There are many wonderful destinations throughout the world but if an adult only all-inclusive vacation is on your honeymoon list, your best choice may be a Sandals Resort. No kids are allowed at Sandals, everything is included from meals to drinks to scuba diving and golf, and romance abounds with beachfront locations, king beds in every room, gourmet dining, private pools, butler service and luxurious spas. So how do you choose the best Sandals Resort for you?  Let’s start with location – Sandals has 14 all-inclusive resorts on 7 sun drenched Caribbean islands including St Lucia, Jamaica, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua, Exuma and the Bahamas. So your choice of destination should consider travel time, airfare, weather and what you’d like to see and do while on your romantic adult only vacation.

The shortest flights and lowest fares are usually to Jamaica or Nassau, but St Lucia also has excellent air service from many U.S. cities and if travel time isn’t a major concern, a relatively undiscovered island like Grenada is an exotic destination that should be at the top of most honeymoon wish lists.

Weather is a very important consideration and while all Caribbean islands enjoy sunshine and warm temperatures year round the Bahamas can be too cool for a bathing suit in December and more vulnerable to hurricanes in the fall. Jamaica is in the 80’s and 90’s year round as are the islands of St Lucia, Grenada, Antigua and Barbados and the southern Caribbean islands are also less affected by tropical storms and hurricanes.

The beach is #1 for a lot of couples all inclusive vacations and details matter! Every Sandals Resort is beachfront but if you want to swim in the ocean a calm, shallow entry may be desirable unless of course you wish to body surf and waves are what you’re after! If you’d like to walk or jog on the beach size matters and and if you are worried about too much sun the availability of shade is important. Which Sandals Resort has the best beach will depend on you but two of my favorites would be Emerald Bay and Whitehouse.

Pools are important too and some resorts have much larger and more glamorous settings with fountains, huge swim up pool bars, jacuzzis, even fire pits designed into the pool area. Sandals Grande Antigua, Grande St Lucian and Grenada are a few with stunning pool areas.

Activities will be a deciding factor for many couples choosing an adult only all inclusive vacation and Sandals includes more water and land sports than other resorts like Secrets, Excellence and Couples Resorts. But even within the Sandals group there are important differences so it’s time to be specific.

Snorkeling, daily snorkel trips and scuba diving is included at every Sandals Resort but the colors are simply more vibrant in the turquoise Bahamian waters and healthy reefs off St Lucia and Grenada.You can climb a waterfall, swim with dolphins or go ziplining in Jamaica. Casinos and big name entertainers are in Nassau and golf is free in Exuma, St Lucia and Jamaica. Hiking is best on St Lucia and Grenada and Antigua offers the opportunity to swim with the rays or party with locals while watching the sunset at Shirley Heights. Waterskiing and tubing is offered at Sandals Negril, Sandals Whitehouse, Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Grande St Lucian.

Every Sandals Resort includes complimentary watersports such as sailing, kayaking, standup paddleboards, snorkeling and scuba but conditions vary so ask a Sandals Specialist for more detail. Fitness centers and land sports like tennis and volleyball are also included at every resort but in Jamaica you’ll find Sandals’ only rock climbing wall and squash courts.

Once you’ve chosen a destination it’s time to think about which Sandals Resort is best for you. Are you looking for a casual beach atmosphere with open air dining or a more formal setting under crystal chandeliers? Are you a pool person, beach person or want a bit of both? Do you prefer small intimate resorts or would you enjoy resort hopping with dining, drinking and playing privileges at several locations?

Last but not least, every Sandals Resort has about a million (slight exaggeration) room categories with prices starting under $2.5K for a one week all inclusive vacation for two to more than $10K for a once in a lifetime honeymoon in a fabulous suite with private pool and butler. But whether you choose a garden view room or beachfront villa, every Sandals guest will enjoy a couples only getaway with king beds, fine dining, name brand liquors, activities, entertainment and tips included.

For more help choosing the best Sandals Resort you can email linda@totemtravel.com or call Linda, Sandi or Patty at (800) 321-7907.  We’ve been to all of the resorts and whether you work with a Sandals Specialist or book online you’ll pay exactly the same price and the lowest is always guaranteed!

P.S. Look for more on Sandals newest resort, Sandals Barbados.

