Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts vs Sandals Resorts— Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.0 | 8.2 |
| Star Rating | — | 5.0 |
| Room Count | — | 222 |
| Restaurants | 7 | 21 |
| Pools | 5 | 11 |
| Year Opened | — | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | — | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal | 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 | Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 20 | 26 |
| Included | 20 | 26 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 6 | 12 |
| Suite Categories | 6 | 12 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 24 | 24 |
| Included | 19 | 18 |
| Extra Charge | 5 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal
Pros
- Dolce Vita Italian and Frutos del Mar seafood restaurants are consistently the two best specialty dining experiences in the complex.
- Cross-complex 'Stay at 1, Play at 4' access across the Riviera Maya Bahia Principe cluster means 5+ night stays have genuine dining variety.
- Adults-only infinity pool provides the most tranquil swimming area in the Akumal section of the complex.
- Local jungle wildlife (iguanas, coatis, raccoons) on the grounds adds natural character missing from beach-strip resorts.
Cons
- À la carte restaurant booking is a documented problem — the system shows full availability while tables are visibly empty. Go in person to guest services if the app fails.
- Beach seaweed (June–September) can make the beach unusable some weeks — have a pool-only contingency plan.
- 252 rooms close for renovation April 10–November 30, 2026 — verify your room block before booking during that window.
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
Sandals Royal Barbados has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues.