Couples Negril was one of the first, and remains one of the best, all-inclusive resorts in Negril. All the existing rivals, Grand Lido, Sandals and Swept Away, pale in comparison. Responsive service, excellent maintenance and a varied menu keep guests happy here.
Sophisticated stylish decor sets the mood, with primary tropical colors playing against a backdrop of muted patinaed walls and thatch-roof buildings. The airy lobby nestles atop a rise beyond the asphalt parking lot and welcomes guests in tropical style with chartreuse fabrics, olive-green parachute-silk drapes, and blood-red chairs against pale blue cement-tile floor. A massive Jamaican tapestry takes first honors among the many tasteful objets d'art on the premises, and gorgeous gardens and ponds line the pathways throughout the property. Views of the dramatic free-form pool and towering palms fuse with the swath of white sand. Arrivals are greeted with welcome beverages before being escorted to their accommodations.
The main dining room serves Jamaican dishes, and a bevy of specialty restaurants and a beach grill provide ample choices. These include Mediterranean and Caribbean menus; the latter comes with a more formal dress code. Cassava Terrace has a calming open-air atmosphere most enjoyable with the breakfast spreads. Guests should be sure to try one of the fresh and frothy fruit smoothies. Theme buffets, nightly entertainment in the restaurant area, and breakfast room service are also offered. The four bars include a swim-up number and a piano bar with leopard-print seating, chaise longues and cobalt carpeting.
The main pool adjoins a dive pool and a smaller pool, with a plunge and a series of natural lagoons rounding out the waterworks. Whirlpools spill into the main pool with fanfare, and padded chaise longues welcome cocktail-sipping guests throughout the day. A swim-up bar ensures that everyone is well-hydrated. Unlike at the more family-oriented Breezes, sunning au naturel is allowed on the far west side of this property. Watersports include waterskiing, 
diving and water cycling. Four tennis courts (two lighted) and two separate fitness centers satisfy the health-minded, and a beauty salon and spa, game room and boutiques complete the package. A catamaran cruise, reef trips and greens usage at a nearby golf course are free (mandatory cart and caddy are extra). Complimentary Internet access is available in the lobby, and wireless Internet access for no charge is the latest attraction in the piano bar.
Nine three-story buildings house crisp yet soothing guest rooms with vistas of either gardens, the distant sea or the up-close beachfront. Milan-chic hardwood furniture, faux-patina walls, blood-red and canary-yellow fabrics, cobalt accents and iridescent drapes are made even brighter by the wall-to-wall windows and glass doors. By far, these contemporary digs outshine the prim and proper traditional furnishings of other all-inclusive resorts in this price range. Remote-controlled air-conditioning, ceiling fans, safes, umbrellas, TVs, CD players, phones and king beds are standard, as are hair dryers in well-lit, 
nicely appointed baths. Furnished sea-view patios and balconies are found throughout, and 18 suites add stocked minibars, refrigerators, hammocks on balconies, and oversized baths with whirlpool tubs and his-and-hers basins. Suites enjoy 24-hour room service, but all rooms enjoy nightly turndown service from the hardworking housekeeping staff. At inspection, plans were under way to outfit all accommodations with flat-screen TVs and refrigerators.
If views are paramount, avoid rooms in buildings 1-5, as these focus on the gardens, and Building 6 should be avoided by light sleepers, since it is adjacent to the lively pool area. Pets are not permitted to promote the romantic setting most desire when staying here. This property is one of Jamaica's most tasteful all-inclusive resorts, and the staff's can-do attitude adds appeal to this oasis in the sun.
