AluaSun Mediterráneo vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Alua Hotels & Resorts vs Sandals Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | AluaSun Mediterráneo | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.4 | 8.2 |
| Star Rating | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 170 | 222 |
| Restaurants | 2 | 21 |
| Pools | 2 | 11 |
| Year Opened | — | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | 2020 | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | AluaSun Mediterráneo | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | No | Yes |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | Yes | No |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | AluaSun Mediterráneo | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 3 | 26 |
| Included | 3 | 26 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | AluaSun Mediterráneo | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 5 | 12 |
| Suite Categories | 0 | 12 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | AluaSun Mediterráneo | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 25 | 24 |
| Included | 17 | 18 |
| Extra Charge | 8 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
AluaSun Mediterráneo
Pros
- Access to Purobeach Menorca Oasis del Mar beach club at AluaSoul Menorca is the standout benefit — included with your stay and otherwise adults-only
- Apartments are genuinely spacious (527-538 sq ft) with kitchenettes, private terraces, and room for families of four
- Short airport transfer (17-18 min) and quiet eastern location away from the main resort belt
- Staff consistently praised across reviews; small property size helps here
Cons
- No sandy beach adjacent to the property — Cala Alcaufar is a 15-minute walk, Punta Prima a 10-minute drive
- Dinner buffet is repetitive on stays longer than 5 nights; the La Trattoria à la carte partially compensates
- Evening entertainment runs three times a week and primarily in Spanish — limited for non-Spanish speaking guests
- Some rooms have hard mattresses and dated decor; air conditioning is centrally controlled in some units
Sandals Royal Barbados
Pros
- The rooftop infinity pool is the Caribbean's first — an evening pool experience with ocean views that's unavailable at other Sandals properties
- All-suite property means no standard rooms — every guest has suite-level accommodations
- 'Stay at One, Play at Two' with adjacent Sandals Barbados effectively doubles dining to 20+ restaurants and 10+ bars
- 15-minute transfer from Grantley Adams International Airport — one of the shortest Sandals arrivals in the Caribbean
- Lovers Lanes bowling alley and craft beer bar are genuine novelties within the all-inclusive format
Cons
- Maxwell Beach is a public beach — other hotel guests and persistent local vendors are present and regularly cited by guests
- Lounge chair competition is consistent: early morning positioning is required for both the main pool and beachfront spots
- Service at restaurants and bars is noted as slower than expected given the pricing — allow extra time for meals
- The scale of the combined Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados property means it's a larger, more crowded operation than quieter Sandals resorts
Summary
AluaSun Mediterráneo has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Sandals Royal Barbados is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while AluaSun Mediterráneo offers more activities.