Playa del Inglés location means a real town's restaurants, shops, and nightlife are minutes from the resort — unlike remote beach properties, you have genuine alternatives without a long taxi ride
Maspalomas Dunes Nature Reserve is walkable from the beach end — one of the Canary Islands' most dramatic landscapes for a free afternoon
The pool heating in winter (November-April) makes this a viable year-round property, which is rare for outdoor pool-focused resorts
10-15 minute walk to one of Gran Canaria's best beaches — the proximity without the isolation is the defining location trade-off
Cons
Dining options are narrow for an all-inclusive: two restaurants with the à la carte lunch at Bohío potentially carrying additional charges — confirm coverage at booking
No private beach access — the resort pool is the only exclusive water amenity; the beach is a public, shared resort beach a 10-minute walk away
27 sq ft rooms are modest — for a couples or honeymoon property, the room size can feel tight if spending significant time indoors
The Princess Disco Lounge entertainment program varies heavily by season — shoulder season guests may find fewer shows running than peak season
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
Summary
Sandals Royal Barbados has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Gran Canaria Princess (Only Adults +16) is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Sandals Royal Barbados offers more activities.
