Yahoo Lifestyle Sandals Just Opened an All-Inclusive Resort in the Caribbean—and It's 'Absolutely Breathtaking'
Whenever a new year begins, it's exciting to think about all of the things we want to accomplish within the next 12 months. And in the wintertime, there's nothing more thrilling than planning a vacation—especially when it involves warm weather, clear water and beach activities. If it's an all-inclusive vacation, like Sandals' new resort in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, even better!
Looking forward to booking your next vacay? I recently stayed at the resort in one of their Butler rooms, got a tour of their incredible overwater, two-story villas(!), tried out almost every one of their 11 restaurants and can't wait to tell you all about it.
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Where Is Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a group of 32 islands and cays in the Eastern Caribbean. It's between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago.
The flight time from Miami to Saint Vincent is around three and a half hours.
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When Did the Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Resort Open?
Sandals welcomed their first St. Vincent and the Grenadines resort guests on March 27, 2024.
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How To Get from the Airport to the Resort
Sandals provides non-stop resort transfers to and from the airport.
However, Butler Suite guests are able to get a ride from the airport to a complimentary boat transfer to the resort—featuring an onboard bar with local beer, water and snacks. It's a great way to instantly relax after your travels!
Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Rooms and Pricing
While the Sandals brand features overwater suites at some of their other properties, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines offers the very first two-story options with their impressive Vincy Overwater Two-Story Villas.
The different types of rooms and pricing options at this location include:
Rooms at the resort in the Sandals Luxury level start at $409 per person, per night
Club Sandals rooms start at $468 per person, per night
Butler rooms start at $557 per person, per night
Vincy Overwater Two-Story Villas start at $1,614 per person, per night
Dining Options
There are 11 restaurants and 9 bars at the all-inclusive resort.
Scrimshaw
This restaurant, open for breakfast and dinner, incorporates "international flavors with sustainable and locally-fished seafood." The popcorn shrimp appetizer was highly-recommended to me and, unsurprisingly, it was delicious.
Butch's Island Chop House
Named after the founder of Sandals Resorts, Gordon "Butch" Stewart, this classic steakhouse was one of my favorite food experiences. (I'm actually still dreaming about the mango-curry cocktail sauce from the Shrimp Cocktail.)
Open for dinner from 6-9:30 p.m., you do need to have a reservation—so make sure you put this one on your itinerary!
Parisol Beach Club
This open-air spot is right next to the beach and pool area, making it a no-brainer stop on your way to or from the water. Open for breakfast from 8-10:30 a.m. and again for lunch from 12-7 p.m., it's a great destination for food or drinks at the bar.
Jerk Shack
Offering "authentic Jamaican Jerk," this restaurant is open for lunch (11 a.m.-6 p.m.) and dinner (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.). This was another highlight of the trip!
Gatsu Gatsu
You absolutely have to stop in and get some sushi at Gatsu Gatsu. Open from 6-9:30 p.m., I actually stopped here in the early evening before a much later dinner reservation and it was the best choice I could've made.
Imoro
Open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., this grab and go option has plenty of healthy bowls and salads to choose from.
Sora
Open for a breakfast buffet from 7:30-10:30 a.m. and then an Italian restaurant for dinner from 6-9:30 p.m., Sora is a gorgeous space to dine in and has plenty of options to choose from. I experienced the buffet one of the mornings I was there, and it was perfect.
Pizzeria Isola
What I wouldn't give for another slice of "Fig & Proscuitto" pizza (AKA pizza sauce, mozzarella, fig jam, Cambozola, prosciutto ham and arugula)! Open for lunch or late night cravings, my one regret during my trip was that I didn't order more pizza.
Crema
Run, don't walk to get yourself that Honey Latte. 10/10.
Buccan
Buccan is a really cool open-air, family-style restaurant. Reservations are required, and there are two times available each night—the first seating is at 6 p.m. and the second seating is at 8:30 p.m.
