October 18, 2026 — Sandals Montego Bay, the resort where the Sandals brand began, will welcome guests again on December 18, 2026 after a full makeover. Reservations are already open.
What is happening
On October 18, Caribbean Journal reported that Sandals Resorts International has set firm reopening dates for three of its Jamaica all-inclusives, with Sandals Montego Bay coming back on December 18. The resort is one of three Jamaica properties in what Sandals calls “Sandals 2.0,” a transformation it put at about US$200 million when it announced the plan in June.
The resort has been closed for an extended period. Travel Industry Today reported earlier that Sandals moved Montego Bay, Royal Caribbean and South Coast onto a longer improvement timeline after Hurricane Melissa, with a May 30, 2026 target at the time. December 18 is now the confirmed date.
| Detail | Sandals Montego Bay |
|---|---|
| Brand / parent | Sandals / Sandals Resorts International |
| Location | Montego Bay, Jamaica |
| Status | Closed for renovation; reopens December 18, 2026; taking reservations now |
| Rooms | 255 |
| Type | All-inclusive |
| Nearest airport | Sangster International (MBJ), roughly a 5–10 minute drive |
What is new
- A new lobby and a redesigned main pool.
- New swim-up rooms and ocean-view suites.
- Buccan, Sandals’ open-flame grill concept, in its first waterfront setting in Jamaica.
- Scrimshaw, a seafood restaurant, and the Bay Roc Rum Club, named for the property’s earlier life as Bay Roc Hotel & Villas.
- The Parisol Beach Club keeps its swim-up bar, and guest programming has been reworked.
Booking offer
Sandals’ “Great Jamaica Comeback Sale” covers its Jamaica resorts. TravelPulse reported up to $1,500 in instant credit and up to $500 in air credit, plus a free excursion for two on stays of five nights or more. The booking window runs through November 2, 2026 for travel through December 31, 2028. Savings vary by resort, length of stay and dates.
What it means for airline travelers
- Close to the airport: The resort sits just minutes from Sangster International (MBJ), so a same-day arrival leaves plenty of beach time. Shared shuttle transfers are the standard option.
- Holiday timing: December 18 falls at the start of the busy holiday travel period. If you are flying standby, build in a spare day or two on each end of the trip.
- Brand-new reopening: Keep early-stay plans flexible in case the date moves, and expect a few weeks for new restaurants and services to settle in.
- Book by November 2 if you want the current sale credits.
- Rates: None of the sources mention travel-industry or airline-employee rates.
Sources
- Caribbean Journal — Sandals Is Reopening Three All-Inclusive Resorts in Jamaica — and Renaming One
- TravelMole — Sandals Resorts reveals the next phase of Sandals 2.0 in Jamaica
- TravelPulse — Sandals and Beaches Resorts Launch New Limited Time Savings Deal
- Travel Industry Today — The Latest on Jamaica Hotel, Sandals Re-openings
- Honeymoons.com — How Far Are Sandals Resorts From The Airport?
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