Heading to Barbados as a couple and looking on where to stay? Check out my review on Sandals Barbados. While staying at this couples only all inclusive resort, you will have full access to Sandals Royal Barbados. Sandals Barbados, is a retreat in the spirited St. Lawrence Gap area, offering undeniable luxury with inventive accommodations spanning three unique villages.
This all inclusive resort features world-class cuisine with international appeal and innovative bar and pool designs. Explore your luxurious suite designed with your utmost comfort in mind and featuring everything from ocean views, Butler Elite service, and zero-entry access to Barbados’ largest and longest lagoon pool, as well as private Tranquility Soaking Tubs™ on most patios and terraces.
Accommodations
After a short bus ride from the BGI Airport, my husband and I arrived to a friendly staff. They sang to us, provided cold towels and a glass of champagne. What better way to start your vacation?! Check-in at Sandals Barbados was a breeze.
We stayed in a Beachfront Honeymoon Club Level Suite (OJS). Located on the second and third floors of the Beachfront Village, these luxurious suites boast sweeping ocean views from a private balcony with bistro set. A spacious interior features elegant furnishings, a four-poster, king-size bed, HD smart TV and a comfy sitting area with a fully stocked bar.
The en-suite spa-style bathroom is outfitted with a double basin vanity, bathtub and shower combination, and backlit mirrors. Guests enjoy Club Sandals concierge services including private check-in, all day room service, and access to the Club Sandals Lounge. It was SO lovely waking up to views of palm trees. Our room was also a quick walk to the buffet where we ate breakfast each morning. The resorts together encompassed a lot of things, but it never felt too far to get around.
All Inclusive Amenities
Staying at Sandals Barbados will give you access to the following amenities:
- Unlimited gourmet dining at 11 restaurants
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and anytime snacks
- Unlimited premium liquors
- 7 bars, including swim-up bars
- Stocked bars in every room
- Unlimited Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks wines
- All tips, taxes and gratuities
- Roundtrip airport transfers
- Scuba Diving (must be PADI certified)
- Snorkeling (and all equipment)
- Hobie Cats, paddle boards, kayaks
- Professional instruction for water sports
- Beach volleyball, bocce ball, pool tables
- Day and night tennis
- Unlimited land sports and state-of-the-art fitness centers
- Day and night entertainment including live shows
- All amenities and includes at Sandals Royal Barbados
- Wi-Fi (in room and all common areas)
- Free wedding (for stays of 3 nights or longer)
Dining
At Sandals Barbados, you can explore an array of international cuisines, such as Caribbean, regional Italian, Indian, a French-style patisserie, sushi, a New York-style steakhouse, and more. Each restaurant features their very own chefs dedicated to every authentic detail and all meals are perfectly paired with your choice of six varietals of Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks® wines. You’ll have access to the restaurants and bars at both Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados. Let’s recap:
- American Tavern – Contemporary American
- Bombay Club – Indian
- Butch’s Chophouse – Steakhouse
- Cafe de Paris – French
- CHI – Asian Fusion
- Dinos Pizzeria – Italian
- Greenhouse – Healthy alternative
- Heart & Sol – Sandwiches
- La Parisienne – French
- Lovers Lane – Snacks
- Kimonos Oriental Cuisine – Japanese
- Mariner Seaside Bar & Grill – American grill
- Portofino’s – Italian
- Schooner’s – Seafood
- Soy – Sushi
- Spices – Buffet for Breakfast/Lunch and Caribbean in the evenings
- Sweet n’ Salty’s Gourmet Donuts and Coffee
- The Jerk Shack – Jamaican
- The Merry Monkey – English Pub
A few our favorite meals were at Schooner’s (in season Caribbean lobster), Bombay Palace (lobster masala and garlic naan), and Neptune’s (Greek salad with shrimp). The drinks were nice and strong as well. We really indulged and enjoyed – glasses of champagne poolside, cold mojito around the beach, rum punch while enjoying the dayside activities. It was all incredible!
Looking for a private candlelight dinner? Upgrade your dinner date with a private dinner for two on the beach!
PRO TIP: Check the app with QR code for the menus to all of the included restaurants. You can also check out the days of closure so you can plan accordingly.
Shopping
At Sandals Barbados, you can enjoy duty free shopping at our on-resort boutiques. Browse through art galleries, our resort shop, and even luxury jewelry retailers for the perfect gift. Our resort shop features various sundries from branded items to local crafts. You can find the finest jewelry at Colombian Emeralds International, a leader in luxury travel retail for 35 years.
Pools & Beach
All beaches in Barbados are public. Therefore, you will see vendors along the beach selling items. A polite “no thank you” goes along way if you’re not interested. We decided to stick to the pools. There are several pools onsite – and we mainly enjoyed the pool near Spices buffet with a swim up bar, the entertainment pool, and the rooftop pool. At the rooftop pool, you can order drinks at the Sky Bar. None of the pools felt crowded and it was such a nice experience.
One of the days in the entertainment pool they had a game called “name that movie.” They played a short clip and you had to guess which movie it was from. My husband came in second place, and would’ve been first had he been a little quicker with his hand!
Red Lane Spa
After enjoying fun time around the resort, you may want some R&R. We did not get around to booking a treatment at the Red Lane Spa – but maybe next time! Inspired by the beautiful traditions and majestic natural backdrops of the Caribbean, Red Lane® Spa experiences are one of a kind. Their award-winning Signature Spa Collection® features some of the most impressive and luxurious spas in the Caribbean, where Red Lane® Rejuvenation Specialists focus on treatments that will revitalize your mind and body.
Daytime Activities
As I mentioned above, there were various poolside activities and the entertainment staff were all top notch. I recommend checking the bulletin each day to see all of the activities included for the day. We happened to be there during Crop Over Festival, so the daytime parties included the Foreday J’ouvert (party) celebration! The package with 2 t-shirts, whistles, and bandana was $40 USD. We had SO much fun listening to Soca music and spreading color around.
Evening Activities
When the sun goes down, the night is transformed into something magically exotic with acrobats, fire-eaters and beach party extravaganzas that feature endless culinary delights. Enjoy weekly theme nights that vary week to week. You can participate in a talent show, manager’s cocktail party, chocolate buffet night, all white parties, and Carnival beach parties.
Lovers Lane Bowling Alley
Lovers Lanes, Sandals first 4-lane bowling alley, features a colorful backdrop, including a cocktail lounge, that promises a fun-filled evening of couples bowling. Note that the lanes are first come first serve – they do not take reservations.
Lover’s Lane craft beer bar serves 19 different beers from around the world. Take a seat around the wraparound bar, where a built in strip of ice helps to keep your drinks perfectly chilled.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, both Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados may be our new favorite Sandals Resort (sorry Sandals Montego Bay). There were so many restaurants & bars we didn’t have time to see 1/3 of them during our 3 night stay. But what we did try we enjoyed. There were a few misses (like Spices for dinner, very bland). The front desk members were nice to hail us a cab when we needed it. I do wish there was an onsite ATM, as that would’ve been very convenient. The most the front desk will let you charge to the room to get cash is $100 USD.
This was our first trip together as parents, so we really were looking for R&R and not so much go, go, go. Next time, we will take advantage of more activities. Are you planning your trip to Barbados? Shoot me an email at cassandra@accent-on-travel.net. I’d love to work with you. Stay tuned for our next visit at a Sandals Resort… TBD!
Heading to Barbados?
