Unless you have really low expectations, Sandals is not the place for you. It is extremly over priced for what you get. RESEARCH before you book or else you will be sorry!!!!!

I agree. As I read these messages, the positive reports are full of "overall, this wasn't a bad vacation.. .. ." Well, if I'm paying $4,000+ for a vacation, it darn well better be a GREAT vacation! I think if you expect little (and pay alot) you won't be disappointed.

For those who expect an "ultra" vacation and pay for it, we will find out that there are resorts in Jamaica (and elsewhere) that deliver. Why would anyone go to a resort depending on a "good attitude?" Or have the attitude that, "Vacations are what you make it."

Do ya'll have any suggestions as to alternatives for all-inclusives that are worth the money?

Most of us, who are returnees, have had wonderful times at sandals. There are always ups and downs at any resort. Like you said, it all depends on what you're looking for. The jamaicans are very laid back people but are willing to please and very pleasant. So those who expect everything and don't get the full amount, should try other places. As for us returnees, we'll still be sandals bound.

In my opinion, you have to do your research and decide what type of vacation you want. I have been to 5 different Sandals in both Jamaica and St. Lucia. I have also traveled to non-all inclusive resorts in Miami, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, and The Bahamas. I can tell you that I did not feel like I have been overcharged at Sandals one bit. Once you factor in food, drinks, water sports, drinks, snorkeling trips, drinks, gratuities, drinks, transfers, entertainment, and drinks, I found that I definitely was spending much less going to Sandals than at the resorts in the other places. I hate to say it, but $4000 is not as expensive for an all-inclusive beach vacation these day as you may think, when you factor in everything that you pay for. I will agree that maybe the rooms are not as "plush" as in a hotel in a major city, but I am there for a BEACH vacation, not a formal, get dressed up every night for dinner type of vacation. The food is good, the drinks are good and the locations are beautiful. You also have to remember that when you are at any of these resorts, you are in a FOREIGN country, and things are going to be different than in the USA. That is the joy of travel.

we're going on our SECOND sandals vacation in a few days and we've never paid over $2500 for our trips. maybe you should shop around.

[quote="drperfect"]we're going on our SECOND sandals vacation in a few days and we've never paid over $2500 for our trips. maybe you should shop around.[/quote]

I agree doc. I was ready to book my Sandals Whitehouse vacation through a TA that frequents these boards. The price was roughly $4000 for a week. I found an online ta that got me the same exact trip for $2950. I thought it may be a scam, but I contacted Sandals and we are booked.
Anyway, as far as Sandals being overpriced, I paid more to go to GL Braco and while it was nice, I prefer Sandals because it's couple only. GL was adults only and it makes a difference. Plus, I can eat and drink my way through a few grand worth of food in a week, so Sandals will lose money on me.

Yes, Sandals depends on you drinking a lot so that you don't notice the problems. For those of us who drink little, we notice.

drpefect, who are you using for a ta now? That's a great price! As for the drinking so you don't see the problems, well, you'll always find something wrong especially if you're looking for it. These people are very laid back but also hard workers and aim to please. Everyone has that special place that they love and ours is smb. Sure we've had some minor issues but they were resolved. No Problem

thanks for all the pricing advice. our trips have averaged $4000 because we are schoolteachers and only get to go on the high priced vacation weeks. I actually meant around $4000 including airfare..which is what makes it pricey. i feel the sandals price (land only) is pretty reasonable for what you get, as i stated in my above message. plus, the sandals prices very rarely seem to increase as the years go by..we are loyal sandals folks (5 trips, plus the free sw offer) looking forward to breaking in sw.. .. .

I believe that you aren't looking for the bargains if you are paying $4K per vacation. We went to Sandals Royal Caribbean the week of Christmas with many teachers there and paid under $3000 for our vacation even with airfares approaching 1500 for two people due to the high season of travel. We stayed in a midlevel room 3 from the top 3 from the bottom.

Shop around - shop in advance and be sure you are getting the best price before booking. I can tell you that maybe I wouldn't be as thrilled with my Sandals vacations if I were paying $1000 more than I have paid in the past. I know we met a couple who paid almost double what we paid and were in a lower room and had cheaper airfares. I would have been ticked but moreso at myself for not shopping better.

We figure we drink enough to get the good out of our vacations.

My fiance and I are getting married at Sandals Whitehouse on February 19! This is our first trip to Jamaica and I am nervous because it is not 100%. . I was also wondering about how comfortable the rooms are. We are staying in the honeymoon grand lux beachfront. any comments?

