Sandals Royal Bahamian

We just returned from our vacation to the Sandals resort in the Bahamas. It was a great time. I wanted to share my experience of this all-inclusive resort and some of the things I found helpful.

I liked the fact that with Sandals you can book your vacation more than a year out and make payments of any size at any time. You just need to have your vacation paid off 90 days before your stay. Also, as long as you are not paid in full you can make changes, including moving dates, upgrading your room category and even if you see your same room (or an upgraded room) for a lower price you can call and have them adjust it for you. Another thing I really like is that Sandals resorts are couples only. No kids allowed. If you want a kid friendly resort, go to their Beaches brand.

What does all-inclusive mean?

With Sandals all-inclusive means everything is included. Food, drinks, water sports, even some SCUBA diving is included. Free wi-fi is all throughout the resort, even on the offshore island. There is a strict no tipping policy as well. If an employee is found accepting a tip they could lose their job. So keep your cash locked in your safe, you wont need it at the swim up bar or any of the restaurants. The exceptions to the tipping rule are, the drivers to/from the airport, spa employees, tour guides on any excursions, and your butlers. By no means are the tips expected or required, but if you choose to give them something they will not be penalized for it. 

There’s everything from water trikes, kayaking, paddle boarding, Hobie Cats, and snorkeling to tennis, golf and volleyball all depending on the resort location. There’s even a fitness center. The one at the Royal Bahamian has an amazing view! Airport transfers are included as well. Once you deplane just walk over to the Sandals booth at the airport and check in, some room categories even have a private transfer in a Mercedes or Rolls Royce!

There are three room categories at Sandals resorts. The super fancy category are the butler suites. Yes they come with a butler who is there to help with whatever you can think of. You want the butler to unpack for you, just ask. Want a lounge chair in the shade by the pool? He’ll reserve it for you and even provide a cooler with drinks too. The butler category rooms you get a fully stocked bar with rum, vodka, wine etc in your room and a refrigerator with mixers sodas and beer. Your butler can bring you breakfast each morning, bring you afternoon snacks, and provide room service. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask. At the Royal Bahamian resort Butler category rooms provide the private airport transfer in a Rolls Royce or a Mercedes.  Once you arrive at the resort you’ll be greeted by one of your butlers (they work in teams of three to provide around the clock service for you). The butler will take you to a check-in desk (there’s a separate desk for butler guests so that you don’t have to stand in line and wait). And then your butler will give you a tour of the resort, tell you about all the restaurants and the hours they are open, the type of food they serve, show you where each of the bars are located, etc. If your room is ready, they’ll walk you to your room and go over all the information that is provided about the calendar of activities during your stay and any other important things you need to know and leave you with a phone that is your direct line to your butler team.

The next category of room is club level. With the club level rooms you get much of the same perks as a butler room, but without the butler. At the airport you’ll board the shuttle bus to the resort. Upon arrival you will be taken to the club lounge where you will be served a drink as you wait to be checked in. One of the concierge staff members will give you a tour of the resort. The concierge staff will assist you with reservations at the restaurants. You get use of the club lounge that includes coffee, tea, games, full bar, snacks, and newspapers for your whole stay. (Butler guests can use the lounge as well.) 

The final room category is the luxury level. This level provides an in room bar with beer, wine, soda and juice. Room service is not available for this level. Airport transfer is included on the shuttle bus. You’ll have to make your own restaurant reservations. 

Which level you choose will depend on your budget and how you like to vacation. Everyone at every room level is treated exactly the same. There’s no worry that you’ll be a second class citizen by choosing a luxury level room.

What did I like?

I liked that the week we chose to go was a bit of an off season. It was between Thanksgiving and Christmas so it felt like we had the resort to ourselves.

The weather was warm but not gross hot. The ocean water was warm enough for swimming and doing a bit of snorkeling. The view from our room was fabulous. We looked out onto the ocean and could hear the surf. We were able to sleep with the balcony door wide open. The cabanas on the beach can not be reserved. If you want one you’ll need to get up fairly early to hold one for yourself. There are plenty of places to sit and relax and soak up sun.

Between the private island, two pools and the beach guests are spread out. The Balmoral pool is known as the “quiet pool.”  It has a swim up bar and loungers all around. The Windsor pool is the “party pool.” They hold activities like trivia contests, and have a DJ. They do horse shoes, pool volleyball, beach volley ball, etc. All the fun is to be had at the party pool. It also has a swim up bar. I discovered a delightful drink known as the Bob Marley. It’s an amazing frothy cocktail. 

The private car from the airport was a nice touch. We got to chat with our driver and learn more about life in the Bahamas than I think we would have if we were in a shuttle. That was a really nice added perk. We took one of the excursions into town. It was called, “Bites on Booze Ave.”  This excursion takes you into downtown Nassau, and you visit three restaurants. You’re served shots of rum, an appetizer, and a mixed drink at each location. Your tour guide teaches you about the history of the Bahamas and how prohibition helped the economy of the islands, life as a pirate, and the last stop we share drunk stories.

What about the food?

The food is fine. If you’re a foodie, you wont be impressed. Everything was good and I never felt like I was starving. There’s a variety of restaurants to choose from. Everything from an English pub to Italian to a Hibachi style Japanese restaurant. A couple of the restaurants have a dress code, known as Resort Evening Attire. Which means no shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops, or sneakers allowed. The serving sizes are not huge like in the US. But you’re allowed to order as much or as little as you want. Can’t decide between two entrees, get them both! Everything is included so why not taste everything? Do you want a cocktail, wine, Diet Coke and water? Then get them all.

Is there anything I didn’t like?

I did spring for the butler level room. I’m not saying I didn’t like my butler, but I didn’t feel like I really utilized that service enough to justify the cost. I’m really rather independent and I don’t want to be a bother. I’m sure there were things I could have asked for that I missed out on. 

The pools are not heated. That meant the Balmoral pool that gets more shade was a chilly 60 degrees. The Windsor pool gets more sun so the water was warmer. This time of year the ocean can get really choppy and a lot of seaweed was washing up on the shore. The staff does their best to rake it up and take it away, but the amount that washes up… the task is never ending. This didn’t bother me, as this is nature, it’s just something to call out since I know that could be an issue for some. The offshore island though, the water was much calmer and the beach was very clean. It also got a good amount of sun when I could see that the resort side was blocked by clouds.

The bed we had was rather uncomfortable. I have a memory foam mattress and pillow at home. So going to a spring mattress with feather pillows was a rough change for me. Admittedly, I have trouble sleeping in any bed that isn’t my own. But waking up at 2am each day of my vacation was getting rather exhausting. But I got to sit on my balcony looking over the ocean listening to the waves. And the knowledge that there was nowhere I had to be at any specific time helped take the pressure off any “need” to be asleep. 

These are all very minor complaints and didn’t bother my enjoyment of the resort at all. My vacation was fabulous. In the end, if you’re determined to find fault with things you will. But if you choose to focus on what you like, it will be a fabulous time. A vacation with no set agenda or schedule, where I could sleep to the sound of the waves is exactly what I wanted, and that is exactly what I got!