Sandals Royal Barbados

Sandals Barbados – 17 nights in paradise. Perfect… almost? We stayed at Sandals Barbados from 24 September to 11 October for 17 nights, and overall, we’ve had a fantastic holiday. Having visited other Sandals resorts, we had a few expectations going in, and Barbados certainly delivered in many areas. In others, there’s room for improvement. Would we return? Absolutely. But here’s the full picture. Airport arrival and check-in Slick and quick. We were out of the airport within 40 minutes of landing. Head straight to the Sandals desk, which you’ll find just to the left as you exit. Within minutes, we were on a minibus with other arrivals, with our luggage following separately. The atmosphere on the bus was as jovial as you’d expect. We arrived at the Club Sandals lounge to find no welcome song, although that didn’t bother us. We’d checked in online, which made the process easy and efficient. We reached the resort at around 2.45pm, and our room was ready. A lovely intern showed us to our Oceanview Junior Suite (OJS). Our luggage, however, took another hour to arrive. A little frustrating after a long journey, but we made the best of it by ordering some nachos through room service. They were very welcome! Once the bags arrived and we’d unpacked, we headed out to explore. The resort Massive. And I mean MASSIVE! Despite its size, the layout means you’re rarely far from wherever you want to be. It’s a beautiful resort, with plenty of different areas to suit whatever mood you’re in, whether that’s lively and sociable or somewhere peaceful to escape. The room We stayed in the Royal House on the Barbados side. It’s been newly refurbished and is a lovely room, although there are a few niggles. The air conditioning is incredibly efficient. In fact, you might want to pack a jumper for sleeping! The controls are preset, and the system occasionally seems to have a mind of its own. The bathroom is lovely, but there isn’t a single hook to hang anything on. Not one! A surprisingly basic oversight in an otherwise nicely refurbished room. The view was lovely, too. Our room was above a swim-up bar, so some noise is inevitable. The patio doors do a reasonable job of keeping it out, and things generally quieten down by around 6pm, so it wasn’t a major issue for us. The pools You certainly won’t be short of somewhere to swim, relax or enjoy a cocktail. * Barbados swim-up pool: Relatively calm and relaxed, with direct access to the beach. Service can sometimes move at the same leisurely pace as the atmosphere, but nobody seems particularly rushed here anyway. * Royal infinity pool: Livelier, in a good way, with lovely views out across the Caribbean. * Rooftop pool: A favourite for a more relaxed experience. There’s a lovely breeze, bar service and a jacuzzi overlooking the sea. Sipping a piña colada in there was a pretty special experience. * Greenhouse pool: Properly quiet and peaceful. Ideal if you want to escape the crowds and completely switch off. * Jerk Shack swim-up pool: Probably our favourite overall balance. Plenty going on, DJs creating a great atmosphere and some of the best bar staff on the resort. There really is a pool for every mood. The bars I’ve mentioned a few already, but honestly, I’ve never been to a resort with so many bars. It’s almost impossible to be anywhere without one in sight! Our favourites were Lovers Lane, the outside bar in the Barbados Courtyard and the rooftop bar. The English pub didn’t really float our boat. Compared with the equivalent venues at other Sandals resorts we’ve visited, it felt a little clumsy and lacked the same appeal. The piano bar is great fun, but be warned: there’s no air conditioning. That makes quite a difference in Barbados! I could go on, but I haven’t got enough space to list the other 3,000 bars. 😂 The restaurants This is where Sandals Barbados really shines. We didn’t have a single bad dinner during our stay. Overall, this was the best food we’ve experienced at a Sandals resort so far, although some restaurants were definitely better than others. Staying for 17 nights gave us the luxury of trying everything, often more than once. Butch’s Steak & Seafood Our favourite. Really good food, generous portions and consistently enjoyable. We ate here twice and would happily have gone again. Soy Sushi Soy has been one of our favourite restaurants at other Sandals resorts, so we were really looking forward to it here. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. It lacked a little of the pizzazz we’ve come to expect, and overall, we felt it was a step down from the other resorts. Not terrible, just disappointing when you know how good it can be elsewhere. Bombay Exceptional. If you enjoy a curry, do yourself a favour and eat here. Our standout dishes were the lamb chops and tandoori prawns for starters, followed by the prawn butter masala and lamb curry. The naan and pilau rice were excellent, too. We ate here twice, and both visits were thoroughly enjoyable. Parisienne A lovely restaurant, and well worth asking for a table outside. The views from the sixth floor are fantastic. The food lived up to the setting, too. French onion soup, lamb shank, fish stew and sole were all excellent. Another restaurant we visited twice. Portofino The food was lovely, but the setting didn’t quite do it for us. It can also get very busy, with some lengthy waits for a table, so bear that in mind. Butch’s Chop House Another winner. Crab cakes, oysters Rockefeller, T-bone steak and filet mignon — there’s plenty to tempt you here. We really couldn’t fault the food. Chi Asian fusion, designed around sharing and trying a variety of dishes. The portions are smaller, but that makes sense given the concept. We enjoyed it. 