Whether you're 9 years old or 90 years old, you've probably seen an ad for Sandals Resorts. (Think iconic cursive logo set against a beachy backdrop.) While it may seem like a massive operation, the all-inclusive chain remains intimate and family-owned, just like when it was founded in 1981.
Today, the company boasts five brands and 24 properties throughout the Caribbean, including places like the Bahamas, Jamaica, and most recently, Grenada. Sandals invited me to visit their newest resort — formally called Sandals LaSource Grenada — in late April to find out what the property is actually like beyond the commercials. The place is as beautiful as you can imagine, and the clientele ranged from couple friends in their late 20s and 30s to elderly pairs celebrating their decades-long anniversaries.
Although Sandals often offers sales, prices aren't exactly cheap — you'll most likely drop more than $1,000 per night. If you're thinking of staying at a Sandals resort anytime soon, here's what you can expect.
This room right here is the main lobby, and the first thing you see when you set foot onto the resort. Outfitted with a specially carved wooden table and whimsical chairs, you just know the rest of the place is going to look good.
We'll take five of those chairs, thanks.
Look at those bottle chandeliers! It's like a DIYer's dream come true. The rest of the place is peppered with unique details, from elaborate Turkish fabrics to a cute little cat hut for the island's four-legged residents.
Try saying that five times fast. I stayed in a Love Nest Suite, which featured an incredible pool with views of the ocean to match.
This particular room starts at $950 and goes up to $2,500 per person per night, so be prepared to dip into your savings if you want a similar experience.
All Sandals Resorts are designed for couples. Even some of the barstools and chaise longue chairs come with two seats intended for couples to sit next to each other and hold hands.
Have kids you want to take on vacation? Sandals Beaches Resorts, another line of properties, is designed for families.
. . . And hope no one else sits in it so it can be yours forever and always.
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe! All of the swinging chairs are equally as Instagram-worthy.
Oh, look! It's a fire pit. In a pool. Each Sandals resort aims for unique features you haven't seen elsewhere.
Grenada, like most other places in the Caribbean, is a beautiful country filled with color on every corner. Sandals does a great job capturing that feel through its bright accents and details.
Did we mention there's color everywhere?
Seashell decor, palm tree motifs, hues of blue . . . nearly every room features elements that reflect the outside environment.
Sometimes you'll have to force yourself to leave your room.
Whether you get an indoor or outdoor bath or both, it's definitely something you won't soon forget. Almost all of the baths feature natural stone, compressed pebbles from Turkey, or glass tiles that sparkle.
See?
When I stayed there, the resort was at 94 percent capacity but felt more like 40 percent. The point, a Sandals representative said, was that it never feels crowded and you never have to fight over a spot at the pool — because that's lame when you're spending lots of money for a comfortable experience.
With more than one bar on the property, including a swim-up option, you'll be ordering piña coladas till you're sick of them.
And then you just move on to mojitos.
Unlike Vegas, it's possible to get a cabana where you can lounge all day.
But like Vegas, you'll feel like a VIP.
That's allowed on vacation, right?
. . . But at night, it's a completely different story. Once the sun goes down, it's all about the shows and tipsy couples hitting the dance floor.
"Do we go with the good Italian place we had yesterday or the steak place that's supposed to be excellent? Help!"
Nearly every part of the grounds is incredibly lush and beautiful. You'll have to stop yourself from wanting to take pictures at every corner.
You also wonder how you can copy the landscape back at home.
From the bartenders to restaurant servers to the personal room butlers (if that's your thing), every single person on the property greets you with a smile and a wonderful spirit.
Because it's never more than a five-minute walk away.
You have plenty of fun-filled options to try, whether it's snorkeling or paddleboarding or kayaking.
Because you'd be crazy to.