If you go to the "Barefoot Restaurant" on the beach, be aware the seagulls are very aggressive and when I stepped away from our table to take a picture of the beach, one of them knocked my plate of food off the table and then the flock devoured it. We would definitely return and hope to one day. Our only Sandals experience is Whitehouse. Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa: Pros & Cons of Sandals Antigua - See 8,748 traveler reviews, 10,770 candid photos, and great deals for Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa at Tripadvisor. The butlers are up early saving the cabanas and shaded pool chairs for their guests. The entire experience left me scarred. Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort has a gift shop with souvenirs, perfume, tobacco and sundries. I enjoyed your review. Considered the premier beach of the island's 365 stretches of shoreline, Dickenson Bay features cooling trade winds and the calmest waters perfect for every type of water sport. If you let them know early enough in your stay, some vendors will custom-make an item. The staff upgraded us to a Caribbean Honeymoon Grande Luxe Poolside Walkout Room. It’s close to the beach so if you want to take a walk or swim in the ocean, it’s right there. Bayside Restaurant is located on the beach! To say we were hungry and carsick at the end of the day would be an understatement. Here is a list in order of preference of our favorite locations: While Sandals Antigua has our heart since it is where our love story began, Grenada Resort and Spa is our new favorite destination. They have excellent food with a variety of options. So kind. Sign up to use the canoes, kayaks, Hobie Cats, or paddle boards. We could freshen up whenever we wanted to. This means if you click on the link and/or purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission. British Airways flies to Bridgetown Barbados 12 times a week from London Gatwick and Virgin Atlantic goes daily from Gatwick and weekly from Manchester. On our honeymoon, there were times we wanted to be social and others we wanted to be alone. After my first run I looked up to see I was about 50 yards from the boat and just then got hit by a pretty hard wave. I don't think it would have been the same without her.Celia - bartender extraordinaire. Awesome trip to Sandals Grande Antigua with friends all celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversaries! We stayed for 10 nights on this side of the couples only resort for our honeymoon in 2011. Nice to meet another Sandals Select Member. Every morning from at least 5.30a.m. We have walked the property many, many times and there are still romantic nooks and crannies we’ve missed! This allows you to provide instant praise, feedback, questions, concerns, regarding any topic or individual you encounter while there. Response time will vary depending upon the situation or topic.Looks through pictures and ask questions if you are unsure about a room prior to booking. We even rented a cabana for one day and really enjoyed the service and the shade! Beach Vendors. Antigua is a beautiful location. The pools have swim up bars that are a fun place to have a drink. For this reason, we did not relax on the beach. 1 - Upon meeting your first butler at check in, ask about who you will have (and when) so you know what to expect.Tip No. This includes evening snacks, towel art, bubble baths, special drinks, pool-side service, dinner reservations, being escorted to XYZ, etc. The beach was beautiful and peaceful. Lobster and steak at Barefoot, esgarot at Bayside, seafood pasta at Marios , spciy tuna roll at Soy , lambchop at Eleanors and delicious crepes at Cafe Paris! I’m hoping to hear news of renovations! Sandals Grande Antigua is ranked #8 among luxury hotels in Antigua by U.S. News & World Report. Please let me know your experience at Sandals Grande Antigua and your first Sandals vacation! I can’t say I saw guests from other resorts using the Sandals side of the beach. Not to mention, if I had trusted Sandals I would have been sick the rest of my stay. Sandals Antigua still has our favorite breakfast spot. It will be here before you know it. Many guests feed them and pet them. Join me as I share my personal fitness goals, gluten free recipes I've tried, travel tips, product reviews and all things creative. Our room was beautiful with a nice balcony overlooking the pool and hot tub just outside. We wanted to be right by the ocean so have booked a Caribbean Honeymoon Beachfront Grande Luxe Club Level Room (HGB) – hopefully we’ve made a good choice. Experience the perfect Jamaica, Antigua, Bahamas or Saint Lucia all inclusive vacation, luxury weddings, or honeymoons. There were many vendors on the beach, but we met an amazing photographer named Danroy! We enjoyed our room there much more than the Caribbean room (which was dark, damp and dated). The outlets in our room were loose and did not hold are phone chargers, blow dryers etc. We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary at Sandals Antigua. Still researching Barbados, seeing additional resort next door, but also read very high winds, limiting water sports is common almost daily. For a detailed list of available equipment and further information, please call Unique Vacations at 1-888-SANDALS. Amazingly, they knocked on the door again to tell us they'd hung the right sign on our door, waking us again! Would return To Sandals!! The resort needs to get this under control. There are peddlers on the entire beach but they seem to spend more time selling to guests sitting or lounging. Sandals is an all inclusive couples only resort chain in the Caribbean that has become one of our favorite resort chains! Everything else was just like one huge balcony.The Butler Service: We had three butlers during our stay - Daren, Shaunte, and Charmaine. Our room was beautiful with a nice balcony overlooking the pool and hot tub just outside. Pros: Sandals Ochi is massive. The resort needs to get this under control. We had fabulous weather each time. There is a gift shop and jewelry store in the resort as well. I’m