👌 Schooners Our least favourite for dinner, food-wise. There was nothing fundamentally wrong with it; we’d simply been spoiled by the quality elsewhere. Breakfast here is à la carte and was a mixed bag. Sometimes service felt chaotic; on other occasions, it was slick. Consistency could be better. Neptune’s Dinner was good, although it wouldn’t make our top five. Lunch was less impressive, but the setting is lovely. Greenhouse The menu didn’t immediately grab us, but we decided to give it a go. What a pleasant surprise! The food was fabulous and easily made our top five. Don’t overlook this one just because the menu doesn’t jump out at you. Breakfast here is à la carte, much like Schooners, and similarly inconsistent. Sometimes everything runs smoothly; sometimes it feels chaotic. Mariners and Dino’s Perfect for lunch. Order some food, grab a cold beer and soak up those ocean views. Simply wonderful. Merry Monkey We had dinner here once. My wife wasn’t keen on her wings, but my steak was excellent. Spices and American Tavern Our buffet breakfast options. Both offer plenty of choice and are fairly similar, although I’d give American Tavern the edge. Café de Paris This place is brilliant, and I genuinely can’t understand why there isn’t one at every Sandals resort! The coffee is good, the crêpes are lovely, and the ice cream is even better. But what really makes the place special is the team of ladies working there. They’re fantastic and deserve a mention in their own right. Sweet & Salty Every time we tried to walk past, a huge gust of wind seemed to blow us straight through the door. 😂 A great selection of doughnuts and other treats. Just watch out for the cheeky cockerel who has perfected the art of mugging unsuspecting guests. He’s particularly partial to the brownies. 😉 Heart & Sol The name sounds more appealing than the reality, but it’s perfectly fine if you fancy convincing yourself you’re being healthy on holiday. 😂 Jerk Shack Unfortunately, we weren’t impressed with the food here. A real disappointment, particularly given how much we enjoyed the atmosphere around the pool. Hot Dog Stand Basic hot dogs, but really nice. Sometimes simple is best! The gift shop A little disappointing. Several shelves and fridges were empty, and the whole place was uncomfortably hot — almost sauna-like. It feels as though a little more attention to stock levels and the shopping environment would make a big difference. Entertainment There’s plenty going on if you want to get involved, but equally, enough space to escape it all if you don’t. We liked that balance. You can join in with the atmosphere or find somewhere quieter without feeling you’re missing out. The beach It’s okay, but it wouldn’t be top of our list compared with some of the beaches we’ve experienced elsewhere in the Caribbean. That said, there’s still plenty to enjoy, and the sea activities certainly help make up for it. Snorkelling and glass-bottom boat trips We did both and thoroughly enjoyed them. The teams were fantastic — knowledgeable, entertaining and great fun to spend time with. They made the experiences even better, and we’d happily recommend both. The grounds Generally well maintained, with some particularly pretty shrubs and gardens. There are lovely areas to wander around, and the landscaping adds a lot to the overall feel of the resort. There’s always room for a little more attention to detail here and there, but overall, the grounds are attractive and enjoyable. The animal community! You’ll encounter plenty of free-roaming chickens, lots of cats and the occasional monkey. The chickens are entertaining, the cats are lovely, and the monkeys are FAST! There’s never a dull moment watching the local residents going about their business. Just keep an eye on your food. You have been warned! The staff This is probably the most difficult section to write because, for us, it really was a tale of two halves. The vast majority of staff we encountered were fantastic. Some were genuinely exceptional and helped make our holiday what it was. Unfortunately, there were also a few whose attitude could turn milk sour and potentially ruin your day. We’d particularly like to thank Samara, Ingrid, Miriam, Regina, Hidi, Blaire, Darren, Jack, Marlin, Tyrese, Kadri, Temesha, Irene, Shaneeka, Jocelyn, Jessica, Ryan and Christina. At Café de Paris, a special thank you to Keziha, Andrea and the rest of the wonderful team. You’re all fantastic. Shakil and the boat team deserve a mention, too. They were brilliant, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them. Mark from grounds maintenance deserves a special mention as well. He’s an absolute legend. If you don’t spot him, he’ll spot you, come over and have a chat, and leave you smiling. A genuinely lovely bloke. John Patrick was lovely, too. To all of you who helped make our 17 nights so enjoyable, thank you. You’re a huge part of what makes a holiday memorable, and your efforts really do make a difference. On the management side, though, we came away less impressed. On the few occasions our paths crossed with the general manager, we found him rather aloof and seemingly disinterested in engaging with guests. Perhaps we caught him on the wrong days, but first impressions matter, particularly at a resort of this calibre. The verdict We’ve had a fantastic 17 nights at Sandals Barbados. It’s a beautiful resort, with an incredible choice of pools and bars, some excellent restaurants and a great many staff who genuinely make the effort to ensure guests have a memorable holiday. But it’s not quite perfect. A few relatively minor issues — the lack of bathroom hooks, inconsistent service in some restaurants, the state of the gift shop and our impressions of management — could be addressed without any major investment. These are the sorts of details that make the difference between a very good resort and an exceptional one. Having visited Sandals Antigua and La Toc, we felt Barbados wasn’t quite as consistently well run. That’s a shame, because the potential is absolutely there. Nevertheless, the positives comfortably outweigh the negatives. We would return in a heartbeat. If Tripadvisor allowed half-stars, we’d probably give it 4.5. As it stands, it edges a five-star rating rather than a four. We’re leaving tomorrow, and we’ll genuinely be sad to go. And surely, that’s one of the best signs of a great holiday. Sandals Barbados: exceptional in many ways, occasionally frustrating, but a place we’d happily return to. Read less

