope is that the Jamaican government realizes what a liability that pot hole filled road is for transporting tourists. Maybe they will get around to fixing the road as they did to Ocho Rios soon. In conclusion, is this hotel absolutely perfect? No, there isnt a perfect resort, and if you find one, you shouldnt go, as you will ruin it. If your going to enjoy the best beach on the planet, swim in warm turquiose waters, eat and drink too much, and just enjoy the vibe of Jamaica, this is the place for you. GregD

We had an amazing stay. Arrival and check-in were smooth and welcoming. The room was great and very comfortable, and housekeeping serviced it twice daily, which was a really nice touch. The à la carte restaurants were excellent and definitely the highlight for dinner. We only tried the buffet on the first night but the music was a bit too loud for us. For lunch, the fish tacos and chicken sandwich were very good. Cocktails and spirits were also great. The beach is truly one of the best — absolutely beautiful. We stayed from mid-February to the beginning of March, and the weather was great most days. It was mostly sunny; sometimes it got a bit cloudy during the day, but there was still plenty of sunshine to enjoy the beach. What really made the stay special was the staff, who were amazing from reception to housekeeping and all the F&B team. A special mention to Ashanti from the beach bar, who served our party for the full 12 days — the best server, always friendly and attentive. If you’re looking for souvenirs, there is a small shopping centre about 5 minutes’ walk away with Hi-Lo Food Stores (p.s. souvenirs, coffee and alcohol were actually cheaper at the airport). Overall, it was a fantastic stay and we would absolutely return. A perfect place to relax, enjoy the beautiful beach, great food and truly wonderful staff. 🌴✨ THANK YOU ❤️

We stayed at Couples, Negril for the second time, our fourth time in Jamaica total. We were very happy to be supporting this island after the storm last year and the people and the resort were great. The airport is under some renovation, but we had no problems at all. We arrived on Friday and left on Thursday, so no Club Mobay needed. Travel was smooth. The ride to the resort ended up being private for us, and while I wish it were less than 90 minutes on smoother roads, it is not. Highlights: The coffee bar. I mean, just fantastic to grab an espresso beverage from 7 am to 10 pm. Delicious. Scuba, my hubby dove several times from their Padi shop and he had a great time. They match you up with a dive buddy if you don't have one. The weather. We had some rain and some wind this trip. It made us appreciate the sunny days more, and was kind of relaxing to get a massage while it was raining. The beach. Clean, chairs plentiful, the offer of drinks all day was excellent. The pool. Aqua aerobics every day were a hoot. The pool bar was not a free for all like at some other resorts (RIU) and people were generally more classy and less rowdy than at some other resorts. We like a good time, but we keep it classy. One disappointment was the non-working jungle hot tub, but that's ok. The food was as expected. Some things are very good, some things are good and some things were not up to standards. The vast majority of what we were served was very good. If not, there were many other choices available and there is no way to go hungry at this resort. We come back because of the size, the comfort and the laid back nature of this resort. It's awesome. If you want shiny white tile and lots of glass, look elsewhere. If you want to see 100s of birds in your jungle view room just steps from the beach, this is the place. Enjoy

This is our second trip to CSA and I really only have two comments. 1- My wife and friend went for a massage and said it was the best they had ever had. Also heard another guest repeat the same. 2- There is absolutely nothing to complain about at this resort. Food, room, service, sports complex, entertainment and beach are top notch.