SANDALS Resorts – Where the Luxury is Included
WELCOME to SANDALS RESORTS! My name is Kathi Evans and I am the Owner and Lead Planner of All the Best Weddings & Celebrations, a WKE, LLC. In addition, I am a Certified Sandals Sales Specialist and a Certified WeddingMoons Specialist for destination weddings at any SANDALS or BEACHES resort.
These two certifications come with perks that include visiting and touring the SANDALS and BEACHES properties that are now located on 7 islands: Jamaica (6 SANDALS, 1 GRANDE PINEAPPLE & 2 BEACHES), Bahamas (2), St. Lucia (3), Antigua (1 SANDALS & 1 GRAND PINEAPPLE), Grenada, Barbados, and a BEACHES in Turks & Caicos. Come along with me as I visit and report on each property.
When SANDALS says ALL INCLUSIVE they're not kidding. It starts the moment you arrive at the SANDALS desk at each airport. You're greeted with a cold adult beverage, your luggage is tagged (not to be touched again until you get to your room at the resort), and you're shuttled to your resort. At the resort you're greeted with a cold towel, another adult beverage, and are shown to your area for check in. Once the paperwork is completed you're escorted to your room where your luggage either awaits or will be there in a few minutes. There is NO TIPPING (except your shuttle driver <who is not a SANDALS employee> and your butler).
Butch's Chophouse at Sandals LaSource Grenada
Are you hungry? The number of restaurants depends on the size of the resort. There are as few as three and as many as 12. Do you want sushi, Italian, French, fresh made pizza to order, seafood, burgers, or BBQ? Teppanyaki, Southwestern, dine with your feet in the sand, or maybe some pastries? You'll find all that - and more - at each resort.
Thirsty? Beverages (including top shelf alcohol) are also included. Each room has a mini-fridge stocked with bottles of water, soft drinks, and juice. In a CLUB level or higher room? Then you get beer, wine, and champagne in your room. Butler suites have their own mini bar filled with your favorite full sized bottles. There are swimming pools with swim up bars, piano bars, and more bars located strategically throughout each property. You'll never have to far for something to drink.
Looking for something to do? You can scuba dive, snorkel, water ski, kayak, water trike, and stand up paddle board. Don't have your dive certification? No worries, they'll hook you up! Tennis? YES! Golf? YES (two resorts have their own courses)! Private Island? YES (two resorts have their own private island; one has a private clothing optional beach)!
Love the night life? Each resort has a disco/night club, pool room, and English Pub. Each resort hosts specialty nights such as white parties, chocolate nights, and beach bbqs with local entertainment and games.
Looking for something more quiet? You can walk the beautifully landscaped grounds, sit by the fire pits, or relax at the RED LANE spa.
If you're looking for the ultimate in luxury and relaxation go for a Butler Suite. Your butler, who was trained by The Guild of Professional English Buters, will meet you at check in, escort you to your room, unpack for you (if you want), stock your bar, and hand you a phone that brings a butler to you with the push of a button. Chairs are reserved for you at the pool and the beach. Coolers are stocked and placed with your chairs with cold beverages. Dinner reservations are made and you are escorted to your restaurant and seated at your table. Come back to your room after an excursion or a night out and find a bubble bath waiting for you with flower petals and champagne.
It doesn't matter what room category you're in - everyone eats the same food and drinks from the same bars. Everyone has access to the same on-site activities and off-site excursions. Because there are so many resorts there is a price point for every budget.
Sandals Royal Plantation
We leave Montego Bay and head to Ocho Rios for more tours. We will stay at Sandals Royal Plantation. This is a small, quiet, all Butler Suite resort with two beaches. Included in your stay are unlimited water sports (snorkeling, scuba diving, glass bottom boat, stand up paddle board, Hobie Cat sailing) and golf at the Sandals Golf and Country Club. It is a small slice of heaven on earth.
