How are we already in July? It’s unbelievable how quickly this year is moving!

Last month I had the pleasure of spending a long weekend at Sandals Royal Curacao. This was actually my second visit having first gone last year. During this recent visit, I put my travel advisor glasses on and took notes so you’ll have all the information you need to figure out if Sandals Royal Curacao is for you. Spoiler alert: it probably is for you – it’s a fantastic resort.

This resort is the 4th Sandals I’ve been to. I’ve previously been to Sandals South Coast, Sandals Barbados, and Sandals Royal Barbados. I’m also a Certified Sandals Specialist so I’ll be comparing what Royal Curacao does and doesn’t do compared to other Sandals resorts. Keep reading to find out more!

About Sandals Royal Curacao

It’s important to keep in mind that this Sandals opened in 2022, so it’s a relatively new resort. The building that now houses Sandals used to be a Hyatt and then an independent resort called Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort. This means that the layout is a little bit funky in some places, but just know that this resort wasn’t built to be a Sandals – it was purchased and then renovated into a Sandals resort.

Sandals is an adults-only all-inclusive resort brand. They advertise “all-included luxury” and while that may be true for many travelers, I consider Sandals to be a premium all-inclusive product. What does that mean? It means that I consider Sandals just a step below actual luxury, and I’ll explain why further down. In short, the service and amenities are just shy of actually being a luxury resort in my eyes.

Location

I’ll just start by saying the location isn’t the best for sightseeing. Sandals Royal Curacao is located in Santa Barbara toward the southern part of the island. I say not the best because guests need to drive through Caracasbaaiweg traffic (a pain during rush hours) any time they want to go to/from the resort. It’s also a far distance from the northwestern side of the island where the beautiful beaches and Shete Boka National Park are.

The great thing about the location of this Sandals is that it’s located by a dock where plenty of boats depart for day trips to Klein Curacao. If you plan on visiting Klein Curacao (highly recommended!) then you’ll find this location very convenient. I also love the fact that this location feels secluded. Some of the other all-inclusives like Mangrove Corendon and The Rif are right next to each other and by the cruise port making for excessive noise and obstructed views. Sandals Royal Curacao feels like you’re in a Caribbean bubble – and I love that personally.

First Impressions

Despite being my second visit, my first impression was exactly the same both times: “wow”! From the moment we drove through the initial gate past the arid landscape and hills to seeing a slice of the vibrant ocean before passing the Sandals sign, I was already in love.

Those coming from the airport have complimentary shuttle transfers to and from. Since we drove, we enjoyed complimentary valet parking. Pulling up to the lobby area, we were asked for our reservation names and given cool lemongrass scented towels to dot our faces with. Our bags were whisked away and we were escorted into the grand lobby. The lobby has that “wow factor” for sure! I was surrounded by tall glass doors looking toward the ocean. There was a gorgeous white chandelier hanging from the ceiling accenting the mahogany Caribbean shutters.

We were promptly served a deliciously sweet welcome drink – a cocktail with vodka, blue curaçao, and sprite. It took a little while for someone to come up to us to start the check-in process, but we just reminded ourselves that we’re on island time. After a while, we were advised that our room was not yet ready (it was 1 PM) and that we can grab lunch on property first and come back to get our keys. That’s exactly what we did!

Club Sandals and Butler Elite

If you book a Club or Butler Elite room or suite, your check-in process will be significantly better. Club Sandals guests check-in via the Club Lounge adjacent the lobby. While I didn’t have a chance to go inside and chat to the Club Sandals staff, I took a little peek at the lounge and thought it was incredibly spacious, well-appointed, and always staffed. The Club Lounge is always accessible to club and butler guests with your room key and has an assortment of snacks as well as a selection of liquors. The Club Lounge staff are in charge of making your dining reservations and inviting guests to Club-only events.

You’re in for a royal treatment if you book a Butler suite. Upon arrival at the resort you’re generally whisked up to your suite immediately and check-in with your butler in the comfort of your own room. Butler guests may also use the Club Sandals Lounge, though it’s rarely used as guests have quick contact with their butler via phone. Butlers are super handy for reserving pool/beach chairs and spacious pool cabanas at the main pool. They will also escort you to your dinner reservations and pick you up via golf cart if requested. Butler services are a splurge but well worth it for a more luxurious experience. Your butler is at your beck and call delivering treats and making any arrangements requested.

