Sandals Royal Bahamian

by PENNY
(North Carolina)

I just got back from Sandals Royal Bahamian, and wish I had read reviews before going. Transportation was not a Rolls or Mercedes, as promised, but a shoddy van one way, and filthy old bus returning to the airport. The room was not at all as described. I could see the ocean, but the mini-bar was a small fridge with liquor bottles that were refilled from half empty ones from other guests' room. Dining was a joke. Be sure to make reservations, or you eat in a venue more fitting a shopping mall cafeteria. The pool was nice enough, but I felt like we were on spring break. It was filled with loud drunken NASCAR fans. Tatoos were de'regeur. Secure your lounge chair in the middle of the night, or you won't get one. The beach was a joke-small, short and dirty. There were nice enough surroundings, but felt like I was in 1947-very dated. For what I got, it was very expensive and not worth it. The room was filthy. There was large machinery on the beach blocking the view. It was impossible to get a drink in the bar - or for that matter a glass of tea with a meal. They served liquor I have never heard of. The employees were rude, impossilby slow, and distracted. I called the manager three times, and never recived a call back. I will never return to any Sandals - at any price. We just got back from a five-day stay at the Royal Bahamian Spa Resort. The Resort was beautiful in many ways, but the inner workings paled by comparison. We paid for a Manor Deluxe Ocean Front Concierge Room. The pictures looked beautiful, but the reality was something all together different. There were sand fleas all over, the bathtub was nasty, and the commode hardly ever flushed. Also, the water pressure was non-existent, and the hot water was at a premium if you could get it. We had no balcony, just a sliding window with no screen. Our agent had told us all the ocean front rooms had balconies, but this was not so. We asked to change, but were shown only one other - which was the same room only on a different floor. The concierge service was probably the biggest joke of all. The people acted like they had no time for us, and when we did get to sit down to talk to them, they were abrupt and not helpful at all. They acted like we were keeping them away from something much more important. The food was good, and the drinks were adequate enough. The Sandals Cay was great. You pretty much had to go there to get a place to sit. At the resort, I believe people got up in the middle of the night to put a towel and the odd book on the lounge chairs so that they appear occupied. By 7 am you were lucky if you found a vacant seat. Ironically enough, most of the "occupied chairs" sat empty most of the time. I was very disappointed in this experience, but will try another Sandals next time. I do like the all-inclusive idea, and think that there may be another one that I will like better. In their defense, I will say that one of the staff told us that 115 employees had been laid off recently. This might have been why the room service was so bad. We actually had to call down for towels every day, and were never given bath mats. I have been to other all inclusive resorts, but since I paid almost double for Sandals, I expected to get more than before. When we arrived, our door didn't lock. It took 3 1/2 hours to get it resolved, so we were pretty much stuck in the room, right off the bat. We didn't have any robes in the rooms, so we had to ask. The mini bar was never restocked, and we had to ask and continue to leave notes of what to restock. Our breakfast room service never showed up on one of the days. Our spa service that was booked in advance ($446 for two 80-minute massages) was "on sale" when we arrived for only $298. We didn't receive any adjustments or further credit towards spa services. The rooms were old. We stayed in the Windsor Grande Luxe Oceanview. The water was impossible to regulate. It would be warm one second, scalding the next, ice cold the next. Also, the bugs are horrible. We both have welts all over our bodies. In addition, the beds were so uncomfortable. We woke every morning with a backache. On a positive note, the food was out of this world. The drinks were also superb. I would consider going to a Sandals again, but never back to the Royal Bahamian. THE GOOD - The weather, beach, and suite were all nice. I enjoyed the free alcohol, but the wine wasn't great. THE BAD - Our VIP pick up at the airport was half an hour late. I thought "VIP" meant that they were waiting for you - not the other way around. Our return to airport was also late, and in a Town Car (not a Rolls or Mercedes). The butler service was inconsistent (ie. never managed to get breakfast to us on time or with our order; always put towels at the pool, even though we asked for the beach; took them three days to get us a fruit plate). The gym was small, cramped and had no cleaning supplies for equipment. Overall, the property looked tired and needed paint. In addition, we ordered tea at the tea room, but it never arrived. Even pick up of our luggage was 45 minutes late from the agreed upon time of departure. THE UGLY - For what we paid (over $1000/day), we expected gourmet food. It was virtually inedible. The Italian restauarant reminded us of a cafeteria, "romantic" Gordon's on the Pier had five-day-old fish (even the fish was not fresh), and steak at the Pub was shoe leather. Coffee tasted like dirty dish water, but there was a good Starbucks down the beach.