Sandals Resorts - Opinions?

[HighFlyer]

Following on from the comments in Richards's trip report i am curious to know, who's been to Sandals, and what do you think of it?

Their advertisements always give me the impression of "Sandals, the first stepping stone to SAGA holidays" but having seen the brassy 30 something couple on our flight home i now wonder who they are trying to attract. Younger couples now? Are the resorts as good as people say? Is the food and wine really premium? What about from the eyes of a premium traveller? Are you expected to make 'new friends' with other couples and join their supper clubs or enter bragathons with the subject matter of 'your most expensive holiday' and so on?

Would be great to hear of personal experiences, positive or negative

Thanks,
Sarah

Funny, I always had them marked down as a wedding / honeymoon destination for younger people. But then again, most people are "younger people" now.

Paul

I've never been, so please dismiss my comments as much as you like. still, the impression I got was, yes the wedding / honeymoon market but also perceived luxury of a one stop resort where you could just lie by the pool and not have top speak to any of the natives.

I would say their target demographic was new money British and American couples, in their 30's and 40's who find each others bad attempts at limbo dancing fun.

And the resorts all seem to have a cute wedding "gazebo" on a rocky headland by the sea.

Dean

[Bazz]

We have been to several of their resorts, two on St Lucia (and visited a third for one day during our stay) the Bahamas and Cuba (the latter was not fit to be called Sandals IMHO) so I guess that confirms your SAGA theory Sarah [:p].

They are not that much better than several of the lesser priced All Inclusives (AIs) but they do have a very slick marketing machine and their own loyalty programme (Sandals Signature Guest) which provides for upgrades and you can earn free stays, IIRC you have to stay 50 days to qualify for a free week!

They generally have one or maybe two good quality restaurants, depending on the size of the resort and several other more casual venues.

Food and service has generally been good but again nothing better than some of the other AIs we have been to.

The wine, well there is a reasonable selection available but the better wines on the wine list have to be paid for, similarly Champagne is usually an extra charge, premium brand spirits are available though but you need to ask for them or you will get palmed off with some local brew.

Rooms are no better than a good three star or four star holiday hotel and are not particularly luxuriously appointed however they are more than acceptable for a 7-10 or 14 night stay.

It is worth paying a little more for the concierge service which generally gives you a better room/view and daily restock of your in-room bar. This usually includes red and white wine, gin, vodka, scotch and perhaps one other spirit such as Bacardi. Champagne is generally not included but if you get to know the bar stock person things can improve the same would apply to JD I am sure Sarah [:w]. {Edited to add, these are full size (70cl) bottles, not miniatures in a mini bar, it is a proper wet bar and they also restock your ice bucket daily.}

Concierge service varies from resort to resort but the above tends to be the core items.

Tipping is not supposed to happen but we usually do it anyway very discreetly, it helps oil the wheels for those little extras .

I hope this helps, if you, or anyone else for that matter, have any direct questions please feel free to post below or PM me.

Barry.

[Bazz]

Oh... one other thing having read Dean's post above, they are couples only and had, I don't know if it is still their policy due to legislation changes, a rule that these are mixed sex e.g. one male and one female, no same sex couples are (were?) allowed.

We have met gay and lesbian couples at Sandals, they book as straight couples and then swop partners when the have checked in, no one seemed to object however they were not overtly affectionate in the public areas, don't know how management would have reacted had they been.

[HighFlyer]

Cheers for that Barry, doesnt sound quite as luxurious as the marketing

According to this from the Guardian same-sex couples are now welcomed at Sandals. I had wondered myself what their stance was nowadays.

Thanks,
Sarah

[fozzyo]

Red Ken banned Sandals from advertising on the London Underground and on taxi's due to their old policy. They changed the policy and were allowed to advertise once more.

[Bazz]

Glad to learn the policy has changed, shame they didn't have the balls to take the initiative themselves instead of being bullied into it. We always disliked their homophobic attitude, one of the reasons why we didn't go there for several years.

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Cheers for that Barry, doesnt sound quite as luxurious as the marketing

According to this from the Guardian same-sex couples are now welcomed at Sandals. I had wondered myself what their stance was nowadays.

Thanks,
Sarah

If you want the best food and service go elsewhere and pay for it as you need it. If you want relax and have comfortable time like a drink or two without having to worry about carrying cash then Sandals is your thing. Food quality can be mixed. Breakfasts are great but evening meal quality varies.

The campaign against Sandals accepting same sex couples not always fair. Same sex relationships are criminalised in Bahamas and I believe some other Caribbean states. This is reflected in the local social attitude. I recall post on this forum reporting bad experiences in Bahamas.

It is better that Sandals gives you the choice but the atmosphere in Sandals is profoundly heterosexual I would not recommend it to a gay couple for a relaxing holiday. If you have a thick skin or are a pioneer than good luck to you. We noted one obviously lesbian couple in Bahamas than again so did everyone else.

