Adult only, all-inclusive Sandals Resorts are perfect for a destination wedding and a free wedding package comes with a three night stay at any Sandals Resort. So how do you plan a wedding at Sandals?

3 nights + 2 people = a free wedding at Sandals and everything you need is included. That means ceremony, bridal bouquet, boutonniere, music, photo, wedding cake and cocktail reception. Want a wedding web site and honeymoon registry? Included. Want to customize your wedding or add extras? No problem mon and stays of 6 nights or longer and wedding groups earn extra perks. So how do you start planning a wedding at Sandals?

Start with the wedding

• Go to Sandals site
• Click “Wedding and Honeymoons”
• Click “Look Books” for inspiration from eight beautiful themes
• Select colors, flowers, table decorations and extras
• Choose the quantity you would like
• The cost will be displayed.

When you’ve made your selections your total wedding cost is calculated.  And here’s a super cool feature! Play around to your heart’s content mixing elements from one theme with another. If your fantasy wedding doesn’t fit your oh so real life budget, go back and add or delete items.  You’re online so no stress, no sales pitch, just the information you need to plan a wedding at Sandals. Told you it was a cool feature!

Start with the honeymoon

With 17 Sandals Resorts there are choices to fit almost every honeymoon budget starting from about $1000 for two people staying 3 nights all inclusive. And remember, that includes a free wedding package! Totem Travel is a Sandals and Beaches Preferred Agency and certified Sandals Wedding Specialist. We’ve been to all the resorts and would love to help you choose the best all-inclusive resort, select the perfect room, find the best deal and create the wedding and honeymoon of your dreams.

Start with a Sandals Wedding Specialist

If you have questions about how to plan a wedding at Sandals Resorts and want help from an expert just call or email. Our Sandals Wedding Specialists are trained and certified by Sandals and all our services are free. The Sandals Specialists at Totem Travel have been to all the resorts, seen the wedding and reception set ups and can help with everything from resort and room selection to reserving your wedding, keeping you on track for documents and escalating to resolve challenges.

If you’re planning a destination wedding group, your Sandals Wedding Specialist will make sure you get all the bells and whistles you deserve like free rooms, upgrades and complimentary private functions. We’ll also act as a single point of contact for your guests, making reservations, answering questions and keeping you up to date as the group comes together.

OK I’m ready! What do I do next?

• When you are ready to plan your wedding make a reservation at any Sandals Resort
• Reserve a wedding date and time
• Send out save the date cards, set up a wedding website or use social media to let everyone know your plans
• Turn your wedding plans into a dream wedding come true!

Once your honeymoon and wedding time and date is reserved you’ll be assigned a pre wedding travel planner to help with everything you need before arrival. Once at the resort, you will meet with your onsite planner who will act as your personal wedding planner and make your special day and the moments leading up to it a breeze!

So call or email the Sandals Specialists at Totem Travel.  We have been recognized as one of Sandals top travel agencies in North America for more than a decade. We’ve been to all the resorts, do this every day and LOVE to help couples plan their wedding at Sandals whether for 2 or 200. Call us!

P.S. Sandals all-inclusive resorts are for adults but if you want to have children at their wedding no worries!  Beaches Resorts are for everyone and offer the same wedding options and easy planning process.

Honeymoon couples and fans of all-inclusive resorts frequently ask “Should I upgrade my room at Sandals? and “What do I get in an upgraded room?”.  With prices from $300 to more than $2300 night, a good answer depends on many factors but two things are crystal clear.

• An upgraded room will cost more. The days of free upgrades are over!
• You’ll get additional services at Club Level and Butler Level

What you may get with a room upgrade at a Sandals Resort

• Better location and view
• Special features like soaking tub, private pool or swim out room
• More space and lavish bathroom

This is where details matter because each resort is different. As a Preferred Sandals Agency we know all the resorts well and recognize that each couple has a unique wish list and budget. We also understand it can be overwhelming to choose the best vacation or honeymoon with 16 resorts on 7 islands and a zillion room categories. Which brings us back to room upgrades!

Let’s go through a few scenarios –

Couple #1  – You’ve narrowed your search and fallen in love with Sandals South Coast in Jamaica.   Fantastic choice!  You want a room with a nice ocean view and balcony. At this resort, you can get both in an entry level room.  Cool!  So now you ask, is it worth it to upgrade to Club Level?   Club Level rooms have an in room bar stocked with beer, wine and four full bottles of liquor. Plus Club Level rooms at Sandals South Coast offer room service from 7am to 10pm.

Your ocean view standard room would not have room service or alcohol in the room.  So if you would enjoy a glass of wine while getting ready for dinner or having breakfast served on your balcony, then spending an extra $100-$240 per night for those amenities would be worth the cost and add value to your vacation. That same upgrade could include a whirlpool bathtub and lavish bathroom.

