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Couples Swept Away is a secluded tropical playground set amidst Eden-like gardens and lush tropical foliage. Offering spacious suites with verandahs and wooden shutters, this quiet, picturesque resortis perfect for couples in search of tropical serenity.
Resort features include the 10-acre Sports and Fitness Complex, nightly entertainment and dancing, 4 restaurants, 6 bars, 2 snack bars, unlimited golf (10 minutes away), and certified divers receive two complimentary dives per day.
Beach: The beach is covered in Negril`s pristine white sand and is within the 7-mile stretch of Negril`s famous Long Bay Beach.
“The Perfect Honeymoon!”
Couples Swept Away Negril
First off, let me say Couples Swept Away Negril (CSA) is a beautiful resort and we WILL be back. My wife and I enjoyed our honeymoon at CSA 9/28/08 - 10/4/08. Overall the trip was absolutely excellent. We had a few minor negatives on the trip which are explained below, but we really could not have asked for much more.
Arrival
We arrived at the Montego Bay airport around 1:30pm on Sunday. The total time we spent in the airport might have been 30 minutes. That's from the time we got off of the plane to the time we were stepping onto the bus to head to CSA. We had no lines and we did not experience any of the long waits others have spoke of. Once through customs we were whisked into the Couples Lounge where we enjoyed a drink and within 5 minutes were heading to the bus. Absolutely no problems with the airport upon arrival at all!!
Bus Ride
There were really no complaints with the bus ride. Yes, it took about an hour and a half to get there, but just look out the window and enjoy looking at the country. It's very different from the US and other countries, so it was neat to see everything. Our driver was great, not overly talkative but did give us some interesting facts and history. Remember, in Jamaica they drive on the left side of the road, so for those in the US it might take a few minutes to relax and get used to that.
Arrival at CSA
As soon as we stepped off the bus at CSA we were handed cold towels, directed to check-in, and offered a glass of champagne. Check-in took about 5-10 minutes, after which we were taken to our room with our bags. I've read that others have had to wait on their bags, but ours were delivered at the same time we were taken to our room. Finally, we were ready to relax!!
The Room (Atrium Suite)
We opted to book an Atrium Suite located in the middle of the resort, in the old section. There are basically 2 sections of the resort. Any room with Verandah in the name is part of the new section. The grounds were very lush and very beautiful surrounding the room. The room itself however, felt old, broken, and a little dirty. Don't get me wrong, it had an "old charm" to it, but the lighting was very bad (my wife complained to me about this many times while trying to get ready each evening), the tile was stained and due to the fact that the room has no windows, just screens so it is quite open, the room always felt a little damp. I know it is the tropics, and I know many people enjoy the charm in these rooms, but for us it just wasn't up to par. It by no means ruined any part of our trip, it was more just an inconvenience. Also, since these are "open" rooms, the noise at night was quite loud. The Palms has live entertainment each night, and we were always in bed early from a long day, so that took some getting used to. On the plus side, the bed was big and comfy! We will be sure to book a room in the newer section on our next visit.
Food
The food was absolutely excellent! We ate at The Palms for most meals, but ventured to Patois Patio one night, and Feathers another. We also grabbed quick bites at the Cabana Grill a few times. The service was great, our glasses were always full and we never went hungry. Feathers was probably our least favorite, but that is a tough call, because they were all so good. It's worth it to try Feathers once for the experience. The food portions are small, but it's meant to be a 5 course meal. If you eat all 5 courses, I guarantee you won't go hungry. The best food at all locations were the DESERTS!
Watersports
The watersports, for us, made the trip. If you are an active type on vacation you won't be disappointed. We learned how to sail on the Hobie Cats and the Sunfish, I learned how to water ski, we snorkeled, went Scuba diving, and took a catamaran cruise. The snorkeling was good, but we did it after we went Scuba diving so it didn't quite compare. Scuba is included with your stay even if you're not certified (you get one free dive, $50/person thereafter... if you're certified you can dive as much as you want for free!!). If you're not certified you have to take a quick course which includes a swim test (8 laps in the pool) which is harder than it sounds. 4 people in our group failed. Once you pass this you watch a video and then head to the pool, strap on your gear, and learn the basics from the instructor. Our instructor (Shrek) was great! He made us feel comfortable and was very patient. After the instruction in the pool we hopped on the dive boat and headed out. The dive lasted about 30 minutes and we were about 20-25 feet down. It was amazing!
The catamaran cruise is an absolute must. It lasts about 2 hours and you are served a Rum punch, red stripe, and Rasta Ralphie sings some songs. You make a stop at Pirates Cave where you can swim into the caves, and then you pass by Rick's Cafe. We saw a dolphin and a large stingray while on the cruise and many starfish. (Tip: you can sit wherever you want, sit at the front of the boat on the deck and hang your feet off, you can see so much more!)
The biggest thing to note about the watersports are the people. All the guys that run the watersports are amazing and they have great attitudes. It was always, "Ya Mon!" This really made our trip!
Spa and Sports Facility
Since we were honeymooners we got a free 30 minute couples massage (be sure to mention you're on your honeymoon at check-in). This was amazing. My wife is a massage therapist and she agreed the therapists we had were great. It was so relaxing!
The sports complex was great as well. We played tennis one day, swam in the lap pool, played pool and ping pong. This is a nice place to come at least once as it's never crowded and the smoothies are amazing!
Overall we had a wonderful honeymoon thanks to CSA. This is the only resort we have been to in Jamaica, and we'll likely keep it that way. It's safe (the guards are always watching out for you), it's fun, and most important it's relaxing when you need it to be. We're already talking about our next trip, and we can't wait!
