We have just returned home from a 2 week stay at The Sands, and overall we had a fantastic holiday.
From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel welcome. Like anywhere, there were the occasional less cheerful faces, but the vast majority of the team were friendly, approachable, and genuinely helpful. Whenever we had a small issue, it was dealt with quickly and with a smile.
We had booked a Superior Studio Garden View but were delighted to be upgraded to a spacious one-bedroom apartment overlooking the pool. The room was modern, spotless, and extremely comfortable. Housekeeping was excellent, with fresh towels every day and the complimentary water, milk, tea bags, and biscuits replenished daily.
We never had any problems finding sunbeds. Even after 8:30 am there were always plenty available. The pool staff were particularly friendly and helpful, and I’d like to give a special mention to Romario and Ricardo, who were both a credit to the hotel. Pool towels were also provided every day.
The bar staff worked incredibly hard. At busy times they occasionally seemed a little stretched, but service was generally always friendly. The cocktails were delicious, and there was certainly no shortage of rum punch. Loved the mudslides too!
Food was generally good, with breakfast being my favourite meal of the day. I’m quite a fussy eater, so that’s always a good test! Lunch and dinner alternated between buffet and à la carte. Personally, I preferred the buffet because there was a wider choice. I don’t eat fish and mainly eat chicken, which was always available, although the à la carte menu could feel a little limited at times. The staff were always happy to accommodate requests, such as swapping sweet potato for fries, which was much appreciated.
There was also a snack menu available from 11:30 am until 4:00 pm each day, offering burgers, hot dogs, pizzas, and chicken strips.
Evening entertainment consisted of live singers from 7:30 pm until 10:00 pm. Naturally, some performers suited our taste more than others, but it created a pleasant atmosphere every evening.
One of the things we loved most about The Sands was its size. It’s a smaller, more intimate hotel where guests naturally chat to one another, and we met some lovely people during our stay.
I’d also like to thank Kemar, Koffi, and Rebecca from the management team. They were all incredibly kind, professional, and helpful when we needed assistance.
Our only room issue was that the bedroom became very bright at night because of exterior LED lighting beneath the window. As someone who struggles to sleep unless the room is dark, I mentioned it to Reception and to Rebecca and Koffi. They arranged for Security to switch the lights off after 11 pm each night, which made a huge difference. Their willingness to help was much appreciated. It may be worth considering blackout blinds for these rooms in the future.
The only real disappointment during our stay was the beach. Unfortunately, it was affected by significant sargassum seaweed for most of our holiday, and there was also a lot in the sea. Coastal erosion and high tides also meant there was very little beach available at times. Obviously, none of this is the hotel’s fault, and we appreciated that they were dealing with a natural issue affecting much of the Caribbean.
Although the beach wasn’t the main reason for our holiday, I did feel sorry for guests who had specifically chosen Barbados for its beaches. It would have been a lovely gesture if the hotel had offered a complimentary shuttle to Carlisle Bay, which is only around 10 minutes away and absolutely beautiful, or to their sister hotel, Mango Bay, on the west coast where the beaches were unaffected. Instead, guests needed to use taxis or the excellent local buses, which are frequent and cost just BDS $3.50 per journey.
During the final two days of our stay, the hotel brought in machinery to clear the seaweed, and the difference was incredible. The beach was transformed, with soft white sand, beautiful clear turquoise water, and guests were once again able to enjoy swimming as the warning flags changed from red to yellow. It reminded us just how stunning this stretch of coastline can be.
The location is excellent, with a supermarket and bar next door, while St Lawrence Gap is only a five-minute walk away with plenty of restaurants, bars, and entertainment.
We found everyone we met in Barbados to be incredibly friendly, welcoming, and relaxed. We felt completely safe throughout our holiday, and it was lovely to meet several returning visitors and solo travellers who clearly love the island.
Overall, we had an amazing holiday at The Sands. Despite the temporary beach conditions, the excellent staff, comfortable accommodation, great atmosphere, and ideal location made for a memorable stay. We would happily return and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the hotel to others.
