Here's Why You Should Stay at Sandals Royal Curacao

Location

Sandals Royal Curacao is located near the southern part of the island in Santa Barbara, about 30 minutes from the airport. A bit out of the way for sightseeing, but perfect for great snorkeling, diving and boat trips. The location feels intimate and quiet as it's the only resort in the area. My favorite aspect is being far away from the light pollution that star gazing is beautifully clear at night.

First impressions

The property is light, airy, open concept and overall gorgeous. There are ocean views from nearly every path on the resort property. The lobby and rooms have that modern Caribbean flair with teal palm tree accents and mahogany window shutters. The main pool blew me away — it's two-levels with an infinity edge just steps from the ocean. The property is well-maintained, lush and huge enough for the resort to offer bikes to get around the property.

Rooms

There are 351 rooms and suites spread out over 18 buildings. Room categories range from entry-level "Luxury" to "Club Level" and "Butler Level" oceanfront walkout suites and swim-up rooms. The entry-level rooms are quite spacious and not a far walk from dining and the main pool. Club and Butler rooms and suites are on higher levels, offering more sea views and closer locations to the beach and pool. Rooms are bright and modern, with glass balconies, USB ports in the bedside lamps and rain showers. Since there are 18 buildings, location matters. I always make sure my clients aren't placed in a building too far away from the action — unless requested.

Dining

There are 11 restaurants on property. For 351 rooms, that's a pretty good ratio. What I love about this Sandals location is they've incorporated the local concept of truk'i pans (food trucks) into their lunch offerings. You'll find local Curacao cuisine, Spanish tapas and Asian baos and bowls at these truk'i pans. There are also two fine dining establishments on site: Butch's Chophouse and Vincent's, which easily had my favorite food during my stay. Other options include Aolos, a newer concept Mediterranean restaurant with al-fresco dining. Gatsu-Gatsu is a guest-favorite sushi spot. Strand is a lovely feet-in-the-sand seafood restaurant on the beach. Zuka is new, a South American fusion restaurant concept with a fun bar. Pietra is the Italian restaurant on site with breakfast and lunch buffets during the day. And I can't forget about Kanaal Cafe for sweet treats and uniquely Dutch treats and coffee.

Pools & beach

The main bi-level infinity pool is where all the action happens. There is a swim-up bar here that attracts guests looking for a fun time and a vibe. The playmakers often linger around here to do drinking games and mess with the DJ. The quiet pool in front of the Sunchi building is smaller but a little more relaxing with a bar nearby. Another quiet pool by the Melemele area is for guests seeking silence and peace. No music plays here and there's a cooler of drinks instead of a bar. The beach is on the smaller, narrower side, looking toward an inlet instead of open ocean. That doesn't stop anyone from floating in the ocean rings with their drinks, though.

Amenities

Definitely an amazing place for scuba divers and snorkelers. Free daily dives and snorkels with equipment included is a huge draw for guests at this Sandals. I overhead some divers come back one day saying it's some of the best diving they've ever done. Non-motorized sports at this Sandals include paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling and Hobie Cats. For land activities, you'll find the usual ping pong tables, large chess, shuffleboard, Connect Four, corn hole, Bocce Ball, foosball and virtual gaming tables along the public areas. My favorite thing to do was lay on a bean bag in front of the fire pits and watch the stars every night.

Entertainment

This is a more tame and quiet Sandals compared to others. There's a nightly show at 9 pm every evening on the beach, and it varies between singing and dancing or acrobatics. After the show ends, people either stay on the beach and dance or head to the main lobby for karaoke or live music. You'll see a lot of couples quietly walking around at night playing shuffleboard or sitting on a bench listening to live music. During the day, the playmakers are a lot of fun at the main pool and do a great job of keeping the vibes high.

I recommend Sandals Royal Curacao to couples, honeymooners and groups that love a balance between relaxation and having fun. This is more of a pool Sandals than a beach Sandals as the pool is the main attraction while the beach is smaller with less of a view.

Foodies will love this Sandals location. It's especially worth it to splurge on a Club or Butler level for priority restaurant, pool and beach reservations.

My recommendation is to split your stay by exploring the rugged and natural west side of Curacao first and then coming to Sandals Royal Curacao for the rest of your stay to relax and enjoy everything the resort has to offer. Reach out and let me plan your perfect Curacao vacation.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Curacao. In need of further inspiration? Check out Kat Galoski's guide, Site Inspection at Amanyara in Turks and Caicos.