Best Sandals Vacation

Best Sandals Vacation Overall

Sandals Royal Barbados – Best Sandals Vacation

Winner: Sandals Royal Barbados (St. Lawrence Gap – Barbados)

Sandals Royal Barbados is ranked the best Sandals Resort because it will give you the royal treatment. As its tagline states, this is an “all suites, all luxury, all on a jet-setting destination.” It takes the premium all-inclusive concept and brings it to the next level with arguably the most glamorous rooms of any Sandals resort.

Some of the resort’s key features include:

• Luxurious rooms and suites with butler services
• Optional Millionaire Suites, Skypool Suites, and swim-up suites
• Beachfront Love Nest Butler Suites provide expansive open-air balconies, opulent living rooms, and soaking tubs with ocean views.
• 18 unique dining locations across 2 adjoining properties
• Breathtaking Barbados beachfront
• PADI-Certified scuba diving
• watercraft and watersports
• Free wedding for stays of three nights or longer
• Playful elements like a bowling alley, donut shop, and a British-style pub
• 15,000 sq ft spa
• rooftop pool

Highest Rated Sandals Resort

Sandals Royal Plantation room

Winner: Sandals Royal Plantation (Ochos Rio – Jamaica)

Sandals Royal Plantation is the only all-suite, all-butler service Sandals resort. With only 74 ocean-view suites, it’s no wonder Sandals Royal Plantation is consistently showered with awards and praised by guests. Awards include AAA/CAA Four Diamond Awards, Fodor’s Choice, TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Best of the Best Awards, and more! Here’s how guests rate this location:

• Google Rating: 4.6
• TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5
• US News Travel Ranking (Best Sandals Resorts International): #1

If you don’t mind spending a little more, then Sandals Royal Plantation is a top choice (along with our personal favorite Sandals Royal Barbados).  It also tops our list of the Best Sandals Resorts in Jamaica.

Runner Up: Sandals Grenada Resort & Spa (St. Georges – Grenada)

If you are looking for something a little more affordable, then consider Sandals Grenada Resort & Spa in St. Georges, Grenada. It has a Google Rating of 4.6, a TripAdvisor Rating of 4.5, and comes in at #2 on the US News Travel Ranking behind Royal Plantation. Recognition includes AAA/CAA Four Diamond Awards and TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards. Not too shabby!

What’s The Biggest Sandals Resort?

sandals ochi resort

Winner: Sandals Ochi (Ocho Rios – Jamaica)

The largest Sandals resort is Sandals Ochi Resort. It encompasses 100 acres overlooking the Caribbean and offers rooms and suites, 519 villas, 16 dining options, 105 pools, 22 whirlpools, and two spas.

Which Country Has the Best Sandals Vacation?

Sandals Negril Resort in Jamaica

Winner: Jamaica

Jamaica is the country with the best Sandals Resorts. It’s home to 6 unique Sandals locations as well as 2 family-friendly Beaches Resorts.

Locations in Jamaica include Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean, Sandals Negril, Sandals Ochi, Sandals South Coast, and Sandals Royal Plantation.

Additionally, Sandals has announced three new resorts coming soon to Jamaica. They are Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Royal Dunn’s River, and Beaches Runaway Bay.

Which Sandals Resorts have Over-The-Water Bungalows (Villas)?

Sandals Grande St Lucian

Sandals’ Over-the-water bungalows are the Caribbean’s most stunning accommodations. There are currently 3 Sandals resorts with over-the-water bungalows:

• Sandals Grande St. Lucian in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
• Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica
• South Coast in Whitehouse, Jamaica

Sandals over-the-water villas blend modern luxury with exotic primitive architecture, and they are suspended over the finest turquoise waters imaginable.  This is the textbook definition of tropical paradise.

The patio area features a Tranquility Soaking Tub for two, a swim-up platform, an over-the-water hammock, and an outdoor shower.  The interior has  ‘sea-through’ glass floors, a spa-style bathroom, and a king-size bed.

Which Sandals Resort is the Most Romantic?

Sandals Royal Plantation

Winner: Sandals Royal Plantation (Ochos Rio – Jamaica)

Sandals Royal Plantation is the most romantic Sandals resort. The resort is noted for its intimate feel, mainly because there are only 72 suites and fewer guests than at most Sandals locations. Its also set between the tranquil waters and stunning mountains of Jamaica, which naturally lends itself to feeling like you’re in a secluded tropical oasis.

Sandals Royal Plantation has two private beaches and full privileges to the other nearby Sandals resorts.

As mentioned before, guests have ranked Sandals Royal Plantation as the highest-rated Sandals vacation destination….so it’s clear they are doing something right!