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Adult only all inclusive Sandals Resorts offer standard rooms, club level rooms and butler suites. So do you need a butler, what does a butler do, is a butler suite worth the extra cost and how much do you tip a butler at Sandals? Our Specialists have had the good fortune to vacation at all the Sandals Resorts and stay in almost every room category from entry level to the Millionaire’s Suite, but everyone has different ideas about the perfect all inclusive vacation and on a honeymoon it’s all about you. So let’s start with the basics –

Standard rooms are the least expensive and start with the entry level room. These rooms have all the features you’d expect including a king bed, A/C, blowdryer, bath amenities, safe, iron and ironing board plus a mini fridge stocked with water, soft drinks and fruit juices, all complimentary. You may or may not have a balcony in an entry level room and room service is not usually offered.

Club level rooms add bathrobes and a fully stocked in room bar with wine, beer, champagne, liquor and mixers. There’s a club level lounge with free WIFI and other services plus a concierge to assist with check in, spa, tour and restaurant reservations. Almost every club level room has a patio or balcony, many have beautiful ocean views, some are beachfront, some have whirlpool tubs and room service is normally included.

Sandals Butler suites are another step up with the very best locations plus special features like a private pool and outdoor jacuzzi (skinny dipping anyone?) such as the Romeo and Juliet suite or Sunset Bluff Millionaire’s Villa with panoramic oceanview from the bed, living room and huge private pool deck. Talk about the life! Other butler suites are located directly on the beach such as the two story beachfront villa with pool on Exuma or romantic Beachfront Rondoval with private plunge pool and whirlpool in St Lucia. Still more are Swim Up Suites such as those at Sandals Negril, Sandals Royal Caribbean and brand new Sandals La Source in Grenada.

Most butler suites have a separate living room, all have oversized bedrooms with king bed, and most have elaborate bathrooms with marble vanities, whirlpool soaking tub, walk in rain shower and more. All butler rooms and suites include a customized in room bar stocked with your choice of name brand liquor and liqueurs. And perhaps most importantly, Sandals butler suites come with the services of a personal butler on call day and night. So what exactly does a butler do and is it worth the cost? Here are just a few examples of Sandals butler services –

• Serve breakfast in bed with mimosas for a decadent start to your day

• Reserve a beach bed by the pool or cabana on the beach so you can sleep late and still enjoy your favorite spot

• Bring a forgotten book, sunglasses or sunscreen from your suite

• Book a snorkel trip, arrange a tee time, schedule a tennis lesson, organize a horseback ride or reserve a car and driver to show you the island

• Arrange a pre dinner cocktail party or appetizers to enjoy while you shower and change

• Reserve one of the best tables for dinner at a popular restaurant, on property or off

• Cater a romantic candlelight dinner for two in your suite or pop the cork on a bottle of champagne to celebrate your day

• Draw a bubble bath with candles and aromatic oils for a relaxing and romantic night in

• Arrange something special to celebrate an anniversary or birthday

At a family friendly all inclusive Beaches Resort, your butler can do all of the above plus provide a stroller, entertain your kids with a zoo full of towel animals, bring plates of warm chocolate chip cookies, arrange front row seats for the Sesame Street parade, help with kids club logistics and make sure the whole family is pampered and has the time of their lives.

So that all sounds good and you decide to book a butler suite. How much does it cost, how does Sandals butler service work and how much should you tip a butler at Sandals?

Cost will depend on the which Sandals Resort you choose, when you travel, how long you stay and the suite you select, but there are affordable butler suites and extravagant butler suites with costs from about $3-14K for a one week all inclusive stay for two.

Sandals butler service begins long before you arrive at the resort with a personalized preference form covering every aspect of your stay from food and beverage, to preferred activities, special requests and more. At your destination airport the VIP treatment continues and upon arrival at the resort your butler will provide a preprogrammed cell phone and orientation to the resort.

Two or more butlers work as a team to provide service 7 days a week from early morning to late evening and are “on call” as needed. Your butler will also check in several times each day to ensure your needs are met, anything requiring advanced plans is arranged and reservations are coordinated. At the end of your stay your butler will assist with check out, luggage and airport transfers.

At Sandals and Beaches Resorts tips are not allowed but butlers are the exception to that rule and most guests find $20-40 day an appropriate amount. Guests making extensive use of butler services may consider a higher amount and guests that rarely interact with the butler may be comfortable with a nominal tip.

Butler tips may be paid in cash directly to your butler(s) but most Sandals and Beaches guests prefer to add the desired amount of gratuity to their room bill and pay by credit card at checkout. An important note – butler tips may be split evenly or proportionately based on services rendered. And my personal advice from numerous butler experiences – there is absolutely no reason to pay part of your tip up front to secure good service. Your butler wants to please and will work hard to make your trip special and memorable.