Because we had to tour the other resorts we barely got a look at anything but the lobby and our butlers. They arrived in their casual attire of impeccable white embroidered golf shirts and pressed black pants. They took our luggage and off we went to tour.
When we returned late in the day we were hot, sweaty, tired, and hungry. No worries. Our rooms were ready with luggage inside. The bar and mini fridge were stocked and there was a fresh fruit platter on the table. I opted not to have them unpack for me. My room had a European balcony with an ocean view. Took a cold bottle of water from the fridge, sat in a comfy chair, propped my feet up in front of the open doors and filled out my paperwork. Called my butler Steve (with the phone provided) to let him know when I was done. He picked up everything and brought it to the front desk.
Steve was wonderful - attentive without being overwhelming. When we went to dinner that night all of our butlers piled in the van with us. This time in full suit, gold vest, ties, and white gloves. Upon arrival at Kimonos each of us was escorted to our seat at the bar by our butlers where we (and they) waited, briefly, for our table. From there the butlers took our drinks, escorted us to our seats at the table, made sure we were comfortable, and then left us for the evening. When done we took the available shuttle back to our resort.
Dinner was fun and delicious. Our chef was boisterous and had us all singing loudly. You can't help but make friends while sitting there. One of our group ordered sushi from Soy for appetizers. A waiter delivered them to her at our table.
We had the next day off. The day before had been exhausting. Three of us took advantage of many of the water sports that are included in everyone's stay. I tried stand up paddle boarding. Let's just say I'll need to try it again. Then we took out a Hobie Cat with one of the staff sailing for us. After that we took a snorkeling trip (they have all the gear) on a glass bottom boat. When we returned my companions went horseback riding offsite. They booked that trip through the Island Routes desk which can be found at every resort. NOTE: Work with your travel professional to book your offsite trips before arrival to help guarantee you'll be able to do what you want to do when you want to do it.
At the beach I found a padded lounge chair under a thatched umbrella. Olivia, our Sandals rep and tour guide, joined me. She called her butler who brought us menus. We ordered lunch and some cocktails. A short time later we were eating and drinking without having lifted a finger.
After lunch Olivia and I headed for the pool with Jacuzzi and waterfall that sits on a deck that overlooks the beach. The water was refreshing after being in the sun.
There is afternoon tea on the patio. Wait staff will bring pots of tea or any other beverage you request. Fresh baked cookies, scones, and muffins are also available.
Upon returning to my room to get ready for dinner I discovered a bubble bath complete with refreshing fruit cocktail that Steve had prepared for me. How delightful to slip into that tub without having to lift a finger. Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face!
Our farewell dinner that night was at Papillon. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. It was a fitting send off after such a wonderful trip.
I highly recommend Sandals Royal Plantation to those who are looking for a more relaxing vacation. You can still party hearty at Sandals Grande Riviera. The Ochi Beach Club is easily accessible or you can take a shuttle to their huge pool or any of the restaurants on the hillside. Sandals Royal Plantation has their own wedding staff and several fabulous places to have a ceremony and reception including Villa Plantana, which is a private villa on the grounds that is available to rent, or on either beach. Sandals Royal Plantation is also one of the most cost effective of all the Sandals resorts for butler service.
Sandals Grande Antigua
When you arrive at Sandals Grande Antigua you'll receive a warm greeting, cold towels, and adult cold beverage.
Round trip airport transfers from V. C. Bird International Aiport are included when you stay at Sandals Grande Antigua. Upon arrival you'll go through immigration (make sure your passport is up to date), pick up your luggage, and head out to the Sandals desk where you will check in and they'll tag your luggage. You won't see your luggage again until you get to your room.
Sandals Grande Antigua has two villages - Mediterranean and Caribbean - and each has their own lobby and check in. If you've booked a Concierge or Butler Suite you'll be ushered into a special lounge for check in.
