Sandals Emerald Bay Resort
Do you play golf? Want an oceanfront resort with every amenity? Then Sandals Emerald Bay is the resort for you!
Located on Great Exuma in the Bahamas this resort was a Four Seasons before Sandals took it over, gave it a $20 million face lift, and opened it as Sandals Emerald Bay in January 2010 first as an all butler-suite resort and now as butler and club level rooms. 
Unlimited rounds at the Greg Norman designed 18 hole par 72 golf course at Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club are included for all Butler suite guests. Two rounds are included for club level guests. You may have seen the course on the Golf Channel's 2014 "Playing Lessons" or the 13th season of "Big Break."
This resort is lush, luxurious, and well appointed. From the pool, to the beach, to the gardens. Relax and enjoy! Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort.
What a place for a destination wedding! Choose from a variety of places for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and wedding reception. Host your guests for a welcome reception at the private pool at your Sandals Emerald Bay Royal Estate Love Nest.
Picture yourself in a comfy lounge chair with an adult beverage on the silky white sand beach. Now CONTACT ME to book your reservation today!
Sandals Barbados
Sandals Barbados is the newest of the 21 Sandals, Beaches, and Grand Pineapple resorts scattered throughout the islands of the southeastern Caribbean's most beautiful beaches. Opening in January 2015 this jewel located the St. Lawrence Gap area of Barbados has everything you would expect at a Sandals Luxury Included resort and more!
When you arrive at Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) you'll go through Immigration and Customs. You will get the immigration form on the plane (bring a pen and look at it carefully BEFORE completion - I speak from experience). Once through immigration they will give you the departure stub - put that in your passport and bring it with you when you leave. Take your luggage outside the terminal to the Sandals Barbardos transportation area where you will be greeted warmly with cool towels and cold bottles of water (it took me 30 minutes from the time the plane landed until I got to the Sandals desk with carry on only luggage). Check in and your luggage will be tagged and put on a truck that follows the shuttle to the hotel. NOTE: Shuttles are provided by outside companies. The drivers and baggage handlers are not Sandals employees and should be tipped. The airport has FastTrack Service should you wish to take advantage of it.
A 15 minute ride brings you to the resort. Once on property you'll be directed to the main check in desk or the Club Lounge for Club level and Butler service rooms. Regardless of room category you'll need a credit card on file for any incidentals such as photos, spa services, off-site excursions, or gift shop purchases. You will also need your return flight info. Tips for Butlers should be paid in cash before you check out. Please do not attempt to tip any other employee. If they accept they will be fired. Once checked in you'll be escorted to your room and given a brief tour of the grounds and the features of your room. Your bags will soon follow.
The resort is easy to navigate (see map above) with plenty of places to eat a meal or get a snack, order an adult beverage, have a cup of coffee, swim, or relax in a comfy chair . There are 12 dining options ranging from a hot dog cart for lunch by the main pool to the choice of Indian, Italian, Seafood, Sushi, Japanese, or Butch's Steakhouse for dinner. Some request reservations. Always check with the Culinary Desk (or your Butler). There's plenty of casual dining too. You won't starve I promise! Club rooms come with room service from 8:00am -10:00pm daily. Butler suites have 24 hour room service.
You can do as much or as little as you like. There is a volleyball game in the main pool each afternoon. You can take a yoga class, go to the spa, relax on the beach, or do an off-site excursion through Island Routes.
Your stay at Sandals Barbados includes non-motorized water sports, SCUBA diving (certification available at additional cost), and snorkeling (2 off-site trips on Fridays - morning & afternoon. Spaces fill quickly so sign up the day you arrive). Actually saw the Sandals Barbados dive boat when my husband and I were in Barbados snorkeling during a cruise stop to the island. The boat stood out as being brand new and state of the art compared to the others at the same location.
Destination wedding? Get married with your feet in the silky white sand or on an open air patio. Choose from 6 cake flavors including 3 new ones and 10 signature drinks. Decisions, decisions! Sandals WeddingMoons makes it easy to plan the destination wedding of your dreams! ASK ME for details!
In brief, I loved it here and would go back again in a heartbeat. Barbados is a fabulous island with lots of shopping and nightlife. Stay at the resort or venture out - it's up to you! There is already an addition under construction that will be ready mid-late 2016 with additional guest rooms, a new pool, and another restaurant. Construction of two beach jetties to help calm the ocean in front of the resort should be done by the time you read this.
Want more photos? Follow us on INSTAGRAM @ATBWeddings! Want more info on how to book your honeymoon, vacation, or destination wedding at Sandals Barbados or any Sandals, Beaches or Grand Pineapple Resort? Contact me and I will hook you up!
