Iberostar Selection Diar El Andalous vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts vs Sandals Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Iberostar Selection Diar El Andalous | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 9.1 | 8.2 |
| Star Rating | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 379 | 222 |
| Restaurants | 2 | 21 |
| Pools | 5 | 11 |
| Year Opened | 1993 | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | 2015 | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Iberostar Selection Diar El Andalous | 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 | Iberostar Selection Diar El Andalous | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 10 | 26 |
| Included | 8 | 26 |
| Extra Charge | 2 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Iberostar Selection Diar El Andalous | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 10 | 12 |
| Suite Categories | 4 | 12 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Iberostar Selection Diar El Andalous | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 22 | 24 |
| Included | 18 | 18 |
| Extra Charge | 4 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Iberostar Selection Diar El Andalous
Pros
- The Al Hambra buffet is consistently one of the stronger hotel buffets in Port El Kantaoui — the Tunisian dishes (sliced beef, grilled lamb, regional flavors) go beyond the generic Mediterranean spread
- Six treatment rooms in the spa is a specific practical advantage over smaller wellness areas at comparable resorts in this destination
- The La Chicha Moorish Café provides a genuine cultural experience that requires leaving the all-inclusive mindset briefly — worth the extra charge
Cons
- The Italian and Tunisian a la carte restaurant's one-complimentary-visit limitation is not prominently communicated — guests who want to dine there multiple times need to budget for additional visits
- Last renovation was 2015 — some parts of the property show age that a partial update doesn't conceal
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
Iberostar Selection Diar El Andalous has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Iberostar Selection Diar El Andalous is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Sandals Royal Barbados offers more activities.