Diverse opinions on Sandals Antigua
 

I've been reading various message boards for several months now - this site, Trip Advisor, the Antigua Bound MSN group, the Antigua and Barbuda newsgroup on Geographia and it seems Sandals Antigua is the most schizophrenic resorts of them all. I wonder how people, who I'm assuming here (and I know that's a dangerous thing), have traveled world-wide can have such divergent opinions about the same place. Some people compare it to a Motel 6 - others to the best luxury resorts in the world. I see comments like, "exceptional management" and others saying their room wasn't cleaned for 2 days. I know everything is perception and previous experience, and one makes of an experience what one wants, but geez.... Wonder if anyone else feels like this about this property or Sandals in general? I also wonder if the management of Sandals or pecifically the Manager at Sandals Antigua ever reads any of the comments people make - positive or negative and reacts to them? We're off to SA in 33 days and getting married on the beach. I'm determined to have a good time and take the best attitude possible, but I'm wondering which resort will be waiting there for us - Motel 6 or the Bangkok Mandarin?

First off, at least to some modest extent, the experience is what you make of it. If you are determined to have a great time, you significantly increase the likelihood that you will walk away satisfied.
As for your main question, the issue really boils down to the AI vs. non-AI debate. I'll admit up front that I am not a fan of AI's. And I just can't imagine that there's an AI in the Caribbean that would ever provide the same quality of experience that I can get at my favorite non-AI's. Same reason I don't like buffet food. It's simply not possible to provide mass food and maximal dining enjoyment at the same time.
Reasons I think AI's can't measure up: 1) I like exclusivity. I don't want to be surrounded by hundreds of other people doing the same thing as I am on my getaway vacation and I don't want to share all the facilities. I work hard, make a good living, and want to enjoy great (non-mainstream) vacations as part of the reward.
The 'herd atmosphere' at AI's reminds me a little of those senior citizen bus tours. Gaggles of oldsters being herded around in groups to save the tour company money. Plus I like planning all the details of my vacation and enjoy searching out the unique aspects of a destination. I don't want it to be artificial and pre-packaged feeling.
2) Food will never be as good when prepared for masses of people. Certainly service is impersonal at best.
3) I like to explore on vacation, to try different restaurants, to see places beyond my resort, etc. Not impossible at AI's, but not cost effective or encouraged.
4) Accommodations at 99% of AI's (I'll give the benefit of the doubt that there's an exception out there somewhere) aren't up to the standard of the better resorts I gravitate to. I would like to stay at a resort that's at least close to being as nice as my home (preferably better) to make the experience memorable. AI's tend to skimp on those things. Cheap linens, cheap furniture, etc. That simply doesn't matter to many (most) people. But it does to me.

So even if the rooms at an AI were nice, the management pleasant, the setting beautiful, I STILL wouldn't enjoy an AI as much as I do my independent vacations.
Just my 2 francs.

We prefer AI's when we want a "mindless" vacation for R&R. To that thought, we prefer Sandals to other AI's. We have also done our share of independent travel, which require, to us, more thought and energy. To each his own. You either love AI's or hate 'em.

Excellent points all... I've been to 2 AI's in Puerto Vallarta and were not impressed with either. I've also been a 3 cruises and let me say the food was not the highlite.. :) I guess I like the fact that I don't have to sign for / pay additional for food and drinks, although I do realize that cost is built into the room prices. My questions really centered around Sandals Antigua in particular. Given that past experience, expectations and experiences all play a roll in how people view a particular resort, I'm curious to understand why there is such a polarized view of this one resort - people either had the time of their lives or wouldn't go back if someone paid them. I wonder if the management of Sandals is aware of the feedback and takes any actions. Take a look at tripadvisor.com - there's not alot of grey in the reviews.

Well - in 33 days we'll be on the beach, with our friends and a local official starting the next chapter in our lives and I know I will have the best time in the world.

Hi doyleb,

I do agree with travleis's post, well said.

I do though, disagree it is an all-inclusive verses non-all-inclusive issue with the extreme views with the Sandals resorts. There are many instances that an all-inclusive resort fits the bill for someone's vacation. The problem with Sandals comes in when you have some people paying 5 star and over prices for their Sandals vacation, then expecting 5 star rooms, service and amenities. Bottom line is, some people know when they have been taken advantage of by a company. I have never seen anything like it before.