Sandals Ochi Beach Resort – Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Sandals Ochi Beach Resort was formerly known as Sandals Grande Rivera. By any name it is a sprawling property that has two sides - Seaside and Hillside - and a total of 15 restaurants that are available to all guests. There is constant shuttle transportation available between the two. If you're in a suite in the Hillside Butler Village you have literally 24 hour access to a butler driven golf cart.
Our tour started on the Hillside. The views from the top are spectacular. There are private and semi-private villas, some with their own pools. There's a rock climbing wall, shuffle board court, and dozens of places to host a wedding ceremony and reception including a permanent tent that can hold up to 350 guests. There's also a huge swimming pool.
Go back down the hill and across the street and you'll be in the Seaside Village. A weekly white party and chocolate buffet is located at the Manor House. We saw a man and a woman walking around among the guests covered in chocolate. There were chocolate cakes, chocolate cocktails, chocolate candies, and chocolate covered fruit. More ways to serve and eat chocolate then I have ever seen!
Sandals Resorts has a Loyalty Recognition Program. We met a woman who was proudly wearing her gold sandals pendant for achieving (way beyond) the Platinum Level. Everyone knew her by name and asked about her husband (who had already gone to bed). When asked why they kept coming to Sandals she said "My husband and I have been to many other hotels and resorts around the world. We keep coming back to Sandals because we love it. We are treated like this no where else. Who wouldn't want to keep coming back?"
The Ochi Beach club is accessible to guests from both Sandals Ochi Beach Resort and Sandals Royal Plantation. The gazebo at the end of a boardwalk features a hand carved ancient door (said to be good for fertility) and views of the ocean from a hidden hammock or lounge chair. There's a pool, bar, fire pit patio, volleyball court, and food service. You can have a set up for a wedding reception or corporate dinner on the long pier.
This is a lively resort though it can also be private and secluded in the Hillside Butler Village. Lots of room categories to choose from. This is the resort for those who want to choose between doing a lot, doing a little, or doing nothing. You won't be sorry no matter what you choose.
SANDALS Resorts – Where the Luxury is Included
WELCOME to SANDALS RESORTS! My name is Kathi Evans and I am the Owner and Lead Planner of All the Best Weddings & Celebrations, a WKE, LLC. In addition, I am a Certified Sandals Sales Specialist and a Certified WeddingMoons Specialist for destination weddings at any SANDALS or BEACHES resort.
These two certifications come with perks that include visiting and touring the SANDALS and BEACHES properties that are now located on 7 islands: Jamaica (6 SANDALS, 1 GRANDE PINEAPPLE & 2 BEACHES), Bahamas (2), St. Lucia (3), Antigua (1 SANDALS & 1 GRAND PINEAPPLE), Grenada, Barbados, and a BEACHES in Turks & Caicos. Come along with me as I visit and report on each property.
When SANDALS says ALL INCLUSIVE they're not kidding. It starts the moment you arrive at the SANDALS desk at each airport. You're greeted with a cold adult beverage, your luggage is tagged (not to be touched again until you get to your room at the resort), and you're shuttled to your resort. At the resort you're greeted with a cold towel, another adult beverage, and are shown to your area for check in. Once the paperwork is completed you're escorted to your room where your luggage either awaits or will be there in a few minutes. There is NO TIPPING (except your shuttle driver <who is not a SANDALS employee> and your butler).
Butch's Chophouse at Sandals LaSource Grenada
Are you hungry? The number of restaurants depends on the size of the resort. There are as few as three and as many as 12. Do you want sushi, Italian, French, fresh made pizza to order, seafood, burgers, or BBQ? Teppanyaki, Southwestern, dine with your feet in the sand, or maybe some pastries? You'll find all that - and more - at each resort.
Thirsty? Beverages (including top shelf alcohol) are also included. Each room has a mini-fridge stocked with bottles of water, soft drinks, and juice. In a CLUB level or higher room? Then you get beer, wine, and champagne in your room. Butler suites have their own mini bar filled with your favorite full sized bottles. There are swimming pools with swim up bars, piano bars, and more bars located strategically throughout each property. You'll never have to far for something to drink.
Looking for something to do? You can scuba dive, snorkel, water ski, kayak, water trike, and stand up paddle board. Don't have your dive certification? No worries, they'll hook you up! Tennis? YES! Golf? YES (two resorts have their own courses)! Private Island? YES (two resorts have their own private island; one has a private clothing optional beach)!
