My wife Kim and I recently 5returned from a trip to Grenada, where we stayed at the Sandals Resort. Every 0time I post pictures from one of our trips to the Caribbean, I get questions from friends. One of the most common is, “Do I enjoy staying at Sandals?” And the answer is yes. In this blog, I will explain five reasons I love staying at Sandals Resorts.Â
Why listen to my opinion about Sandals resorts?
You may be wondering, should I read this blog? Let me answer that question, which centers upon why listen to my opinion. After all, I’m not a travel agent. I’m not a travel expert. I’m certainly not an overly experienced Caribbean traveler. I will say, however, that I’m a guy who enjoys going to the Caribbean with his wife, staying at Sandals Resorts. Typically, we spend our anniversary in the summer and some time over the winter break. I haven’t been to every Sandals resort yet. I have been to at least 10 of them, though, which seems like a pretty significant number.
The #1 reason I love staying at Sandals Resorts
Sandals is a luxury vacation. We’re talking all-inclusive adults only. Are Sandals Resorts cheap? No. However, I do feel like it’s worth the money. All your food, drinks, and almost everything else are paid in advance. That way, you can relax. And don’t worry, there will not be any kids in the pool, only adults having the time of their lives.
Reason #2 – Caribbean locations
All Sandals Resorts are located in the Caribbean. Below is a map showing where the resorts are located. Starting in the north with the Bahamas. There are several Sandals in Jamaica. Other locations include Curacao and islands in the Eastern Caribbean, such as Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Barbados, and Grenada. All of these places are wonderful. If you want to spend time in the Caribbean, Sandals is a great choice for an all-inclusive adult-only luxury resort.
Reason #3 – spas and pools
Every Sandals resort has a Red Lane spa where you can get a relaxing massage or a facial. Kim and I like to get couples massages on every trip we take. The pools at Sandals are fantastic. Some of them are out of this world, like the double-decker infinity pool that’s located at the Curacaol Resort.
Reason #4 – activities
If all you want to do is lie around the pool and drink all day, have at it. If you are like me and want to do some things, there are lots of activities at Sandals Resorts, including boats to go snorkeling or scuba diving, as well as sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. All of it is generally included in your fee.
Reason #5 – excursions
Some people are reluctant to go to luxury all-inclusive resorts because they think they’ll be trapped there and get island fever. Have no fear. At Sandals, they offer excursions, so you can go explore the island you’re on and participate in fun activities. What you see pictured below is in the Bahamas. The most popular excursion is called “Swimming with the Pigs”. Yes, I know it sounds stupid. However, it is a lot of fun.
Bonus reason – meeting new people
Every time we go to a Sandals, we have the opportunity to meet other folks who are vacationing at the resort. There’s usually a real nice cross-section of young, our age, and older from all over the US and all over the world. There are dinners, bars, and all kinds of opportunities just to chat with other folks and get to know them.
Extra bonus reason – Sandals Resorts loyalty program
Sandals’ loyalty is excellent. Sandals goes out of its way to make sure that returning guests are treated special. For example, if you go as a returning guest, they’ll have a special dinner, which is always a good time. You will progress based on the number of nights you stay there and the amount of money you spend. I’ll reiterate, Sandals is not a cheap vacation. However, the benefits they offer are nice. For example, recently Kim and I became diamond members. As a result, we’re getting a free week at a Sandals resort this summer. How awesome is that?
One thing you might not like about Sandals Resorts
I will mention one thing you may not like about Sandals: getting there. We live in the Washington DC area. We can have direct flights to the Bahamas and Jamaica. We’re flying through Charlotte or Miami, which can be somewhat of a hassle, to get to the other resorts. The other thing to consider is that some airports in the Caribbean are kind of sketchy, like the one pictured below. Also, some of the resorts are not near the airport. A good example in Jamaica, several of the resorts are quite a drive away. St. Lucia, it’s a long and winding drive. Whereas in Grenada, where we just came from, the resort’s actually right next to the airport. Keep in mind that if you’re going to Sandals, especially if you’re going to the Eastern Islands, it’s going to take a bit to get there.
I hope you enjoyed this blog in which I shared five reasons I love staying at Sandals Resorts. In the next blog, I will do something difficult: try to rank my top 10 Sanders resorts and the pluses and minuses of each.
I am Doug Keating, and this is my letter to my sons.