There are 17 adults-only all-inclusive Sandals resorts throughout the Caribbean, and while they are all luxurious and “nice,” they each have their own distinctive character. Some are more casual and laidback, while others are more elegant and sophisticated. Some are practically brand-new, while others have been around longer.
We’ve been to all the Sandals resorts and definitely have our opinions. We share our picks for the nicest Sandals resort below.
Sandals Dunn’s River, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
The second-newest Sandals location, Sandals Dunn’s River is now our favorite Sandals in Jamaica. The thoughtfully designed resort makes the most of the natural beauty around it, and it introduced the “Sandals 2.0” concept, which brings an elevated experience with unique new restaurants, bars, and suites to choose from.
The food here is probably the best of any Sandals resort, with pretty much every restaurant being different from all the other locations. We loved the Latin American food at Zuka and the Asian dishes at Hanami as well as the Blum coffee bar, which is definitely a step above the usual Café de Paris. The bars are also different and very nice, with craft cocktails and great décor. Our favorite was the Rum Club.
Why Sandals Dunn’s River is nice:
- Beautiful design with water features to echo nearby Dunn’s River Falls
- Elevated dining and drinking options with exceptional cuisine and craft cocktails
- Amazing accommodations like the Skypool suites with elevated private infinity pools, and the Coyaba Sky Swim-up Rondovals with rooftop terraces and private pools
- Convenient location for popular sites such as the Blue Hole and Dunn’s River Falls
- Excellent staff providing top notch service
- Golf included with free green fees at and transportation to a nearby 18-hole course
- Long stretch of beach with plenty of chairs
- Cool pools including two river-style pools
- Brand-new spa with luxurious facilities
Sandals St. Vincent, St. Vincent & the Grenadines
The newest location, Sandals St. Vincent offers an off-the-beaten path destination with a non-touristy vibe for a more relaxed and authentic local experience. It is also part of the Sandals 2.0 initiative and features new restaurants, bars, and accommodation types that are unique to this location.
We loved the jaw-dropping setting and lush landscaping, the peaceful atmosphere, the food (especially the family-style local cuisine at Buccan), the variety of the pools, the beach, and the friendliness of the staff. Our room, a beachfront one-bedroom butler villa suite with private pool, was one of the nicest we’ve ever stayed in.
Why Sandals St. Vincent is nice:
- Stunning location between the beach and lush mountains
- Warm and attentive service
- Diverse and fun pools including a two-tiered beachfront infinity pool
- Lovely white sand beach along clear blue water
- Incredible new suites such as the Vincy Two-Story Overwater Villas and Beachfront Butler Villas with private pools
- A beautiful, interesting, and less-crowded island to explore
Sandals Royal Curacao
The third-newest Sandals resort, Sandals Royal Curacao also offers many unique amenities including a truly unbelievable bi-level beachfront infinity pool with glass walls. This resort also has more of a European feel than other locations.
It incorporates a lot of local flavor from its Dutch Caribbean setting, including a Dutch café and wine and cheese bar. You can also explore the island on a Dutch bike. The water here is a vivid blue and quite clear, perfect for watersports.
Why Sandals Royal Curacao is nice:
- Modern and stylish design
- Amazing amenities like the two-level glass infinity pool
- Fantastic food including local cuisine
- Spectacular new accommodations options including Awa Seaside Butler Bungalows with private infinity pools and Kurason Island Poolside Bungalows
- Excellent snorkeling and scuba diving
- Charming and picturesque European-style capital city to explore
- Golf included with free green fees and transportation to nearby scenic golf course
- Some suites come with access to a Mini Cooper convertible you can drive around the island.
Sandals Royal Bahamian
The glamorous Sandals Royal Bahamian is the closest Sandals resort to the U.S., located in glittering Nassau, Bahamas near nightlife and casinos. It was completely redone and reopened in 2022, and features new infinity and walk-in pools, a beachfront lounge area with food trucks, and a swanky private island with two beaches, a pool with swim-up bar, restaurant, and spa. You can even snorkel off the beach here.
This resort is located on famous Cable Beach, which offers soft white sand and sparklingly clear turquoise water. Luxurious accommodations include newly added beachfront butler and club-level swim-up suites, as well as villas with private pools.
