Sandals Royal Plantation recently underwent a rebirth of sorts. Founded as an upscale brand of the world-renowned
Sandals Resorts family; offering both all-inclusive and non-inclusive (EP) options; it was rebranded as a Sandals, now exclusively all-inclusive, earlier this year. Would it still hold the old-world hospitality and charm it was known for? Or would it become a weaker version of itself? I was about to find out!
Arrival into
Jamaica was uneventful, with a pretty standard 30 minute wait at Immigration. Once at the window, the officials were courteous – and probably the friendliest I’ve ever experienced in my 50 plus visits to the island. Bags were ready for pick-up; customs was a breeze, and even our wait at the Sandals Lounge was all of 5 minutes; barely enough time for a bathroom break, and a beer! But, the butler made sure we had one in hand before boarding our transfer.
Shuttles to
Sandals Royal Plantation only transport 6 persons max, allowing plenty of room to get comfortable. If the group is larger, it’s not a problem, as the shuttle can accommodate more. Water and soft drinks were available on-board – a nice addition. The bus was clean, and the driver did not solicit for tips OR stop along the way, as most do.
We were greeted on arrival, filled out our paperwork, and taken to our rooms. At
Sandals, when you have butler service, you normally complete all of your check-in paperwork in the comfort of your room – but that was not the case here. They made up for it, however, by quickly bringing our beverage of choice – in this case, Grey Goose Mango Martinis! YUM! My butler was occupied with other guests, so another staff member took me to my room, gave me the complete orientation; and sent my butler within 15 minutes. He offered to unpack – which I gladly accepted. We made our way down to the Wobbly Peacock Pub, for a beverage, and snack. We let our butler surprise us; and he didn’t disappoint. Soft Shell Crab and BBQ Chicken Wings to die for!
The butlers will do such things as unpack/pack; draw bubble baths, make spa appointments, arrange tours; escort you to dinner, get beach chairs, and make dinner reservations. Of course they are just a phone call away should you need anything; and do like to throw in little surprises! One main difference I noticed here, versus the other
Sandals resorts, is that both of your butlers are on-duty all day; rather than in 2 shifts. There are also pool butlers that bring drinks to you at the pool and on the terrace or beach. That is a nice touch.
While I have been to
Sandals Royal Plantation before, first glimpse of the property is still striking. Old Jamaican Great House architecture and beautiful landscaping set the stage for the tranquility that awaits. The resort sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Natural foliage and ornamental plantings give the area a softness; blending the hardness of the buildings fluidly into the landscape and the sea. The open air lobby, complete with multiple comfortable seating areas; flows out to a very large terrace. Sunning by day and dining/relaxing by night. A few steps down from the terrace are a small pool and hot-tub. Pool butlers pass by taking drink orders; and if you are lucky – the “Misting Man” will cool you off with scented spray. Ahh, mangosas (their signature drink of champagne and mango juice), a cool mist, and the warm Jamaican sun; can it get any better? There are 2 small beaches and a Café/Grill below, accessible by a long set of stairs. More about the beaches later.
Sandals Royal Plantation is an all-suite, all-butler boutique resort of 74 ocean view rooms; plus the 3 bedroom private Villa Plantana. The vast majority of rooms are Junior Suites with French Balconies (i.e. sliding glass doors with a railing across them). They are nicely decorated, of good size and extremely clean and comfortable. Huge walk-in closet, double sinks, and separate room with toilet and bath. I loved my room, but did have two big disappointments; a standard bathtub, and no balcony. I knew only a small number of rooms here (15 to be exact) had actual balconies, but was more than surprised that an all-suite resort of this caliber would not have Jacuzzis, or at least soaking tubs, as standard fixtures in all rooms. The bathrooms were large enough to accommodate them, so perhaps someday that will happen. This is definitely something to keep in mind when selecting rooms! The views are so spectacular, it is a shame you can’t fully enjoy it in these rooms. The Royal Great House Ocean Front Suite does offer the soaking tub and separate shower, but no balcony. Only 3 room categories (5 suites total) on property (Prime Minister; Governor General and Royal) are true 1 bedroom suites. These 5 suites, and 6 others (St Ann, and Royal Peacock Suites – 3 each available) are the only ones to have balconies, large soaking tubs, separate walk-in showers, and a bidet. Only one room category, the St Ann Honeymoon Oceanfront Verandah Suite has a Jacuzzi. It also has the largest balcony at 178sq feet.
