Sandals

https://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/o-t-lounge/sandals---st-lucia/47527906/

https://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/o-t-lounge/sandals-resorts/19399179/

I've been to the one in Nassau. It was pretty nice.

Did the Grand Bahamian one for our honeymoon 16 years ago. It was fine. It's couples only, so it's not littered with people looking to party. The food was average to slightly above average. Tip the bartenders well first thing everyday and you're golden on drinks all day. Pool was quiet and relaxing. It's perfect for a honeymoon, IMO. But we did a destination wedding that required a LOT of planning and just wanted to get somewhere to relax and decompress for a week.

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the food is no where near the quality they claim it to be

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It actually exceeded my expectations, but I had pretty low expectations. It did seem they tried to make it fancier than it actually was, but I think we only had one or two below average meals the whole week we were there.

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Did the Grand Bahamian one for our honeymoon 16 years ago. It was fine. It's couples only, so it's not littered with people looking to party. The food was average to slightly above average. Tip the bartenders well first thing everyday and you're golden on drinks all day. Pool was quiet and relaxing. It's perfect for a honeymoon, IMO.

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Same here, but ours was 13 years ago. I remember two of the restaurants being great, and the others crap. They encourage you to make reservations at those, and I wish we had just made one for each night at those places. Times didn't matter to us, so it wouldn't have mattered if we ate early or late. We stayed 5 nights.

I just checked the website, Baccarat and Crystal Room are the nicer ones, if you end up going there. There was also one across on the smaller island, but it doesn't look like it is there anymore. I would have said to avoid it. You have to take a boat ride there and back, and you're pretty much stuck there until dinner is over.

The stuff poolside during the day is decent. Just burgers and sandwiches. We took the shuttle into the city a couple of times to look at the duty free shops. Mainly because if I wanted a drink in the room, I didn't want to walk down to a bar to grab one. I think they charged for room service too. Meals and drinks only included if you're at the restaurants.

Not sure if they still do it, but any time we got a tropical drink, they would pour a shot, add in the frozen mix from a machine, then pour more liquor down the straw. If you weren't expecting it, then it might catch you off guard. I didn't mind but my bride didn't want a shot of vodka on her first sip.


ETA: hit submit too soon. This was back in 2003 when we booked for 2004, and went through a travel agent. We were looking at other places as well, and she recommended anything but Sandals, unless we went to the Bahamas. She said if we were doing Jamaica, Mexico, etc there were much better options, but in the Bahamas it is much nicer than the others. Not sure if that is still the case.

We went to sandals la toc in St Lucia. The room was great, we had a 2nd story balcony right on the water away from the pool so it was quiet.

Swim up bar was awesome, but the mixed drinks aren't strong so just ask them for an extra shot.

Food was hit or miss. The buffet breakfast and lunch was great. Egg station, smoked salmon, etc. The English pub had great wings. Steaks at any place will be thin cuts and not worth it.

Activities are included too, so paddle boarding, etc. They will have group competitions throughout each day too. Pool volleyball, sand relay games, even one where we kayak raced in the pool.

Wherever you go, there will be outside excursions as well that make it fun. We met and hung out with 2 other couples that went with us on 2 outside excursions that were fun.

All in all, we had a great time. It's nowhere near the negative things you hear about it on this board.

I've been twice. Went to the Royal Bahamian in 2002 for my honeymoon. Went to Exuma a couple of years ago.

I like them a lot. No kids is a huge plus for me. The first time we kept to ourselves and the second time we ended up meeting a bunch of different couples wee partied with the whole week.

My favorite part is the absolutely no tipping policy. Somebody said something about tipping on the first day but that isn't right. Unless it's changed, employees are fired if caught taking tips. It's nice not having to keep track of money.

Food is okay. It's not fine dining, although some of the reservation restaurants were pretty good. Breakfast is always good. Burgers and pizzas are fine for lunch for me.

Activities are free. Snorkeling was great at both locations. I got resort certified for diving on the first trip and that was cool. I stay away from all of the "fun" classes and events. I think the only thing I've had to pay for was the spa/massage.

Overall it's a fine place where I step on the property and don't have to worry about much. I'm sure there are better places and I've stayed at worse.

Went to Sandals in Negril Jamaica last year. Had a great time other than the locals trying to sell you drugs/hats/necklaces and other shite every 10 min on the beach.

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Had a great time other than the locals trying to sell you drugs/hats/necklaces and other shite every 10 min on the beach.

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There was some of that in the Bahamas as well. Not so much at the beach/resort, but at the Straw Market. We were walking around and I picked up this hand carved wooden pipe, and this kid, couldn't have been more than 13-14, hounded me for 5 minutes trying to sell me weed.

I bought some cigars on the beach at the resort, and the lady selling them said if I needed anything stronger to let her know. Nothing more than that.