Our Stay at Couples Resort Tower Isle | 2026
Couples Resort is a popular adults-only, all-inclusive resort with four properties across Jamaica: Two in Negril and two in Ocho Rios – where Evan & I decided to welcome in the New Year at the Towers Isle location, their flagship resort. Each resort has it’s own unique appeal, with Negril set on 18 acres of white sand beach and jungle, San Souci featuring a mineral grotto and mineral pool, and Tower Isle offering it’s Au Natural Island and included excursions – the ultimate selling point for us.
Getting to Tower Isle
We flew into Montego Bay on December 29th, arriving just around noon. After clearing customs, we entered the arrivals area where a Couples Resort Airport Lounge was waiting to welcome us.
Once inside, the concierge checked us in, tagged our bags for the Tower Isle location, and invited us to relax while we waited for our shuttle. The lounge was more comfortable than expected, complete with private bathrooms and a Red Stripe bar. Naturally, I grabbed a Red Stripe to enjoy, plus one for the road, before we set off for Ocho Rios.
The ride to Tower Isle took a bit longer than anticipated. What was estimated at 1 hour 45 minutes really took 3 hours, but the scenery helped pass the time. We saw Olympic Medalist Usain Bolts’ High School, and the Rose Hall Great House – a nice glimpse into Jamaica beyond the resort.
We were greeted with champagne upon arrival, checked in, and got our first look at the stunning Tower Isle property!
The Property at tower isle
Couples Tower Isle is an intimate, oceanfront resort that’s smaller in scale, easy to navigate, and entirely beachfront, creating a relaxed feel rather than a sprawling one. While some of the interiors feel more traditional and outdated in style, much of the resort is open-air and outdoors – a practical and thoughtful design choice given the region’s hurricane risk.
Pools, Beaches & The Island
- 2 main pools: One offers a swim-up bar with a more lively atmosphere, and a quieter one with unobstructed ocean views for a calmer experience.
- 4 hot tubs: Two located near the quieter pool, and two within the spa (one for men and one for women). Ask to have them warmed if cold.
- The main beach is spacious with lounge chairs, attentive beachside service, and a wide range of included activities.
- The Au Natural Island is non-optional clothing island, accessible by the Couples Resort boat. Guests can visit the island from 8:30-9am with clothes to simply view the island.
The Grounds
Throughout the property, you’re surrounded by lush greenery, tropical florals, and even a few chatty parrots. Palm-lined walkways and orchid-filled trails guide you to different areas of the resort, while the ocean-side path leads you to Bayside Restaurant.
Dining & Restaurants
- Patio Restaurant: Buffet-style dining available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We especially loved the made-to-order pasta bar at dinner.
- Bayside: An Asian-fusion, candlelit dinner set outdoors overlooking the Caribbean Sea; Reservations are required. This was hands-down our favorite restaurant!
- Eight Rivers: An upscale dining experience offering continental cuisine with Caribbean influences; Reservations are required.
- The Verandah: Jamaican-inspired cuisine with sweeping views of the Caribbean; Reservations are required. (We didn’t make it here during our stay.)
- Grills & Bars: Casual options include the Coffee Bar, Veggie Bar, and Pool Grill, which stays open until 5:00 AM.
Rooms & Accommodations
Couples Tower Isle offers a range of room categories, from standard garden-view rooms to private Oasis Spa Villas. Overall, accommodations are simple and functional, with the focus placed more on the experience of the resort and its surroundings rather than luxury finishes inside the rooms. We stayed in a Superior Ocean Room, where the minimalist setup, spacious patio, and ocean views made it a good home base for a relaxed, beach-forward stay.
Activities & Excursions
One of the biggest highlights of Couples Resort is the wide range of included water sports and activities they offer.
Available activities include:
- Scuba diving + certifications, for both experienced and beginner divers
- Water skiing, wakeboarding, and kneeboarding with beginner lessons available
- Snorkeling tours aboard a glass-bottom boat to nearby coral reefs (gear provided)
- Hobie Cat sailing with beginner lessons available
- Kayaking, paddleboarding, and hydro bikes
- Windsurfing with daily lessons
Activities available at an extra cost:
- Private catamaran cruise at sunset – we did this!
- Shopping tours in town
- Golf at Upton Golf & Country Club
All activities are optional and easy to reserve, making it simple to fill your days, or do absolutely nothing at all!
OUR STAY
As a certified travel agent, I make it a point to personally vet the places I sell, which led us to Couples Resort. We chose the Tower Isle location for its flagship status and the unique draw of its Au Natural Island. Having never been to—or known much about—Jamaica, I was excited to see the country and meet the Jamaican people.
When we first arrived, I wasn’t immediately impressed by the interior, but later learned that this aesthetic is considered a true five-star standard for Jamaican resorts. After giving ourselves a tour of the property, my outlook brightened as I saw the beautiful tropical grounds. We had our first dinner at Bayside that night, which turned out to be one of the best resort dining experiences we’ve had! With candlelight, Asian-fusion cuisine, and warm Caribbean air, we ordered a bottle of wine and officially settled into vacation mode.
We spent our first full day relaxing on the beach, though chasing the sun proved a bit tricky. The following day—New Year’s Eve—we decided to lean into the experience and headed over to the Au Natural Island. What started as curiosity quickly turned into one of the most memorable parts of our stay. We genuinely enjoyed our time, and even a few cool couples whom we later shared NYE dinner with that evening!
Couples Resort went all out for New Year’s Eve, hosting a lively celebration complete with a live band, a beautifully set poolside dinner, synchronized swimmers, a rooftop party, and a fireworks show to end the night.
The highlight of our trip came unexpectedly on a rainy New Year’s Day. After a relaxing couples massage, we ran into a couple our age, Grant and Nicole, whom we had briefly met the night before. They spotted us from the lower hot tub while we were soaking above, and soon joined us. For the next 3 hours in a slightly warm tub, we sat with and made our new friends, followed by dinner together at Eight Rivers. That night, we all rang in the first night of the year singing karaoke at the Piano Bar, dancing at the club, taking a midnight ocean dip, and grabbing late night snacks from the pool grill.
With only one full day left, we wanted to make the most of it, so we booked a sunset catamaran cruise and invited Grant and Nicole to join us. It ended up being the peak of the trip: jumping into vibrant teal water, snorkeling beneath a distant rainbow, spotting a starfish, and sipping champagne while sharing chocolate cake on the front of the boat with our new best friends. We had such an incredible time together that we all extended our stays by an extra day, helped by the fact that it was finally rain-free.
Our bonus day was the perfect, relaxing conclusion to a trip we expected to be low-key, but ultimately turned out to be exciting, adventurous, and full of unexpected connections. We arrived looking for a relaxed escape and left with unforgettable memories, new friendships, and a deeper appreciation for the kind of travel that brings people together.
READY TO WANDER HERE?
Lexie Hill