Rooms

There are 351 rooms and suites spread out over 18 different buildings not including the luxurious Kurason Island and Awa Seaside Bungalows. You would think that’s a lot but the property itself is huge so even at 90% capacity it doesn’t feel crowded or busy at all. Similar to other Sandals properties, room categories range from standard “Luxury” rooms with garden views to “Club” walkout rooms and “Butler” suites with sea views.

We stayed in an entry-level Subi Premium room in Building 12. Finding the room was like walking through a labyrinth of hallways but we quickly learned our way. We were on the second floor and had garden views looking toward Aolos Mediterranean restaurant. For an entry-level room, it was quite spacious and well-appointed. The room was modern with white walls, a sleek four poster bed, teal island accents, small sitting area, and glass balcony. We had a glass rainshower, extra large sink, and separate toilet room. Since we were entry level, our minibar was stocked with juices, soft drinks, beer and wine. Higher levels will also have a selection of spirits awaiting them.

I liked our room and its quiet location. Would I call it luxury? Not really. While we were glad to see bathrobes hanging in our closet, there were no slippers and the floor was freezing. In fact, any time we tried to increase the temperature in the room because we were cold, the room would become so humid that everything felt wet and the floor would collect condensation. We tried calling the front desk for slippers but the phone didn’t work the entire time. We tried calling the culinary desk to make dining reservations but we were still having trouble with the phone. Food to be collected was left outside in hallways for the majority of the day. Most of these nitpicks wouldn’t bother a normal traveler (some guests are out of their room all day!), but as I kept the luxury experience in mind I couldn’t help but notice the standards aren’t quite there yet.

What I will say is that turndown service was great and timely every day. The minibar was replenished perfectly. Cute towel animals and fake rose petals were left for us daily. The front desk called the room after checking in to see how we were doing. These are all indications of a resort striving for quality service. If you’re in Club or Butler levels, you can expect to receive more detailed service and more calls to check in on your stay.

Kurason Island and Awa Seaside Bungalows

I had the pleasure of inspecting a number of room categories during my stay, and I have to say I was impressed with the specialty suites at Sandals Royal Curacao. Each Sandals typically has a special category of suites that offer an above and beyond experience. Some Sandals have over-the-water bungalows or secluded rondovals while others have full-on villas and suites with infinity skypools. At this Sandals you can choose between the heart-shaped Kurason Island Bungalows or the infinity pool beachfront Awa Seaside Bungalows. Note: There are also rondovals on property which are beautiful but in my opinion too far and secluded from the action. You also don’t get any views with the rondovals.

Touring a Kurason Island Bungalow felt like stepping into the Maldives – no joke! The way the bungalows were built and designed took a page out of the chic contemporary design styles of Cheval Blanc Randheli. Each bungalow is furnished with a selection of spirits, a mini kitchen area, an outdoor shower, and an outdoor soaking tub. A butler also comes with the room to whisk you away to various areas of the resort. The room has tall white ceilings and an eye-catching floor to ceiling sliding door looking out onto the heart-shaped pool. The entire bungalow feels open concept with a great indoor-outdoor flow. The only caveat is that all the bungalows face inwards so you will undoubtedly see your neighbors sunbathing on their deck and swimming in the shared heart pool. The location of the Kurason Island Bungalows is on the quieter side of the resort so it truly feels like a romantic getaway here.

I wasn’t able to tour the Awa Seaside Bungalows but the interior is exactly the same as the Kurason Island Bungalows. The only differences are in the location and the infinity pool in the front. Awa Seaside Bungalows have the superior location on the entire resort, literally beachfront. They offer more privacy than the Kurason Island Bungalows as they don’t share a communal pool. Be mindful that the last Awa Seaside Bungalow is near the outdoor wedding chapel so you may hear some event noise if you’re placed in that one. The Awa Seaside Bungalow comes with a butler as well. Both Kurason Island and Awa Seaside Bungalows come with the option to take out a Sandals-branded Mini Cooper for the day to explore the island – an opportunity not to be missed! I would highly recommend either of these bungalow categories for the ultimate romantic getaway.

Amenities

The Sandals brand is known for their included amenities, and Royal Curacao is no exception. Let me start by highlighting arguably the best perk available: complimentary PADI Scuba Dives. Curacao boasts some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean and you can go on a daily dive with all included equipment and boat transportation. In fact, during my stay laying on the beach I would see divers come back commenting about it being “the best diving they’ve had so far“. If you’re a scuba lover, this resort will be great for you!

