Sandals Barbados

The resort is absolutely beautiful. It is actually two resorts in one so with the addition, you have extra restaurants to choose from. Everything is clean, and some areas are being upgraded. The rooms are very nice and the air conditioning works very well, you can freeze yourself out which is rare for some resorts. This is our third Sandals Resort and first time to Barbados. We are a group of 10 (5 couples) so we made our dinner reservations when we were all checked-in. With a little rescheduling here and there, we never had any seating issues once the reservations were set. All of our dinners were timely and I mentioned before, since there are actually two resorts in one, none of the restaurants were overcrowded. Butches Steakhouse is the most sought after apparently and with our large party, we are going there tonight. I’m pretty certain we will not be disappointed. The dinners have been a 5/5 rating! They all have been delicious and we never had a bad meal. Kudos to the cooking staff for their great talent! Being the resort is on the south side of the island, it can get breezy at times but it is a really nice breeze within the resort, a bit refreshing. It is only an issue if you’re on the beach itself or at the beautiful Sky Bar with the Infinity Pool. Just hold onto your hat and enjoy the view, it is spectacular. A very special shout-out to our housekeeper Amanda. We stayed in the Royal House and her never-ending smile and hospitality always made sure we had everything we needed. Thank you Amanda for sharing the hospitality of Barbados with your smile. On one of our last days, we were greeted by Charles who we later discovered was one of the Managers. He shared many experiences and what truly makes this resort wonderful. Thank you kindly Charles for taking the time out of your day to stop and say hello. We did the Jeep 4x4 excursion (4 hour tour) booked through the resort. Our driver Andre was fantastic and we learned so much about the history of Barbados as we toured the Island. Take the time and explore the culture, definitely worth it. Barbados has a little bit of something for everyone at this beautiful resort. The Infinity Pool (x2) the Sky Bar and its breathtaking views, the wonderful nightly shows, and the absolutely delicious restaurants are going to leave a lasting impression. Fall a sleep on a beach hammock or one of the dozens of beach chairs, the sounds of the crashing waves is relaxing. I highly recommend this resort for the first time visitor or an experienced traveler. Read less

Not quite sure where to start, other than to say if you are considering staying here,book it. I was put off booking this hotel due to the mixed reviews, the negative reviews putting us off booking for years. We could not fault any aspect of our stay. It was one of the best holidays we have had. Why??? Check in was smooth. Our loyalty was acknowledged and we received such a warm welcome. We were in our room minutes after 3pm. Restaurants booked on resort, no problem. Our swim up room was immaculate. Plenty toiletries. A fully stocked minibar. Everything you could need. Denise, was the lady that took care of our room, she was outstanding!! Such a lovely lady. It was an absolute pleasure to see her each day. Thank you Denise!! As I said, we had no problem making restaurant reservations on site. After 15 nights our favourites included Soy, shout out to Gilbert who made up some sushi for my husband with no raw fish. The presentation from these 2 chefs was worldwide quality. They also served my fav cocktail too. Saki Cruise. Some pics to show the outstanding presentation, pure skill and artistry. More favs for dinner included Bombay. Absolutely delicious. We visited here 5 nights out of 15. The lamb chops and chicken tikka being my favs with the lamb curry being my husbands favourite. The garlic naan was soo light and yummy too. The Manager of Bombay runs a tight ship, friendly, approachable and we ended up good friends. We had no problem with a walk in either. Chi (Asian) was another favourite of ours. David was so welcoming and friendly. We went back there 3 times. Lots of fav meals there and so tasty!! Not forgetting the surf (lobster tail) n turf , lamb chops and T Bone Steak in Chophouse were outstanding too. The steak was cooked perfectly and so good. Breakfast: our favs were Greenhouse! Full table service with amazing options and our favs being lobster omelettes, steak n eggs and avocado on toast! Such a lovely friendly welcome too. Another fav breakfast option was La Parisian. It’s very busy in both so you can expect a