After we checked in we all met for a buffet lunch at the Bayside Restaurant located at the far end of the Caribbean Village. You won't really know when you've left one and entered the other. There is one huge main pool and several smaller pools spread throughout the property. There are 11 restaurants all of which are included with your accommodations. The map shows you the layout of the property and how easy it is to get from Point A to Point B. The beach is public but the resort is private. Be prepared to show your room key card in order to access the resort from the beach as there are security guards stationed at each entrance.
After lunch we took off on a guided tour of the resort including all of the restaurants and a peek at a variety of room categories. Remember, it doesn't matter what your room category is - you're all eating the same food (Italian, Japanese, custom made pizza, BBQ anyone?), drinking the same beverages, and enjoying the same water-sports and other amenities including the gym and the spa. If you're at the Concierge or Butler level you have to do very little on your own. Want dinner reservations? Call the concierge desk or your butler (Kevin gave me my own cell phone to reach him. Pressed one button, he answered immediately (and knew it was me!).
When we were done with the tour we all met back in the main lobby to get our room assignments. On this trip I got really lucky and was booked into a Butler suite with private plunge pool in the Mediterranean Village. HOLY COW! If you've booked a Butler Suite your butler will greet you in the lounge and personally escort you to your suite where you will complete your paperwork. My butler's name was Kevin and I highly recommend that you ask for him. He showed me all the amenities of my room including full bar, 2 flat screen TVs, sitting room, and room service. When he left I immediately took advantage of my plunge pool and jacuzzi. It was heavenly. I could have ordered room service but I dragged myself out of the pool, took a shower, and got myself dressed for dinner where I met some of the girls at BAREFOOT and had a fabulous dinner with lots of laughs! BTW - if the specialty drink of the evening has something to do with seafood don't order it :)
The next morning was our training session in one of their ballrooms. At the conclusion we were all SANDALS (RE)CERTIFIED SALES SPECIALISTS and celebrated with a Twitter Party hosted by Julie Albaugh. After lunch at Bayside with some of the girls we were on our own again until dinner. I went for a jet ski ride. The jet ski operators are not affiliated with the resort so you're on your own. Payment is going to be in cash. There were 2 operators on the beach that day and the 2nd operator (outside the Bayside Restaurant) gave me a bit of a discount for 30 minutes. This was more than enough as you can't go very far. The beach has a bluff on each end and there is some kind of rock island way far out. That triangle is as far as you can go. Towards the end of my ride I saw a young man exercising a horse in the water off the beach to the right of the resort (as you face it from the beach). Apparently he's there everyday.
After the ride I went back to my plunge pool to relax and then it was time for dinner. We were supposed to dine alfresco but the rain did us in again (you're in the Caribbean - it could rain everyday, however, it's usually never a wash out). We dined in the conference room at one long wide table that was set as if for a wedding. The menu and the service were outstanding. The steel drum band that greeted us for cocktail hour was excellent.
There was lots to do after dinner and some of the group took off to enjoy karaoke or more drinks at one of the bars. I punked out and went to bed. When I got back to my room the doors to the bedroom were closed. When I opened them there was a bubble bath decorated with flower petals. Could not believe my eyes. It was so relaxing that after a long day I had no trouble going to sleep. After breakfast the next morning we were off to the airport. Kevin came to help me pack and take my bag. I don't know how they got me to go home. If you do have a Butler it's the only tip you'll need for the entire trip (except for the airport shuttle drivers) - figure $20 per day or $150 for a week You can always give more. The service will be exemplary.
SOME NOTES: I've visited a few Sandals resorts including the gorgeous Sandals Emerald Bay. Sandals Grande Antigua certainly is comparable. This resort has lots of options for corporate meetings, incentive trips, family reunions, and destination weddings of any size both indoors and out. SANDALS resorts are ADULT COUPLES ONLY and the minimum age is 18. If you've got singles or young adults/kids consider one of the BEACHES properties. If you're hosting a destination wedding or other event (sales meeting, incentive trip) there are a small number of rooms that can be made available for single adults. Details available upon request.