It has to be mind boggling for you at this point to be reading such extremes in point of views.

I am still fascinated, after a few years of reading reports both positive and negative on all the Sandals resorts. This fascination came about after a less then 24 hr stay at the Sandals Halcyon in St.Lucia, and a short tour of the Regency St.Lucia. In short for us, we were basically price gouged at that Sandals resort.

I came back with the interest in why would anyone stay at resorts like these, when for the same price you can stay at a true 5 star resort, for that matter the Bangkok Mandarin. I truly thought for the price we where paying the service, amenities, and room would reflect that price. Not in our case.

I do feel I have a better understanding after the last few years and these are my own observations of why such extremes in opinions of these resorts.

First, as extreme, as the reviews are, there are the extremes in the price one pays for their Sandals vacation. If you pay one-third of what I have paid and you get upgraded into the same room that I have paid a premium for, there will be a sense on your part of geez, look at what they have done for me! Your a happy camper thinking you've just gotten something for nothing. I'm not, because I've way over paid for that room to begin with!

Second- through Sandals brochures, advertising and carefully construed pictures, and rating system.
When people read...on the Leading Edge of Luxury, World's Most Glamorous, The World's Best, caring staff who perpetually pamper you, a multitude of thoughtful amenities, etc, etc, etc. This truly begins a mind set that these places are going to be just a little bit better (or a lot) then the norm. For some, this will come true and meet their expectations, for others these statements will fall very short of the mark.

I think mainly due to the extremes in consistency of the resorts. Some of the resorts are very old and warn, to the extreme of the Sandals Grande that is only a few years old. I do see a lot of refurbishing that is going on at the different resorts and this is a good thing. But ... sorry is the guest that for the price they have paid expects a really nice room and gets one of the old and warn rooms. Happy is the guest that is lucky to find themselves in one of the updated rooms. Then of course you have the guest that the room is of no importance at all, as long as it is clean. You hear over and over again, no worries, you don't spend much time in your room anyway!

The same goes for the consistency of service. Even with long time guests of Sandals, you will get reports of the lack of consistency you would hope to hear. It is a hit or miss sometimes. Most are willing to forgo the inconsistencies due to their mind set of having a great time, nostalgia, meeting past friends at the resort, etc. You often hear, this went wrong, and that went wrong and this was not great but...WE HAD A GREAT TIME! Sometimes this is all that is important to some. This is a great mind set to have with a Sandals vacation. As ccjc stated that "mindless" vacation.

Big drawl for some in my opinion is the social aspect of these resorts. They just go and have a great time! No expectations!

Sounds like you will have this attitude going in, and with being somewhat forewarned that all may not be as advertised. Your expectations won't be as high. You can go and enjoy! Maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised?

Many guests are going to these resorts pretty much blindly.

If you go with the idea that these resorts are maybe just a step ahead of the wristband al-inclusive, and forgo the thoughts of a 5 star resort, you will be ready to start your new life together on that white sand beach! Just that thought is a great one!

Good luck and Congradulations!

Donna

Donna finished some of the thoughts I started to write down or only implied.

Varied expectations and prior travel experience are likely behind most of the 'discrepancies' you're reading, doyleb.

It's much easier to impress people who haven't been anyplace nicer than Sandals, and such people often have no way of knowing they're not getting good value for their money.
I'd never imply that AI's (Sandals in this case) are simply not good vacation destinations. I will say that after travelling a lot, and staying at a wide variety of places, I simply couldn't spend my money at any AI and feel good about it.
I think the more people learn and experience, the less they view AI's as being a good value. Some people stop 'growing' their travel experiences by locking in to the AI routine and as such they don't know there's anything better. And some people simply want all the conveniences of AI's and don't give a rat's behind about value or food quality.

Those are the main reasons for the discrepancies IMO.

NASCAR, Atlantis, bowling, routine use of recreational drugs, K-Mart, Las Vegas, etc...these are all areas in which you'll find big splits of opinion about value, good taste, desirability etc. There's no right answer, of course. I happen to like LV though I understand and respect people's opinions who don't.
But some topics just didvide groups of people down the middle. AI seems to be one of those topics.

