Our Top 15 Tips for Sandals Resorts | 2023

[@rosebrand8477]

Thank you for all the tips! We are going to Sandals Ochi in January 2025.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

@@rosebrand8477 have a great time!!

[@73tydy]

Very informative video 👌🏽

[@ACoupleTravelers]

@@73tydy thanks for watching!

[@kismibellabathbody2273]

Thank you so much for this! I just book a sandals vacation for my 20th anniversary. I had just put a deposit down next day upgraded and got the 7th night free which we already had 7 night

[@ACoupleTravelers]

@@kismibellabathbody2273 so glad! If you’d like to transfer the reservation to me so I can continue to assist you, I’d be most appreciative!!

[@LalatheCosmo]

This were great tips. I’m staying at Sandals Ochi in April for carnival. I just called Sandals to confirm that i can visit Dunn’s River for free. I just pay our shuttle driver to transport us.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Have a great time!!

[@jsniagara8202]

I bet you were not impressed.. ochi looks like a 3 star resort

[@joeperrone6677]

Another very helpful video. From our more recent experiences (last 15 years) in going to Sandals and Beaches since they started the current loyalty program (Sandals Select Rewards - 2011) and shortly after they added the Butler and Club levels (2005), some added info. For simple math, if you book 7 nights and pay for 6, the Anniversary free night is worth a 16.6% discount, while the Loyalty & Travel discount is 10% for Luxury, 11% for Club and 12% for Butler rooms - the breakeven is booking 10 nights for club and 9 for butler. It is the best deal if the room you want is one that is never part of the 7-7-7 deal (777 deal plus the 10, 11 or 12% L&T discount is at least 18% off) or if you want to book more than 6-9 months out. On tipping, the amount you should tip each butler (butlers work from 5:30am-3pm and 2:30-11pm, and one from each shift works for each room) depends upon the number of rooms assigned to the butler, which is proportional to room cost: over-the water bungalows have two bungalows per butler, rondovals and rooms with their own private pools (not swim-ups) usually are 4 to a butler and the basic butler rooms are 6 rooms per butler - the butlers expect to earn $120-150 per day, so your tip should be 1/2 ($60-75), 1/4 ($30-40) or 1/6 ($20-25) of that amount depending upon where you are staying, and much prefer to be tipped daily. Also, the provided transportation to and from the airport and on excursions even when booked through the resort are not Sandals employees and are expecting tips. On the resort evening attire, for most resorts it is only 1 or 2 restaurants (Barbados/Royal is 3 total) plus the Sandals Loyalty dinner (which is on Tuesday, always worthwhile and really good food) - for woman, any type of dress and sandals is fine, but for men long pants, a collared shirt and closed toe shoes are needed. In addition, a few of the resorts have dress theme nights (white night at most all resorts; and 80's night and Jamaica night at Dunn's River) - those are listed in the activities for the resort both on the App and on the website.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Thanks for this!

[@darmaiman181]

@@ACoupleTravelersthank you so much for this! I wish I would have found you yesterday as I just booked our honeymoon. How do we contact you for future travels

[@ACoupleTravelers]

@@darmaiman181 if you didn’t pay in full, you can transfer to me within 14 days!

[@fedupwithem6208]

@@ACoupleTravelers This video is very helpful. My wife and I are going to SRC in march and I was wondering about acceptable swimwear. I typically wear a pretty skimpy thong at the beach but I'm sort of assuming this isn't ok at a Sandals. I am also wondering if the rooms have safes to store things like cash and passports in.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

@@fedupwithem6208 I do not believe they have rules about types of bathing suits!

[@RyanRidley129]

So helpful! We booked last night for our anniversary and I had no idea about the free night. You've saved us a lot!

[@ACoupleTravelers]

So glad it worked out!!

[@ACoupleTravelers]

If you didn’t pay in full, you could always transfer the reservation to me so I can continue to assist you and make recommendations to enhance the vacation. I also send me clients a travel packet before they travel!

[@vanessajames2996]

@RyanRidley129 How did you go about getting a refund for the anniversary night? We just booked last night and learned about that deal watching this video today.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

@@vanessajames2996 Google Sandals free anniversary night and you’ll see the form you have to fill out and submit a copy of your marriage license! It takes 5 mins!

[@RyanRidley129]

@@ACoupleTravelers I totally would have but we paid in full.. thanks for putting out great content though!

[@mikekent991]

This was SO HELPFUL!! Thank you!

[@ACoupleTravelers]

We are so glad!!

[@timothyschertz2050]

Butlers usually reserve chairs about 6 a.m.. As an early riser ~ 5 a.m., I would always meet them out there.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Nice!

[@orlandabastianelli-huston1956]

Great video! I’ll be contacting you for a quote For our 20 year anniversary trip!

