All 17 Sandals Resorts Ranked by Internet Reviews - Pixie Vacations

Overview

Presenter: Steve Griswold | Pixie Vacations Source: Aggregated ratings from Google, TripAdvisor, and other review sites Range: All 17 Sandals resorts rated between 4.0 and 4.7 stars Note: No resort scored below 4.0 stars — the entire portfolio rates as excellent

Common Reasons for Lower Rankings

• Older room categories
• Long or hilly airport transfers
• Too quiet / too crowded / too party-focused depending on guest preference
• Small or public/busy beach
• Fewer activities at smaller resorts
• Stays during construction

The Full Rankings

⭐ 4.0–4.2 Stars

#17 — Sandals Royal Bahamian | Nassau, Bahamas Private island (free boat transfer), ~35-min flight from Miami, partially renovated in 2022. Rated lower for being more of a party/extended-weekend resort and having an older property feel. Easy access is a major plus.

#16 — Sandals Halcyon Beach | St. Lucia Smaller, quieter resort with original-style rooms. Great for those wanting intimacy, but fewer activities than larger St. Lucia properties. 4.2 stars.

#15 — Sandals Regency La Toc | St. Lucia Over 220 acres — very hilly with a lot of walking. Many rooms are high up on the hillside. Some original rooms. 4.2 stars.

⭐ 4.3 Stars

#14 — Sandals South Coast | Jamaica Steve's second-favorite resort in Jamaica. Stunning overwater bungalows, three redone villages, pickleball courts, secluded beach. Currently closed due to Hurricane Melissa (Cat. 5, Oct. 2025) — reopening May 30, 2026. Main drawback: ~2-hour mountainous, winding transfer from the airport.

#13 — Sandals Ochi | Ocho Rios, Jamaica Entry-level price point. Split property — Butler suites in the hills, beach section across the main road with a shuttle between them. Hilly terrain and more party/lively atmosphere contribute to lower ranking.

#12 — Sandals Negril | Negril, Jamaica Located on famous Seven Mile Beach — beautiful but shared with many other resorts. Transfer from Montego Bay airport is 1+ hour each way, meaning very early departures on checkout day for morning flights.

#11 — Sandals Barbados | Barbados Sits directly next to Sandals Royal Barbados — properties are essentially connected. Some older room categories. Guests staying at either resort can use both freely. 4.3–4.4 stars.

⭐ 4.4 Stars

#10 — Sandals Royal Plantation | Jamaica Only 74 rooms, all-Butler. Ultra-quiet and intimate. Small beach, fewer amenities. Guests can shuttle to Sandals Ochi for more dining and activities, but Ochi guests cannot visit Royal Plantation due to its size.

#9 — Sandals Grand Antigua | Antigua Some older room categories, smaller resort. Rooms are currently being renovated — expected to move up the rankings as upgrades complete. 4.3–4.4 stars.

⭐ 4.5 Stars

#8 — Sandals Royal Curaçao | Curaçao Outside the hurricane belt, always breezy. The main beach is small and rocky, though excellent for snorkeling. The standout feature is a stunning double-infinity rectangular pool. Steve calls this one a personal favorite.

#7 — Sandals Royal Barbados | Barbados Higher-end room categories than its neighbor Sandals Barbados. Features a rooftop pool. Guests freely walk between the two adjacent properties. 4.5 stars.

#6 — Sandals Montego Bay | Jamaica ~5–10 minutes from the airport — fastest arrival of any Sandals. Tradeoff is airplane noise from nearby runway. Despite this, consistently earns high marks from guests who say it doesn't bother them. 4.5 stars.

⭐ 4.6 Stars

#5 — Sandals Grande St. Lucian | St. Lucia More upscale, luxury feel than St. Lucia's smaller properties. Guests can stay at one and play at all three St. Lucia Sandals resorts. Minor complaint: overwater bungalows are close to the main pool, causing some noise. 4.5–4.6 stars.

#4 — Sandals Royal Caribbean | Jamaica ~15 minutes from Montego Bay airport. Quieter and more laid-back than Sandals Montego Bay next door. Private island with dragon boat transport. Some overwater bungalows. Currently closed due to the hurricane — reopening May 30, 2026. Up to 20 combined dining options between this resort and Sandals Montego Bay.

#3 — Sandals Grenada | Grenada Fan favorite for honeymooners. Sky suites with plunge pools on the balcony. Great beaches, lush island with spice tours, waterfalls, and Jeep excursions. 4.6 stars.

⭐ 4.7 Stars

#2 — Sandals Dunn's River | Ocho Rios, Jamaica Steve's personal #1 pick for 2026. Just reopened after hurricane repairs and looks brand new. Great pool, food, and staff. Located in a section of Jamaica that sustained less hurricane damage. Surrounded by abundant activities in Ocho Rios. 4.7 stars.

#1 — Sandals Saint Vincent | St. Vincent Newest Sandals resort (opened 2024). Lush, mountainous, tropical island described as "unspoiled Caribbean" — similar feel to Hawaii. White sand beach (imported) with a natural black sand beach nearby accessible by walking. Updated airport. Main challenge: limited flight options in and out. 4.7 stars.

Quick Reference — Full Rankings

*Currently closed, reopening May 30, 2026

Booking Notes

• No charge to work with Pixie Vacations — Pixies available to walk through pros and cons of any resort
• Current Sandals deals linked in video description / QR code
• All 17 resorts rate 4.0 or above — even the lowest-ranked options are genuinely strong properties