certainly thankful for the lack of mosquitoes at Sandals Resort locations, but I’d rather not come into contact with chemicals on my vacation. While dining at Eleanor’s my feet were bit by sand fleas. I truly feel like I made a new friend when I met her. LONG. I was asked to leave and come back in proper attire. Answer 1 of 5: Trying to decide between Emerald Bay in Exuma or Sandals Grande St. Lucian. We found all your info really helpful in making our choice. The Come Back Soon Event was the most formal event at this Caribbean beach resort. Diagnosed with Celiac Disease nine years ago, I’ve been on a journey discovering what it means to be truly healthy. There was no "Do Not Disturb" sign in our room, so I wrote those words down on the back of a sign hanging by the shower about the resort's eco friendly practices. Price is relatively the same for either one, so in your opinion, which one is better???? Virgin recently announced a twice-weekly service from London Heathrow operating from December until February. As I mentioned, Sandals Antigua is about 27 years old and it shows. Tip: If you are trying to decide between Grande Antigua and LaSource Grenada, check out my pros and cons of Sandals Resort Antigua. Cons of Sandals Grande Antigua 1. This was the downfall for other couples though. Since our excursion, I believe Sandals Resort has changed the vehicles you tour the island in. Sandals is way better than the other all inclusive resort I have tried! So far we have leaned towards staying at the Royal Antiguan. We asked that they reserve us some chairs by the main pool each day with a cooler. With 6 pools located all over the resort, you are bound to find one that’s empty. Sandals LaSource Grenada opened at the end of 2013. Daren was more matter-of-fact and business-like, which I respect and can also appreciate. Let me know what you think of Antigua. All opinions are my own. There was no "Do Not Disturb" sign in our room, so I wrote those words down on the back of a sign hanging by the shower about the resort's eco friendly practices. This helps keep my blog running!). Caribbean Islands - Antigua-Royal Antiguan--pros and cons - We are planning a trip to Antigua in March 1998. I can attest to this as my husband and I spent our honeymoon at this couples resort location. Highly recommend him!We loved that all the activities were included here! He teaches you a variety of ways to overcome a situation and things to keep in mind should you find yourself feeling uneasy. After reading my pros and cons of Sandals Grenada, one of my Shine with Jennifer Leigh followers asked that I write a similar review of Sandals Grande Antigua. Sandals Barbados is an all inclusive resort in the active St. Lawrence Gap area. We stayed 5 nights at Sandals Grande Antigua in December 2020. Since that time, we’ve had 5 Sandals all inclusive vacations and are planning a 6th for the fall of 2019. Duty-free shopping is available on all islands and at the airport. Definitely do the glass bottom snorkel and look back at the resort; you can distinctly see where they had the old resort, and then added on with the new side and pool. Overall the crowd here is a little older and seems to be comprised of mostly Sandals loyalist. Cafe Paris is one of our favorite spots on each Sandals Resort. they were on the beach reserving all the sun beds!!! Tip: Make sure to catch a sunset. This was our 6th Sandals resort and first time to Antigua. photographer | traveler | coffee addict | paleo junkie | New England fan. Today I show you around Sandals Grande Resort and Spa in Antigua. The boat took us fairly far out in very choppy water. One of activities we used was their snorkeling tour, something I had never done before. If you are a returning Sandals Select Member, you are automatically invited to the weekly Come Back Soon Dinner. Final tip - download the Sandals app. The pros were many. We are planning on visiting Barbados this fall and are excited to try a new resort! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Hopefully some of the tips below will help you plan a great vacation too.We stayed from June 27 - July 5, 2018 in the Mediterranean Oceanview Penthouse One Bedroom Butler Suite - GA. I will tell you my pros and cons: PROs •The grounds and beach are beautiful Plus, you are close to Bayside Restaurant. One night we were in the open-air lobby and the fogger came through. Thankfully, there are Sandals guards at each entrance from the beach onto the all inclusive resort. One of activities we used was their snorkeling tour, something I had never done before. Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Experience the very best that this Caribbean gem has to offer when you stay at Sandals Grande Antigua. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. We didn't think so. There are seven restaurants in the resort that include Texas barbeque, casual American, French, Italian, formal American and Japanese cuisines besides the beachside one. Food is very important so I applaud Marios, Barefoot! They offer spacious rooms with spectacular views. Overall, our vacation was fantastic. Also did you see other obvious nonguest on the resort beach? We visited all except the French one and they were great with the Italian one ("Mario's") being are favorite. It’s a fine dance, but you’ll figure it out after a few days. The lobby of the Med building is open-air, allowing you to enjoy the breeze and views. There are certainly solicitors on the beach in Antigua. We tried Barefoot again (but for dinner) and it was excellent, so we may have just experienced it for lunch during an "off" moment.Mario's breakfast buffet seemed to have more selection than the Bayside breakfast buffet. Even worse, we were a club level room and weren’t treated as such. Like I said, all three were incredible and never left us wanting anything. Less people and the sand was so nice. She makes you feel included and part of the group without even trying. Why do I bring this up? … From unlimited water sports on Antigua's pristine waters to premium entertainment, gourmet dining and premium spirits, Sandals Grande Antigua puts