Editor Pick
Sandals Royal Bahamian
- September 27, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
misterwlm from Denver, Colorado
My wife and I stayed at Sandals Royal Bahamian from 9-19-09 to 9-26-09. Before you read on, some information about us so you can judge the validity of this review. First, we travel a lot and are always unbiased when we do decide to write a review. Secondly, we are in our early 40’s and have done enough traveling to recognize the good from the bad. Lastly, we're experienced divers who can accurately assess the scenery and the dive operation.
Up front, I’ll say that our 8 night stay Royal Bahamian was fantastic! This was our second trip to The Bahamas (first to Sandals RB) in the last few years. Our experience has been that the Bahamians are some of the nicest in the Caribbean and this trip was no exception. We upgraded our room to receive butler service and highly recommend you do the same if possible. Melissa and Shanequewa were wonderful! They were never overbearing, but always there if we needed or wanted anything.
In general, the service at the resort was very high on the grounds and in the restaurants. Not once did we walk by any employee during our stay who failed to say "Hello" with a big smile as they passed. The service in the restaurants was very good during our stay as was the service at the pools and on the beach. There were always servers asking us if we needed anything from a drink to fresh towels. I’ve read many reviews on Sandals Resorts and the one common thread across all is the food. We’ve found that Sandals will always give you a great vacation (we’ve been to 5 of their properties) but the food is probably 4 out 5 stars. Again, it’s good, but if you want 5 Star, be prepared to add $$$ to your vacation destination wherever it is you choose to go.
The grounds were maintained very well…I’d put the resort condition up against just about any other Caribbean property we’ve seen. The gardens, lawns and beaches were in impeccable condition. This resort is probably 12 years old, but maintained very well.
Our dive experience was a pleasure. I did 12 dives during my stay and every one was handled professionally (and I watch the operators carefully). Ryan and Donathan on the dive boat took great care to make sure the less experienced divers were safe and had a nice time. They were also quick to realize the more experienced divers and although had control of the group, allowed the experienced divers a little latitude to explore. Some who read this may not understand, but if you’re those guys and have a group of 12 to 15 divers (half I would consider inexperienced) you almost have to tailor to the diver with the lowest skill level. If you’ve got a lot of dives and years under your belt and are used to heading out on your own, be forewarned of the situation.
Again, we had a great time at Royal Bahamian and certainly got our money’s worth out of it! We would rate them a solid A- based on our travel experience and plan to return sometime in the future!
Editor Pick
Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort & Spa
- December 5, 2005
- Rated 5 of 5 by
surveygirl from Littleton, Colorado
Sandals is an all-inclusive, couples-only resort, so you won't have children or spring-breakers interrupting your romantic getaway. And you won't need to bring out your wallet all week.
We had a standard room and it was great. The beds were comfortable and there was plenty of space for lounging. The only complaint was that the water pressure/temperature was a little sporadic.
There are 8 restaurants, and we tried all of them. The absolute best was the Crystal Room. All of the food was delicious and well prepared. You can have a fun evening with the friends you'll meet at the tepanyaki restaurant or in the british-style pub. We also enjoyed the piano bar in the evenings for a laid-back setting.
The spa is a wonderful treat that everyone should enjoy. Services cost extra but are completely worth it. The setup is luxurious and the staff is wonderfully professional.
There's plenty to do if you want to stay active - volleyball games, windsurfing, snorkeling, jet skis, etc. But there's also no shame in just lounging by the pools and making use of the swim-up bars.
This was a wonderful honeymoon destination, and there were also plenty of people celebrating anniversaries or just getting away.
From journal Honeymoon in the Bahamas