You will find the lovely Sandals Barbados in the St. Lawrence Gap area of Barbados. It is an all-inclusive resort with swim-up suites, free Wi-Fi, a dive shop and so much more for you to have a beautiful and amazing time. It is situated next door to another Sandals property – Sandals Royal Barbados. The two resorts share common grounds, so you get to stay at one and play at two.
About Sandals Barbados
Sandals Barbados is located on Maxwell Beach’s sandy shores in the Southwest section of the country. The airport is approximately 15 to 20 minutes away, and the country’s capital Bridgetown is around 25 minutes away. You will find this resort situated on one of the best beaches one can find in Barbados.
This, like all other Sandals properties, is an all-inclusive Sandals resort. You have room service available between 7 am and 10 pm, no matter what room category you are booked in. Those booked in a Butler Elite category are entitled to room service 24/7 and have a different menu to choose from, with higher-end items and more food options in general. The Butlers go above and beyond to ensure you enjoy your stay and can grant almost every request, within reason of course.
Where is Sandals Barbados?
Sandals Barbados is found in Barbados in the Maxwell Beach Area in St. Lawrence Gap on the island. The island of Barbados is located in the Eastern Caribbean, with daily flights from popular places such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe.
Getting to Sandals Barbados
After landing at the Grantley Adams International Airport, you will be escorted to the resort in a complimentary airport shuttle courtesy of Sandals resort. If the shuttle is not ready right away, you get to wait in the Sandals lounge, which you find after exiting immigration and customs. You can grab a drink and a small snack while here before you are whisked off to the resort in your free airport shuttle.
Best Time to Visit Sandals Barbados
Barbados has fantastic weather all year round, so you will enjoy pretty much any time you visit Sandals Barbados or Sandals Royal Barbados. Peak tourist season on the island is from December through to April, so prices for dates in this range will be higher.
If you visit between July and November, you will find prices a bit lower, and the weather will be a bit milder towards November. Barbados almost never gets hit by a hurricane, so you can still travel during hurricane season, but of course there is always that risk during that time of the year.
What’s Included at Sandals Barbados
Your booked stay includes unlimited dining at the 11 restaurants at Sandals Barbados and an additional 6 restaurants at Sandals Royal Barbados. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks all through the day, and also premium spirits at any of the 7 bars.
Inside your room, you will have stocked bars with Unlimited Robert Mondavi Twin Oak wines. These are restocked every day. All gratuities and tips are included, and so staff will refuse tips if you try to offer them.
Roundtrip airport transfers are included, and you have exchange privileges with the adjacent Sandals Royal Barbados. You have full tennis access all day and night, as well as access to all land sports including pool tables, bocce ball, and volleyball. There is also the state-of-the-art fitness center, to which you have 24-hour access.
Enjoy water sports such as kayaking, paddleboards, Hobie Cats, and snorkeling, along with equipment and PADI certified Scuba Diving. All water sports come with professional instruction.
In addition to that, there are daily and nightly entertainment activities planned on the resort, and if you are staying for more than 3 nights, a free wedding is included if you plan on tying the knot.
Pros and Cons of Sandals Barbados
The Pros
Sandals resorts the world over are known for their friendly staff, and the same is true when staying at Sandals Barbados. The staff are eager to make your stay a good time, and nothing is ever too much trouble. The food is good, with Butches and Kimonos requiring reservations. You will enjoy the shared amenities of the Sandals Royal Barbados property, which gives you more bang for your buck.
Rooms are nice and spacious, with sockets for both United States and United Kingdom guests. Pools are great, servers and bartenders are attentive and fun. Relax by the fire pit at night in their comfy chairs, or get up early and go use the state of the art gym.
Barbados is known to be one of the safest islands in the Caribbean, so you don’t have to be afraid to venture off the resort and explore.
The Cons
The water can get rough, and when the water is choppy, red flags are put up. There is no swimming or other water activity when the red flags are up.
If you want to eat at a popular restaurant where reservations are required, you have to book in advance – this is a must unless you have a Butler category room.
Some rooms do not have a tub, so if this is something that is a must have for your vacation, be sure to mention this when reserving your stay.
What To Do at Sandals Barbados
There are lots of activities to enjoy at this Sandals resort. You can fully enjoy your vacation by simply staying at a resort and participating in the daily and nightly activities. There are also land and water activities that you can enjoy. If you would like to venture off the property, you can book a trip, tour, or other activity with the Island Routes desk. If you are up to doing some exploring yourself, you can do that as well, with Barbados being one of the safest Caribbean islands for tourists.
