Sandals Just Spent over $200 Million Reinventing Jamaica — And the Biggest News Is Two Queen Beds

Last October, Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, and it didn't spare Sandals' flagship properties. Sandals South Coast, Sandals Montego Bay, and what was then called Sandals Royal Caribbean all closed for repairs.

But Sandals didn't just fix what broke. They rebuilt from the ground up, to the tune of $200 million across all three resorts. Sandals co-CEO Adam Stewart put it simply: "We should dream bigger." Instead of restoring these resorts to what they were, Sandals used the rare opportunity of three simultaneous closures to reimagine them completely.

All three properties reopen between November and December 2026, and there's one piece of news in here that's a genuinely big deal for anyone planning a destination wedding, a girls' trip, or a group getaway.

Sandals is introducing its first-ever two queen bed room

Every Sandals resort, in every category, has always been king beds only. That's changing at Sandals South Coast with the new Club Level Two Queen Junior Suite.

This still sleeps a maximum of two adults and keeps Sandals' adults-only, couples-focused feel. It's not a family room like you'd find at Beaches. What it does open up is real flexibility: two friends traveling together for a wedding, a mother and daughter, a girlfriends getaway, or wedding guests who'd rather not share a bed with their travel companion now have an in-category option at a Sandals resort for the first time ever.

For my destination wedding couples, this is the detail I've been waiting for. Bridal parties and out-of-town guests often include people who are traveling together but aren't a couple, and up until now, that meant either booking two rooms or an awkward conversation about sharing a king bed. This one new room category solves that.

Sandals South Coast

Sandals South Coast — reopens November 18, 2026

South Coast is first out of the gate, and it's getting the most new dining of the three: 10 restaurants and 7 bars, including Butch's Island Chophouse, a dedicated Rum Club, and BLUM, a coffee concept built around Jamaica's Blue Mountain coffee. The resort backs up to a 500-acre protected nature reserve, and the redesign leans into that with lush new landscaping woven through the property. You'll still find the overwater bungalows and Rondoval Village's circular private-pool villas that made South Coast a favorite, now alongside the new two queen suites.

Sandals Caribbean Cay (formerly Sandals Royal Caribbean) — reopens December 18, 2026

This one got a new name to match what's always made it special: its own private offshore island. What was Sandals Royal Caribbean is now Sandals Caribbean Cay, and the island itself has a new beach club, Parisol, along with a Jerk Shack and a refreshed swim-up bar. Back on the main resort, the property is adding 84 new rooms and suites, bringing the total to 291, including new SkyPool Suites with private elevated pools and Swim-up Suites with direct water access. The arrival experience is entirely new too, with an open-air lobby that frames the main pool and the Caribbean beyond it. New dining includes Suppa, a family-style Jamaican comfort food concept, and Keynote Rum Bar.

You won’t recognize Sandals Caribbean Cay! (formerly Sandals Royal Caribbean)

Sandals Montego Bay — reopens December 18, 2026

Montego Bay is the original Sandals resort, the one that started this whole brand back in 1981, and it's getting new life with two standout restaurants: Buccan, an open-hearth, wood-fired concept, and Suppa, the same communal Jamaican dining concept coming to Caribbean Cay.

Sandals Montego Bay pool is reimagined!

What this means if you're planning a trip

If you've been holding off on booking a Jamaica destination wedding, group trip, or girls' getaway because of the hurricane closures, this is genuinely good news. These resorts are reopening better than they were, and the two queen bed option at South Coast in particular removes one of the biggest booking headaches I run into with wedding parties and group trips.

We are ready for your questions about which resort fits which kind of trip, and honestly, the answer depends on your group. If you're planning a wedding, a reunion, or just trying to figure out where this fits into next year's travel for two, reach out and let's talk through it. We’ d love to help you pick the right resort and help you take advantage of their current reopening promotions like The Great Jamaica Comeback Sale and Free Weddings In Jamaica. (Limited time promotions)