I have never stayed at an "All Inclusive" Resort and the pictures from Sandals look appealing. I would love to hear your experiences at the different "ai" resorts in the Caribbean, as well as your favorite Sandals resort. I want beautiful beaches and clear waters, but also great pools and restaurants. <BR> <BR>Thanks!!!

We have stayed at many all-inclusives in the Caribbean (Couples, Breezes, Club Med), but just stayed at our first Sandals last June, and it was definitely the best AI of them all. We went to the Golf & Spa Resort on St. Lucia. Great pools, great food, very nice rooms. The staff is very helpful and the activities were more than enough. The beach is nice, but certainly not the best we've seen - good enough for sitting on a lounge chair or a quick dip, but St. Lucia is not know for its beaches. Great pools, falls, jacuzzi's and swim-up bars! <BR> <BR>From the research I did, it sounds like St. Lucia G&S and Royal Bahamian are the best Sandals properties. You won't be disappointed!

Well if you have all day i can talk to you forever on the Sandals resorts we have been to, but I will make it short. <BR>We have been to Sandals negril, The Royal Bahamian , Dunns River and visited <BR>a couple of others in Jamaica. Our favorite was Sandals Negril, the beach is awsome and the staff is great. The food was very good and the drinks never ending. We walked down the beach to Beaches on a few occasions for lunch and you have the same privelges there as any of the other Sandals resorts. The resort is a great place to R&R and veg in the sun. The resort also has alot of activites you can get involved in during the day if thats what you prefer. It is a laid back do as you please kind of resort. We will be back their next feb1 <BR>The Royal Bahamian Resort in Nassau was also a beautiful resort. The weather was not as hot as in Jamaica but we went in Feb so that was expected. The resort itself is very beautiful and the pools are quite large and spacious. The food was also very good service alittle slow but overall a great resort also. The private islands at both resorts are a nice place to get away from the crowd and spend quite time together. My daughter is getting married at the Royal Bahamian on May 5,2001 thats how much we liked it. We did alot of outside excursion while at the Royal Bahamian <BR>we swam with the dolphins, did a dinner cruise, visited Atlantis (A MUST), gambled, and took a horse & buggy ride through town, did some shopping at the straw market a few times. If you are looking for beautiful beach Negril has that it is 7 miles long you can walk forever! We will be leaving for Sandals St. Lucia on Feb 25. Email me if you want more information!

We just returned from Sandals Halcyon in St. Lucia and LOVED it. We don't have one complaint about the whole trip. It was wonderful, food was great, staff was excellent, resort was lovely, entertainment was excellent...oh I could go on. Email me if you want further details. We did go to Sandals St. Lucia and it too was great but we liked Halcyon because it was smaller and more intimate. We had never done an all inclusive before but after our Sandals experience "we will only go sandals!"

We've stayed at Sandals Antigua and Montego Bay - had lots of fun at both places (although would not recommend Montego Bay only because it is very close to the airport and you're subjected to a lot of loud jets taking on and off during the day - funny though, you get used to it and everyone waives to the planes taking off!) otherwise would recommnd any Sandals property - but it is considered by some to be on the expensive side compared to other AI's in the Caribbean. We felt the price was worth it considering food and alcohol were included (as they say, the more you drink the more you save!) and Sandals delivers what it promises - a carefree adults only vacation experience (nice not to be "nickeled and dimed" every time you turn around) with lots of optional activities, fairly good-to-very good food in all of their resturants with excellent, organized staff personnel on beautifully appointed and maintained properties. It's also nice to take advantage of the shared amenities and resturants if your Sandals offers a complementary shuttle service between them (depending on location). If luxury room appointments (found in 4-star hotels like a Ritz Carlton) are important to you, you may be a bit disappointed at the accomodation standards in the older properties in Jamacia and Antigua, some of the Sandals properties are older than others in the chain and take that into account when you select - the "newer" the better. Just so happens that Sandals made the "cut" to be included in Conde Nast's 2001 Gold List: Sandals Dunns River - Jamaica at 72.3, Negril Beach - Jamaica at 70.4, the newer Royal Bahamian in the Bahamas is rated at 78.7. All in all, Sandals is a very "social" atomosphere, if you're looking to be pampered and secluded, this AI may not be the ticket. If you're looking for a fun group of people from all different walks of life, well, everyone we met during our stays were having a great time. I would recommend that you splurge on a "Suite level" accomodation, we thought it was worth it. Enjoy.