With many restaurants and bars to choose from, you will never be bored with food. As a matter of fact, for a short three-day stay, you may not even get a chance to sample all the different offerings at the resort. To find some keepsakes of your trip or to find mementos to bring back home to your family, check out the resort shop where you can find everything from clothing, trinkets, jewelry, and much more. There is also a photo shop where you can book a session and bring back professional memories with you. Photographers are usually roaming the resort and may have pictures of you even if you didn’t book a photoshoot, so be sure to check in with the photo shop before you go.
Also, remember that Sandals Barbados shares the property with Sandals Royal Barbados so you can enjoy the restaurants and bars there as well.
Restaurants at Sandals Barbados
There are multiple places to eat at Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados. Since they share the same property, you can eat at all the restaurants that Sandals Royal Barbados has to offer. There are 20 restaurants you can choose from, but some of them require reservations which you may want to get done before you arrive at the resort or as you check-in.
If you will be staying in a butler suite, your butler can get you a reservation at any restaurant throughout your stay, as long as the restaurant is open for service. Let’s look at the restaurants at Sandals Barbados briefly, so you can know what to expect.
The Bombay Club
Here you will find Indian cuisine. The dress code of this restaurant is casual, and the dishes are just amazing. If you have never tried Indian food, or if you love it, you will enjoy your time eating here. The butter chicken and garlic naan are highly recommended.
Outside of Indian cuisine, you will find international breakfast here in the mornings. Again, the dress code is resort casual. Breakfast is served between the hours of 8 am and 10:30 am, while dinner is served between 6 pm and 10 pm.
No reservations are required to dine at the Bombay Club.
Butch’s Chophouse
From the name, you may have guessed this is a steakhouse, and if you did, you are correct. It is a great place to get your favorite steakhouse meals and great steaks. Reservations are required to dine here for dinner. Hours of dining run from 6pm to 10pm, and the required dress code is resort evening wear.
Cafe De Paris
Grab a morning coffee and a treat here from 7 am to 10 pm. This cafe is sure to please coffee lovers and anyone with a sweet tooth. It is a popular choice and is found at other Sandals Resorts as well. You can find ice cream, cookies, assorted pastries and crepes done to order.
No reservations are needed, and the official dress code is resort casual, but you can always go in your pool or beach wear if you want to grab something on your way to your room.
Dino’s Pizzeria Italiana
This restaurant is located off the pool on the beach. From 11 am to 6 pm, you can get your pizzas. You can get your pizza to go or hang by the beach or pool and enjoy them. Have a butler? Have your butler deliver your pizza to you on the beach.
At Dino’s, you will find a nice variety of wood-fire baked pizzas. Sandals even has Dino Cavallo; a master pizza chef from Naples who trains the chefs at Sandals to ensure the pizzas served here are no less than authentic. The restaurant is named after him.
The dress code here is resort casual, with no reservations necessary.
The Mariner Seaside Bar and Grill
This restaurant is right by the beach and is a great place to have lunch. Food is served quickly, and it’s a great hideaway when you want to escape the sun for a bit, but still take in ocean views. Some popular menu items you can try here are the jerk burger, salads, quesadillas, fish sandwiches, and wraps.
The Mariner serves you between the hours of 11 am and 6 pm in casual attire, with no reservations required.
Doggies Hot Dog Stand
This hot dog stand is close to the pool, so you can grab a quick bite between noon and 3 pm.
Schooners Seafood Grill
Be sure to grab some seafood while staying at Sandals Barbados or wherever you stay in the Caribbean. Schooners is a great place to enjoy fresh seafood with the perfect outdoor dining ambiance. Located on the beach, you will have amazing sunset dinners if you dine here around that time.
Some menu favorites include surf & turf, Swordfish steak, and Grilled Lobster Tail, as well as there are options for vegetarians and those who are not fans of seafood. The dress code here is resort casual, with no reservations necessary. Dine here between the hours of 6 pm and 9:30 pm.
The Soy Sushi Bar
Here you will find handmade sushi entrees and rolls. You can head there early for an appetizer, before having dinner at another restaurant on the property. This is a great way to try as many restaurants as possible in a short time.
The dress code here is resort casual, with no reservations required. Soy Sushi bar is open for dinner from 6 pm to 10 pm.