Aside from scuba diving, there are several other water activities at this resort but no motorized water sports. You’ll find snorkeling (they take you on a boat to snorkel sites daily), stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, and Hobie Cats. If you take the Hobie Cat out, you’ll need to have a guide with you as the beach faces an inlet with boat traffic. As for motorized sports, you would find those off property at the Island Routes Desk or Viator could help with that.

For land activities you’ll find the usual Sandals staples: beach volleyball, shuffleboard, table tennis, life-sized chess, huge Connect Four, and a newly added area to play beach soccer. They’re currently working on tennis and pickleball courts which should be finished soon! Scattered across the lobby are “virtual game boards” that are touchscreen boards in which you could select games to play (tic-tac-toe, blackjack, roulette, picture match, etc.) but I found them to be underwhelming. There used to be huge Jenga but they’ve since removed that, unfortunately. There’s also no pool table here which I find odd as there’s plenty of space for one.

You’ll find everything you need at this resort. The gift shop boasts a huge selection of souvenirs, clothing, and pharmacy items. The Island Routes desk can arrange custom or group excursions. The “playmaker” team does a great job hyping up activities around the main pool during the day. The nightly entertainment on the beach is varied and exciting though noticeably short (a DJ plays music after the nightly show ends). There are several well-placed bars all along the property. You can ride bikes on the paths to explore the huge property. Honestly, it’s a great little bubble to be in – you just won’t see much of Curacao.

Pool and Beach Experience

This is where deciding whether to visit this Sandals is important: this is a POOL Sandals, and not a BEACH Sandals. What I mean is that people enjoy this Sandals for their pools and pool activity. The beach at this Sandals is small, narrow, quiet, and faces an inlet blocked by a dock. This means you’re not looking out at the open ocean at the beach here and there are no motorized activities. The water activities are limited to within the dock area. Keep walking down the beach and you’ll see the signs saying you’re entering a public beach (Barbara Beach).

There are 3 pools on property: the main bi-level infinity pool, the quiet pool in front of the Sunchi building, and the quiet pool in the Melemele area. The main pool has a swim-up bar and holds the majority of guests who want to participate in activities and enjoy vibey music during the day. The Sunchi quiet pool has a bar but it’s not a swim-up. The Melemele pool doesn’t have a bar but does have a cooler with beer and soft drinks that’s replenished throughout the day. The beach has plenty of seating with chairs and palapas with floating rings in the sea. There are two bars by the beach next to al fresco restaurant Strand as well.

Having done both pool days and beach days, I highly recommend both as they have different vibes. There is plenty of seating by the pool so you don’t have to wake up super early and put your towels on the chairs. We saw pool chairs open throughout the day as the area gets very strong sun. At the beach, most chairs with shade were gone by 8:00 AM with the bulk of them reserved by butlers. I recommend waking up early to snag beach chairs with palapas! The main pool attracts couples and groups who tend to socialize and hang out by the swim-up bar. It’s noisy and exciting so if that’s not your jam I recommend either the beach or the quiet pools. The beach is much more quiet, no music playing, and generally full of couples having quiet conversations to themselves. A lovely breeze makes it easy to fall asleep with the smell of the salty ocean in front of you.

Spa and Gym

The spa and the gym are located next to each other on the lower level of the lobby. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to have a treatment at the spa during this visit, but I have at Sandals Barbados and Sandals South Coast and have always enjoyed them. I particularly love the smell of Red Lane products as they always remind me of being in the Caribbean. Treatments are going to be almost double the price of massage treatments elsewhere on the island.

Both the spa and gym were a little tricky to find here. We saw on the map they were located near the lobby but didn’t find any signage once we got near. We had to ask the front desk staff who told us to take the elevator one floor down and then follow the short path until we got there. They also said the spa was still open, but that wasn’t the case!

Fortunately, the gym was open and I was surprised with the quality of the equipment in the room. Everything was seemingly brand new high quality Technogym equipment with plenty of free weights, a rack, and even a climbing ladder. There are also chilled bottles of water, apples, towels, and earbuds by the entrance. No ocean views from the cardio machines, but you’ll have a lovely view of lush greenery and colorful flowers. I commend anyone who goes to the gym while on vacation, especially while at an all-inclusive. If that’s your style then you’ll be pretty happy with the gym here!