[HighFlyer]

And i think its now quite clear that its not the place for the good Lord and Lady

Thanks,
Sarah

[Bazz]

Sarah, given that Richard doesn't drink very much and has simple tastes in food (his words not mine, I am not being critical or sarcastic [for once ]), you would really be paying a premium price, when compared to other AIs that is, for fairly average accommodation.

If you are looking to return to St Lucia you would be far better of in a decent hotel like the Royal St Lucian or Jalousie Plantation for example on a room only or B&B rate. Or push the boat out and go to Sandy Lane Barbados.

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by Bazz
Sarah, given that Richard doesn't drink very much and has simple tastes in food (his words not mine, I am not being critical or sarcastic [for once ]), you would really be paying a premium price, when compared to other AIs that is, for fairly average accommodation.

If you are looking to return to St Lucia you would be far better of in a decent hotel like the Royal St Lucian or Jalousie Plantation for example on a room only or B&B rate. Or push the boat out and go to Sandy Lane Barbados.

Sandy Lane? Err, I don't think so. That place redefines pretentious, and given I care about Sarah, I wouldn't want to subject her to such muppets. And to be fair, if we added both our ages, we still wouldn't reach the average age.

[Scrooge]

We stayed at one a couple of years ago...food was so so...room's were ok..once we got into the room we had booked (yes please..let us pay for an ocean front room and we will take one sitting by the rubbish)...staff were good though.

Just to echo Bazz...first thing I did was throw a $20 bill at the bartender closest to the room..that way when I got my butt out of bed in the morning my wake up drink was ready for me.

Sandy Lane...err no thanks...old people...Decker or Bazz type..not for me...well actually give me a few years and probably.

[Bazz]

Ehh, I don't think young Mr Decker would appreciate having his age group lumped in with mine somehow. [:?]

The Crane in Barbados is very nice and in the southeast part of the island not the west. Not an inclusive resort.

[Decker]

Meh once you've passed 40....

Oh dear I have done it again (trip report of 21 June). In proper English, it is not an all inclusive resort, but it does have some nice restaurants on-site, and is still being developed at the moment; just to clarify developed as in being built!

[:I][:o)]

My opinion of Sandals for the last couple of years is basically:

"Pass me the goocci bel' Shazza"

45.

Originally posted by VS045
My opinion of Sandals for the last couple of years is basically:

"Pass me the goocci bel' Shazza"

45.

I think that I may agree along those lines (but daren't say it myself...). When I visted Sandals Montego Bay it had more of a feeling of Blackpool/Butlins by a nice beach... (sorry if that makes me snobbish...)

I haven't stayed at a Sandals Resort, but I visited one on a day pass two weeks ago. I was on a cruise (on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas) and we had a stop at Montego Bay in Jamaica. The ship had an excursion that was a day pass to Sandals Montego Bay. We thought that this would be a good way of checking Sandals out...

To be perfectly honest we weren't impressed. Beach-wise I have seen better (Drs Cove down the road costs $5 a person to get into and is definitely a nicer beach). There was no "wow" about the resort - typical Caribbean large resort hotel (nothing elegant or particularly beautiful). The pools were very disappointing (I always think of Sandals as having big, beautiful pools). The service was particularly "Caribbean" (ok, I have been spoilt forever by the Ritz Carlton in Dubai.... and cruise ships aren't bad for service either). And the buffet lunch was very mediocre: you wouldn't starve, but wasn't very good (nowehere near as good as the one on the ship we left to go on the excursion...). 10 years ago my husband and I went on our honeymoon to a 4* all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic - Sandals Montego Bay was definitely no better than that (and probably twice as expensive!). We enjoyed our honeymoon at the time, but it isn't for us now...

Yes, there were no kids around. But there were quite a few "constantly merry" people around (being all-inclusive, many go there to make the most of the "free" booze). Quite a lot of merry Brits around. Quite a few "join in" games and activities organised by the entertainment staff right there on the beach and loud music (don't expect quiet, romantic beach). I think that, in general, I am not a fan of "all-inclusives" because they just don't tend to try as hard with the food and service... (husband and I are not big drinkers at all).

When the group from our excursion was getting on to the coach back to the ship, it was interesting to hear their comments. There was an overwhelming agreement that everyone was be glad to be leaving and going back to our really nice ship (it was ok for a day, but nobody wanted to stay at Sandals Montego Bay...). However, one couple (who were also disappointed with Sandals Montego Bay) said that they had honeymooned at Sandals Whitehouse (also on Jamaica) and it was a world away and completely amazing. Sandals Whitehouse is really quite new and one of their flagship resorts.

So there can be quite a variation across the Sandals brand... but I can't imagine us going to stay at one. If I wanted a week on a Caribbean beach, I would look at something like a Ritz Carlton or similar. Try and get a DBB or a B&B package. I would probably also look at somewhere like Grand Cayman - fantastic beaches and better service standards (although more expensive than Jamaica...).

Best Wishes (and sorry for rambling...)
Boo