As the resort says, "We will guide you through local 'Vincy' ingredients, from the sea and the local farms. The menu is set by the chefs, a table full of dishes and bites, all which have been roasted or grilled and all made with the intention to enjoy."
BLUM
This is "an authentic cafe inspired by the Blue Mountains where the beans were grown, harvested, and roasted exclusively for our resort," as per the resort's website.
Open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m., it offers many of the same selections as Crema. So, if you're hanging out closer to BLUM, I'd like to repeat: Get the Honey Latte.
Three Jewels Rum Bar
I absolutely loved the overall vibe of the Three Jewels Rum Bar!
They even feature 32 different rums as a way of representing "32 islands within 32 miles"—with two-thirds of their menu featuring rums that were distilled locally in the Eastern Caribbean.
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Activities
There are plenty of activity options offered at Sandals Saint Vincent, and it's up to you how many different things you'd like to do (if any!).
Water Sports
From PADI® Certified Scuba Diving to kayaking, wakeboarding, paddle boarding or even going out on glass bottom boats, there's plenty of fun to be had on the water. Snuba is also offered for an additional fee.
Land Sports
If you're looking for some things to do away from the water for a bit, the resort offers pickleball, shuffleboard, cricket, beach volleyball and more.
There are also "Local Adventure Tours" offered for additional fees, like the "Lover's Rock Sunset Cruise," "ATV Adventure," "Kingstown Walking and Shopping Tour," etc.
Red Lane Spa
OK, the Red Lane Spa services aren't included in the all-inclusive offerings, but it's so worth a trip if you're interested in a treatment (for an additional fee). Offering massages, facials, manicures and more, there are plenty of options to feel extra pampered—solo or as a couple.
I received the Himalayan Salt Stone Massage which "harnesses the healing benefits of Himalayan salt and heat therapy," and would recommend it to anyone/everyone. (Also, I spoke with a couple of other guests who raved about the facials they received.)
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Fitness Center
If you're interested in keeping up with your workout routine while on vacation, you're not alone! Whether you're looking for gym equipment or fitness classes, Sandals Saint Vincent offers both in their Fitness Center.
Other Experiences
From music performances to live shows and theme nights, there's plenty of entertainment offered for free.
But I also have to call out that an added highlight of having a Butler Suite was getting to go on the "Butler cruise," one night—offered to Butler Suite guests. We took a boat out and watched the sunset while cruising on the water and getting our drinks refilled whenever needed. It was a beautiful way to end the day, and a highlight of the trip for sure.
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Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines Review: My Honest Thoughts
There were so many times during my trip that I thought (and spoke out loud), "How is this place real?!" It was absolutely breathtaking—especially when the sun was rising and setting.
I was genuinely so impressed by the food and drink offerings at the resort, as well as the level of service and care that was provided. Whether I was walking into one of their coffee shops or grabbing a bite for lunch, individuals I hadn't met yet greeted me by name and their overall friendliness was off the charts.
My husband and I technically could have utilized the Butler service more, as they are just a phone call away to help with any requests (I actually missed a couple of calls on my "Butler phone" when they were checking in on how we were doing while we were at the beach).
However, we loved walking through the gorgeous resort (the landscaping was immaculate and even when it was being maintained in real time, it didn't seem disruptive), and opted for walks vs. using the Butler service to call for a golf cart ride to our destinations most of the time.
So, we probably could have stayed in a different level room without that extra service. That being said, the Butler Cruise really was one of my favorite experiences from the trip! And I'm beyond grateful for the night I was able to easily order pizza straight to our room—peak luxury for me, personally. Overall, if you'd appreciate the extra service, it's definitely worth looking into a Butler Suite.
And if it's in your budget, the overwater villas were absolutely incredible.
I've already been recommending Sandals Saint Vincent to friends and family. Whether you're looking for your honeymoon, anniversary or simply a much-deserved getaway, I think this location will blow you away and provide truly unforgettable memories.
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