by Brian Major
Last updated: 10:00 AM ET, Tue July 3, 2018
Officials at all-inclusive resort giant Sandals Resorts International (SRI) were aiming to enlarge their existing - and successful - Sandals Barbados resort in March 2017 when they suddenly announced they'd scrapped that plan.
Instead, they announced SRI would build an entirely new resort instead. The 222-room Sandals Royal Barbados is a couples-only all-suite property, directly adjacent to the existing Sandals Barbados.
"After reviewing the scope of the project, we felt expanding may compromise [the] intimacy essential to a romantic setting and possibly service standards, said Gordon "Butch" Stewart, SRI's chairman. "So we established a management team dedicated exclusively to Sandals Royal Barbados and designed the new resort to complement Sandals Barbados."
Thus two full Sandals resorts today sit side by side, creating a two-resorts-in-one effect, a genuine win for Sandals Royal Barbados guests. With no barriers, boundaries or restrictions of any sort between the two resorts, all guests have the opportunity to experience amenities, facilities, and services at each property.
"In Sandals' style guests may stay at one, but play at two," said Stewart.
The newest Sandals resort is also good news for Barbados, whose popularity as a Caribbean vacation destination has surged with North American vacationers in recent years, due in part to SRI's arrival.
"New developments like Sandals Royal Barbados will go a long way to keep our destination fresh and top-of-mind with potential holidaymakers," said William "Billy" Griffith, BTMI's CEO.
Sandals Royal Barbados' debut is also closely aligned with expanded air service to the southern Caribbean nation. American Airlines recently announced plans to increase service to Barbados from Charlotte, N.C. beginning December 19, with new daily flights replacing weekly, seasonal flights.
Charlotte's status as an American Airlines hub means the new flights will draw travelers from previously un-served cities across the U.S. and Canada said Petra Roach, U.S. Director at Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI).
Vacationers at the Sandals Royal Barbados are the real winners in this scenario, as guests will find a lushly landscaped property featuring an array of impressive pools, generous lounge areas illuminated by nighttime fire pits, facilities ranging from a full-service spa to an Island Routes excursion office, and beautiful, tree-shaded spots ideal for creating lasting vacation memories. Not to mention the added bonus of enjoying two resorts for the price of one.
Here are five outstanding features of the new Sandals Royal Barbados:
Perfect Pools
If nothing else, Sandals Royal Barbados offers guests the last word in fabulous resort pools. There's one for every taste, from a fun high-action pool near a watersports station to a beautiful beachfront infinity pool, to a serene, secluded pool resembling a Roman spa with the added bonus of proximity to food and activity options.
The aquatic facilities are highlighted by Sandals-first-ever rooftop infinity pool, located on a six-story-high deck that provides sweeping views of Bridgetown and the Barbados coastline. The deck also includes a whirlpool, poolside bar, and lounge area and is adjacent to La Parisienne, the resort's upscale French restaurant.
Excellent Accommodations
Sandals Royal Barbados' accommodations continue the company's rent trend of deluxe amenities and accessories accented with updated mid-century modern furnishings, replacing Sandals' previous focus on stately, traditional styles.
Suites now offer a spacious, upscale contemporary vibe. Deluxe concierge and butler-level suites feature balconies equipped with whirlpool tubs, while top-drawer Rondoval suites offer outdoor decks with personal plunge pools.
There's also an extensive Crystal Lagoon pool complex where accommodations feature a series of Swim-Up Suites. Deluxe, butler-service categories also include Millionaire Butler Suites and Skypool Suites.
Sandals Royal Barbados' entry-level Club rooms start at $277 per person, per night, while Butler Suites start at $471 per person, per night. The highest-level butler room category (a beachfront, one-bedroom Skypool Butler suite with a balcony soaking tub) starts at $868 per person, per night.
By comparison, Sandals Barbados rates start at $285, $373 and $526 per person, per night for the same room categories.
Distinctive Dining
Barbados features several outstanding dining options, but the diversity of the food choices at Sandals Royal Barbados might compel vacationers to dedicate much of their time to dining on-property. The Jerk Shack offers a fantastic lunch/dinner option, featuring Caribbean specialties including jerk pork and chicken, sweet potato and "festival," a slightly sweet, lightly fried bread twist.
American Tavern is the resort's main international buffet restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A la carte breakfast is also available at La Parisienne. Neptune's is a beachfront restaurant offering Mediterranean fare for lunch and dinner.
Supper specialty restaurants include Chi, serving Asian fusion cuisine, and Butch's Steak and Seafood, which features select cuts of meat and seafood options. Bar options include the rooftop Sky Bar, the South Seas Pool Bar, Neptune's Bar and the Lovers Lane Bar.
Outstanding Options
Again, while the resort property features an office of Island Routes, which offers an outstanding menu of excursions, tours, and experiences beyond the Sandals Royal Barbados, the property is also designed to offer almost everything travelers want in a vacation, including activities and entertainment.
Live music and cultural shows are offered at the resort's centrally located pavilion, which features an outdoor stage and comfortable seating. Pool and other games are offered in the adjacent game room.
But the real center of activity is at Lovers Lane, the nearby four-lane bowling alley that is a first for a Sandals resort. The colorfully lit alley is adorned in sexy images and décor including a huge vintage photograph of Marilyn Monroe leaning suggestively over a bowling ball. Based on a visit this month the Lovers Lane alley is a huge hit, as guests tested their skills late into the night amidst pulsating music and specialty cocktails at the Lover Lane Bar.
The Beach House Resort Shop, a new retail brand curated to bring together the elements of the Caribbean featuring sophisticated resort wear, home goods, local craft, and provisions.
The resort is set along Maxwell Beach, overlooking Oistin Bay. Unfortunately, the beach has been beset by sargassum seaweed, making it inaccessible to Sandals Royal Barbados guests. The resort offers a complimentary transfer to Carlisle Beach as a "limited-time option for guests who wish to visit another area of the island," said an SRI representative.
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