[@donnaalbrit4125]

Going in 1 week to Sandals royal bahamian! EB club level beachfront room. Looking SO forward to it..just hope the weather holds up.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

@@donnaalbrit4125 have a wonderful time!!

[@donnaalbrit4125]

@@ACoupleTravelers Thank you!!

[@JestineFaulkner]

Love this video! Very helpful!

[@ACoupleTravelers]

So glad! Thanks for watching!

[@kimberlyweed5916]

This was so helpful! Thank you! I’ll be emailing later today.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

So glad it was helpful! I’ll look out for your email!

[@LutherBuilds]

Thanks so much for this video. Im currently researching for my wife and I for Juneish 2025. We went to secrets cap cana in June 2023 and loved it. But I'm looking at other places as well. Currently looking at Negril area or someplace cheaper than Secrets as their prices have gone up. We'd most likely have to go for a shorter trip if we go back there.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Sandals is definitely pricey but I don’t find to be nickled and dimed like at other places, where things add up after the fact.

[@Kimberly-ut7bg]

Please do your homework. 😮

[@markwesley7782]

Great video Jenna! We picked up some good tips.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Thank you! I’m so glad!!

[@dds3606]

Love the knowledge already paid in full looking to talk about next trip for best savings

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Feel free to send me an email! Email is in all the video descriptions!

[@kammigoins1438]

Great info… any tips on which spa, what is available other than services(ie.. wet area) best spa (Royal or other)

[@ACoupleTravelers]

South Coast is my favorite of the spas so far. They had a beautiful courtyard with hot and cold plunges that anyone could use!

[@tarareinard4951]

Quick question, can you upload your wedding info on the app and get the honeymoon freebies? We went through a travel agent as well. I upgraded our room to the butler level because of your advice. I want to make sure our honeymoon is incredible

[@ACoupleTravelers]

There is a link on the website to submit a copy of wedding invite to get some honeymoon freebies!

[@ayeshazanielle]

Thanks for the information. Which resort do you recommend for a honeymoon?

[@ACoupleTravelers]

It depends on what you are looking for! If you send me an email, I can ask you some questions to help you narrow it down! 😀

[@MrZavy08]

Thanks SO much for all of the information. My cousin and I have been trying to plan a beach vacation for over a year, and there's just so much info to take in, it's almost paralyzing! But we have settled on the Bahamas and on Sandals Emerald Bay (we like the idea of a calmer atmosphere AND we want to swim with pigs. But you have much more info than I've been able to find on my own. How would I go about having you help us book this thing? We would be flying from St. Louis.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Send me an email! [e-mail]!

[@Kimberly-ut7bg]

Our favorite but really do your homework. Resort is in disrepair

[@arjeanettewells2414]

Great information. What do you recommend for weddings for Jamaica?

[@ACoupleTravelers]

South Coast- over the water wedding chapel!

[@lindseylu7693]

We have never been able to make reservations at the aqua desk for snorkeling, etc more than a day in advance

[@ACoupleTravelers]

It must depend on the resort! We’ve been able to at the ones we’ve been to!

[@kieranmcgurk1404]

Hi Jenna, is that correct that guests at Ochi can use the facilities at Dunns River?

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Yes!! Right now, guests temporarily need to get permission on site at Ochi to go to Dunn’s, but won’t be forever.

[@joeperrone6677]

In theory maybe. There is Sandals no shuttle bus between Ochi and Dunn's River.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

@@joeperrone6677 they don’t make you pay to go over! These resorts will have full access!

[@joeperrone6677]

All I can say, is we will see. The original plan was, starting on July 1st, to have an hourly bus (just like at Montego Bay and Royal Caribbean) between the resorts, and they scrapped that after polling guests at both resorts. Ochi is 529 rooms and Dunn's River is only 260; the cheapest room for a week (prior to any discounts) at Ochi is $ 3,587 and butler rooms start at $4,848, while at Dunns River the cheapest room is $5,985 and $8,687 for a butler room (Mammee Bay O1B room and there are only 5 of them) 65% and 70% more at SDR. The beach at Ochi is small and not great, and the overall experience is at best, fair. Sandals is not going to allow its flagship resort of Dunns River get overrun by Ochi guests (and 110 visiting a day (less than 10% of Ochi's guests) would easily do that). In the other places where they have nearby resorts, the resorts are of both similar size and amenities (Barbados was built as one large resort so it isn't part of the discussion). While it is true that with a "reservation" you can go on your own transport from Ochi to Dunns River and stay for the day for free, they limit the number of "reservations" available - there is no limit on the number of people who can go from Dunns River to Ochi via their own transport (although I believe it would be a small number). @@ACoupleTravelers

[@julieleemckinney]

Hi! This was a very helpful video. We’ve been to 2 Sandals resorts with a 3rd visit booked this coming April. Quick question: is there a reason you recommend tipping the butlers daily? We’ve tipped at the end both times.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Simply in case you get different butlers, you never know if they time off coming up or become sick and won’t see them again!

