cj

How are the sandals resorts really? I know a lot of people on this board hate them but I recently saw some commercials and they looked nice to me (though I know that is just advertising). What are people's main beefs with Sandals?

Nancy

CJ,<BR>Although you'll hear all kinds of reasons why people love them or hate them, it seems to me that most people who have traveled the Caribbean widely (myself included) feel that the problem with Sandals is that it is not a good value for the money.<BR>For what you pay to stay there, you can go to a top of the line resort with first class amenities and food. <BR>Also, I am just not a fan of AI's in general as I feel they inhibit the potential to get out and to know the island, the people, the food and culture - not to say everyone wants to do that - but it is a big part of my &quot;island experience.&quot;<BR>Just because I find Sandals to be a lot of things I won't post here, does not mean it doesn't fill an obvious need for a particular category of Caribbean traveler. It definitely does.<BR>It's all in what you are looking for, and for many people, Sandals fits that need perfectly.

Jack

I certainly respect the fact that people's taste in vacations and what makes them enjoyable, as with everything else, varies from person to person.<BR>Lots of people like Sandals because it's 'one stop shopping'. You check in and everyhting's right there. Easy. No hassle. Don't bother with itemizing all the charges, etc.<BR><BR>I'm just not one of those people.<BR>I love independence. <BR>On vacation I want to mix relaxation with exploration. I like planning all the details of a trip in advance, to somewhere I've never been, then go 'live the adventure'.<BR><BR>I want to eat at a variety of restaurants. I don't want to feel restricted and tied down to one resort and its eateries.<BR><BR>I also save quite a bit of money for vacations and I like the best. I'm picky about accommodations and service, and AI's don't live up to my (admittedly higher than most) demands. And while some AI's have pretty decent accomm's and food, none of them are world class.<BR><BR>Personality wise, I like to be an individual. I don't drive common cars, don't buy clothes identical to everyone else's and generally don't want to live a cookie cutter life.<BR><BR>Those are the main reasons I'm not a Sandals person.<BR><BR>BTW, those TV ads are pretty heavy handed and overdone IMO. They distort reality (as most good ads tend to do).<BR>

hmmm

Jack and Nancy. You both made good points. If you are both single sounds like you would be very compatible. Just a thought.

Antoinette

With two teenagers I am all for an all inclusive vacation and have been to the Beaches (Sandals affiliate) resort in Turks and Caicos as well as to the Radisson Cable Beach all inclusive plan in the Bahamas. The Beaches/Sandals vacation is simply not worth the money. Sandals/Beaches gives new meaning to the phrase &quot;creative advertising.&quot; The plunge pools at T&amp;C were tiny and filthy (think green slime), the beach narrow and crowded, and the so-call free scuba a joke (nine slots daily for a resort that holds about 2,000 people). If you have kids under the age of 13 you can forget about the gourmet adults only restaurants. Not that it mattered- while they served &quot;fancy&quot; type food (rabbit was on the menu one night we were there) like filet mignon and crab legs, it was with a quantity over quality mentality. To boot, water is not included as a beverage in the all inclusive plan, so be prepared to pay $1 a bottle unless you are in a concerige suite (which costs even more big bucks). In comparison, the Radisson Cable Beach has fewer restaurants, but much better quality food, usable water sports equiptment, friendly service and staff, true top shelf liquor (Grey Goose vodka vs. Absolute at Beaches)- all at a much lower price. You hit the nail on the head when you say that you know that it &quot;is just advertising.&quot; I can't believe such false advertising is legal in this country. Buyer beware when it comes to Sandals/Beaches.

curious

Well, as long as we're having a nasty debate, why not throw Atlantis into the discussion.<BR><BR>Is there a correlation between people who like Sandals and people who like Atlantis?<BR><BR>Nancy?<BR>Jack?<BR>Antoinette?

Nancy

Curious,<BR>Actually, I thought people were doing a pretty good job of just answering the question with their views and not getting nasty.<BR>I would not stay at either one, but I would say that people who really love Sandals would be more likely to also enjoy Atlantis - but that's just my opinion, and not based on anything other than that.<BR>btw, hmmm, I am happily married to someone who enjoys travel in the Caribbean as much as I do, but Jack does sound like an interesting guy. I'm sure he also has someone he enjoys his travels with ;&gt;

Kathleen

For once there is a calm, informative post regarding Sandals without any name calling. The statements have been presented in an intelligent and polite manner. I did not see one nasty post, so Curious, please keep it that way. If you have a point to make, please make it, in a polite manner. But do not try to turn this ugly by trying to make this into something nasty as there are enough of that here. I was actually enjoying this post.

cj

I didn't mean to start anything. But I did get some good answers. I think I will pass on Sandals...<BR><BR>Thanks!

xxx

I stayed at Beaches in T&amp;C on a 2 for one price. We were glad it was on a special cause if we had paid the normal fee, per person, we both felt it would not have been worth it. This is all I can say about Beaches. True a tiny beach, there were some pools that were nice. The food so-so. Many, kids.

sue

maybe a better question would be to the people who have stayed at Sandals properties if it lived up to the ads and hype. Don't rely on guesses and people who THINK they won't enjoy them. When considering any resort I want to hear from folks who have experienced it not from someone who prefers to toot their own horn about their sophiciated travels and putting &quot;Sandals people&quot; off like a bad hair day!