Restaurants and Bars

Sandals Royal Curacao shines with its dining scene. Seriously, the food is so good! For only 351 rooms on property there are 11 places to dine. That ratio is fantastic and that means you can easily find something to eat at this property. What’s unique at this Sandals is the addition of “truk’i pan” style restaurants for lunch – an ode to the local Curacao culture were truk’i pans are prevalent. Here’s a breakdown of the restaurants on property and what I thought about each:

• Kanaal Cafe: for your coffee (alco + non-alco), pastry, and ice cream fix. Coffee was really good (from an actual espresso machine) and they carried soy + almond milk. Pastries surprisingly good and fresh changed out daily. Cheese and wine bar inside cafe and option to brew tea in actual Dutch Delft teaware. Loved being able to order Dutch treats like stroopwafel, poffertjes, and waffle on a stick.

• Pietra: Buffet by day and Italian restaurant at night. Breakfast buffet with indoor and outdoor seating is lovely though drink service is slow. Lunch buffet theme changes daily but good selection and can always order pizza until 2:00 AM. At night the buffet turns into an antipasti bar and dishes are a la carte from the menu. We loved the meatballs and shrimp scampi. Antipasti bar was incredible with multiple focaccia options. Lunch wasn’t ever anything special but was a good place to eat quickly and get back to the pool.

• Butch’s Chop House: Upscale dining for breakfast and dinner. Breakfast was a la carte and started with a fresh mimosa. Food felt high quality and came out quickly. Our favorite restaurant for dinner as the meat dishes and crab cake appetizer are to die for. They had a special Father’s Day menu during our stay. Nice fine dining ambiance indoors and contemporary steakhouse menu. Reservations and dress code required for dinner.

• Aolos: Mediterranean al fresco breakfast and dinner restaurant with golf course and sea views. Breakfast is a la carte with a typical menu, nothing really special. I enjoyed the spanakopita and charcuterie board for dinner. I didn’t enjoy their take on baklava but loved their flourless chocolate cake for dessert. Menu is more on the light side with wholesome proteins and vegetables at the forefront. Vibe is lacking, unfortunately. No music and couples seemed to eat and leave quickly.

• Toteki: One of the truk’i pan restaurants serving local Curacao cuisine for lunch. Kroketten might be the only somewhat local thing on the menu with the rest being normal grill staples. Husband loved the chili dog.

• La Palma: One of the truk’i pan restaurants serving Spanish tapas for lunch. Not bad! I liked the tortilla española and charcuterie board. Food was quite delicious and satisfied my craving for spanish cuisine (aided by a sangria from the bar).

• Kishi: One of the truk’i pan restaurants serving baos and Asian bowls for lunch. Probably my favorite of the 3 truk’i pans. The baos (shrimp tempura especially) were so great and fresh. Get one (or two) of each. Lovely texture from the pickled cabbage. Skip the curry bowls they were totally flavorless.

• Strand: Al fresco beach dining for lunch and dinner. Lunch menu is kind of boring – just grilled fare with salad or french fries. I didn’t have dinner here this time but I’ve walked by a few times to see it relatively full each night. Seafood based menu for dinner and lovely beach vibes.

• Vincent: European fine dining new concept restaurant. I really wanted to love Vincent but we couldn’t help but keep laughing at how awkward the vibe was in the restaurant. The food was really good – mushroom bisque and crab salad were amazing. The restaurant was designed like a contemporary art museum cafe with pop art on the walls, weird lighting, and no music. There was one other couple in the restaurant for dinner with us. Shame because we loved the food. They’re currently renovating but I hope the ambiance improves. Reservations and dress code required for dinner.

• Zuka: Never ate here and didn’t see a lot of people dining here during both stays. I was never impressed with the menu so I didn’t give it a chance. Looks fun inside though and the menu focuses on South American fusion if you’re into that. Dinner restaurant only.

• Gatsu-Gatsu: Probably our favorite restaurant, and a favorite of most guests – the sushi restaurant. Indoor and outdoor dining offered and always busy. Sushi options are delicious varying from maki to sashimi and hand rolls. Ramen is small but delicious. Couple sitting next to us enjoyed the Ishiyaki (hot rocks) offering and seemed like a lot of food. Very chill vibes here, servers always friendly, and food is high quality. Do not skip!

Night Life

If you’re big on the night life at Sandals, you’ll want to rethink if this resort is right for you. Compared to other Sandals resorts there isn’t a lot happening at night. You’ll find a nightly show on the beach at the same time every evening and once that ends people mostly migrate to the lobby for entertainment. Most nights you’ll only find a pianist and singer or karaoke in the lobby. A DJ plays on the beach after the nightly entertainment show ends. Mostly you’ll find couples walking around enjoying the quiet ambiance around the resort or sitting in the bean bags at the beach stargazing. Some of the larger groups will undoubtedly be in the lobby chatting and hitting up the bar.