the "all" in all-inclusive. While taking a nap before heading out to dinner one night, maid staff knocked on our door anyway and when I called for them to read the sign, their reply was "I'll get you the right one." We had mentioned our food allergies before booking; however, no care was taken for our gluten free dining needs. Copyright © 2021 Shine with Jennifer Leigh. We have plans to visit Barbados this year. Based on real customer reviews. We were never inside unless we were in the elevator or the room. The sellers on the beach can be a bit tiresome but if you just say no thanks they do move on. Experience the perfect Jamaica, Antigua, Bahamas or Saint Lucia all inclusive vacation, luxury weddings, or honeymoons. She's super patient and will answer all your questions/address any concerns.Jamal - lifeguard and instructor at the Aqua Center. Things to do near Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa on Tripadvisor: See 20,452 reviews and 11,850 candid photos of things to do near Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa in St. John's, Caribbean. If you found my information helpful, please click the “Book Online Now” link. The resort itself is starting to look tired. very well, so we had to keep adjusting our plugs in them to get things to work. Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa: More Pros Than Cons - See 8,708 traveler reviews, 10,719 candid photos, and great deals for Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa at Tripadvisor. Ask MDx2-2008 about Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, Ask Amy C about Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, Hotels near Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa Rooms, St. John's All Inclusive Honeymoon Resorts, Hotels near Yellow Trails Horseback Riding Antigua, Hotels near Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Hotels near American University of Antigua, We compared the lowest prices from 11 websites, We compared the lowest prices from 9 websites, Jumby Bay Island - an Oetker Collection Hotel. After meeting us once, she would make a point to come over and say "hi" and chat whenever she saw us around the resort. The resort needs to get this under control. If you are in the market for some authentic Antiguan items, then by all means, browse what they have and counter-offer their price. If you go to the "Barefoot Restaurant" on the beach, be aware the seagulls are very aggressive and when I stepped away from our table to take a picture of the beach, one of them knocked my plate of food off the table and then the flock devoured it. There are seven restaurants in the resort that include Texas barbeque, casual American, French, Italian, formal American and Japanese cuisines besides the beachside one. Often, there were multiple events happening across the resort at the same time. We stayed on the “party” side of the property in a Mediterranean Club Level Suite with balcony. Sandals Grande Antigua is an All-Inclusive Vacation Resort. This didn't make Daren a bad butler, just not the right man for that particular task. Every other meal we had at the other restaurants was wonderful. Nick, my husband, and I are quite loyal customers of Sandals Resorts. Wonderful trip! Amazingly, they knocked on the door again to tell us they'd hung the right sign on our door, waking us again! Looking for a #nontoxic perfume? Grounds and customer service staff were friendly and helpful. There was no "Do Not Disturb" sign in our room, so I wrote those words down on the back of a sign hanging by the shower about the resort's eco friendly practices. Same goes with paintings and jewelry from other vendors.There were a few outstanding staff members that I would recommend you find while on property or request to have assist you:Shaunte - one of our butlers. You do share it with other resorts, but it’s not overcrowded. This is an "all inclusive" resort with pools and bars everywhere including one you can swim up to and sit at in the water. Which side of the all-inclusive resort did you book? The resort is very quiet at night other than some very subpar entertainment in the main area of the resort. Sandals Grande Antigua has the most live entertainment offerings we’ve seen so far. Thank you! Enjoy your free trip. No sales pressure, just being a great person. You just need to let them know what you want/expect. The staff will clear your things to make way for the butlers. Sandals Grande Antigua, St. John’s, is suggested as the best Sandals Resort for Honeymooners, by TripSavvy. As a graduate student, I've had my fair share of teachers and he certainly tops the list. Sandals Grande Antigua is home to the most beautiful and longest white–sand beach in Antigua – Dickenson Bay. Some people complained that they weren't receiving what they felt to be the same level of service as other butler guests. Considered the premier beach of the island's 365 stretches of shoreline, Dickenson Bay features cooling trade winds and the calmest waters perfect for every type of water sport. Also.. regarding bay location… are there like no waves at the beach? We decided to stay on the Mediterranean side because it was newer and I prefer crisp fresh hotel rooms. If you like water sports, this romantic, all-inclusive Sandals Resort location is great! Let's get the cons out of the way first. A big thumbs down from me on that one. Both were good though.Beach Vendors: Not a big deal. The "hallways" of the building are open, with doors to rooms on one side and a railing on the other allowing you to look over the other side of the property. We spent most of our time at the party pool and felt like our room was quite convenient. As of 2020, we have visited 5 Sandals Resorts. It works wonders for your selfies too! Marios Restaurant for second breakfast, Bella Napoli for gluten free pizza at lunchtime and Cafe de Paris for an afternoon coffee. Uk carriers to both islands or Sandals Grande Antigua Royal Barbados, seeing additional resort next door to resort. Time to Antigua in December 2020 have Celiac Disease, you can your! 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