Which Sandals Vacation is Best for Honeymoons?

Sandals South Coast bungalows

Winner: Sandals South Coast (Whitehouse – Jamaica)

If you are looking for the quintessential Caribbean honeymoon, look no further than Jamaica’s Sandals South Coast. The resort offers exclusive over-the-water bungalows that will provide you with an unforgettable and romantic honeymoon.

South Coast’s bungalows feature overwater hammocks, sea-through glass floors, custom king-sized beds, outdoor showers, and private sundecks. This is the honeymoon of your dreams!

Want more honeymoon options?  Check out our full list of the 5 Best Sandals Resorts for Honeymoons.

Contact The Vacationeer, a premier Sandals travel agency, and start planning your Sandals honeymoon today!

What is the Best Sandals Resort for Weddings?

Sandals Montego Bay wedding chapel

Winner: Sandals Montego Bay (Montego Bay – Jamaica)

Sandals Montego Bay is the best Sandals for weddings because it has a beautiful over-the-water wedding chapel and an over-the-water bar. It’s also situated just a few miles away from the Montego Bay airport so it’s easy for wedding guests to get to. Additionally, weddings are free for stays three nights or longer, there are beachfront and swim-up room options, and the resort is home to 12 restaurants, 6 bars, and exchange privileges with Sandals Royal Caribbean.

The wedding party will enjoy the pools, activities, and serene beachfront and grounds of Sandals Montego Bay. Sandals Montego Bay is a great choice for any occasion, but especially for weddings.

Who is the Best Sandals Vacation Planner?

The Vacationeer is the best Sandals vacation planner. These travel agents can help you plan and book the Sandals vacation package of your dreams, at no additional cost to you!

Do you have questions about how much Sandals Resorts cost or what’s included (and what’s not included)? Do need help choosing the best Sandals vacation for your needs? If so, we would encourage you to contact The Vacationeer for a free quote. Their services are extremely helpful and 100% free of charge!

What is the Best Sandals Resort for Golf?

Sandals Emerald Bay golf course

Winner: Sandals Emerald Bay (Great Exuma – Bahamas)

Sandals Emerald Bay is home to an 18-hole oceanfront golf course designed by the legendary Greg Norman. The golf course spans 7001 yards, has a 72 par, and overlooks some of the prettiest blue water that you’ll ever see.

Green fees are included with your stay, but there are additional costs for renting golf carts and golf clubs (if you don’t bring your own).

What is the Most Affordable Sandals Resort?

Sandals Ochi pool

Winner: Sandals Ochi (Ocho Rios – Jamaica)

Sandals Ochi is the least expensive Sandals vacation resort. The cheapest rooms at Sandals Ochi start at $234 per night (April 2022) for a stay in a Great House Luxury room.

Not sold on Sandals Ochi? Rooms at Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa–  which has slightly better reviews than Sandals Ochi –  start at around $257 per night for the Caribbean Luxury Honeymoon suite.  Sandals South Coast is another Sandals Resort with affordable rates.  We discuss both in-depth in our Cheapest Sandals Resorts article.

You might also want to review our list of ways to save money on a Sandals Resort vacation for tips on making every Sandals resort more affordable.

Contact The Vacationeer for the most up-to-date rates.

Best Sandals Vacation for Foodies (Best Restaurants)

Sandals Regency La Toc restaurants

Winner: Sandals Regency La Toc (Castries – St. Lucia)

The food is all-inclusive and FANTASTIC at all of the Sandals’ locations. That said, some locations have a wider diversity of restaurant options.

Sandals Regency La Toc is the best Sandals for foodies because guests can choose from among 27 different restaurants (when you include the shared dining options at its sister properties). On-site Sandals Regency La Toc restaurants include Five-Star Diamond French cuisine as well as Asian, Italian, and Mediterranean dining options.

What’s the Newest Sandals Resort?

Winner: Sandals Royal Curaçao (Santa Barabara – Curacao)

The newest Sandals Resort is Sandals Royal Curacao, which opens in June 2022. Sandals is always opening new vacation destinations so look for even more new locations in the coming years.

Which Sandals Resort is the Safest?

Winner: Tie

All Sandals Resorts are regarded as safe. Security personnel at each Sandals location are well-trained in safety protocol and all the staff must undergo extensive background checks before they are hired.

What Sandals Resort Has the Clearest Water?

Sandals Grande Antiqua beach

Winner: Sandals Grande Antigua (St. John’s – Antigua)

Sandals Grande Antigua is situated on one of the longest and most beautiful white-sand beaches imaginable – Dickenson Bay. The incredibly clear water and powdery white sand make for a beach-lovers paradise.