TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Honest review: We stayed at Sandals Royal Bahamian in two East Bay Honeymoon Beachfront Butler Suites, one for my husband and me and one for our son and his wife. For a 5 night stay, we spent approximately $16,000, which makes the overall experience even more disappointing given the level of service we received. Our room category included private airport transfers. We provided our arrival time in advance, yet still had to wait over 30 minutes for a car to arrive. When it finally did, all four adults were expected to squeeze into one vehicle. We were told that if we wanted separate cars, one couple would need to wait an additional 30 minutes, despite the fact that we had paid for two separate private transfers. This was not an acceptable start to the trip. As returning guests who have consistently booked butler level service, this stay did not live up to expectations. Starting with the room, while it has been renovated, it still felt like a 3 star experience at best. Some updates appeared superficial and did not address overall quality. For example, the armchair in our room looked worn and dirty, which immediately detracted from the luxury feel we expected. The condition of the building was also disappointing. The hallway carpets had a strong, unpleasant odor similar to a dirty barn, which made coming and going uncomfortable. Even worse, the piano bar and pool table room had an overpowering mothball smell that was difficult to tolerate. The butler service was below par compared to our previous Sandals experiences. We never received simple touches like ice, chilled champagne, or snacks in the room. The service felt reactive rather than proactive. Although we had a butler phone and were always reachable, it often felt like we had to chase service instead of it being thoughtfully anticipated. Ultimately, the butler service amounted to dinner reservations and reserving lounge chairs, which does not justify the premium price. On a positive note, the private island is beautiful. The water is stunning and was one of the highlights of our trip. However, even this experience was impacted by logistics, with waits of up to 30 minutes just to board the boat. It was also surprising to learn that only a portion of the island belongs to Sandals. The food throughout the resort was consistently very good and remains one of Sandals’ strengths. Overall, this stay was extremely disappointing, especially given our past positive experiences and the expectations that come with booking two butler suites at this price point. For approximately $16,000, the level of cleanliness, odors, and inconsistent service is unacceptable. We will not be returning, and unfortunately, Sandals has lost us as loyal customers. Future guests should carefully consider whether the butler level experience here is worth the premium cost.

We selected Sandals in Nassau Grand Bahama to celebrate our milestone anniversary and we were NOT disappointed. The staff was very attentive and friendly making our time relaxing & enjoyable. Great selection of restaurants and cocktail lounges/bars. We would return or try another Sandals property in the future!

Upon arrival at Sandals, the atmosphere and greetings were very warm and inviting. The resort was clean and my eyes were met with beautiful flowers throughout the resort. There was a bit of a wait to get our rooms situated. We stayed in the swim up pool with an ocean view; room 116 to be exact. The room had an odor upon arrival( a smell of slight sewage) in which I spoke with the attendant who came to the room with us. She indicated she would send housekeeping to freshen the room up; housekeeping never showed up. Upon further inspection of the room, my husband noticed there was an OPEN Sprite can left in the refrigerator. This is an indication the room is not being thoroughly cleaned. I then proceeded to the bathroom where I was met by rust and mold inside the shower. I became very disappointed to see this at such an expensive resort. My husband and I went out the next day and stayed out until 2:30am. Upon arriving back in our building, I noticed a gentleman painting and touching up the interior walls of our building. I politely walked him to our room to show him the rust and mold. He asked me what time were we leaving our room today and I indicated by 1pm. We indeed left our room prior to 1pm. We arrived back at our room at 12:30am; the rust and mold never left; it was still there. Furthermore, hot water at Sandals has not existed when taking a shower. We have taken showers at different times throughout the day and we have not been met with hot water in the shower. I’m extremely disappointed in my experience here with the appearance of the rooms and lack of hot water. Lastly, we decided to indulge in a massage to “de-stress”. . Marva Nottage was my massage therapist. She has soothing hands that gets to all of the nooks and crannies the human body can bottle up. She’s everything short of amazing! The best part of Sandals is the people who truly make the resort what it is. The worst part of Sandals is no one pays thousands of dollars to be visited by rust and mold and no hot water when you’re on vacation. This is an eye sore for a luxury resort and definitely a turn off. I’m disappointed in Sandals.

Sandals royal Bohemian was amazing everyone there was so friendly and the staff was just outstanding. Hensley at the pool bar was absolutely awesome! Every staff member was so nice and helpful. The food was delicious! My husband and I absolutely loved it and we were trying to book our next trip back before we even left!

We just returned from our fourth visit to Sandals Royal Bahamian and we had a wonderful time. We requested a Butler that took care of our daughter and son in law last year - Samson - and he was the absolute BEST!!! He and Waldens worked together to make our trip relaxing and enjoyable. They did so many things without our asking. Lunch at the pool, afternoon snack and drinks in the room dinner reservations when we wanted. I have to mention three other people who were outstanding. Hope at the bar at Butch's, Ricardo on our ride to the airport and Jamie at La Plume.. Everyone we encountered during the day was friendly and so helpful. It's a beautiful island and beautiful people. I know we will return soon.