John

Check out www.tropictravelonline.com<BR><BR>Sandals must be doing something right.

Dave

I happen to like Sandals also. Never felt that I had to stay on the resort. They refer you to tours, each has a tour desk. One thing I find that I like about Sandals is the SCUBA guest certification. I have been able to use this several times and it's included. SCUBA is usually a pretty expensive add-on.

Jack

Thanks for the kind sentiments, hmmm and Nancy. (I was actually expecting to be attacked for stating my opinion as I did).<BR>I'm 14 years married and have the good fortune to have 8 weeks vacation and a great job which is insulated from economic fluctuations (and believe me, I appreciate this as I watch friends suffering of late).<BR>There are very few things in life I enjoy as much as travel. I've collected a wonderful array of memories in the Caribbean and 4 other continents. Someday I'd love to take my entire office staff on a paid vacation to Hawaii or the Caribbean. Most of them will never have the opportunity to go on their own. If the stock market will behave, that's still a possibility since I'm only 41.

jennifer

I've only been to the sandals halycon in st. lucia, but really enjoyed it. i thought the food was excellent. the advertising did look much better than it actually was, but i still thought it was a beautiful resort.

John

Everyone really does have their own opinion. I have stayed at several Sandals resorts as well as a number of non-AI's. Antigua was a tropical paradise for us. We also enjoyed Jamaica. The Bahama's offered a nice of-shore island, but that was about it. We couldn't wait to get back to the airport in St. Lucia. I think you need to stay there before you can express an opinion. I know so many people that have said when they go to Mexico they drink only beer so that they don't get sick from the ice, etc. We've never been there and I would never dream of passing judgement on Mexico because of it or elude to why I've never been there. As far as value goes, I think it depends on a number of factors. We have spent more money on vacations that we have enjoyed less. The biggest misconception that people have about AI's is that people don't get out and experience the island. Not true. I, along with many others, use it as a base of operations only. In Jamaica, we went to Dunn's River, Rose Hall Great House,horse back riding, rafting etc. My wife has shopped till she has dropped on every island as well as all the sightseeing we have done. So, why do a Sandals even? We enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, waterskiing, kayaking, the swim up bars, and when we're on vacation, we enjoy our cocktails in the evening and the fun we've found inside the resorts. Additionally, we have made friends from all over the country that we have stayed in contact with over the years. We've never done that any place else.

itwasworthitforme

I honeymooned at Sandals Antigua not long ago and not doing much research until after I booked (like a fool, trusting a TA), I started to worry once I read many reviews. This is the only Sandals I have visited and we really enjoyed it. It actually did look like the brochures and advertisements. Although, I wouldn't visit any other Sandals resorts (except for MAYBE Negril). After reading many reivews it seems to me that the resorts in Jamaica are hit or miss (Couples resorts appeal more to me). I personally wouldn't be interested in St. Lucia because I am a big beach person. <BR><BR>Overall, we would return to Sandals Antigua. We liked the island and the resort was great. But if going elsewhere, I'd take my money somewhere worth it!

martin

I think that the quality of sandals resorts is variable.<BR><BR>We stayed at Sandals Royal Hicacos, Varadero and it was SUPERB!<BR><BR>However I beleive that some of the other Sandals resorts are not up to that standard.<BR><BR>Do some research and make up your own mind. Be careful of thos people who are opposed to AI resorts in principle as they have probably not been!<BR><BR>Everyone's idea of a perfect holiday (vacation) is different so make up your own mind what will suit you!<BR><BR>Enjoy wherever you choose!<BR><BR>Regards<BR>Martin

tom

We recently returned from Sandals Grande St Lucian and LOVED it. It was a new, private beautiful resort. We got a great price and felt we got our moneys worth. I'd like to add, however, that the food was good but not exceptional, but that was fine with us. We've had better food, though, at all inclusives. This was our first time to a Sandals, and like I said, went because of the great deal and we desperately needed a getaway. It was right after the photo shoot, however, so maybe they were having a good week after the terrible week.

liza

I've stayed at Sandals MoBay...I think it was in 1989 or thereabouts. It was my second Caribbean experience (the first having been Club Med in St. Lucia). We loved it after CM...much better beach, rooms, we also did the scuba resort course and that was a first so fun.<BR><BR>All that bugged me (and what has kept me from staying at Sandals or any AI again) is that we paid considerably more than we would have for a &quot;regular&quot; hotel but much of what we wanted was NOT included. Tours was a biggie...we never left the property at Sandals partially because it's near the airport and not such a great area to walk around and partly because tours were costly and we felt we'd already paid for food and drink and didn't really want to pay MORE being out and about.<BR><BR>I felt rather like I had missed something big...it took several years and a new husband who knew Jamaica well to get me back...that trip was amazing, we stayed in a villa, had a car, explored a lot of the island, I felt FREE.<BR><BR>I have no idea if Sandals is more or less fancy than other AIs...I just dislike the way it works for our style...no judgement on people who like resort vacations!