I agree with Kathy. I think some people go in to a vacation looking for problems instead of having fun. Those people wouldn't have fun at any resort no matter the place or price. Everybody is looking for something different in a vacation so if you just want to sit on the beach all day then maybe Sandals would not be worth the money, but if you are into activities and all the other things they have to offer then they are more than worth the money. I guess you need to know the type of vacation you want and then do the proper research. And for those who find fault in everything, who cares because they will never enjoy any place they go.

Why would you think that just because someone has an experience different than yours, a negative experience at Sandals, that we are just miserable people looking for problems? Do you really think we love admitting that we made a mistake? It is easier to deny problems than to identify them and move toward resolution. For your information, Sandals was our first vacation disaster, not bad after paying for our own vacation (i.e., growing up) for the past 25 years. Get real.

[quote="honeygirlsugar"]Yes, Sandals depends on you drinking a lot so that you don't notice the problems. For those of us who drink little, we notice.[/quote]

C'mon now. That's ridiculous. To be honest, I had more issues at GL Braco than I did at Sandals. I would call them all minor issues, but others may see them as major problems. Although the resort was beautiful and I had a good vacation, I probably won't go back. But I won't steer people away from Braco. Some people are just more able to deal with little issues and some can't.
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yeah, when i said $2500 i mean at PEAK season (over new year's) and that includes airfare. actually it was $2400. i used Kelvin who was very well known here for a while but Prestige whom he works for no longer sells sandals. that -. .

as far as whether i think some people are miserable people who are looking for mistakes? yes, i do believe there are a LOT of people like that. a LOT. otherwise, you wouldn't let stuff like "it took me 15 minutes to get a drink" RUIN your vacation. yes, i do firmly believe that a lot of the rich, snobby people (and in my experience on this board over the past year and a half, they've often been from new york) that Sandals markets to go down looking at their vacation the same way they do their micromanaging jobs and try to fine comb every detail instead of just being on jamaica time and chillin out. so, in answer to that question, yes, i do believe some of the bad reviews are just from unhappy people.

[quote]yes, i do firmly believe that a lot of the rich, snobby people (and in my experience on this board over the past year and a half, they've often been from new york) [/quote]

requesting a clarification, doc, are you talking about the State of NY, or can we limit this to a certain area?

Not sure whether to be insulted or not.

I'm assuming New York City. I have found people from upstate New York to be very pleasant. I think the main problem with people being dissatisified with a sandals vacation is because they aare expecting something different than what they get. if you look at the brochures and website you have to admit that they are a little fixed up compared to the actual thing. with that being said me and my spouse have always had a wonderful time and sandals and believe it is worth every penny.

Hey, I am insulted by the quote about people from New York. I am from New York City, and have been to five different Sandals, and know from a fact that it was not the New Yorkers complaining about things!!! We are pretty flexible when it comes to waiting for drinks, tables, etc, because we are used to going out a great deal and being in busy places with lots of people. Please do not insult us! We are used to paying a premium for good food and @$10 a drink when we go out, so we know how good of a deal Sandals is. We can buy Red Stripe in our bars (even though they sell it as a "specialty beer" for a crazy price), so we don't complain that Sandals serves it. Please give us a break!

I think he meant Jersey!!!LOL

So what if you are stuck being one of these miserable rich, snobby people with high expectations? Oh god, I'm doomed!

We have different levels of expectations and that's reflected in our trip reports. So, behold differences.

I visited Sandals on Jan 6 at Ocho. It wasn't a completely bad trip but it wasn't worth what I paid. Any questions or if you wanna see pictures let me know

I am from Upstate NY and my wife is from downstate and we have had a great time every time we have gone to Sandals and we are not rich and snobby. That dr. guy says a lot of ignorant things but this really shows his lack of knowledge. I think he needs to get out of the house a little more!

I do think some people go in with the wrong attitude and find everything wrong. This is not to say people have not or will not have bad experiences at a Sandals. Not everything is perfect everytime we have gone but we easily let little things go because we are on vacation to have fun. And I think people from any state, including whatever backwards state dr lives in, can go in with a snobby attitude, or I should say they are looking for everything to be over perfect.

I'm born and raised in NY and have lived here for 46 years. I must tell you that 95% of the current New Yorkers are really from Puerto Rico, China, Columbia, Guatemala, Russia, Africa, Ireland, Mexico, Chile, Spain, Guam, Japan, Equador, Dominican Republic, Peru, Canada, Poland, Thailand, Germany. I think you get my point

Hey Doc can you remove this post above, it is a SCAM! Also do you have a way of Blocking these Scam artists from being able to post on here? If you can please do us all a HUGE favor and Block them forever, this is a Travel board, Not a place to SCAM people! Either way Thanks Dr.Perfect