short wait. It’s not McDonalds after all and most worth the wait. The coffee was first class and I may have started the day off with a mimosa. A very good start to the day indeed. For buffet The Tavern had exceptional choice. Brilliant service from the staff, especially given how many customers they look after. Couldn’t fault any of the above. Now to one of my husbands favourites. Sweet n Salty. I would have my 10am coffee which my husband happily brought to my sun lounger. Along with his daily donut. Soooooo many delicious options. Let’s just say he made good friends with those lovely ladies. ladies. Lunch options… there were lots and our favs were most certainly the Jerk Shack or Heart n Sol. Wow to both of those restaurants. Heart and Sol offering a healthy option from a delicious prawn salad or tuna salad to a tasty sandwich. Ohh and the spicy chicken noodle soup was a repeat option for us we also enjoyed the odd pizza poolside. There were plenty of towels, even late Om. No problem in getting a sun lounger too. Sooo many pools to choose from. Each with a different vibe. Busy and entertaining to peace and tranquility. Big shout out to the pool team and of course the mega efficient and outstanding Manager, Lisa!! Thank you to you and your team. You are amazing and ensure all your guests have the best possible experience. I have to say, we were reluctant to return to Sandals Barbados which was based on some negative reviews. Woukd we return?? Without doubt and we will This resort is ran by exceptional Management, who endeavour to look after you. If you have any feedback or require assistance, use GINA. The team are responsive and keen to make your holiday magical, which the team did. BIG THANK you to the GINA team!! The Diamond lunch was delightful and well worth leaving your sun lounger for. Thank you also to the team that sang us our final farewell. I actually filled up lol!! The biggest Thank you to Patrick, for everything!! We could not have asked for a better holiday. It was one of the best we have had and our top Sandals resort. With 140 nights in Sandals resorts, I hope my review will give comfort to anyone considering going to Sandals Royal or Sandals Barbados. Book it! And enjoy. Ohhh and don’t forget to go yo the Spa. Ask for Krystal C and you won’t be disappointed. Overall an exceptional holiday. Please don’t be put off by any negative reviews. We seen n heard more customers be rude to the staff, there is absolutely no reason for that. Please be kind. Read less

Today is our last day of a 5 night stay at Sandals Barbados. Here are my thoughts as we wrap up this trip ( our fifth Sandals experience, which includes two stops in Jamaica, Grenada, and Antigua) - We arrived in the early evening after a non stop flight from JFK. It took us a minute to find the Sandals kiosk ( it was outside). Airport experience was painless. - We arrived at the resort and started exploring. I expected to see somewhat of a physical distance between Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados. In reality, it was just a slight walkway between the two. It feels like one large resort with over 20 restaurants and 11 pools. When they tell you that you are getting two resorts for the price of one, they aren’t kidding. - The grounds are extremely well maintained. It is a gorgeous, relaxing campus with green grass and exquisite flowers. - We stayed in the Royal House overlooking the beach. It was very quiet throughout the trip. - The staff here was pleasant and hard working. While many were focused on their various tasks and responsibilities, they were quick to respond to greetings with smiles and acknowledgment. - We really enjoyed the restaurants here. The Greenhouse especially, for breakfast and dinner, were excellent! Nice option for someone looking to eat healthy. Neptunes was a disappointment unfortunately, with extremely slow food and drink service ( we felt that our waiter was somewhat aloof), especially compared to every other restaurant on the two resorts, but again, this was not the norm for this resort. Most likely a fluke. - This resort features both a coffee shop and donut shop. In addition to the coffee ( boozy if you like) and donuts, they feature pastries, ice cream, and crepes. Delicious! - There is a bowling alley here. - Great excursions at this resort! The sunset catamaran cruise with snorkeling was an absolute blast , with four incredible crew members. We also did a private island tour with Bubba from Bubba’s Transportation ( booked through Sandals) that included the monkey feeding at the animal sanctuary and Harrison’s