So check out the specials and deals, call or email our specialists for advice and help choosing the best Sandals Resort, or book online. Then get out and create your own butler service experience. Once you try it you won’t go back!

As a top Sandals travel agency and specialists in adult only all inclusive vacations, we are often asked “Which is the best Sandals Resort?” and our travel agents usually answer “that depends”. Why? Well let’s take a few examples –

Couple #2 (more on Couple #1 below) is looking for a tropical destination where they can relax and get some sun. She wants to work on her tan by a beautiful pool, but he is worried he’ll be bored. Their budget has been stretched by the wedding so they are hoping to spend $2-3K on a honeymoon including accommodations, meals and drinks. If they can get a room with an oceanview or private pool all the better, but if push comes to shove they’d rather splurge on activities, a spa treatment or perhaps a private beachfront dinner.

The best Sandals Resort for this couple might be Sandals Grande Riviera with its fabulous pools and swim up bars, chic new beach club, and ultra affordable butler village. Complimentary activities at the resort include snorkel trips, golf, rock climbing, scuba diving, sailing, kayaks, tennis and more. Nearby activities include ziplining, swimming with the dolphins, river rafting, ATVs and horseback riding. This adult only all inclusive resort has more than 15 restaurants and starts around $2500 per couple for a 6 night tropical honeymoon including everything you can eat, drink and do at the resort.

Couple #3 is all about the beach. They want a beachfront room just off the sand and a great ocean view. They’d like to walk barefoot on the beach, try stand up paddle boarding, waterski, swim, snorkel, sail and kayak. In the afternoon they’d enjoy a hammock for two or book by the beach and at the end of the day they’d like to dine under the stars near the ocean. Sandals Whitehouse or Sandals Grande St Lucian might be the best resort for this couple and Sandals Emerald Bay has an incredible beach if waterskiing isn’t important and you travel at the right time of year.

Couple #4 wants to go somewhere exotic. They’ve been on a Caribbean cruise which stopped in the Bahamas and Jamaica so they want to try something different. They’re also worried about the weather because their destination wedding is in August and they heard that is hurricane season. They’ve fantasized about Tahiti but don’t think they have the budget for an overwater bungalow on Bora Bora so we’d want to discuss affordable options in the South Pacific such as a Fiji honeymoon. But we might also suggest one of six Sandals Resorts on St Lucia, Grenada, Antigua or Barbados. These islands are farther south and less likely to be affected by tropical storms and hurricanes.

The beautiful island of St Lucia looks a lot like Bora Bora with dramatic mountain peaks called the Pitons and lush tropical rainforest fringed with long stretches of pristine beach. The largely undiscovered island of Grenada has some of the Caribbean’s best beaches plus waterfall hikes and serene, green interior. Antigua adds the opportunity to swim with the rays, picnic on a deserted motu or dance, dine and watch the sun go down from Shirley Heights. And while no Sandals Resort has an overwater bungalow (yet) you’ll find beachfront bungalows and villas with spectacular views and private pools at Sandals La Toc, Sandals Grande Antigua, Sandals La Source and Sandals Grande St Lucian.

Couple #5 is limited on time but wants to be pampered with a few days in the sun. They both enjoy gourmet food and a bit of nightlife, she’s into spas and he’s an avid scuba diver. The best Sandals Resort for this couple might be Sandals Royal Bahamian. There are nonstop flights from many U.S. gateways so travel time is minimal. There are numerous restaurants and foodies enjoy dining options ranging from the elegant Baccarat and Crystal Rooms to an authentic Bahamian restaurant on a private island and wood fired pizzas by the pool. Nightlife at the resort includes a lively pub, theme nights and a piano bar plus there are big name entertainers at Atlantis Resort and several casinos nearby. The Red Lane Spa offers everything from wraps to signature massages to aromatherapy and the Bahamas are known for excellent snorkeling and scuba diving.

So which is the best Sandals Resort? We believe you are Couple #1 and the only couple that matters when planning the perfect honeymoon or adult only all inclusive vacation! With 15 Sandals Resorts on 7 islands and prices from just over $2K all inclusive to more than $10K for a fabulous week in a butler suite with private pool and jacuzzi, there are a lot of choices. Our Sandals Specialists have been to every resort and will help you choose the best resort for you. There is no charge for our services and there are great specials including up to 65% off, free nights, complimentary spa treatments and more. So call, email or book online. We want you to have the BEST Sandals vacation or honeymoon ever!