Imagine meandering through lush tropical gardens, relaxing on a pristine beach by day, and being serenaded by a symphony of tree frogs and crickets by night. Every room has a sort of understated elegance, with terra cotta floors and natural wood furniture accented with hand-picked authentic Jamaican accents and artwork. This is Couples Swept Away- a romantic and relaxing retreat in Negril, Jamaica.
I was lucky enough to stay here for 3 nights- and it made a big impression. Upon arrival, I immediately fell in love with the resort’s design and décor. No oversized imported marble entrances or faux-European styling- this resort doesn’t need it. Instead, a simple open-air lobby with tall ceilings accented with bamboo trim, gorgeous local artwork, and classy Caribbean colors makes you feel at home. Its style seems effortlessly elegant- highlighting and reflecting the natural beauty of the island. If you’re already in paradise, you don’t need to dress it up- and Couples Resorts has mastered this conscious restraint. Jamaica is the star of this resort, and it shines.
Jamaica’s natural beauty comes through again in the lush tropical gardens that surround the lobby and line the paths throughout the resort. I’ve never understood why other resorts import plants- and this property proves it’s unnecessary. The effortless elegance continues with the plants themselves taking center stage instead of the landscape design. The gardens are quite tall and prevent you from seeing the whole resort at once, creating an intimate atmosphere. There’s always a private place for a romantic moment, and it’s easy to pretend that it’s just the two of you in a secluded jungle hideaway. The way the paths twist and turn take a day or two to get used to, but once you start noticing the landmarks, finding your room becomes easier. If you have troubles like we did, just ask. There’s always someone available who will gladly point you in the right direction.
Walking down the paths, you catch a glimpse of the ocean through the foliage, and as you get closer, the gardens open up to reveal the clean sand and crystal clear blue water. The ocean is so clear, my husband lost his wedding ring in chest-deep water, and found it in 2 minutes. It’s a must-see for beach lovers. On either side, Negril’s famous 7 mile beach curves out towards the ocean, giving you great panoramic views…which are their best at sunset. Since the beach faces west, you have a front-row seat to one of the best sunsets you will see in your life. It would be easy to spend the whole day relaxing on the beach, playing in the water, and then enjoying the sunset.
The rooms at Couples Swept Away are simple yet comfortable, with everything you need and nothing you don’t. We stayed in the Garden Verandah Suite, located in a building on the back side of the resort near Norman Manley Boulevard. We could hear some sounds from the road, but nothing outrageous and the room was worth it. Timeless terra cotta floors and island cedar furniture accent the white walls and linens, again, letting the beauty of the natural materials shine through. Since the rooms are neutral in color, your gaze is drawn outside to the beautiful green gardens, once again putting the spotlight on the beauty of Jamaica. The large balcony further allowed you to enjoy the outdoors, with space to lounge and relax. We loved sitting on the balcony at night, relaxing to the sounds of tree frogs and crickets in the gardens below.
I’m a foodie, and I was impressed by the offerings at Couples Swept Away. We tried 5 out of the 6 restaurants, only running out of time for the vegetarian/pescatarian Seagrape Café. I loved the incorporation of local ingredients into the meals, once again spotlighting Jamaica’s natural resources and culture. My grandmother was from Jamaica, so I’m usually disappointed by the lack of local cuisine at resorts, and the low quality. Not at Couples! At every meal, The Palms buffet featured a few delicious Jamaican dishes, giving guests am authentic taste of the island. At Patois Patio, the meals featured Caribbean ingredients and cooking styles. Cabana Grill had jerk chicken and patties among the other snacks. My favorite restaurant, Lemon Grass, even managed to incorporate local ingredients into their amazing Asian-fusion dishes. The only restaurant we weren’t thrilled about was Feathers, the signature gourmet restaurant. Most of the food was under-seasoned and rather boring- but I’ve heard great things from other people, so it may have just been a bad day. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with consistently good food and how Jamaica’s cuisine was presented.
Since we were only there for 3 days, we didn’t take advantage of the activities, 10-acre sports complex, or free excursions- but we should have! We did tour the sports complex- and it is impressive! It’s on the other side of Norman Manley Blvd, but don’t let that scare you. There’s a crossing guard to help you get there- and it’s completely worth the very short 2 minute walk. Tennis, squash, racquetball, weight training, aerobics, swimming, basketball, a running track and more are offered at the sports complex! You can work on your fitness or your tan- it’s up to you! It REALLY is worth checking out, even if you don’t plan on doing any activities there. Seeing the sports complex for yourself might just change your mind! For watersports, go to the beach and you can kayak, snorkel, paddle board, wind surf, sail, or get introduced to scuba diving. If you want to venture off the resort, then take advantage of the included excursions- Margaritaville, golf, a sunset catamaran cruise, a shopping tour, glass-bottom boat tour, and a shuttle to the famous Rick’s Café. Although we didn’t take advantage of the activities, I did learn one thing- If you get bored at Couples Swept Away, it’s your own fault!!
Overall- I would gladly go back to Couples Swept Away. The staff were friendly and even took the time to learn our names. The food was delicious. The atmosphere was relaxing and authentic. There’s not much more to ask for!
A few tips:
- If you want to try it, make reservations for Feathers restaurant ASAP after check-in.
- Also sign up for the catamaran cruise ASAP, because the cruise books up fast.
- This area of Jamaica, Negril, is all about the beach and the crystal clear water.
- If you’re a pool lover, this resort only has 2 small pools and 1 large lap pool.
- Make sure you sign up for the complimentary excursions to get the most out of your Couples all inclusive vacation.
- Make sure you plan your time around enjoying the incredible sunsets.
- Have breakfast in bed one day (at least).
- Golfers: You have to sign up the day before. It’s not a long course, but there’s a lot of uphill, downhill, wind, and punishing rough. Don’t forget carts, clubs and caddies are extra.
- Sunscreen!
- Garden View rooms should normally expect to hear some road noise.
Honeymoons, Inc. 