I've stayed at Sandals Ocho Rios. It was an fantastic experience.

Hi Several couples are planning a winter vacation to Sandals Ocho Rios. The guys are interested in the golf and everything we've heard about the resort is great. Can you give us your comments on accomodation, food, service, beaches and the golf Thanks very much, <BR>Steve

To Steve...Ocho Rios Query..I would recommend Sandals Ocho Rios..was there in 93...and as I recall it was very lush/tropical/garden type of place. Beach isn't very long (at least it's not as long as Sandals Negril) but it was fine. I too took my golf clubs anticipating the chance to play..upon check in they offered to stow them in the lobby storage area so as not to be in the way in the room..so that's where they stayed...ALL WEEK...I was too busy snorkeling/taking the resort Scuba course/ and drinking to even think about golf.

I have been to 5 different Sandals and Negril, Jamaica is by far the BEST! The staff, service, food and everything is awesome! We were just back again at Sandals Negril in January 2001 and it is better than ever - and the Spa is to die for!

DO NOT STAY AT Sandals INN in Jamaica. We arrived there for our honeymoon because we santed a quieter, less resorty hotel. The rooms were run down and disgusting. The beach is actually a small strip of sand and is accross the street. THe beach is also public. Also, to do ANY activities or water sports you have to go to another Sandals (about 10 minutes away by their shuttle). We stayed there for about four hours before being transferred to the Sandals Montego Bay. Much better but I don't think it was worth the price. Everything was older and the scuba diving was horrible... dead coral.

I just read that the Beaches Royal Plantation in Ochos Rios was awarded the AAA 5-Diamond Award.

<BR>Karen<BR><BR>Saw your email at fodors. What islands do you consider to have the best beaches and all around atmosphere without being too crowded.

ok, Im back again last time I posted we had not yet been to Sandals St.Lucia. We loved it there. The resort is beautiful the food great and we had the best 25th anniversary we could have had doing a Sunset Cruise. We will be back there if not in Feb 2002 next Feb for sure. We are Sandals people 100%. Email if you would like or have ?'s.

We have been to several Sandals: Halycon, Antigua, Royal, MoBay, Negril and Bahamas as well as Beaches Turks and Caicos.<BR><BR>Our favorites are Antigua and NEgril but have to say, we too really enjoyed Turks if nothing else then for the beach alone.<BR><BR>Negril is the most tropical, Antiuga the most romantic and beautiful.<BR><BR>We have also been to other all-inclusives and we personally really love traveling that way. We do not have a care in the world, love not having to make any decisions or carry any money, have all tahe water sports and food we want and particularily with SAndals, like the fact that if we are staying near another SAndals, we can use that resort as well so we get alot for our money.<BR><BR>Grand Lido Negril is a resort we also really enjoyed. It is a step up from Sandals - more luxurious in every way, not the party atmopshere, more refined.

We are planning on going to Halycon Sandals in February. Can anyone recommend a good travel agent or should I just pull someone out of the yellow pages. I got rates from Sandals directly but want to see if I can get cheaper.<BR><BR>Thanks.

I have a very good travel agent whom is very knowledgable of Sandals. Her name is Cindy 219-924-6066.

Jsaon at Twinsburg is who we always use for Sandals. ww.twinsburgtravel.com

Try www.wiredflyer.com<BR>Look over the site, then click on Agent Locator. All are experts in All Inclusive Travel to Mexico and the Caribbean.

I have been to both sandals in st. lucia, beaches Turks @ caicos, sandals and beaches in negril, jamaica, and sandals royal bahamian. My favorite is turks and caicos. the water is fantastic. great snorkeling right up the beach. In terms of the quality of sandals, I cannot complain about anything. the food and drinks are always great, as are the accommodations. I have been disappointed with other ai's when comparing them to sandals. You should have a wonderful time there!

Denise! I was so happy to see in your post that your favorite sandals/beaches was Turks... we are going for our honeymoon in the spring and had such a difficult time in trying to decide which one to go to.. how was the evening entertainment at Turks? anything we shouldn't miss? Thanks in advance!