I just returned from a fantastic vacation at Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica. Whitehouse opened 2 years ago and was the last of 17 Sandals and Beaches Resorts on 5 different Caribbean islands for me to visit. When I met with the General Manager he said I saved the best for last and he could be right!
Sandals Whitehouse combines a fabulous beach with three wonderful pools, 7 excellent and diverse restaurants, beautiful rooms (every one oceanfront) and an absolutely outstanding staff. You can enjoy water volleyball, games, contests, and your favorite Caribbean eats and drinks at the French Village pool; quiet reading and relaxing by the Dutch Village pool; or people watching, sunning & swimming in the huge signature pool with swim up bar near the Italian Village. There are Jacuzzis scattered throughout the property as well.
On the beach you’ll find lots of lounge chairs in the sun or shade and an excellent watersports staff to entice you with waterskiing, knee boarding, sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, a glass bottom boat and scuba diving. All complimentary for Sandals guests.
As a certified scuba diver, I made two dives daily with tanks, BCD, mask, fins & snorkel at no cost. A limited number of wet suits are available for a $5 fee, but most will find the 86 degree water comfortable in a bathing suit. I sure did! The dive sites are diverse and I particularly enjoyed “The Maze” with its many swim-throughs and chimneys. Another favorite site was “Deep Cottage” where a few dozen lobster taunted us from under a coral shelf.
If you’re not a diver but would like to try, the resort course is a fantastic deal. For $70 you receive 2 hours of safety and pool training then one dive daily, with equipment, for the length of your vacation. Your depth is limited to a safe 35-40 feet and divemasters provide plenty of TLC. However if you fall in love with diving, Sandals Whitehouse has a complete PADI dive center and teaches all the courses from open water to advance and specialties. So you can arrive with no dive experience and leave the resort a certified diver. How cool is that!
When you’re hungry, there’s everything from a beachside bar & grill or Tex-Mex to Asian, Italian and Caribbean specialties with white glove service. We asked our servers for recommendations and had a great meal every night! During the day, shorts and flip flops are fine but in the evening “casual elegance” is suggested and men will want long pants and a collared shirt (think khakis & a polo). None of the restaurants accept reservations so most guests choose a restaurant, check in, then enjoy a drink and music outdoors in the torch lit, Italian style piazza or in the air conditioned martini bar.
At night there is entertainment at the night club and piano bar but with all the scuba diving, sun and fine dining I must admit to having lights out each night before midnight. There’s nothing like returning to a beautiful oceanfront room with king size bed, walk in shower and Jacuzzi tub after a long day of play. Sandals Whitehouse is another piece of paradise and definitely my kind of place!
A one week all inclusive honeymoon or vacation for two has been starting around $3700 with airfare from Seattle, accommodations, meals, drinks, watersports and entertainment. Join us for our next Caribbean Night or call us when you’re ready to be wowed! We have 3 certified Sandals Specialists in the office to give you personalized help at no extra cost. Learn about which Sandals Resort is best.