Couple #2  – You’ve chosen Sandals largest resort, Sandals Ochi, because you like the huge variety of dining options and lively environment.  You’re leaning toward a Riviera Beachfront Club Room which is beachfront, gives you club amenities and has an ocean view but then you start thinking about butler service and how nice it would be to be pampered throughout your stay. The upgrade to butler doesn’t cost much so you’re thinking, personalized butler service without breaking the bank…. sign me up!

But slow down partner. Most of the butler suites at Ochi aren’t beachfront, they are nestled on the hillside far from the beach and don’t have an ocean view.   Now you must choose between seeing the ocean from your balcony in a busy part of the resort or having a quiet secluded environment with personal butlers to wait on you hand and foot. It’s your call, but if it’s your honeymoon, we say go for the pampering and make this special occasion an unforgettable experience! All the butler villas come with a private or semi private pool!

Couple #3 – St Lucia is your chosen destination and the standard rooms near the beach are really affordable. Your fiancée spotted a photo of a suite with private pool overlooking the ocean and hinted that the Millionaire’s Suite sounds nice. Does anyone really spend that kind of money???  Is it worth it to upgrade your room?

Well… (you know the answer) It depends! If there are lots of zeros in your bank account or grandma has offered to pay for the honeymoon of course it is worth it! Total privacy, private pool, private Jacuzzi, spectacular ocean view and a butler. But the Millionaires Suite is high up a hill and far from the beach. So if the more affordable rooms fit your budget better perhaps a Club Level Beachfront Room with Tranquility Soaking Tub would be the right upgrade and compromise.

The Sandals Specialists at Totem Travel know all the Sandals Resorts and rooms really well. We go back every year and have stayed in standard rooms, Club Level Rooms, Butler Suites, even the Millionaire’s Suite. So if you have questions and would like expert guidance at no extra cost please call or email. We’d love to help you choose the best Sandals Resort for your next vacation!

2018 will be an exciting year with big changes coming to Sandals Resorts. The award winning Sandals Specialists at Totem Travel have been to all of the Sandals and Beaches Resorts and after recent visits to Jamaica, Barbados, Turks and Caicos, Grenada and Exuma we are excited about the upgrades and innovations we saw. Major developments to consider when choosing the best destination for your honeymoon, wedding or adult all inclusive vacation include –

• Sandals newest resort, Sandals Royal Barbados, opens with Sandals first rooftop pool, jacuzzi and bar. Royal Barbados will also have Sandals first bowling alley aptly called Lovers’ Lane and a gentlemen’s only barber shop.
• A favorite resort, Sandals Grande Antigua, reopens on one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful white sand beaches.
• Overwater bungalows at 3 resorts on 2 islands will be ready for romantic honeymoons and luxurious vacations. Plus Sandals opened its first ever overwater bar and overwater wedding venue with more to come!
• An all new destination wedding program replaces Sandals’ free Beautiful Beginnings wedding and $1500 gift with a la carte customizable Aisle to Isle themes, Bells and Whistles.
• Major enhancements, renovations and rooms debut at Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals South Coast and Sandals Halcyon. Look for swim up suites, beachfront private pools and overwater bungalows.

More changes include

• New restaurants at many Sandals Resorts
• Streamlined military, fire fighter and police discount program
• New scuba and snuba watersports offerings
• Relaxed dress code – dress jeans, collarless shirts and dress sandals allowed in fine dining restaurants.
• Discounted insurance when bundled with airfare.
• Changes to Signature Guest and on site Loyalty offers (P.S. always good but not always the best deal)
• Expanded resort hopping options
• More tour and off site excursions

What hasn’t changed?

• Sandals remains adult only, couples only and ultra all inclusive
• Sandals remains “best in class” with more inclusions and choices than other adult only resorts like Secrets, Excellence, Couples and more.

For more information or help choosing the best Sandals Resort for your honeymoon or adult only all inclusive vacation we hope you will call, email or come meet us at the Seattle Wedding Show January 13-14. We’d love to help!

I just got back from the newly renovated Sandals Montego Bay “Couples Only” all inclusive resort.  MoBay is Sandals’ flagship property and has remained extremely popular with the highest repeat rate of all 16 Sandals Resorts. Now, after major renovation, the resort has a whole new look and as you take your first step out of the airport shuttle your eyes are immediately drawn through the completely redesigned lobby to the turquoise Caribbean Sea that sparkles in the distance.  Wow!

How does three sexy river pools in three different buildings with swim up suites (all oceanfront or with an ocean view) sound?   Suites with soaking tubs on their private balcony, all luxurious and NEW! The last of the renovations are scheduled to be completed in early 2018, leaving almost every room category in the resort looking fabulous and a great choice.

Guests at Sandals Montego Bay can also dine and play at nearby Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals Inn. New at Royal Caribbean are the crème de crème of posh accommodations, the over water bungalows.  So much newness to experience at these two resorts in Jamaica and yet the updates don’t stop there.  Sandals South Coast, a longtime favorite of ours in the office, has also renovated a good portion of their accommodations and has added a guest favorite, the overwater bar.  And with the over water bungalows positioned in the shape of a heart this resort will be tough be beat, as South Coast has it all!

