Sandals in the Caribbean – Always Innovating

You already know that Sandals Resorts offers adult-only all-inclusive resorts throughout the Caribbean. Did you know that Sandals is still innovating? Did you know that Sandals is still expanding? Did you know Sandals has loads of included activities? Did you know that Sandals lists the premium brands of liquor they serve? And did you know Sandals offers some of the most unique romantic accommodations anywhere? The answers are Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes again.

    

Innovating? Sandals includes gourmet dining at up to 15 exceptional restaurants per resort. And when you stay in a locale that houses more than one Sandals you can share, as in two resorts in Montego Bay, and even three in romantic St Lucia. Along with that you will find up to 9 bars per resort. Sandals has resorts with private islands and Sandals Resorts are typically located on the most beautiful beach on island, as in Sandals Grande St Lucian or Sandals Whitehouse. Innovative is also serving Guinness and Newcastle Brown in British Pubs, or Asian beers in Asian restaurants. That’s not only innovative, but authentic – the way it should be.

Sandals Expansion. Last year Sandals opened what is perhaps their premier property, Sandals LeSource Grenada. This year Sandals is readying Sandals Barbados, which will be their newest addition to the family.

Sandals Resorts include a wealth of activities – all included. Golf, tennis, racquetball, rock climbing, beach volleyball, basketball on land; and snorkeling, scuba diving, paddle boats, hobie cat sailing, windsurfing, kneeboarding, kayaking, aquatics, glass bottom boats, wake boarding, water skiing, tubing, and much more. Divers will love Sandals top-of-the-line equipment, professional gear, custom 49′ Newton dive boats, and twice daily diving for certified divers.

Everybody in the All-Inclusive market boasts “premium” drink brands. But really? The weird tasting stuff in the mysterious unlabeled purple bottle is really NOT a “premium” brand. Our critique of their premium brands is their love affair with Appleton, a Jamaica pride thing. Appleton is hardly a world-class rum. Sandals needs to expand on their exclusive agreement with Appleton for the sake of their clients. Aside from the mandatory Appleton rum, Sandals serves Johnnie Walker Red & Black Label, Jim Beam, Crown Royal, Seagrams VO, Remy Martin VSOP, Absolut, Stolichnaya, Skyy, Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, Jose Cuervo (you can tell they don’t have resorts in Mexico), and Jack Daniels. For the most part – premium brands indeed.

Let’s talk about romantic accommodations. Here are a sampling of Sandals Love Nests: Sunset Bluff Oceanfront 2-Story 1 Bedroom Butler Villa suite w/Private Pool at Sandals L Toc; Italian Swim-up Bi-Level 1-Bedroom Butler Suite w/ Patio Tranquility Soaking Tub at Sandals LaSource Grenada; Exotic Beachfront Rondovals (suites in the round) at Sandals Grande Antigua and Sandals Grande St Lucian; Swim-up Suites at Sandals La Source Grenada, Sandals Negril, Sandals Royal Caribbean, Sandals Royal Bahamian, and Sandals Barbados; the Bay Rock Beachfront Suites at Sandals Montego Bay; and of course the ultimate in privacy – the Romeo & Juliet Villa Suites at Sandals Grande Riviera.

Private pool in Romeo & Juliet Suite

If luxury is what you seek in your All-Inclusive experience – we suggest you take a close look at Sandals Butler Level Service, and Sandals Weddings, including a Free Wedding.

When you are ready to explore a Sandals Vacation, Honeymoon, or Destination Wedding – do yourself a favor. Consult with a travel professional who visits, stays at, and has personal knowledge with Sandals Resorts from top to bottom. Contact ULTIMATE CRUISE & VACATION for guidance, experience and the best deals.

ReTie the Knot @ Sandals

Not everyone had the honeymoon or destination wedding of their dreams the first time around. For those who succeeded in marriage with their first choice in partner for years or decades – you deserve to retie the knot in style. Here is an outstanding romantic option in a beautiful tropical setting. The cost is a mere $300 but you can have it for free by taking family and friends with you to share your next big moment.