Spices Caribbean Cuisine
Here you will find breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all Caribbean style. For a quick breakfast, stop by their full buffet between the hours of 7 am and 10:30 am. Lunch is served buffet-style at 12:30 to 2:30 pm, and dinner is served between the hours of 6 pm and 9:30 pm. The dress code here is resort casual, so you can come as you are basically.
Portofino’s Italian Restaurant and Bar
This is a great choice for a sit-down breakfast. It is open for breakfast and dinner, attire is resort casual, and no reservations are necessary. Breakfast is served from 7:30 am to 10:30 am, and dinner is served between the hours of 6 pm and 9:30 pm.
Kimonos Oriental Cuisine
Open for dinner between 6pm and 10pm, this Hibachi grill is not for those who want a quiet dinner. Here you will enjoy an exhilarating evening, as you are entertained with your dinner being prepped right in front of you. Reservations are required for this restaurant, and they fill up fast, so you can try calling ahead of your visit to make your reservation. The dress code for this restaurant is resort casual. It is not one of the restaurants you will find at many other Sandals resorts so we recommend you give it a shot while on your stay at Sandals Barbados.
The Merry Monkey English Pub
Here you will find gastropub fare, they are open late, so you can hit them up for late-night snacks, cocktails and microbrews. Popular menu items here are fried mozzarella sticks, bangers & mash, fish & chips and burgers. This pub is a great place to stay out late and make new friends. The dress code is resort casual, no reservations are necessary, and the opening hours are 1pm to 2am.
As you will see, most of the restaurants have a resort casual dress code. But we broke down each dress code to help you better decide what to pack.
Resort Casual Attire – This includes polo shirts, t-shirts, and jeans. Footwear is required, and if you are wearing swimwear, you must be wearing a shirt for men or at least a cover-up for women.
Resort Evening Wear – Men wear dress shoes or closed-toe dress sandals. Deck shoes are also allowed. Dress pants and jeans are allowed, as well as a short sleeve or long sleeve dress shirts. Shirts can be with or without a collar.
Ladies can wear dress pants, skirts, capris, dresses, and elegant tops. Dress sandals or dress shoes are allowed, but no t-shirts, shorts, sneakers, slippers, flip flops, caps, hats, or sleeveless shirts.
Pools at Sandals Barbados
You will find two pools at Sandals Barbados plus a whirlpool. The pools are open all day and night, but if a maintenance sign is out, you are not allowed to get in.
You can find the main pool with the swim up bar above the beach. You can always expect a good time here. The next pool is the Lagoon pool, which is the biggest pool in all of Barbados. Each swim-up suite is along a section of the lagoon pool.
Bars at Sandals Barbados
When on a resort, you will always have a bar close by to get your favorite drink or to try a new favorite. Here are the bars you can look forward to when staying at Sandals Barbados.
The Merry Monkey Bar
You can enjoy this bar between the hours of 5pm and 2am. You will find a superb selection of drinks as well as food if you ever want a late-night snack to keep you on the other side of a hangover.
The Swim-Up Pool Bar
The hours here are 10am to 6pm, and it is probably the most popular place to be during the day while on resort. You will find it right off the beach, giving you pool vibes with ocean views.
The Oyster Shell Bar
This bar is open from 11am until 1am.
The Pool Bar
Not to be confused with the swim-up pool bar, this bar is open from 10am to 10pm.
The Calypso Bar
Enjoy this bar between the hours of 10am and 11pm.
East Meets West Bar
Enjoy drinks here from 6pm to 10pm.
The Soy Bar
Open from 6pm to 10pm. You can also have dinner here, just come early so you can enjoy some sake with your sushi.
The Tiki Bar
This bar is open from 10am to 6pm.
Activities at Sandals Barbados
There are daily and nightly activities planned by the entertainment department. These change often so you have to wait until you are on resort to see what they will have in store.
If you are up for a spa treatment, check the Red Lane Spa for a value-added service. You can even include your partner by getting a couples session.
FAQ
Is Sandals Royal Barbados a private beach?
Yes, there is a private beach area onsite.
What airport do you fly into for Sandals Barbados?
You fly into the Grantley Adams International Airport to stay at Sandals Barbados. The airport code is BGI, and you get to the resort via a 15 minute drive.
Are there two Sandals in Barbados?
Yes, there are two Sandals properties in Barbados; Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados.
How close are the two Sandals resorts in Barbados?
The two Sandals resorts are next to each other and do share some common ground. Because of this, it can easily feel like one resort once you are there.
