Choosing a room at any Sandals resort can be a little confusing because they have so many types of rooms to select. Do you want a soaking tub, Room Service, a professional butler, or a swim-up villa? All of these things are thrown at you all at once when you open the Sandals room page. It becomes much clearer once you realize they are broken down into three main Sandals room categories.
In this article I will outline exactly what each category involves and what you can expect in each type of room. I promise the choice becomes so much easier, and you’ll be on your way to a stress-free vacation in no time, once you understand the breakdown of the Sandals room categories.
And let me just say this — Congratulations on your marriage — and on your choice of an all-inclusive luxury resort such as Sandals for your honeymoon. It is a very smart decision. The Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart, recently posted on LinkedIn (on June 25, 2024) his deep care for the Caribbean, and the people of these islands. Of Sandals, the family company that his visionary father “Butch” Stewart founded, Adam said, “We never take a day off from bringing Caribbean magic to our guests. Our meticulously designed hotels, thoughtful amenities, and commitment to preserving the ecosystem that defines us, are at the heart of what we do… Whether you’re exploring the lush rainforests of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, marveling at the cascading waterfalls of Antigua, or soaking in the crystal blue waters of Curacao, the natural charm of our islands is on full display every day.”
What are the Different Sandals Room Categories?
Sandals divides their room categories into levels. You can choose from three different levels; each one comes with more than the last. The levels are as follows:
- Sandals Luxury
- Club Sandals
- Butler Elite/Love Nest Suites
From there, you can choose the type of view and amenities you want in your room. The higher-level rooms typically have the best views and most luxurious amenities, like an in-room bar with premium liquor and oceanfront. You can get some pretty cool amenities in the standard rooms as well, though, such as a soaking tub on your patio.
How to Choose a Room Category
Each category has its own perks and disadvantages, so choosing the right room depends on what is important to you. Below I’ll go over a few things you can consider when choosing the right room for you.
Cost
With a nicer room comes a higher price tag. The most basic room, Sandals Luxury, is the most budget-friendly but comes with the least services, amenities, and space. Love Nest Suites are the most luxurious and come with everything you could possibly need but cost much more than the basic room.
Services and Amenities
Luckily, Sandals’ rooms are pretty customizable. You can choose little add-ons to any room category and your view. However, there are certain things that are only available in certain room levels. For example, Club Level includes Room Service, whereas Luxury level does not.
The Type of Vacation You Want
I’m the type of person who hardly spends any time inside my room because I like to explore when on vacation, so I typically go for a fairly basic room. However, if you like to wind down and relax, you may want a nicer room that accommodates that. A room with a butler or Room Service is a great selection if that’s your desire.
Special Occasions
Taking the occasion of your trip into consideration can drastically influence your room choice. Special occasions, like a honeymoon, second-honeymoon, special birthday, or anniversary, call for a little more splurging, of course! Sandals’ higher-level rooms also cater to these types of special events, with romantic in-room dinners and special surprises when you return to your room…such as a soaking bubble bath ready-and-waiting for the both of you, and a rose-petal trail from the bedroom to it. Gorgeously romantic! I have also loved entering my room for the first time, and seeing our bed strewn with rose petals in the shape of a giant heart.
What is Included in All Sandals Room Categories?
One of the most significant benefits of booking an all-inclusive Sandals resort is that you receive a wealth of added-in services and amenities already included in your honeymoon, regardless of what room category you are staying in. This is the most unique point of differentiation for Sandals, offering numerous important advantages. Trust me — after you vacation at a luxury all-inclusive such as Sandals — you won’t want to go back to staying at a regular hotel room, where, of course, you are charged cost-plus for EVERYTHING. At Sandals, go ahead and simply enjoy — delicious gourmet meals, snacks, sweets and treats; limitless premium-shelf alcohol, wines, beers and soft drinks; all kinds of snacks at the patisserie and coffee shop — and so much more. (So go ahead — have that second pina colada or glass of upscale wine at dinner!) Some of the things that you can expect at any all-inclusive Sandals resort are:
- Unlimited food and drinks at any of their gold-standard restaurants and bars serving high-end spirits (and lots of rum drinks!)