The beach is accessible by the equivalent of 2 stories of stairs, and is quite small. But, given the small size of the resort, is sufficient. There are actually 2 beaches – one in front of the West Wing, where most people congregate, and the other, the quiet side, in front of the East Wing. The quiet beach is home to the water sports area. The 2 beaches connect via an oceanfront walkway. At present, there are no beach restrooms; but there are plans in the works to add them. Considering the stairs; the restaurant and the bar – it will be a very welcome addition! The resort draws from a huge cross-section of ages; however, if you have mobility problems, this is probably not the place for you; unless you forgo the beach. Kayaks, sailboats, windsurfing, aqua trykes, and snorkeling are all available here; free of charge. Scuba is free for Certified Divers; and requires a small fee ($80) for beginners. This fee allows you to dive for the duration of your vacation; and up to one year at any other
Sandals or
Beaches Resort. Beach Butlers periodically stopped by to take drink orders, however, I didn’t see any flags to raise, as advertised. But, the bar is right there, so didn’t appear to be an issue for anyone. Unlike the other Sandals where your butler reserves your chairs daily, and provides a cooler with beverages; here you must ask for a chair to be set up. I did see a few coolers, but we were never offered one.
Dining was a little hit or miss – but mostly due to service rather than cuisine. The Terrace is open for all three meals. It serves International, Caribbean and Mediterranean Cuisine in the evening; Caribbean for lunch; and both ala carte and a small buffet at breakfast. Mimosas and magosas (mango juice and champagne, their signature drink) are always available. The menu had so many fabulous breakfast choices, it was hard to choose. The small breakfast buffet offers the basic fruits, eggs, bacon, sausage, breads; as well as smoked salmon, and daily specials like callaloo au gratin. The cheese selection was very disappointing. Wedges of processed cheddar, and pepper jack cheese are not what you expect from a higher end, Leading Small Hotels of the World Resort. But, then, I am a foodie, and do love my cheese! Lunch was tasty – again, a nice variety is offered; and dinner, while a smaller menu, quite good as well.
The Royal Café is open for lunch and afternoon snacks, serving grilled specialties, sandwiches and salads. My experience there was very good, but some thought it a bit underwhelming. The oceanfront view gets rave reviews, though!
Le Papillion (French), open for dinner only, was outstanding. I had eaten here before while on a previous trip to the late Sandals Dunns River Villagio. My anticipation didn’t disappoint. The Escargot (out of the shell so it was easier to eat) was the best I had ever eaten. The chefs at Sandals are also masters at creating great soups and preparing lamb! I am not a huge lamb fan, but always get it at Sandals. That says a lot! Cappuccinos and Espressos, as well as after dinner drinks, are readily available.
No one took advantage of the C-Bar (Champagne and Caviar) during our stay - perhaps because it draws an additional, and hefty, charge. The Saber Ceremony would be a real treat for those celebrating a special event!
The Wobbly Peacock serves pub food from 3pm to midnight. Then, of course there is 24 hour room service with a very nice menu. You will not go hungry here! I mentioned the service – which was spotty. Most employees were extremely prompt and friendly; one or two just didn’t seem to get it! The biggest issue was service timing. When ordering multiple courses; one would expect them to be in sync among diners, but they weren’t. Further training in the finer points of elegant dining is needed. I found it a bit comical; but others hoping for the ultimate experience may not. My take? The food makes-up for this short-coming; I am on vacation; so it is all good!
All in all – a great resort choice for those seeking quiet and relaxation. Day-time activities/games are virtually non-existent; entertainment is subdued, in keeping with the ambience. Should you want to “shake it up” a bit – head over to Sandals Grande Ocho Rios right next door! Head down the driveway; turn right, walk about a hundred yards and there you are!
I thought
Sandals Royal Plantation was a lovely resort, but, because it’s old positioning associated itself with the likes of The Four Seasons; Ritz Carlton; Half Moon; and Strawberry Hill; I expected a little more upscale service. Perhaps its change over to a Sandals Brand brought the service/feel down a notch from upscale to higher-end mass-market. Regardless, still fantastic, just not as “exclusive” as it used to be. With that said – a true gem for the money.
