Hmm... Neither resort is really one that I would recommend to a friend.
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Agreed! We stayed next door to the Sunset Beach in Montego Bay at Secrets Wild Orchid. DH and I wanted to check out a cheap alternative to Beaches to take the kids. Now we only seen the resort from the water. The Sunset wouldn't let us on property so wetook a boat from our resort and paddled over as close as we could get without getting hollared at. LOL
It didn't look very nice. Even DH who is always trying to save a buck said hmmm if it looks like this from the water I'm not sure I want to see it close up. Plus I would rethink going to Ocho Rios. Some people like it, but the beaches are way nicer in other parts of Jamaica . Plus the local can be very pushy and numerous due to that is where most of the cruise ships dock.
We have stayed at Sunset Beach Montego Bay twice (sister resort of Sunset Jamaica Grande) and really liked it. We plan to head back when the kids are a bit older. While we were in Jamaica we did a few bus rides where we stopped at different resorts to pick up other people. The one difference we noticed between our resort and places like Sandals was that at our resort (which is gated with a private beach, btw) the staff was mostly black while at the other resorts they were mostly white. We felt we were getting more of a picture of Jamaica as opposed to a lay back and be pampered vacation but that's exactly what we were going for

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Huh?
I'm not sure exactly where you have stayed but DH and I visit Jamaica every year anywhere from Ocho Rios, to Montego Bay, Negril and Whitehouse and eveywhere in between.
All of the staff that have ever been at the resorts have ALWAYS been locals. Tourism is Jamaica's livelihood. Plus because the staff is black where you stay you get a better picture of Jamaica?

How can staying in a gated resort and taking a busride to a couple resorts to pick up other tourist give you the true picture of Jamaica? Seriously?
The people of Jamaica are about the friendliest and gracious people you can meet. Jamaica does get a bad rap because of the bad apples who give it a bad name.
Wow I still can't believe what you wrote. Amazing!
OP: As I said I'm not sure what you're going for. Kids vacation, adult vacation? All-inclusive, pampered, basic?
The best place you can go with kids IMOP is Beaches, pricey but the best. There are others that are less pricey though and are good too, just not as luxurious with all the inclusives.
Couples, Sandals, Secrets are good for couples. Never stayed at Iberostar(too big for me) but have heard good things.
CoCo La Palm is good for non-allinclusive. DH and I like Negril over Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. The beaches are better and since its on the west side of the island the sunsets are picture perfect.
If you need anything feel free to PM me.