- Entertainment throughout the day (fun shows, contests, and classes)
- Water sports with equipment rental, such as snorkeling, paddle boarding, water skiing, and Hobie cats
- Volleyball, Tennis, Golf, and other land sports (with greens fees included)
- A top-of-the-line fitness center that will wow you (I say that from experience)
- Sublime services at the upscale Red Lane Spa and Salon
- Roundtrip airport transfers
- A scuba diving program (some even include PADI certification)
- In-room wifi
- FREE 20-minute honeymoon photo session with a professional photographer (So smile at the camera!)
All of these included extras — on their own — is much more than I would ever expect while staying at an all-inclusive resort, never mind a mere hotel room somewhere else. So even if you decide to save a little money and choose a more affordable room, you will still be surrounded by luxury, luxury, and more luxury. Not to mention that everything at Sandals is done with silken service and cashmere care.
Sandals Luxury Room Category
Sandals Luxury is Sandals’ most basic room, but it’s anything but basic. Each luxury room comes with the standard inclusions, plus a minibar with unlimited wine, local beer, soft drinks, and water. Most of these rooms have a patio or balcony, but a few only have a window.
You can add a tranquility soaking tub to your luxury room at some Sandals locations. A tranquility soaking tub sits on your patio or balcony so you can enjoy the view while relaxing. The views that come with these rooms aren’t the nicest on the property, but they aren’t bad by any means. You typically get a garden view, are backed up to the pool, or have a view of the ocean from a distance.
Club Sandals Room Category
Club-level rooms are very similar to Luxury rooms in terms of the room itself but come with many more services and better views. These rooms are only a small percentage more costly than Sandals Luxury, making them well worth it, in my opinion.
Some things you will find in your Club-level room that you wouldn’t find in the Luxury category are Room Service, concierge service, a full in-room bar with some spirits. Also, most rooms have a tranquility soaking tub. You can also get rooms with a better view, such as beachfront or swim-up rooms.
The concierge service alone has some great benefits, such as a private check-in area and a lounge with games, books, a big-screen TV, and more. Plus, the concierge will make reservations, book tours, and handle express checkout. Some Club-level rooms also come with special airport transfers whereby Sandals picks you up and drop you off in a chauffeured BMW. I have experienced that firsthand, and let me tell you — after the hassle of traveling in a crowded plane for hours, I am delighted to be in a BMW with air-conditioning, bottled water, and a chauffeur to handle my bags, on my way to a luxury resort. Yes!
Butler Elite and Love Nest Suites
For those looking to celebrate a special occasion or who simply want the Best of the Best, Butler Elite level rooms have you covered. The rooms themselves are much larger than any other room and either hav a separate seating and dining area or private bedrooms. They are in their own private and secluded villa or suite, which is why they call it a “Love Nest.” You can even find over-the-water bungalows at specific locations. And an overwater bungalow is one of the world’s most ultimate travel experiences — by all means go for it, if you can afford one. It is transcendent travel at its best.
Each Butler-room has unique services and amenities, such as private pools, a fully-stocked bar with premium liquors, free-standing tubs, luxury airport transfers, and the best views on the property. You can also request certain snacks, drinks, and arrangements to be in your room upon arrival. This is a GREAT service — I always order some fruit, cheese, crackers, nuts and diet soda to be awaiting me and my husband, so we can enjoy a super delicious snack (especially before my daily workout. And, let me add, Sandals’ gyms are first-class all the way).
We can’t forget about the most exciting part of this room category! All Butler Elite and Love Nest Suites come with their own private butler. This service enables you to have the ultimate stress-free getaway. Here are just a few things your butler will do for you:
- Check you in from your suite and give you a rundown of the resort
- Unpack your belongings
- Make all of your reservations for restaurants, tours, and poolside services
- Book spa appointments
- Serve you all of your meals right in your room
- Serve your drinks and food at the pool or beach
- Draw a romantic bubble bath
- Escort you to anywhere on the property via golf cart
- Coordinate special arrangements for you before you return to your room, like roses and delicious treats
Pretty much anything you could ask for, your butler will do for you during your stay. Sandals will even give you a cell phone to reach your butler, whenever! If that’s not a dream vacation, I don’t know what is.
So, go ahead — make my stay!