Love the night life? Each resort has a disco/night club, pool room, and English Pub. Each resort hosts specialty nights such as white parties, chocolate nights, and beach bbqs with local entertainment and games.
Looking for something more quiet? You can walk the beautifully landscaped grounds, sit by the fire pits, or relax at the RED LANE spa.
If you're looking for the ultimate in luxury and relaxation go for a Butler Suite. Your butler, who was trained by The Guild of Professional English Buters, will meet you at check in, escort you to your room, unpack for you (if you want), stock your bar, and hand you a phone that brings a butler to you with the push of a button. Chairs are reserved for you at the pool and the beach. Coolers are stocked and placed with your chairs with cold beverages. Dinner reservations are made and you are escorted to your restaurant and seated at your table. Come back to your room after an excursion or a night out and find a bubble bath waiting for you with flower petals and champagne.
It doesn't matter what room category you're in - everyone eats the same food and drinks from the same bars. Everyone has access to the same on-site activities and off-site excursions. Because there are so many resorts there is a price point for every budget.
Sandals Royal Plantation
We leave Montego Bay and head to Ocho Rios for more tours. We will stay at Sandals Royal Plantation. This is a small, quiet, all Butler Suite resort with two beaches. Included in your stay are unlimited water sports (snorkeling, scuba diving, glass bottom boat, stand up paddle board, Hobie Cat sailing) and golf at the Sandals Golf and Country Club. It is a small slice of heaven on earth.
Because we had to tour the other resorts we barely got a look at anything but the lobby and our butlers. They arrived in their casual attire of impeccable white embroidered golf shirts and pressed black pants. They took our luggage and off we went to tour.
When we returned late in the day we were hot, sweaty, tired, and hungry. No worries. Our rooms were ready with luggage inside. The bar and mini fridge were stocked and there was a fresh fruit platter on the table. I opted not to have them unpack for me. My room had a European balcony with an ocean view. Took a cold bottle of water from the fridge, sat in a comfy chair, propped my feet up in front of the open doors and filled out my paperwork. Called my butler Steve (with the phone provided) to let him know when I was done. He picked up everything and brought it to the front desk.
Steve was wonderful - attentive without being overwhelming. When we went to dinner that night all of our butlers piled in the van with us. This time in full suit, gold vest, ties, and white gloves. Upon arrival at Kimonos each of us was escorted to our seat at the bar by our butlers where we (and they) waited, briefly, for our table. From there the butlers took our drinks, escorted us to our seats at the table, made sure we were comfortable, and then left us for the evening. When done we took the available shuttle back to our resort.
Dinner was fun and delicious. Our chef was boisterous and had us all singing loudly. You can't help but make friends while sitting there. One of our group ordered sushi from Soy for appetizers. A waiter delivered them to her at our table.
We had the next day off. The day before had been exhausting. Three of us took advantage of many of the water sports that are included in everyone's stay. I tried stand up paddle boarding. Let's just say I'll need to try it again. Then we took out a Hobie Cat with one of the staff sailing for us. After that we took a snorkeling trip (they have all the gear) on a glass bottom boat. When we returned my companions went horseback riding offsite. They booked that trip through the Island Routes desk which can be found at every resort. NOTE: Work with your travel professional to book your offsite trips before arrival to help guarantee you'll be able to do what you want to do when you want to do it.
At the beach I found a padded lounge chair under a thatched umbrella. Olivia, our Sandals rep and tour guide, joined me. She called her butler who brought us menus. We ordered lunch and some cocktails. A short time later we were eating and drinking without having lifted a finger.
After lunch Olivia and I headed for the pool with Jacuzzi and waterfall that sits on a deck that overlooks the beach. The water was refreshing after being in the sun.
There is afternoon tea on the patio. Wait staff will bring pots of tea or any other beverage you request. Fresh baked cookies, scones, and muffins are also available.
Upon returning to my room to get ready for dinner I discovered a bubble bath complete with refreshing fruit cocktail that Steve had prepared for me. How delightful to slip into that tub without having to lift a finger. Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face!
Our farewell dinner that night was at Papillon. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. It was a fitting send off after such a wonderful trip.
I highly recommend Sandals Royal Plantation to those who are looking for a more relaxing vacation. You can still party hearty at Sandals Grande Riviera. The Ochi Beach Club is easily accessible or you can take a shuttle to their huge pool or any of the restaurants on the hillside. Sandals Royal Plantation has their own wedding staff and several fabulous places to have a ceremony and reception including Villa Plantana, which is a private villa on the grounds that is available to rent, or on either beach. Sandals Royal Plantation is also one of the most cost effective of all the Sandals resorts for butler service.
