SandalsRoyal Barbados is the newest of two Sandals resorts on the island of Barbados. It invites guests with a sophisticated but laid-back atmosphere, with lots of things for guests to do right here on the property. Highlights of Sandals Royal Barbados include the rooftop pool and bar, as well as the bowling alley.
Barbados is well known for its scuba diving and snorkeling. Plus, it’s on the same property as Sandals Barbados, so you get to stay at 1 and play at 2.
Enjoy 7 restaurants here and another 11 over at Sandals Barbados. Guests of Butler category rooms get the luxury of added Rolls Royce airport transport at no additional cost.
About Sandals Royal Barbados
Where is Sandals Royal Barbados?
Sandals Royal Barbados can be found on the Caribbean Island of Barbados. The island is located in the eastern section of the Caribbean and can be easily reached with major airlines from the United States, Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom. In most cases, you will be able to access daily flights depending on your location.
Once on the island, the hotel is a 20-minute drive from the airport. Set on Maxwell Beach, one of the best beaches on the island, you will enjoy many beach days.
Getting to Sandals Royal Barbados
You arrive by air at the Grantley Adams International Airport. Once you have gone through customs and immigration, you will enter the Sandals lounge, where you will await your complimentary shuttle. Staff will escort your luggage so you can grab a drink and snack with your hands-free.
Your shuttle should take approximately 20 minutes to the resort, depending on traffic.
Best Time to Visit Sandals Royal Barbados
Barbados has a fantastic climate all year round, so you can enjoy excellent weather when you visit. Peak hotel season runs from late December through to the middle of April. During this time, you will find higher hotel stay rates, but you will also find the nicest weather.
If you have budget constraints, the best time to visit Sandals Royal Barbados is between July and November when prices are lower. You may experience brief heavy showers, but these tend to be followed or preceded by nice sunny days.
Hurricanes typically pass north of the Island, and so they rarely get hit by hurricanes.
What’s Included at Sandals Royal Barbados
Sandals is known for their luxury inclusive vacations. At Sandals Royal, you can expect no less. As the name suggests, expect to enjoy Royal treatment while on the resort. As a matter of fact, the minute you clear immigration and customs, the luxury begins. All Sandals Royal Suites are all luxury, and Barbados is an epic Jet-Setter Destination.
Sandals Royal Barbados has recorded a number of Sandals firsts. It is the first resort to have a rooftop pool and bar, as well as the first to have a 4-lane bowling alley. The first gourmet doughnut shop in the Sandals chain is found here, and the Chi Asian and American Tavern are both new restaurant concepts that started here.
Sandals Royal Barbados offers signature accommodations, such as Millionaire Suites, Swim-Up Suites, and Skypool Suites. The Luxury Included® experience here is rounded out with Butler Elite service and world-class international cuisine at 9 restaurants.
Pros and Cons of Sandals Royal Barbados
The expansive beach property and secluded suites make Sandals Royal Barbados a great resort. No matter what room type or category you choose, you will definitely enjoy your stay here. The resort is spacious and relatively new, so rooms and amenities are all in good condition.
You will love the total of 18 dining options between the two resorts. Because yes, you get to stay at 1 and play at 2 when you book Sandals Royal Barbados. Everything Sandals Barbados has to offer is literally a few steps away. Sharing the same common property is Sandal Barbados, providing you with a top-notch all-inclusive trip.
Sandals Royal Barbados is all suites, yes that is right, all accommodations here are suites, so you will feel like royalty, no pun intended.
Each suite comes complete with a fully stocked mini-bar that is restocked daily. There are many private spots, and there is always a spot at a bar or a pool. The beach is never crowded, even though both resorts merge. You will be able to comfortably walk the beach without feeling like you are on top of other guests. On the Sandals Barbados side there are many daybeds and cabanas that are first come first serve. However, on the Sandals Royal Barbados side, you will have to pay for a Cabana if you would like to enjoy some privacy on the beach.
