For honeymoon, Sandals Dunns River or Sandals Grande St. Lucia?
 

I will be on my honeymoon next summer, and we have decided we would like to try a Sandals. (We figure this is the time to do it!) I have narrowed it down to Sandals Dunn's River in Jamaica or Sandals Grande in St. Lucia. Has anyone been to both? Which did you prefer?
We would be looking for a beautiful pool area, a lovely beach to swim and relax on, good snorkling, and a few fun things to do when we want to leave the resort to explore the island we're on.
Any opinions and recommendations would be appreciated...Thanks!

Neither......Don't waste your money on the Sandals resorts, their brochures look nice but are not representative of what life is really like at Sandals. Do some research and take a look at the postings from readers of this site. Especially check out the "Beaches BEWARE" thread on this page. It will give you a good idea of how things are. I have heard so many horror stories about these properties that I would never go. Each of my freinds that have honeymooned there have not had good things to say.

I really appreciate your reply, but my fiance and I know several people who loved Sandals for their honeymoon. I know it's personal preference, and there are forums on here from people who hate Sandals, as well as people who love Sandals. It certainly seems to be a love or hate thing with Sandals. Have you been to either of these properties?

any opinions from anyone who's been to both?

We spent a week at Sandals in Antiqua this past February and loved every minute of it. We were there on Valentines Day and there were 7 weddings on that day alone. If it were so bad, I would wonder why so many chose that resort. We have been all over the Caribbean and this was the first time we tried a Sandals. We are now planning to go to a Sandals on St. Lucia next February. Any questions you can email us at [email protected]

We are a couple in our late 20s. We visited Sandals Grande in August, and although we had great weather, the rooms were marginal, the food was AWFUL, and the party games left much to be desired. We are from NYC, so I recognize that we are pickier with food due to the abundance of choices we are used to, but I would NOT honeymoon here. If you want to be sick to your stomach for 2 days,pay $8 a package for CHips Ahoy to live off of for your stay and deal with mgt that really couldn't care whether you came back or not, go to Sandals. Otherwise, try Le Sport or Jalousie.

I have never been to an all inclusive,
closest I guess would be a cruise ship. Friends went to Sandals Bahamas $5000.00 and were so disappointed with almost every part of the vacation. But I think you are right everyone has different opinions. It may be that these properties may be more popular with a younger honeymoon crowd and not an older experienced traveler. I have heard good things about the Sandals in St Lucia.

Not that you'll like my response either but I did stay at the Sandals Dunns River and did not like it. Thank God we didn't have to pay for it.

If I had to stay at another Sandals (would have to be free again) in Jamaica I would stay at the one in Ocho Rios.

We took the shuttle there for dinner a couple of times and it was much better.

take it back. Even if it was free I wouldn't go because I wouldn't want to waste my vacation time off work.

If you are set on St. Lucia....Jalousie Hilton was beautiful...stayed in a Villa suite with it's
own swimming pool........

I also heard Ladera was nice......
Do not know about Sandals

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but you will find as many that like Sandals as those that don't. We are one those that do. We have been going since 1989 (14 stays) and have seen a lot of changes - mostly for the better, some for the worse. But we prefer Sandals to the other resorts because they, for the most part, treat repeat guests great, rewarding them with many incentives. The staff is friendlier, personalable and more helpful, IMHO, than the other resorts. We have had mostly great experiences with Sandals. To each his own.