Sandals Resorts

[Aimee]

My husband and I are in the planning stages of our postponed honeymoon (honestly, I should say that I am in the planning phases ). I have chosen to go to one of the Sandals resorts, I was dead set on St. Lucia until I read that Sandal's Antigua has been the world's leading honeymoon resort for the last 4 years in a row. From what I have researched, if I'm looking for a tropical environment and beautiful beaches, Antigua is it. St. Lucia is supposedly also beautiful but it's volcanic and provides for lots of hiking, etc. Both seem to be the most expensive of the Sandals resorts with Jamaica being the cheapest. I can't figure out why. Does anyone know that has traveled to some of these places? Anyone been to a Sandals resort, if so which one and what were your thoughts? Better yet, anyone been to Sandals St. Lucia or Antigua? I, personally, definantly want to use Sandals. I like the fact, especially for a honeymoon, that it is couples only and all-inclusive is definantly a must. I want to be able to go and do whatever and not worry about the cost. Thanks for any help!

[Linda/NJ]

Hi Aimee: I have neve been to a Sandals resort but my brother has. My brother and his wife got married in St. Lucia, they stayed at Sandals Halcyon Beach and loved it. Their pictures were gorgeous. Everyone joked that the background for the wedding pics looked fake. They loved it and it was all-inclusive. The food was good and the people there are very nice. I know it was pricey but then again they stayed for 8 days and they got married there too, with all those extras. What time of the year are you going? They went at the end of October and it was real hot. I can also tell you the first day was a lot of travelling for them. I know it was cheaper, but they flew out of Phila airport to Miami. Then a flight from Miami to Puerto Rico then a small plane to St. Lucia. I not sure if I left anything out but they had a lovely time and met other honeymooners which was nice. I wish we could of been there with them but they wanted a private wedding with just the 2 of them. Good luck. I hope I helped a little. Maybe others will have some more feedback. I also heard Antiqua is beautiful too.

Linda & Ginger

[vaboxer]

I just got married at Sandals Negril and loved it I had heard horror stories of Jamaica...but was pleasently surprised. The beaches were beautiful...the sun sets and sun rises are amazing...the locals are absolutely wonderful.

I loved Sandals Negril because I could walk up and get a drink or snack or meal at any time, any day. I could wake up and grab a kiak and or hobie cat or water skiis...anything I wanted.

There were 19 people with us on this trip and every one of them loved the resort. Mainly because everything you ever wanted was right there.

I will return to Negril...but I would do a different resort. Sandals is nice...but it isnt the only all inclusive. I didnt like the food very much and Doug and I are very into food (he starts culinary school on the 3rd Sandals is a party resort, there is no doubt about it...the ages range from 21-70s or 80s. The people there party hard! And the rooms were nice, but more like apartment style like we have in the states...there are other resorts that have a more local feel that Ive heard wonders about that Id like to try next.

I originally wanted to go to St Lucia or Antigua but had to do Jamaica since it was the cheapest and we had to think about the other 19 people. But...Jamaica is someplace that we will return to often...and Doug's brother and girlfriend even plan on marrying there in 2005

[Tucker's_mom]

Two of my friends just left very early this morning for Sandals in St. Lucia (they're getting married also). They are HUGE scuba diving fanatics and were told this place was awesome. They were at Sandals in Jamaica (I think the golf one) last year and loved it too, but apparently St. Lucia has better diving. We wanted to join them, but it was almost $5000 (for the cheapest room!!) for the 2 of us to go and that was just too much for us.

We actually got this beautiful Sandals brochure from a travel agent (AAA) that shows all of the different locations and lists all the restaurants, bars, etc. I liked it much better than all the stuff on the net, because it had maps and pretty much showed you where your room would be.

Good Luck on your decision. I'll find out in a week how much they liked it and let you know if you can wait that long.

[vaboxer]

One other thing...on those Sandals brochures...add about 10 years to all the pictures...

These resorts are mostly outside, so the weather bangs them up pretty bad when it is bad enough.

I remember saying to Doug when we got there, "this doesnt look the same as the pictures" and he just laughed at me

But...the rooms were nice and the staff was great...and if you are not picky about food, go for it!

[LauraJean623]

We got married and honeymooned at Sandals in Ocho Rios. WE had a great time. I would not stay at Ocho Rios again, but I would stay at another Sandals. The one in Dunns River was better than Ocho Rios, we went there on a day trip. The food was pretty good, not great, just pretty good.

Have a great time!