What strikes me about SANDALS as a brand is the loyalty of their employees. The majority of the ones that I have spoken to have been with the company for years and plan on staying for many years to come. Some waiting several years for an opportunity to work for the Stewart family. Employees from the housekeeping staff and beach attendants to the resort manager are always smiling and greeting guests as they pass by. They never seem to sweat. Their social and corporate planning office on each property is ready, willing, and able to tailor their services to your needs. Sandals has recently overhauled their entire wedding planning department so that now brides have a choice of the colors and styles that THEY want not what a famous wedding planner thinks they want.
Sandals Carlyle Montego Bay, Jamaica
Our last stop on the tour of the three Sandals Resorts in Montego Bay, Jamaica was the Sandals Carlyle Resort. This is the first property that Sandals owner and CEO Butch Stewart purchased and the second one to be branded a SANDALS property. It is a small yet charming resort that is big on value and service. The ride from airport to resort is about 15 minutes (see blog post on Sandals Montego Bay for detailed travel information).
We arrived to a warm greeting, a platter of delicious chocolate chip cookies on the entrance table, and a tray of iced cold rum punch. The hotel has 52 rooms all with 24 hour room service. The building does not have an elevator.
The large refreshing pool includes a hot tub, floats, lounge chairs, fluffy towels, umbrellas for shade, and pool side food and beverage service.
The grounds are well landscaped and include outdoor pool table, tennis court, sand court for volleyball, and a shuffleboard court. There are plenty of places to sit and relax while sipping a cocktail or enjoying a snack or meal from Nibbles garden-side grill (under the purple roofs on the map below).
The hotel includes a great gift shop with prices that are comparable to those on the "hip strip." One of the gifts I noticed was a "beach time" clock that could be customized with a photo from your stay.
The resort does have a gym and a spa. There is a plan to expand the spa including a new salon for hair and make-up and an outdoor spa treatment room in the garden. I can attest to the magic fingers of their massage therapists. We each got a brief shoulder/neck rub prior to our departure. I could have stayed there all day........
This is an excellent property for those who want an entry level to the Sandals Luxury Included experience. You can stay here and still play and eat at Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean. Free shuttle service is available between all three resorts.
Check out the "Family Board" highlighting those guests who have stayed at the resort at least 35 nights. Choose this property and by the end of your stay you'll feel like one of the family!
Sandals Royal Caribbean – Montego Bay, Jamaica
Our next tour was of Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This resort is a 10 minute ride from the airport with no airplane take off noise. All the airport and check in info from our post on Sandals Montego Bay applies to this resort.
This resort has many features including a private island with clothing optional beach which is clearly labeled that you're heading that way. The island features Thai food at the Royal Thai restaurant. Reservations are required as it only seats 80 guests at one time. You can rent the entire island for $5,000.00 + Food and Beverage, etc. It is a 5 minute boat ride from the main resort. Shuttles run all day. There are architectural drawings showing the private over water bungalows that will be built in the water off the private island. Cabanas can be rented on the island for $125.00 per day and include a Cabana Concierge. Red Land spa treatments are available on the island too.
A new two story 14 room butler suite building was built in 2014. FREE Wi-Fi is available at ALL Sandals resorts for every level of room. There are currently nine levels of Butler suites and two levels of Club Sandals accommodations. The rest of the rooms are all entry level. Your best value is the Beachfront Grande Luxe Room (GB). Some rooms have separate showers and tubs. In others they're combined. If you want the separate shower - make sure you tell your travel professional when making your reservation.
There are 3 beaches and 8 restaurants (including Royal Thai) at this resort.
There are 3 swimming pools not including the Crystal lagoon for the Butler level suites in the St. James, Clarence, and Buckingham buildings.
We were there in the afternoon and found it very quiet at the resort even though it was relatively full. It was hot so most guests were in the water or in the shade enjoying a cold adult beverage. I really liked this resort. The beaches were beautiful and the rooms, regardless of price point, were well appointed. I was really jealous of the guests on the private island. In and out of the water, relaxing in hammocks in the over water gazebo. Definitely wishing it was me.