Compared to Sandals South Coast, which I’ve visited twice now, you’re going to find Curacao’s resort on the quiet side. At Sandals South Coast there would be events happening in the courtyard in addition to karaoke happening at the Martini Bar and shows in the theater. At Sandals Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados there would be open air shows, piano sing alongs in the Lobby bar, a bowling alley with microbrews available, a rooftop bar with amazing vibes, etc. Sandals Royal Curacao seems to really be about the quality time you spend with your partner. They emphasize this by having plenty of seating around the resort for couples to sit and stare off into the ocean or at the stars. Honestly, after the nightly shows my husband and I went back to our rooms by 10:00 PM every night and watched Cops on the TV with cookies from Kanaal Cafe in bed. That was perfect for us!

Service Level

I mentioned previously that the service level is holding back Sandals Royal Curacao from being considered a luxury property in my eyes. It’s tough with all-inclusives, I mean there are a lot of people to please and there is a lot of excess and waste all around. I get it. Staff around the resort seem to be complacent and don’t really smile unless you ask them how they’re doing first. Conversations seem to be purely transactional, and don’t get me started about how grumpy the bar staff can be. There are a few exceptions with a couple of really fantastic friendly staff that really made our days, but they should be the standard not the exception.

In general, if you approach staff with a smile and a greeting (bon dia (good morning), bon tardi (good afternoon), bon nochi (good evening)) you’ll almost always put a smile on their faces and you’ll have a friendly interaction. That said, Sandals can do more to alleviate some of the burn out and overall attitude that clearly permeates all resorts. Even training the check-in staff to go above and beyond the standard check-in process would go a long way with first impressions. Special occasion requests often go unacknowledged and staff just don’t seem to care whether you have a good stay or not. Rotating bar staff more often so they’re not burned out would go a long way as well.

Now, I’m not saying don’t go here because the service sucks. Far from it! I’m saying definitely go to this Sandals but set your expectations accordingly. You’re staying in a premium all-inclusive resort, not a luxury resort like Jumby Bay. More than likely you won’t even notice these things I’m bringing up and you’ll have a great time!

Who Would I Send Here?

Flying to Curacao for a Sandals vacation is not cheap. Being one of the newer resorts you’re going to find the price is higher than many of the resorts in Jamaica, but it’s well worth it for the right traveler. Here is who I would send to Sandals Royal Curacao:

• Sandals loyalists who want the Sandals experience in a new Caribbean destination.
• Travelers looking for a premium all-inclusive experience willing to shell out at least $4k for a week stay.
• Scuba diving and snorkeling enthusiasts wanting to take advantage of the included daily dives and snorkel runs.
• Guests who like a more quiet and isolated all-inclusive experience away from the action.
• Sandals lovers who prefer a pool experience over a beach experience.
• Adults looking for a childless vacation at a romance-focus resort instead of a party resort.

If I had a client reach out to me and say, “hey Kat, I’m looking for a nice all-inclusive in an off-the-beaten-path Caribbean destination where I can really just relax with my spouse and take one or two days to see the island.” Then I would point them in the direction of Sandals. If a client wants to spend more time exploring Curacao and immersing themselves in the culture, perhaps I would suggest a split stay with part of the time at Sandals for relaxation and the other time closer to Willemstad for exploration. Regardless, anyone looking for a nice all-inclusive on Curacao will find themselves pleased with the Sandals product here.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I loved both of my stays at Sandals Royal Curacao but I’m well aware it’s not a Sandals for everyone. It felt like I was at a Sandals in the Caribbean but not necessarily in Curacao. Many of the couples I spoke to during our most recent stay were genuinely very happy at this Sandals, most of the time it wasn’t their first Sandals, and took one or two days to explore the island coming back to the comfort of their resort at the end of the day. That’s exactly the perfect couple for this resort.

When asked if Sandals Royal Curacao is a luxury resort, I would say that it’s the nicest all-inclusive on the island hands down. Objectively it doesn’t compare to other luxury resorts but Curacao doesn’t have a lot of those to begin with. If you love the Sandals product, if you want a nice all-inclusive experience, if you want to visit a new island but don’t want to do a lot of planning then Sandals Royal Curacao is definitely for you. I will most certainly be back for a third and fourth time!

Have you been to Sandals Royal Curacao or thinking of visiting? Let me know in the comments down below!