Esencia de La Palma by Princess vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Princess Hotels & Resorts vs Sandals Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Esencia de La Palma by Princess | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.0 | 8.2 |
| Star Rating | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | — | 222 |
| Restaurants | 3 | 21 |
| Pools | 11 | 11 |
| Year Opened | — | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | 2021 | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Esencia de La Palma by Princess | 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 | Esencia de La Palma by Princess | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 10 | 26 |
| Included | 8 | 26 |
| Extra Charge | 2 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Esencia de La Palma by Princess | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 3 | 12 |
| Suite Categories | 0 | 12 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Esencia de La Palma by Princess | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 19 | 24 |
| Included | 11 | 18 |
| Extra Charge | 8 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Esencia de La Palma by Princess
Pros
- 2021 Esencia renovation means rooms are in good condition — better maintained than older sections of the La Palma Princess
- Sea view rooms face a genuinely distinctive volcanic Atlantic coastline — not your standard beach hotel view
- Adults-only (16+) throughout the Esencia section — consistently quiet even in peak season
- La Palma itself has low tourist density by Canary Islands standards — if you've done Gran Canaria and Tenerife, this is meaningfully different
Cons
- Hilly terrain with no lifts in accommodation blocks — not suitable for guests with limited mobility without ground-floor room assignment
- Many drinks carry additional charges beyond the basic all-inclusive selection
- A rental car is effectively required to access the island's main attractions — budget for this
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, while Sandals Royal Barbados offers more activities.