What Is Included At Sandals Resorts
Having worked with thousands of clients who’ve gone to Sandals Resorts, one of the most common questions I get is what’s actually included? I’m here to tell you when Sandals says it’s all-inclusive, they really mean it! You can practically leave your billfold at home after making your booking.
From the moment you arrive, the airport transfers are waiting to take you to the resort. Once you arrive, you’re treated to unlimited dining at dozens of restaurants, top-shelf drinks, water sports like scuba diving and snorkeling, and daily entertainment (to name a few). The best part, no tipping is allowed!
That’s why I love Sandals in particular, because they’re designed for a stress-free vacation between you and your partner. I’ll cover everything that’s included at Sandals Resorts so you can get the most out of your stay, and I’ll explain what extras are available if you want to enhance the romance.
What's Included At Sandals
Food And Drinks
Sandals Resorts offers unlimited food and snacks with your room booking. There are dozens of top-tier restaurants to choose from at each resort, each with their own unique theme. Some of my favorites are Kimono’s Japanese Teppanyaki or the Barefoot Restaurant which offers fresh caught seafood right on the beach.
The good news is that these are all high quality restaurants, unlike several all-inclusive resorts that offer low quality food, I have always been very impressed with the dishes at Sandals. For me, the food alone makes it worth it. If you have any dietary restrictions like kosher meals or allergies, you can let the concierge know and they’ll create an alternative meal that’s perfect.
There are a handful of restaurants that require reservations so just make sure to get them as soon as possible. You can also make reservations up to 14 days in advance on the Sandals App. Lastly, note that some restaurants have evening attire dress codes for dinners. That simply means that men should wear pants with a dress shirt – no hats, shorts, t-shirts, or flip flops.
As for drinks, unlimited wine, beer, and spirits are included as well. Right when you arrive you are handed a glass of champagne to kick-off your vacation! The rooms come fully stocked with bars that are restocked every day or as needed. Here you can enjoy premium options like Robert Mondovi wines and local favorites like Appleton Estates Rum, plus a whole lot more!
What food and beverages are included:
- Unlimited fine dining for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and anything you want in between.
- Unlimited top-Shelf wine and spirits.
- Fully stocked in-room bars.
- Dozens of bars and restaurants to choose from at every resort.
- Room service anytime for Club and Butler Level rooms.
Tipping And Gratuities
Tips are always included at Sandals. It’s an actual policy rather than a suggestion. I’ve been to some resorts that say tips are included, but the servers still solicit tips or have tip jars out on the bar. That’s absolutely not the case at Sandals. The employees are more than happy to deliver service with a smile!
One of the main reasons I love Sandals is because you can practically leave your wallet behind once you make your booking. There are no surprise fees, just a stress-free vacation!
The only exception to the no-tipping policy is if you have Butler Level room, it is okay to tip your butler. Again, it’s not required, but you can tip them if you would like.
What tips are included:
- All tips and gratuities are included.
- No taxes or surprise fees at checkout.
- The only exception is for Butlers or Spa Employees, but it’s not required.
Water Sports
I have yet to find another resort that includes more water activities than Sandals. My wife and I love the ability to try out different water sports without worrying about spending tons of money. We’re actually PADI certified divers so we can go out exploring the plethora of different dive sites around the 17 different Sandals locations for free! Every day they have two dive outings you can go on (with one tank or two tanks). They also offer certification training right at the resort if you don’t have it yet.
Aside from scuba diving, there are plenty of other fun options to try out. You simply go to the rental area on the beach where you can check-out the equipment for as long or as short as you want. Whether you want to take a relaxing kayak cruise along the coastline or give wakeboarding a try, there’s something for everyone.
What water sports are included:
- Scuba Diving
- Snorkeling
- Kayaking
- Paddle Boarding
- Hobbie Cats (Mini Sailboats)
- Aqua Bikes
- Motorized Water Sports (Skiing, Wakeboarding, and Tubing)
- Glass Bottom Boat tours
Land Sports
Do you enjoy staying active while on vacation? No problem, Sandals has you covered. We love playing tennis and pickleball when we visit the resorts. They even have professional instructors to help. One time we went to the organized classes they have daily, but nobody else was there so it was like a free personalized class!
I’ll be the first to admit that relaxing on the beach is my priority when on vacation. But it’s hard to pass up a game of beach volleyball or shuffleboard sometimes. Every location also has a 24 hour fitness center with really nice equipment. I guess that’s why we love coming here. You can lay low or have a really active experience, it’s completely up to you!