You will love the rooftop pool and bar, as it overlooks the main pool below and the ocean. From here, you will enjoy stunning views of the beach area, and it is a great spot to have a drink and watch the sunset. The large infinity pool is another favorite area that looks out to sea. It can get busy here, but there are always chairs available throughout the day. From here, you’re just a little walk away from Sandals Barbados main pool, where you will be able to find chairs as well.
The other pool is towards the back of the property and offers a quieter vibe away from the vibrant music of the main area. Here you can lounge and enjoy drinks from the bar as you relax away from the excitement of the resort’s hub.
What To Do at Sandals Royal Barbados
Restaurants at Sandals Royal Barbados
- Butch’s Steak and Seafood
Here you will find steak and seafood for dinner. The restaurant is open from 6pm to 10pm. Reservations are required, and the dress code is “resort evening.” It’s the most popular restaurant on the resort, so you want to get your reservations in as soon as possible.
You can expect an upscale experience from this premium steakhouse. You will find your usual steakhouse fare, such as Surf & Turf, Lamb Chops, Prime Rib etc. Being in the Caribbean, the seafood selection is fresh and nothing but the finest. You can look forward to scallops, monkfish, snapper, tuna and lobster when in season.
- Chi Asian Fusion
Here you will find Southeast Asian cuisines like Bao Buns and Kung Pao Chicken. This restaurant is open for dinner from 6pm to 10pm, and reservations are required. The dress code is resort casual, so the atmosphere is comfortable.
- American Tavern
At this restaurant, you will find American comfort food. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and its buffet breakfast is a popular choice by guests. You won’t need to make reservations, and the dress code is resort casual. Breakfast is served between the hours of 7:30am and 10:30am. Lunch is served between 12:30pm and 2:30pm, and dinner is served between the hours of 6pm and 10pm.
- La Parisienne French Cuisine
This french restaurant is a rooftop restaurant with amazing views of the ocean. The restaurant serves breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is ala carte, with classic breakfast options such as eggs benedict, french toast etc. Breakfast is served between 8am and 10:30 am.
Reservations are required, and the dress code is resort evening. You can find impressive menu items, such as French Onion Soupe, Escargots and Nicoise salad and much more. Dinner is served from 6pm to 10pm.
- Neptune’s Mediterranean Seafood
Just a couple steps from your beach chair, you will find this restaurant. Makes sure to put on a shirt, but aside from that, the dress code is resort casual, so you can go in your regular clothes. Here you will find fresh seafood with a lunch menu that features grilled fish sandwiches, or you can ask for the fish of the day. For dinner, you can choose from Lam Souvlaki, Grilled swordfish steak, Greek Ceviche and Moroccan Wahoo to name a few.
No reservations are necessary at Neptune’s Mediterranean Seafood restaurant. Lunch is served from 11am to 3pm, and dinner is served 6pm – 10pm.
- The Jerk Shack
The jerk shack is the best place to grab some jerk chicken. Head here first to get a cure for your jet lag. You will find other menu options, including spicy and flavorful Caribbean dishes. Enjoy fish in foil, jerk pork and sausage, roasted sweet potatoes, hard dough bread and festivals and more. They will serve the jerk sauce on the side, and there is also hellfire sauce if you want to spice it up even more.
The Jerk shack is open from 11 am to 4pm
- Sweet N’ Salty’s
This is one of the newer restaurants at Sandals Royal Barbados. Here you will enjoy gourmet donuts and coffee in resort casual attire. Donuts are made daily here, and there are classic combinations you may not find elsewhere. When you are getting a doughnut, be sure to get a cup of coffee too. As a matter of fact, check out one of the specialties that includes alcohol.
Grab a sweet treat and a cup of coffee from 7am to 10pm, no reservations required.
- Green House
This is another new restaurant that serves breakfast daily. The dress code is resort casual, and reservations are necessary since the breakfast style is farm to table. The restaurant is open from 8am to 11am.
- Heart & SOL
This is the perfect stop for a healthy breakfast or lunch. They have an array of smoothies and sandwiches. It is open for breakfast between 7am and 11 am, serving breakfast type items, and then until 5pm with a slightly different menu.