Cave. Bubba’s a great guy who is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Lastly, we did the run tour. Again, great trip, great hosts. Kudos to Sandals- they work with only the best subcontractors who work hard to ensure you are satisfied. Special shout outs to Glyne our driver and Rhea from Mount Gay. - One of my favorite things about this resort was that I was not constantly bothered about booking the spa, upgrading wine, booking another Sandals vacation, or being bothered by vendors at the beach. While I understand the reason behind the nagging, it gets old being asked every day about a spa visit. Or being badgered to buy trinkets on the beach. We were asked once the entire trip about a spa trip ( which of course was fine, because it wasn’t excessive). - Gym facilities ( there were two) were well maintained with dumbbells 5-45 lbs and Cybex machines. Treadmills and elliptical machines were abundant. - We really enjoyed the Island, and found that Barbadian life is not terribly different from life in the United States. This is not Jamaica, where you take risk leaving the resort. Although I didn’t have the opportunity, I would have enjoyed walking outside the resort and getting to know the town a little deeper. - We saw one entertainment show here and it was good. The rest of the entertainment lineup didn’t really appeal to us, but that was ok, as there are plenty of nooks to relax with your mate and plenty of bars to explore. Try the smoked drinks at the Skybar! Great views up there, plus a pool, hot tub, and the French restaurant. Thanks Amario for your great service! - This did not feel like a “party resort.” It was calm, quiet, and relaxing. I’m sure there was partying, but the resort is big enough that not every guest is subjected to noise/ bass/ etc. ( please remember this is a May 2025 review, with the resort at around 60% capacity). - Our flight to come home is late ( 4 pm). Sandals offers a departure lounge ( as an in-between after you check out of your room but before you are picked up to go to the airport) to store a change of clothes and a carry on bag as well as showers to freshen up before you leave. Nice touch. Items for consideration: - One of the guest buildings is under construction, so there is some occasional noise from the construction company. It had no impact on the enjoyment of our trip. - Excursions require van rides to your destination ( including the sunset cruise). There are no boat pickups here. Due to traffic, some of the rides felt long. The roads are bumpy in places. If you’re in a four row van, avoid sitting in the far back if you’re someone who gets carsick . - During the week we were here, we saw a lot of seaweed in the water and on the beach. Not many people went into the ocean to swim. I’m told the seaweed is not constant and obviously, this is an island issue, not a resort issue. - It was humid in the room and the bed blanket, surfaces, and even clothing in the drawer felt just slightly damp the entire week. Slight mildew smell in the room. - Yes, as noted in some of the other reviews, the resort could use a little updating, but again, this in no way hampered our trip. - It is illegal to wear camouflage in Barbados. Leave ALL camo bags, clothing, hats, etc. at home. In conclusion, we had a fantastic week here and would happily come back again and recommend Sandals Barbados/ Royal Barbados to our friends and family. Sandals as a whole really has a grasp on customer service and providing a quality experience to their guests. And yes, we booked another Sandals trip while we were here ( the 12% discount for return customers, plus their 7-7-7 deals are pretty spectacular- and yes you get both discounts when you book). PS: THANK YOU Sandals for supporting military and first responders! Read less

Beyond disappointing experience with Sandals. Starting on the first day, we were greeted with rudeness at the bar for them to be out common liquors. After a long day, I was excited to try the food again to be greeted with rudeness by the staff as if I was interrupting their conversation. Continued to day 2, bar staff was impersonal and rude while out of liquor again. Places that required reservations were all booked up by the time we got to the resort which is ridiculous. Day 3, we went to Merry Monkey where we had an almost 3 hr wait for our time. If that wasn’t bad enough, I was greeted with not 1 but 2 roaches yes roaches on the wall. We will see how the rest of the week goes…. But neatless to say we’ve been returning Sandals members for the past 5 years and this is beyond disappointing. Read less