What land sports are included:
- Tennis
- Pickleball
- Beach Volleyball
- Fitness Center
- Group Classes
- Shuffle Board
- Basketball
- Billiards
- Ping Pong
- Bowling (in Barbados)
- Lawn Chess
- Bocci Ball
- Croquet
- Bicycles
- Group Games created by the “Playmakers”
Airport Transfers
No matter which room level you book, roundtrip airport transfers are always included. This is one of the big bonuses with Sandals because you not only don’t have to pay for it, but you don’t have to worry about the hassle of coordinating it on your own and who to trust. It’s already lined up for you.
There are some differentiators though. When you book a Butler Elite Level room at Sandals Royal Bahamian or Sandals Royal Barbados you get a private Rolls Royce transfer! Similarly, when you book a Butler Level room at Sandals St. Vincent, you get a boat transfer straight to the resort’s dock.
Also note that Sandals has airport lounges for all Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Bahamas locations. It’s nice to relax in the air conditioned lounge with snacks and drinks while waiting for the departure flight, or even when you arrive. I highly recommend getting Club Mobay when coming to Jamaica so you can get a fast track through customs. You get escorted through right from the plane and they handle the luggage for you.
What airport transfers are included:
- Shared transfers included for every room level.
- VIP transfers for Butler Level suites in Rolls Royce and BMWs at select locations.
- Water transfers for Butler Level suites at Sandals St. Vincent.
- Sandals airport lounges in Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Bahamas for all guests.
- Free fast-track customs and immigration service when staying in premium suites at Royal Barbados and Overwater Bungalows in Jamaica.
Flights And Airfare
Flights can be added to your Sandals booking and purchased directly with your accommodations. This way you have everything combined under one umbrella. Whenever I book my room, I always book the airfare together so it makes the logistics easier when it comes time for the airport transfers. You can choose from the different fare classes too, whether its basic economy, main cabin, or first class.
They even have some promotions where you can get airfare credits so the flights are much cheaper than if you purchased them separately. I ended up getting $350 off our flights to Jamaica earlier this year from one of the sales!
That said, it’s possible to book flights separately if you have points or miles to take advantage of. If you book your flights separately, just make sure to let your travel agent know the specific itinerary so it can be added to your booking for the airport transfers.
5-Star Service
No matter which room you go with you’ll always get 5-star luxury-included service throughout your stay. All of the employees are usually local folks who are thrilled to show you an amazing time in their home country.
However, if you get Club or Butler Level rooms there are some differences. With Club Level rooms you get a concierge and access to Club Sandals. Butler Level rooms will offer dedicated butler service and an exclusive room service menu where you can order any dish from any restaurant and have it delivered right to your suite. You will also get private check-in with these two room levels. The Butler will even take your luggage to your room and unpack it for you!
A lot of people like the Club Level room because you still get elevated service but without paying up for a Butler Level suite. It really depends on your preferences, budget, and the occasion though!
Golfing
For all of the golf enthusiasts, Sandals offers free greens fees at 7 of their resorts! Simply schedule your tee time and you will get a free transfer to the golf course to enjoy a round on championship level courses.
I have been to some pretty bad golf courses during vacation (worse than some of the cheapest munis), but the Cap Estate Country Club and Upton Estate Country Club are top notch. Beautiful views of the rainforest covered hills and vistas down to the sea.
The only thing you would need to pay for is the cart rental which is around $50 for 18 holes. They have nice clubs and shoes there to rent if needed too.
Sandals Royal Curacao is also located right next to the Old Quarry Golf Club which is a phenomenal course right off the Caribbean Sea. It’s not technically included, but you can literally walk there and play a round for $205.
Sandals Resorts that include golf:
- Sandals Dunn’s River (Jamaica)
- Sandals Ochi (Jamaica)
- Sandals Royal Plantation (Jamaica)
- Sandals Grande St. Lucian (St. Lucia)
- Sandals Regency La Toc (St. Lucia)
- Sandals Halcyon Beach (St. Lucia)
Daily Entertainment
There’s always entertainment at Sandals. The resorts especially come to life at night with performances and live music. That said, some resorts are more social while some are more laid back. The schedule is constantly changing but you can see the weekly lineup when you check-in at the resort.
My personal favorite was the silent disco night. Some other options include fire dancing, carnival dance parties in traditional Carnival dress, burlesque shows, reggae night, and plenty more. They usually start around 8:30 or 9:00 PM.