Pools at Sandals Royal Barbados
Sandals Royal Barbados is home to three main pools plus a whirlpool. The pools are open 24 hours, just be sure to note if you see a maintenance sign out before going in. The pools are:
- South Seas Pool – This is close to the lobby and is quite a large pool that tends to be very peaceful.
- Infinity Pool – This pool is next to the beach, providing you with beautiful views of the ocean.
- The Rooftop Pool – You find this pool on the sky rooftop bar. It is a glass infinity pool and it tends to be empty, so if you go there, you will have the pool and the bar to yourself. The views from this pool are just to die for.
Bars at Sandals Royal Barbados
Sandals Royal Barbados features six bars that serve premium alcohol from brands from Appleton, Jack Daniels, Bombay Sapphire, Grey Goose and Appleton Rum to name a few.
- Lovers Lane Craft Beer Bar – this is open from 11am to 1pm and serves a number of imported beer, as well as micro brewery beers from Barbados. You will find 19 beers in total, making it a great spot for beer lovers.
- The Sky Rooftop Bar – this is open from 10am to midnight.
- The Seaside ar – this is open from 10am to 10pm.
- The South Seas Swim Up Bar is open from 10am to 6pm.
- The Oasis Bar is open from 10am to 10pm.
- Neptune’s Bar is open from 6pm to 2am.
Activities at Sandals Barbados and Royal Barbados
Like other Sandals Resorts, Sandals Royal Barbados offers unlimited activities. Included with your booking is watersports and diving, to name a few. There are always a lot of activities to do when you are booked at Sandals Royal Barbados.
- Enjoy watersports such as kayaking, paddle boarding, boogie boarding, canoeing, snorkeling or enjoy a ride on a glass bottom boat.
- Enjoy land sports such as cricket, beach volleyball, bocce ball, table tennis and yoga.
- Try out the Bowling Alley, which has four lanes.
- Enjoy live entertainment at chocolate buffets, beach parties or the piano bar, depending on the activities that are scheduled for the week of your stay.
- If staying fit is your favorite way to pass the time, enjoy their fully equipped fitness center
At an additional charge, you can indulge in spa treatments and massages at the Red Lane Spa. Alternatively, you can check with the Island Routes desk in the lobby. Their excursions take you off the resort for the day. We recommend taking at least one off resort excursion while staying at Sandals Royal Barbados.
Best Activity Options at Sandals Royal Barbados
- A Catamaran Cruise
You will get some of the best views of the Barbadian Coastline from your Catamaran. Your cruise includes complimentary Procecco and an open bar. There is also a gourmet three course lunch and stop where you can get off the Catamaran to snorkel and swim for a little bit.
- Caves and Critters
For this excursion, you will explore Harison’s Cave safely in a motorized tram. You will see beautiful stalagmite and stalactite. The tram also transports you through a wildlife reserve where you can enjoy local flora and fauna.
- The Ultimate Snorkel Tour
This tour takes you to sea and also takes you through the city. Snorkeling takes place at Carlisle Bay, where you will see marine life plus three shipwrecks. After snorkeling, enjoy some refreshing drinks before heading to Broad Street for duty-free shopping.
FAQ
Is Sandals Royal Barbados a private beach?
Yes, Sandals Royal Barbados sits on Maxwell beach. The portion the hotel sits on is private and only accessible to guests.
How far is Sandals Royal Barbados from the airport?
Sandals Royal Barbados is approximately 20 minutes drive from the Grantley Adams International Airport.
What’s the difference between Barbados and Royal Barbados?
Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados are two different Sandals Resorts that share common grounds. Sandals Royal Barbados is the newer of the two, and so has more modern furnishings in the room. Their Butler category rooms also allow for Rolls Royce transfers to and from the airport.
Are there two Sandals in Barbados?
Yes, there are two Sandals Resorts in Barbados, they are the Sandals Barbados Resort and the Sandals Royal Barbados Resort.