Great hotel lovely staff, big shout out to Zebe the bar tender at the swim up pool bar. Loads of restaurants only 4 have to be booked so they say...but there isn't one main dining area all individual restaurants which you can just walk in....most nights we had to give our room number and was put on a waiting list The room we had was outstanding... room 10510 a corner suite with a bath tub on the balcony Trips - island tour is a must, you see the real Barbados Read less

Having previously stayed at Sandals Antigua and Sandals St Lucia, I have a good understanding of the Sandals experience. We particularly enjoyed Antigua, and there are certainly positives to Barbados too. Being able to use both Sandals Barbados and Royal Barbados gives you an excellent choice of restaurants, bars and facilities. The staff are generally very friendly, and there is a lot to enjoy. However, having stayed here, I find myself questioning whether Sandals really delivers the luxury experience it markets itself on. There is a difference between an expensive all-inclusive holiday and a genuinely luxurious one. For me, luxury is not simply about the number of restaurants, the range of cocktails or the facilities available. It is about attention to detail, consistency, service and the feeling that someone genuinely cares about the experience being delivered. Unfortunately, that is where our experience in Barbados has fallen short. Friendliness is important, but it is not a substitute for attentive, efficient service. Housekeeping has been particularly disappointing. On our first day, our towels were not replaced. After waiting an hour and making several calls, including one that was ended abruptly, I eventually had to walk to reception to complain. On the second day, we returned to find that our room’s front door had been left open, which is completely unacceptable from a security perspective. On the third day, we requested shower gel at around 1pm, only to return at 4:30pm to find it still had not arrived. We had to chase this again before raising the issue properly with the concierge. Individually, some of these things might be considered minor oversights. Collectively, they point towards a lack of care, follow-through and accountability. Opening times and general service standards have also been inconsistent. Pool bars advertised as opening at 10am are often not ready to serve until 10:10 or 10:15. These are small things and the style is Caribbean relaxed I guess, but when they happen repeatedly, you begin to question whether the advertised standards are actually being managed. The food offering has plenty of variety and, in general, the quality is generally ok, particularly for mass catering. However, the execution is inconsistent. At à la carte breakfast, items are frequently missing from our order, whether that is a hash brown or a fruit plate. On one occasion, part of my breakfast was served on my wife’s plate. At the Italian restaurant, I could see our food sitting under the hot counter for an extended period, and when the salmon arrived, the sauce had developed a film on the surface. At the sushi restaurant, we waited 30 minutes for salmon sashimi. None of these incidents individually ruins a holiday, but they all contribute to the same impression. To be clear, the staff are generally lovely and friendly, However, I do want to highlight an unpleasant interaction with Dwane at the piano bar. I stopped for a quick lunchtime drink and, after noticing him repeatedly changing the TV channels, politely asked if he would mind if we could leave an NFL game on. His reaction was incredibly rude. Although he put the game on, he then muted the TV, accompanied by huffing, tutting, sighing and muttering under his breath. He continued with a noticeably hostile attitude, banging bottles around behind the bar. The whole interaction was bizarre and uncomfortable enough that I left after around five minutes. A perfectly polite and reasonable request should not result in a guest feeling unwelcome, and I felt this behaviour was completely There are certainly positives. Having access to both properties is a real advantage, the choice of restaurants and bars is excellent, and there is plenty to enjoy. We have not had a terrible holiday, and that is precisely what makes the shortcomings frustrating: the resort has so much potential. I have noticed smaller errors at other Sandals properties, too, so perhaps this is not exclusive to Barbados. However, the frequency of these issues here has made them much harder to overlook. Ultimately, my concern is that the operation sometimes feels as though it is phoning it in. There appears to be a lack of attention to detail and due diligence in areas where the basics should be straightforward. I should not have to chase housekeeping requests, worry about the security of my room, or repeatedly notice avoidable mistakes in food and service. Sandals positions itself as a luxury brand, and with that comes an expectation of consistent standards. A premium price should deliver more than a large selection of facilities and an all-inclusive drinks package. It should deliver reliability, attention to detail and service that makes you feel genuinely looked after. Unfortunately, our experience in Barbados has felt more like an expensive all-inclusive holiday than a truly luxurious one. That is a disappointing conclusion to reach, particularly when we have enjoyed Sandals elsewhere. Read less