Struggling to decide which Barbados Sandals Resort to book? Let us give you our opinions based on our first-hand experience of both. We offer side-by-side comparisons and excursion options from this blissful St Lawrence Gap location. Wondering which resort wins, Sandals Barbados vs Sandals Royal Barbados? We reveal all the secrets of these wonderful resorts in this review.
Disclaimer: We are a certified Sandals specialist agency, so have visited Sandals Barbados & Royal Barbados as part of FAM trips. However, we love vacationing at Sandals too, and all opinions are our own.
What’s the difference between Sandals Barbados and Royal Barbados?
I’m going to let you in on a little secret here… You don’t have to choose between Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados!
How? Well, they are right next to each other! And you have access to every restaurant and every amenity of both when you book either. If that’s not reason enough to choose one of the Barbados Sandals properties, I don’t know what is.
Sandals Barbados vs. Royal Barbados
Located in St Lawrence Gap on Maxwell Beach, the resorts are only 15 minutes from the airport, and an airport shuttle is included (as with all Sandals Resorts). Direct flights from London make Barbados a convenient island destination for the UK.
Out of the 15 Sandals resorts the 2 in Barbados are the newest. This holds true until June of 2022 when Sandals Royal Curacao is set to open. Sandals Barbados opened in 2015. Royal Barbados in December 2017. Sandals Barbados was the first resort in Barbados exclusively for couples only. While Royal Barbados offers the largest glass-fronted infinity pool in the Eastern Caribbean.
Barbados has 280 rooms and suites, 11 restaurants, 8 bars 3 pools and 2 whirlpools. Royal Barbados has 338 suites, 9 restaurants, 6 bars, 8 pools and 4 whirlpools. That means during your stay you have a total of 20 dining options to choose from.
Sandals First Bowling Alley
Sandals has always included land and water sports on resort. This includes activities such as snorkeling, hobie cats, kayaking, shuffleboard, billiards and more. However, Sandals Royal Barbados is also home to Lovers Lane bowling alley. The first bowling alley for the Sandals brand. The bowling alley also features a cocktail lounge and craft beer bar. This bar serves 19 different beers from around the world. The unique wraparound bar includes a built in strip of ice to keep your drinks perfectly chilled while you bowl the night away.
Other Firsts for Sandals
In addition to the bowling alley, there are other firsts for the Sandals brand that can only be found in Barbados. One of these is the first rooftop restaurant, La Parisienne. Others include the first roof top bar, roof top pool and roof top whirlpool overlooking the ocean. This rooftop terrace is the perfect location for a private event such as a wedding, reception or celebration.
Dining Options Compared
Sandals Barbados
- Bombay – Aromatic Indian fare that will captivate your senses.
- Butch’s Chophouse – A La Carte Steakhouse Upscale New York Style.
- Cafe de Paris – Parisian style patisserie with pastries, crepe, coffee and tea.
- Dinos Pizzeria – Crisp gourmet pizzas prepared in a wood-fired brick oven.
- Merry Monkey English Pub – Tasty English fare in an authentic gastro pub atmosphere.
- Kimonos – A entertaining atmosphere serving Japanese cuisine Teppanyaki style.
- Portofino’s – Authentic Mediterranean cuisine in an open-air, seaside atmosphere.
- Schooners – Regional cuisine. Indulge in the best of the fisherman’s catch.
- Soy – The freshest and most delectable sushi.
- Spices – Caribbean cuisine served in an open-air eatery with views of the pool and sea beyond.
- Mariner – Seaside bar and grill serving comforting dishes just steps away from the Caribbean Sea.
Sandals Royal Barbados
- Butch’s Steak and Seafood – the highest quality grain-fed Midwestern beef together with the finest fish and seafood.
- Chi Asian Fusion – Experience the exotic flavors of the orient.
- American Tavern – Contemporary American menu.
- La Parisienne – A progressive French menu served with white-glove service. Located on the rooftop proving amazing views from above.
- Neptunes – Fresh seafood and Mediterranean cuisine set directly on the beach.
- Jerk Shack – A true Caribbean experience traditional and contemporary jerk style cuisine.
- Sweet N’ Salty’s Gourmet Donuts & Coffee – Gourmet old-fashioned cake donuts and coffee made fresh daily at Sandals first ever gourmet donut shop.
- Heart & Sol – Far from an ordinary deli. Combines the variety, speed and service of a NY deli with fresh, clean, healthy foods required to attain complete wellness.
- Greenhouse – A rustic farm-to-table eatery offering colorful, elegant cuisine prepared with locally sourced, farm-to-table fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood.
Merry Monkey, Portifino’s, Chi Asian Fusion, American Tavern, Sweet N Salty’s, Heart & Sol and Greenhouse can only be found in Barbados. No other Sandals offers these restaurants.
Chi Asian Fusion is one of my favorites. It is the first restaurant to fuse the cuisines of China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore into one menu. My favorite items on the menu are the ahi poke jar, the Thai soup, the pad thai and the general tso’s spicy chicken.
Heart & Sol and Greenhouse are new concepts for Sandals. Just opened in July of 2021 as healthy dining options. These two restaurants quickly became my favorites. The salads and wraps at Heart & Sol were always fresh and flavorful. Vegetable and fruit smoothies are made to order, healthy and delicious.
My favorite menu items at The Greenhouse are the octopus tacos and the watermelon caprese.
Stay at One, Play at All
Sandals exclusive ”Stay at One, Play at All” exchange program means you can stay at one Sandals resort and enjoy the amenities and services at all other nearby Sandals resorts for the duration of your vacation at no additional cost.
This not only applies to Barbados but to the Sandals resorts in St Lucia and Jamaica as well. What makes this program extra convenient in Barbados is the fact that the resorts are literally separated by a sidewalk.
There were many times during our stay that we were not even aware which ”side” we were on. In my opinion Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados feel like one large resort.
Excursions in Barbados
We chose to discover the highlights of Barbados in a 4×4 Jeep. This half day excursion was a fun way to explore the island. We visited the Bathsheba shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean (northeast) side of the island first. The amazing rock formations, big waves and dramatic cliffs provided the prefect backdrop for amazing photos. We learned about the history of the island from our guide along the way and stopped at famous historical landmarks as well.
We ended our day on the beach at Carlisle Bay on the Caribbean side of the island near the capital city of Bridgetown. In stark contrast to the Atlantic side of the island, the water on this side is crystal clear and very calm. We had time here to grab lunch from a local vendor, relax on the beach, snorkel and swim with the turtles that call the bay home. This excursion was a great way to see the highlights from the island of Barbados. Other popular excursions include rum tasting tours, snorkeling and swimming with the turtles.
Sandals Barbados vs Sandals Royal Barbados : Which One Is Right For You?
When it comes to choosing which resort is right for you I think it comes down to the room you choose. Let me explain. If you are looking for a budget friendly (luxury level) room option you will want to choose Sandals Barbados.
Sandals Royal Barbados only has club and butler level rooms to choose from. Other specific room types such as the skypool suites can only be found at Sandals Royal Barbados. Our agents can help match you with the perfect room for your vacation. Once you arrive you will enjoy the best of both worlds at Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados.
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Do you have family rooms the hold 5 or 6 people. We are looking at late July 2025.
Sandals is an adult only resort. There is only 1 king bed per room. For family friendly options, consider Beaches Resorts. We would be happy to help you plan a trip there.