Sun Palace or Couples Swept Away?

LRM2012

My fiance and I are considering Sun Palace in Cancun/Riviera Maya for our honeymoon. Right now they are offering $1500 resort credits when booking for 7 days. Has anyone been there?? I have read tons of reviews on Trip Advisor and it looks beautiful.

However, for some reason I tend to gravitate towards Couples Swept Away in Negril, Jamaica. I never thought I wanted to go to Jamaica, but I have heard wonderful things about Couples Swept Away.

Unfortunately, Couples is about $1000 more than Sun Palace (which means it is over our budget). I just wanted to hear some experiences with each resort. I am trying to determine whether it is worth going over our budget on Couples. After all, you only get one honeymoon .

I appreciate anyone who may offer some advice about these resorts!

mbishop7

Couples Swept Away! Here's something I learned: Couples includes EVERYTHING. All excursions. That 1500 resort credit? It's a hoax to get you go to there and see that you have all this money, when really that's the money you have to use to "buy" your excursions (the ones that are already free at Couples!!)

I've done A LOT of research on pretty much every resort there is, and we're booking Couples. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to PM me! Also, trip advisor is awesome. Couples SA has amazing reviews. Go to couples.com and go to their "message board". They have great advice there too!

RYLZ

I've been to both: Sun Palace twice and Couples Swept Away many times over the past 8 years.  I love them both but they have different strengths and weaknesses.

Couples Swept Away is romantic and on a gorgeous beach. I'd recommend the included snorkelling trips and water-skiing from their list of included activities. Personally, I prefer the older 'garden view" rooms. We love them. They're minimalist, with no tv, a large shower that easily accommodates 2, a huge bed in the middle of the room with lots of natural terra cotta colors and white fabrics-- this feels romantic and tropical to me. The windows have wooden louvre (with mesh) that allow the jungle sounds in and keep the bugs out. And the upper level rooms come with balconies with large day beds on them. It's in Negril, which in my opinion is the best beach in Jamaica (calm, warm waters free of seaweed and jellyfish, with powdery white sand, endless space to roam)-- so if you're beach people, it doesn't get any better!  There spa area is also really nice and open, and we've gotten couples massages there often. Walk down the beach (right, not left) to Cosmo's restaurant for authentic Jamaican food--especially some good jerk chicken. Take a day trip to Dunn's River Falls if you can, and visit Rick's cafe for sunset drinks and music and a possible jump off the cliffs if you're brave!

Sun Palace is also very romantic, a bit newer and more compact.  There are only 2 pools, a noisy "fun" pool with activities and music blaring all day, and a quiet pool that is much smaller.  It's way more relaxing but the sun gets shaded there by about 3pm.  The beach here is beautiful but the surf is a bit rough in comparison to the always-calm waters of Negril.  The rooms are newer and more spacious than at CSA, and just a one-level upgrade gets you a room with a huge jacuzzi in the bedroom between the bed and balcony.  Better linens, towel, and bed than CSA in my opinion.  There are more dining options at the SP but personally prefer the food at CSA--that'sobviously just personal preference though and can be different for everyone.  The spa at SP is SUPERB.  Last time we went we also had the $1500 credit and used some of it for a couples' massage-- best we've ever had and the facilities are gorgeous and contemporary.  We also used some of the credit to do the swim with the dolphins and the day-trip to the ruins.

All in all it just depends on your style and what you want from the experience.  CSA is a bit more jungly and rustic, SP is a bit more luxurious feeling and new.  Also, if it matters, the trip from the airport to SP is 20 minutes and the trip to CSA from the airport is a little over an hour.  And at SP, you'll have access to all their other resorts (but they are NOT adult only as well).

Since I like them both, if one was $1000 cheaper, that's probably the one I would go with :-)

Have a great time either way!

ETA I've never had any trouble using the SP $1500 credit.  But you do have to read the fine print:  Only a certain amount can be spent on certain things.  Meaning you can't get $1500 in spa services, for example.  They want you to spread it around, I guess.  But that's worked out fine for us.

MNVegas

I have gone to Sun Palace as well as other Palace Resorts numerous times. We have always had great vacations with them. One of the main reasons we keep going is the service we receive is outstanding. We also like that we can use facilities and other dining options at the other Palaces.  

bezlu described SP so I won't repeat everything. We do stay on concierge level for more personal attention, reserved beach sunbeds, expanded room service menu and other amenities.

I will say that the $1500 credit was great!! We used our credit for: spa, golf, romantic beach dinner, limo service back to airport, upgraded wine list and a photo tour.  Other things you can use credits for: excursions and tours, upgrade to concierge level and other things I don't remember.

If you book with SP make sure you tell them when you make your reservations that you will be there for your HM and you will get some additional perks.

Have fun wherever you end up!

bridetobemo

I adore the couples resorts, like PP said they include excursions! We stayed at Couples Tower Isle not Swept Away but I've heard that Swept Away is breathtakingly beautiful, the couples resort is literally the perfect destination for honeymooners, their rooms are gorgeous, their amenities are incredible and the staff is next to none!

RYLZ

LRM, I think it is accurate that you will have a few more tasty options at CSA than at SP for vegan eating.  At SP, the buffet is excellent ( I specifically remember thinking at SP that there were alot of meaty and cheesey selections) but I think your options will be limited to salad, and lunch buffet by the pool may be impossible for you (grilled meats and fish), except for nachos.

At CSA there are also a lot of local food options which are naturally vegetarian (though not always vegan, I guess), so in my opinion you will have other options besides salad.  Jamaican cuisine also involves a lot of root vegetables (yam, potato, chocho) as sides and rice.  Also there are great fruit smoothies at CSA at breakfast.  On balance though, there is also an Italian at the SP so you can get pasta nightly.

Hope that helps.