You can also go to the different bars around the properties like Piano Bars, English Pubs, Night Clubs or even the Beach Club at Sandals Ochi which almost always has some action in the evening and is open until 2:00 AM.
Examples of entertainment that is included:
- Island Night: Steel pan music and local dancing
- Beach Party Night: Music, food, and dancing on the beach
- White Night: Live music with all white dress code
- Silent Disco: Party night with silent disco headphones
- Sandals Live: Live local bands
- Retro Night: Throwback live music like Michael Jackson, Kiss, etc.
Resort Sharing
Last but not least, you get access to any neighboring Sandals Resort when you stay at one! For example, if you stay at Sandals Dunn’s River you also get full access to Sandals Ochi, and vice-versa. They even provide free transfers to the other resorts. This means you get access to dozens of bars and restaurants, all of the pools, and the beaches. It’s like two vacations in one!
The same goes for all of the Sandals Resorts in St. Lucia. If you stay at one of them, you can go to all three! My wife and I love to take advantage and make a day trip out of it. We’ll go and hangout at the beach and grab dinner before heading back to our resort in the evening.
The other resorts where you can do this is at Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean. Also at Sandals Barbados and Royal Barbados. These properties are located right next to each other so you can walk back and forth in a few minutes.
What's Not Included At Sandals
Spa Treatments And Massages
Although every Sandals Resort has a Red Lane Spa, the massages and spa treatments are not included with the booking. I will say though, I have seen several sales throughout the year that include spa credits that you can apply towards a spa treatment once you arrive. That’s a nice bonus!
The nice thing with the Red Lane Spas is they have a full service offering from couples massages and manicures, and everything in between. You can look at the spa menu online to see everything your specific location has. Pre-wedding pampering is also super popular at the Red Lane Spa.
My wife almost always gets the Caribbean Glow Facial when we’re here. She says it’s her favorite she’s gotten anywhere and her face feels amazing when it’s done. We have also gotten several couples massages which are amazing because you can get them right on the beach, in the tropical gardens, or in the peaceful spa facilities.
Excursions And Adventures
Sandals has a sister company called Island Routes which offers a whole host of excursions. I really like the setup because you can book any excursion you want either in advance or at the front desk in the resort, but they make it super easy. It’s all integrated with your booking. If you do decide to step out and explore, the excursions do have an additional cost though.
Every resort has fun options that are tailored to that specific area. You can take a catamaran cruise, tour the historical landmarks in the towns, swim with the dolphins, go on a rum distillery tour, explore the local nature, and so much more. We try to do at least one excursion when we visit the different Sandals locations. They’re always relatively affordable and they pick you up right at the resort.
Candlelight Dinner
For a romantic experience, book a private candlelight dinner for two on the beach. You get a four course meal, butler service, and a formal table setting with flowers for only $199 per couple. It’s the perfect way to celebrate special occasions, anniversaries, or honeymoons.
If you have a Butler suite, you can even have the dinner right in your room. The Rondoval Sky Villa suites are the perfect location for a dinner on the rooftop terrace. Alternatively, you can find a nice spot in the tropical gardens or overlooking the sea for an enchanting dinner with your loved one. You can ask your travel advisor about the best places at each resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's not included at Sandals Resorts?
Everything at Sandals Resorts is included with the exception of added spa treatments, excursions, candlelight dinners, photo or video packages, private poolside cabanas, and scuba certification classes. Many times Sandals will have sales that include free massages or excursions though, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the current promotions.
Do you have to pay for anything at Sandals?
No, Sandals Resort’s all-inclusive packages do not have any extra fees, taxes, or gratuities. After you book your accommodations, you would not have to pay for anything else. All of the food, drinks, water sports, scuba diving, and entertainment are included. The only thing you would have to pay for is if you want to add extra excursions or massages, which are not included.
Are drinks free at Sandals Resorts?
Yes, all drinks at Sandals Resorts are included. This includes unlimited top shelf spirts, wine, and beers. Examples include Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks Wine, Appleton Estate Rum, Red Strip Beer. Resorts will have several bars around the property included swim-up bars in the pool. Every room also has a fully stocked bar that is replenished daily or as needed.
BEST SANDALS RESORTS
Our favorite all-inclusive resort brand.
Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Sandals Grenada
Sandals Royal Barbados
Sandals Grande Antigua