[@terrismith3938]

My friend and I have reservations at Sandals Antigua. We have another friend who wants to join us but was told by Sandals she couldn’t book as a single person even though she said she could at for double occupancy. Can you help her with this

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Unfortunately you can only book as a single if you are attending a wedding.

[@-aubreykat101-3]

Great video! Do you know if you can easily make dinner reservations at other Sandals resorts? (Such as staying at Royal Caribbean but wanting to make a reservation for a restaurant at Montego Bay) Would you need to travel to the other resort to make dinner reservations?

[@ACoupleTravelers]

You can do it without physically going there! It’s easy.

[@atevenvagus]

How much do you tip the luggage handler/shuttle driver?

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Usually $2 per bag and then $10-$15 for the driver!

[@ttjenise]

Ok Sis!!,

[@juicycouturecollectionsam3473]

Is there anyway to make dinner reservations before arrival?

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Unfortunately, no!

[@thecarpartsguy8676]

Do you get dinged for booking your own flight?

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Nope!

[@afihoney831]

Sandals Grenada in July 2026 and this is HELPFUL!

[@ACoupleTravelers]

@@afihoney831 so glad it was helpful! Have a great trip!!

[@afihoney831]

@@ACoupleTravelers 😁❤️

[@KarensKorner]

That is my favorite Sandals. The staff there was wonderfull!!

[@kristenlenox8809]

Helpful! Do you know if you can book a 7-7-7 room combined with the anniversary free night?

[@ACoupleTravelers]

You can’t combine those!

[@kristenlenox8809]

@@ACoupleTravelers thanks for the info. We enjoy watching your videos!

[@IamAltheaWoodley]

Which is the best route 777 or anniversary free night?

[@mikehaywood6145]

Going to watch this video again. Grenada is planned over a birthday and anniversary. Not paid in full yet. I already am using the military discount but can a senior discount be applied and the anniversary one also?

[@ACoupleTravelers]

There isn’t a senior discount. Free anniversary night is applicable with a military discount!

[@abbieridley5522]

@@ACoupleTravelers Can the anniversary night be applied if we booked a trip that had a major sale going on? (The new St. Vincent resort had a grand opening sale.) I also think we paid in full - any way to retroactively apply the anniversary discount? Thanks!

[@ACoupleTravelers]

@@abbieridley5522 I don’t believe you can get the free night if you already paid in full unfortunately. It also had to be applied within a certain amount of time after booking!

[@_Tom_B]

According to the app, I can make dinner reservations 2 weeks in advance. At the time of this comment I am still 4 weeks from our trip, so I have not been able to test it, but that is what the pop-up says when I try to make a reservation. The reason and bonus tip for booking prior is that we are arriving on a Monday, which is the beach party and no restaurants are open accept for those that require reservations.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

What resort? There’s never a time where your only options to dine require reservations. There are always places you can walk up to! Some resorts are testing out the ability to reserve some places in advance, but not all resorts if that’s helpful.

[@lindamonahan1704]

We are traveling to Sandals with our friends. We are in a luxury level room and they are in a butler room. Will we be able to hang out together?

[@ACoupleTravelers]

@@lindamonahan1704 yes, you just won’t be able to go into the lounge and may not have chairs near each other since their butler will reserve chairs for them.

[@DonC11669]

To bad Butch passed away. I understand the family members are having difficulty with inheritance issues. All in all. Was the best up until last year. Maintenance negligence when we were there. Employees need to make better wages. 🤔😎👍

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Completely agree!!

[@bluesdoggg]

Important to note: The military discount includes veterans of military service.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

Yes, that’s a given!

[@brandyprice6015]

I’m not seeing your email address.

[@ACoupleTravelers]

It’s in the video description… but here it is! [e-mail]

[@mubirunsubuga3103]

Do not book your flight through sandals, in one month my flight has been changed two times when I ordered the flight. The flight ordered at the time was one of the most expensive flights. The flights they offering me right now where the cheaper flights at the time, and JetBlue is not even trying to reimburse me the difference in price from the original time we ordered the flight. When you talk to Sandal’s customer they are very quick to tell you to get a refund. Not keeping in mind that if you do get a refund you have to pay like almost $500 more than what you paid originally. We booked this for our honeymoon, And all we have had was headaches between sandals and JetBlue

[@ACoupleTravelers]

We actually booked our flight through JetBlue while family booked through Sandals and all our flights were impacted so it’s definitely not Sandals changing it, it’s the airline! But yes, it’s easier to make changes if you book directly with the airline!

[@kismibellabathbody2273]

Has anyone here have trouble with booking Flights through sandals itself.

[@michaelmclaughlin9937]

Top 15? Out of 14 lol