Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Decameron All Inclusive vs Sandals Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.0 | 8.2 |
| Star Rating | 3.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 146 | 222 |
| Restaurants | 2 | 21 |
| Pools | 2 | 11 |
| Year Opened | 2020 | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | 2025 | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | No | Yes |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | No | Yes |
| Kids Club | No | No |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 8 | 26 |
| Included | 7 | 26 |
| Extra Charge | 1 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 3 | 12 |
| Suite Categories | 0 | 12 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 25 | 24 |
| Included | 22 | 18 |
| Extra Charge | 3 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort
Pros
- Bay geography delivers genuinely flat, calm water — a real advantage over Pacific resorts with heavy surf.
- 'Stay at 1, Play at 3' program effectively triples the dining and bar options without additional cost.
- Free bicycles plus a walkable town center give this property better off-resort options than isolated all-inclusives.
- Whale watching is possible directly from the bay, December through March, without a long boat excursion.
Cons
- No on-site spa — massage and treatment seekers must go off-property.
- On-site dining is limited to one à la carte restaurant for 146 rooms; specialty reservations fill fast.
- Beds run consistently firm across categories — a known pattern, not a one-off issue.
- Water sports beyond basic canoeing and snorkeling require traveling to a sister property.
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 is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Decameron Isla Coral Guayabitos, Ramada All-Inclusive Resort offers more activities.