Why Sandals Royal Bahamian is nice:
- Recently renovated for a sophisticated ambiance
- Super close to the US for an easy getaway
- Peaceful private island
- Close to casinos and upscale shopping, dining, and nightlife in Nassau
- Beachfront swim-up suites with outdoor Tranquility Soaking Tubs for two and personal butler service
- Fitness center is in a penthouse with sweeping ocean views.
- Fun excursion opportunities like swimming with pigs
- Great snorkeling and scuba diving
Sandals Royal Barbados
Sandals Royal Barbados opened in 2017 right next door to Sandals Barbados. It is a chic and stylish resort, offering only club and butler-level accommodations plus a host of Sandals “firsts” including the first rooftop bar and infinity pool, the first bowling alley, the first healthy concept restaurants, and the first gourmet doughnut shop.
We loved the cuisine here, especially the new healthy restaurants, Greenhouse and Heart & Sol. At Greenhouse we had one of the most flavorful dishes ever, even more impressive because it was vegetarian. And we really liked being able to get acai bowls, smoothies, and salads at Heart & Sol.
Why Sandals Royal Barbados is nice:
- Posh suites, most with Tranquility Soaking Tubs on the patios or balconies; top choices include beachfront Skypool suites, swim-up suites, and Rondoval suites
- Private airport transfers by Rolls Royce for the upper-level suites
- Next level pools including the glass-fronted infinity pool on the beach, the largest of its kind in the eastern Caribbean
- Elegant French restaurant on the rooftop for amazing views while you dine
- Fun rooftop bar with infinity pool for incredible sunsets
- Two resorts in one, with the ability to walk over to Sandals Barbados and access all its restaurants and amenities (21 restaurants and 14 bars total)
- Gorgeous white-sand beach with clear turquoise water
- Amazing spa
Sandals Grenada
Sandals Grenada was our favorite Sandals resort before Dunn’s River and St. Vincent opened, and it’s still up there. It offers a wonderful all-around experience in a truly spectacular natural setting on the lush island of Grenada. This is a Sandals where you’ll definitely want to do some offsite excursions.
It has one of the nicest beaches of any Sandals resort, with soft white sand and clear calm water perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. This is also where the Skypool suites were first introduced, and these are some of our favorite accommodation types at Sandals. They offer elevated private infinity pools with amazing views.
Why Sandals Grenada is nice:
- Beautiful location and landscaping
- Fabulous beach
- Personalized service
- Good variety of dining options
- Range of rooms and suites, many with outdoor Tranquility Soaking Tubs and ocean views, some with private pools
- Just 5 minutes from the airport
- Wide range of offsite excursions on a truly gorgeous and fun island
Sandals Royal Plantation
The most intimate Sandals resort, Sandals Royal Plantation has just 74 suites, all of which have personal butler service and ocean views. The nicest is the three-bedroom Villa Plantana, set near the beach and featuring a private pool and full staff.
The level of personalized service is what makes Sandals Royal Plantation one of the nicest Sandals resorts, even though many of the rooms appear somewhat dated (this resort has a fiercely loyal clientele who prefer that everything stay as it is). There is an classy vibe here, with traditional tea served in the afternoons, a Champagne and caviar bar, and peacocks roaming the grounds.
Why Sandals Royal Plantation is nice:
- Two private cove beaches with white sand and calm turquoise water
- Exceptional attentiveness from staff since the resort is small and everyone has butler service
- Romantic and relaxed with a sophisticated setting
- Elegant restaurants with water views and delicious food
- Option to go to Sandals Ochi for more restaurants, bars, and activities
- Golf included with free green fees at and transportation to nearby 18-hole golf course
Other locations that could be considered among the nicest Sandals resorts are Sandals South Coast in Jamaica, with a pristine private beach and overwater bungalows, and the three locations in jaw-droppingly beautiful St. Lucia (Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Sandals Halcyon Beach, and Sandals Regency La Toc).
Which Sandals resort is newest?
The newest Sandals resort is currently Sandals St. Vincent. It opened in March of 2024. The second-newest Sandals resort is Sandals Dunn’s River, which opened in 2023, followed by Sandals Royal Curacao which opened in 2022.