Stay at a Sandals, adult-only all-inclusive resort in Antigua, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica or St Lucia and you can enjoy the benefits of this package:

• Personal pre-travel ReTie The Knot planner and dedicated ReTie The Knot resort team
• Prerecorded music for ceremony
• Celebration cake, bouquet, and boutonniere
• 30-minute Reception with sparkling wine and cold hors d’oeuvres, for the couple and up to six guests (applicable for less than 5 room)
• Commemorative Certificate
• 35-Minute Massage for the husband
• Manicure for the wife
• Keepsake Gift
• One (1) 5 X 7 Honeymoon photograph
• Honeymoon dinner for the couple at a resort specialty restaurant with white glove service and a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine
• Decorated Honeymoon room
• Mimosa breakfast-in-bed any morning of choice

Bringing friends? The more the merrier. The more guests you bring the greater the party and more perks you and your group receive, including private check-in, room upgrade, longer and more inclusive dinners and receptions.

For more information about Sandals Resorts, honeymoons, destination weddings, or vow renewal options contact the experts – ULTIMATE CRUISE & VACATION.

 

Sandals & Beaches Resorts Expand

The saying is, “success breeds success.” In the case of Sandals Resorts success is breeding expansion – throughout the Caribbean. Try Grenada and Barbados, while sister company – Beaches Resorts (family friendly) is expanding to Antigua. This from a company well entrenched in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua and the Bahamas already.

Sandals Resorts is often first-to-mind when the term all-inclusive resort is mentioned. Sandals delivers a premium all-inclusive experience in an adult-only atmosphere with mostly luxurious accommodations ranging from garden cottages to ocean front suites to Club Level (concierge service) Suites to River Suites (swim-up) to Butler level accommodations, including Rondovals, Million Dollar Suites and Romeo & Juliet enclaves with private pools. Something for just about everyone.

As 2014 began Sandals delivered what they are calling the “Sandals of Tomorrow,” with their massive $100 million investment in the complete refurbishment and expansion of Sandals La Source Grenada Resort & Spa. This effort promises to deliver their most elaborate accommodations to date, featuring larger, more spacious rooms with private soaking tub, individual Jacuzzi’s, balconies and 55-inch flat screens in every room. The former 100-room resort will be expanded to 265 room but has reopened with 225 room set within three distinct villages.

The Pink Gin Village, named for the beach that adjoins the property, has one block of 70 oceanfront rooms, including some with direct beach access, and a second block of 30 junior suites. This village has close access to the beach and the zero-entry infinity pool. The 48-room Italian Village is perched on a cliff overlooking the resort and beach, with two exclusive river pools on the ground level. The first three floors feature one-bedroom split-level suites with spacious bathrooms and Japanese-style soaking tubs. Located on the resorts mountainside is the South Seas Village offering Sandals signature Rondoval Suites, its Millionaire Suites , plunge pool suites, plus other premium rooms. This resort will offer nine different dining options.

Sandals family of brands will deliver both brands to the gorgeous island of Barbados. The 280-room former Almond Casuarina and then briefly Couples Barbados has been re-branded Sandals Barbados.  We stayed here under the Almond flag. It was a nice but simple resort on a beautiful beach. It will be interesting to view what Sandals will transform it into when the apply their magic touch. Adding Sandals should be a great boost for one of the Caribbean’s most cherished but under the mass radar islands. 

Also on Barbados, the former Almond Beach Resort will be re-branded as a Beaches Resort and no doubt will have families venturing to Barbados for the first time for a luxury all-inclusive vacation. This resort has been shuttered for years and will amount to a complete rebuild. And Beaches promises this resort “will become one of the most sought-after resorts in the entire world.”

And finally Sandals has announced that they plan to expand the quaint and small Grand Pineapple budget resort they already own into a Beaches Resort, featuring suites and one- to four-bedroom accommodations, 12 restaurants, conference facilities and a variety of new onsite facilities such as a water park, cinema, an Xbox Play Lounge and a BMX track. This will be another hefty investment and a major rebuild.

Sandals and Beaches Resorts are really stepping up their game, flexing their impressive muscles and establishing themselves firmly as the leader in luxury Caribbean all-inclusive vacations for couples and families respectively. And don’t forget their success in the honeymoon and destination wedding field.

For more information on vacations, honeymoons and destination weddings to Sandals or Beaches resorts contact ULTIMATE CRUISE & VACATION.