Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts vs Sandals Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.1 | 8.2 |
| Star Rating | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 412 | 222 |
| Restaurants | 6 | 21 |
| Pools | 2 | 11 |
| Year Opened | 2013 | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | — | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | Yes | Yes |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | No | No |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 18 | 26 |
| Included | 17 | 26 |
| Extra Charge | 1 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 3 | 12 |
| Suite Categories | 3 | 12 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 22 | 24 |
| Included | 18 | 18 |
| Extra Charge | 4 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville
Pros
- Four-poster beds and spa baths are the most commented-on room feature — more distinctive than standard all-inclusive room design.
- Altos de Chavón (20 minutes) is the most accessible cultural excursion from any Dominican Republic all-inclusive — the clifftop replica village above the Chavón River is genuinely worth a half-day.
- Takara Oriental restaurant gets specific positive reviews — the Asian cuisine is the most interesting specialty dinner option at La Romana.
Cons
- Ocean water at La Romana is murky — this is a pool-focused resort by practical necessity.
- Some room maintenance issues (leaky bathrooms, non-functioning minibars) appear in reviews.
- À la carte reservation slots are limited — book all three of your weekly slots on arrival.
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 Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Sandals Royal Barbados offers more activities.