Back to the updates at Sandals Montego Bay!  Here is the scoop.

The lobby has been completely redone.  Much like knocking down walls in a house, this common area now has a very open concept, allowing you spectacular views of the beautiful Caribbean from any comfortable sofa or oversized chair.  The lobby has even been renamed and is now referred to as the “living room”.  There is a small stage with big screen where they feature slide shows, and live music on certain days. One of the new focal points in the “living room” is the new bar which leads you to a nice patio area with sexy fire pits and more comfortable sofas with a front row view of the sparkling Caribbean.  The Snap Shots photo shop and Loyalty Desk are also part of the new living room as well as the Island Routes Desk where you can reserve fun off resort activities.

To one side of the lobby, you have the newly renovated Almond Building which offers all oceanfront suites featuring balconies with majestic ocean views and your own private tranquility soaking tub. The bathrooms are nicely appointed with a large walk in shower and double vanity sinks surrounded by quartz countertops. These suites have a walk in closet versus your standard closet, so plenty of space for storage.  At the far end, you have private new swim out rooms and your own lagoon pool to grab a dip from your balcony.  You have many big mega resorts with swim up rooms, but few are oceanfront!!

Near the Almonds building is the newly renovated Wedding Chapel which is one of a kind to find a chapel on a resort. And behind the chapel are the two lighted tennis courts which have obviously been resurfaced during the renovation as well.

On the other side of the resort is where you have the newly renovated Palms Building (one of my favorites) which has everything from top floor one bedroom butler suites overlooking the main beach and sea to spacious and modern club level suites also with a nice balcony, tub and view.

There is also a new beachfront butler building complete with lavish suites and another sexy lagoon pool.   And due to be completed a bit later in the year is the NEW Seagrapes Building featuring a lagoon pool with swim up butler suites on the main level and luxury/standard rooms located on floors two and three.  Now you can get a nice suite without having to pay club and butler level prices!!!  Sandals Montego Bay has new luxurious rooms at all price points and service levels.

The Millionaire One Bedroom Butler Suites are still the bomb and the top category right down to the tiny details like decorated with reclaimed wood and a retractable glass wall separating the bedroom from the living room. And the spa inspired bath…….to die for!

With all the changes going on at Sandals, we are often asked if upgrading room categories is worth it.  This question is worth a separate blog post so look for the answer to that question in the following weeks.  In the meantime, we love selling Sandals Resorts, know the properties well from personal experience and enjoy sharing our knowledge with our clients who are planning a special “adult only” All Inclusive vacation.  Call us 1-800-321-7907 or email us.  We are happy to help and share our excitement with you.

Sandals Emerald Bay “Couples Only” All Inclusive Resort, located on the pristine and quiet island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas, reopened following a brief two month closure due to damage from Hurricane Matthew in early October. In true Sandals fashion, they quickly fixed all damaged areas and took advantage of the unplanned closure to spruce up and enhance the adult only all inclusive resort experience.

New at Sandals Emerald Bay are four more dining options to add to their existing culinary lineup. Emerald Bay now has a Jerk Shack open for lunch so you can enjoy scrumptious jerk pork and chicken right off the Barbie, as you head to the pool or beach. In the evening, Sandals Emerald Bay has added three delicious and diverse A la Carte dining options that will satisfy your palate. Bombay Club featuring flavorful cuisine from India will captivate you with bold and exotic flavors. The new Soy restaurant offers exotic sushi creations and rounding off the additions is the ever popular Kimonos which in addition to tantalizing your appetite, provides delightful entertainment from skillful Chefs who are crafty on the iron.

If you prefer to enjoy a more leisurely meal, Barefoot by the Sea is one of my favorites for a beachfront lunch or dinner and another popular option is Dino’s wood oven pizza which cranks out the ever popular pies by the slice or by the box.  Speaking of pies, the cottage pie at Drunken Duck Pub is absolutely delicious so check that out along with fine dining options at Il Cielo and Le Parisienne when it’s time for an elegant evening.

Current Sandals Resort specials for Emerald Bay include 2 free rounds of golf or unlimited golf depending on your stay and room category, and the 18 hole Greg Norman championship course is one of a kind in the Caribbean with the entire back nine oceanfront!  Sandals Emerald Bay is hosting LPGA events in 2017 and you can catch a glimpse of the fabulous course and favorite golfers on the Golf Channel.

Sandals Emerald Bay wowed us when we attended the grand opening back in February of 2010 and after several more visits it remains one of our favorite adult only all-inclusive resorts. Every room at the resort is Club Level or includes Sandals butler service and you simply can’t beat the white sand beach or clear turquoise waters found in the Bahamas. But this resort will not appeal to those wishing a lot of nightlife and you must be careful about weather patterns when traveling in the northern Caribbean. So please call or email if you have questions about the island, off property tours like swimming with pigs or need help choosing the best Sandals Resort for your honeymoon or all inclusive vacation. Both Linda and I are happy to help at no extra cost!