Well, doyleb, I think you found the Perfect Storm - people love to disagree about Sandals and they also disagree a lot about Antigua. Combine the two and the result is utter confusion.

One common thread regarding Antigua is the issue of cleanliness (or lack of it), both at resorts and on the island in general. If you don't expect Austria I'm sure you'll have a good time.

Travel is such a personal thing. When my husband and I were younger (20's, early 30's)we loved Sandals, and I believe it is good value for your money.You really can drink and eat all you want without opening a wallet.My husband drinks the occasional scotch, and the liquors were premium.We never had a problem with the cleanliness of our room, and the staff were always lots of fun. On our last trip to Sandals (St. Lucia)we met a couple getting married there, as well as two other couples who were a lot of fun. Since the couple getting married were there by themselves, we all provided friendship and an audience for the young couple.Sometimes it can get a little "circus-y" if you let it, but you can pick and choose what you participate in, and what you stay away from.I'm sure you will have a wonderful and very picturesque wedding.
All the Best!

We just don't go to AI's but also do independent travel. We have stayed budget and 5 star. We do know the difference between excellent, ok, and bad. Granted, Sandals is no Wyndam or Half Moon, but for our trips to Caribbean (outside of a cruise), it suites and we get what we expect. Sandals treats returnees better than AI's and I have always paid less and gotten 1-3 category upgrades (even Concierge). As far as SA goes, I have also read about as many good as bad reviews on this resort. I don't have a very good opinion on this resort based on these reviews and from what others have told us about it. For ourselves, we don't have a desire to go to SA but would gladly return to any Sandals in St. Lucia or Jamaica. By the way, Sandals is building, from the ground up, a new hotel on the south end of JA, Sandals Whitehall, scheduled to open Nov 2004.

Isn't this pleasant. Several thousand words of pontificating and no one has even addressed, much less answered, the original question.

Bravo to travleis and Donna. Couldn't have said it any better.

What original question wasn't answered?

The main question I saw in this thread was "Wonder if anyone else feels like this about this property..."

Granted, it did then extend to include general comments, but I could have sworn the writer was asking a question about the specific Antigua resort for a specific purpose.

I'll admit that my use of "pontificating" was probably over the top and I withdraw it, but the point still stands. The debate about AI vs non AI appears eternal and unresolvable, but this question is still waiting to be answered, and as it turns out, I'm interested in any relevant opinions myself, as we're thinking about going to SA on our next trip south.

I've been to several Sandals, some non AI resorts specifically in Aruba, and to some places in downtown Kingston, Jamaica and out around Spanish Town that would scare the hell out of any reasonable person. Does any of that matter? Nope... but I'd still like to get some opinions on Sandals Antigua. What I have heard around various boards and from people who have been there seems to indicate that it's a very lush resort, about to undergo or undergoing renovation, with some very aggressive beach vendors. I'd love to hear more.

Gee, dlundgren, sorry to have wasted your time with my initial response, but the original post ALSO asked why the discrepancy in opinions.
I haven't been to SA, but I have travelled enough to have a good idea why there's a discrepancy in opinions about SA. Having never been there, I could be wrong, but since the same issues apply at lots of other AI's I can't imagine that the reasons that SA causes people to have discrepant opinions are all that unique.

Maybe if this post is topped enough times someone will give us a first hand answer.

Again, thank you all for this discussion and your help - it is much appreciated. I didn't intend this to be an 'AI or not to AI, that is the question' kind of discussion, and I guess the only way to find out what Sandals Antigua is all about for ourselves is to get on the plane and go. I found it curious that there are so many different opinions about the same place, but then there are just as many people from different backgrounds that go there I guess. If possible I do want to at least have a chat with the GM at SA when we get there - after the wedding and wedding night that is, and see what his/her responses are to the varied opinions. A place like the PBR in Antigua generally gets good reviews - Sandals Grand in St. Lucia or Ladrea on that island as well, fares similarly. We choose Antigua because of the residency requirements - 1 business days on-island versus 3 in St. Lucia before we could wed there and thought the honeymoon should happen after the wedding not before. :)

Well - again thank you all very much for keeping this thread alive and happy travels to one and all.

Well, good luck and have a great honeymoon... when you're back you can share your new impressions of the resort and the island experience.