[Aimee]

Thank you all I'm really, really leaning towards Antigua right now. I want beautiful beaches and lush tropics! The travel agent swears that Antigua has the most beautiful beaches of all the Sandals resorts. Friends of ours honeymooned at Sandals St. Luica and the pictures were amazing. This is what prompted me to begin looking in this direction. They absolutely loved the resort, they said they had the best time. They met another couple while they were there on their honeymoon as well. By the end of the trip, this lady was ready to divorce her husband over the scuba diving. Apparently you can't have alcohol a certain number of hours prior to your scuba trip and the trips were early in the morning. Needless to say, he didn't party with her at night and was gone all day! We opted out of the scuba diving this time around The resort in St. Lucia we are considering is the same one our friends went to, it's the golf and spa resort, is this the same one that your friends went to Tucker's_mom? The only downfall they found was that most of the restaraunts there were formal and required a jacket for the men. That's nice, but not exaclty how you would want to spend everynight on your honeymoon Keep the stories coming, I'll keep you updated!

[Pooch72]

We went to Jamaica for our ten year anniversary. I believe it was Breezes. We met a couple in the airport and we were going to the same hotel. We hung out together for meals and a few other activities. We ended up being their witnesses when they got married!!! All-inclusive is the only way to go. The food was plentiful and satisfying but not elaborate. The rooms were not much to brag about as per the comment on the brochure photos. I'm sure the more you pay for the trips the better the offerings.
I liked the fact there were no children allowed.
I was very comfortable on site. However, I was a bit imtimidated when we went on one of the shopping trips by bus to one of the port cities for the cruise ships and their were army personnel on the street corners with rifles. I would go again but probably try a different site. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

[KELLY W]

Hi there! I have been to Both Sandals Antigua and also Sandals St lucia. I liked them both, but I liked St Lucia Better. Antigua is very nice definately, but the water was sandy and not very clear. St Lucia's beach was not very wide and the water was somewhat rough. However, Sandals has just opened a new resort in St Lucia called the Grand St Lucian which has the best beach onthe island. We have sent a lot of clients there and they just fell in love with it. St Lucia is the most beautiful island as far as it being lush and very tropical. The good thing about St Lucia too is that you can use the restaurants and the facilities at all 3 of the Sandals properties no matter which one you stay at. Now dont get me wrong, I did like Antigua, the shopping was great and they had fun tours too. However, I have had clients that have said it is just not up to par with the other Sandals and I have to agree with them. I would go with St Lucia at the new Grand St Lucian and I think you will be very pleased.

[Tucker's_mom]

I *think* they went to Sandals Halcyon, but I'm not positive. It seems to me she might've wanted to keep him away from the golf resort and Halcyon's one that looks the most familiar to me. Also, I'm pretty sure they stayed at the golf one in Jamaica, so knowing them they'd try something a little different.

Naturally since we decided not to go, my DH threw away the brochure that had all our info in it.

Also, fyi...the price we got from AAA was cheaper than what we were able to find on expedia, etc. So you might try there if you're a member.

They'll be back on Monday so I can check for sure then.

Andrea

[VTbxrFan]

My brother went to Sandals Antigua for his honeymoon and loved it. I had been thinking that I wanted to go to one of the Sandal's resorts in St. Lucia resorts for my honeymoon because I like the volcanos. I don't think it's in our budget, though, so we are probably driving to Florida for a few days at Disney World and a few days at the beach.

From what I've heard about Jamaica, the resorts are beautiful and lots of fun, but it's not a very safe place if you leave the resort - and even getting from the airport to the resorts makes some people nervous. That's probably why it's cheaper.

When are you planning to go? Get insurance if it's going to be hurricane season! My brother was supposed to go on his Antigua honeymoon immediately after his October wedding, but the island was hit pretty badly by a hurricane a few days before his planned trip. Fortunately he had gotten the insurance and was able to push the trip back until January when the resort had cleaned up. (And actually in the end he was glad that happened because he enjoyed having the trip to look forward to, and still went to the beach for a couple of nights right after the wedding - two honeymoons instead of one!)

[Aimee]

Originally posted by VTbxrFan
I don't think it's in our budget, though, so we are probably driving to Florida for a few days at Disney World and a few days at the beach.

It wasn't in ours either We went to Key West for 4 days after the wedding and then went on our yearly family vacation to the Outerbanks immediately upon our return from Key West. We knew ahead of time that we would be taking a "real" honeymoon after things settled here, but we planned it for after the first of the year so we could save the money to do it. Don't discount it because of the cost, a real honeymoon is a once in a lifetime thing. Could I spend that money elsewhere, you bet, but we've agreed that this is something we really need and want to do! We saved the money we got from the wedding to put towards our trip--I'll let you know if it was worth it We plan to go the end of April, beginning of May.